The Little Angel

by Rosie Goodwin

  ‘Do you really think so?’ Kitty was delighted.

  ‘Yes, but we also need to do something with your hair and you’ll have to learn how to apply stage make-up. Have you ever worn make-up before?’

  ‘No.’ As yet, Kitty thought, she hadn’t seen her mother without it.

  ‘No matter,’ Ruby told her. ‘The trick is not to overdo it, and with your skin you won’t need too much. But now you must excuse me. I have a visitor due in less than an hour and I need to get changed.’

  Kitty’s spirits sank. Yet another evening on her own! But she held her tongue. Life here was clearly going to be very different to the one she had lived at Treetops, but no doubt she would get used to it. When her mother left the room, Kitty slipped through the French doors into the garden – just in time to see young Arthur heading towards his bicycle. His face lit up at the sight of her approaching him and she beamed back at him.

  ‘Here.’ Dipping her hand into the pocket of her skirt, she withdrew half a crown. ‘Treat your brothers and sisters to some sweets from me on the way home.’

  He stared at the big silver coin as if he could hardly believe his luck. ‘It’s an ’eck of a lot. Are yer quite sure, miss?’

  ‘Of course.’ Kitty pressed it into his hand as he blushed furiously. ‘And please, don’t call me miss. My name is Kitty.’

  ‘Right you are, mi … Kitty. See you tomorrow.’ He then wheeled his bicycle towards the back gate and with a last smile and a wave Kitty went back indoors. She ran upstairs to admire all her new clothes and to write a letter to Sunday and Tom as she had promised.

  She sat pondering on what she should write for a long time as she anxiously chewed the end of the pen but eventually she began,

  Dear Sunday and Tom,

  I hope this finds you both and everyone at Treetops well. I’m sorry I haven’t written before but things have been so hectic here.

  She paused then as she wondered what else to write. She desperately wanted to tell them how lonely she was and how much she missed them, but pride wouldn’t allow her to do that so she went on, choosing her words carefully:

  My mother and I are getting along famously and I’m very much enjoying living in London. It’s so different to Nuneaton and there’s always so much to do, shopping, sightseeing, my feet have barely touched the ground! We have staff here who see to my every need and Mother has bought me some lovely new clothes, all the very latest fashion. My room is very beautiful too, very luxurious.

  She paused again then to read what she had written and even to her it sounded shallow in the extreme, but better that than admit what a disappointment her mother had been to her so far. The letter continued for a while longer in the same vein, before she added her address and urged them to write to her when they had time. She then finished it and signed it, With much love, Kitty xxx

  All she had to do now was ask Ruby where she might post it, and then hopefully she would hear from them before too long.

  It was two days later, in the evening after dinner when Mabel tapped at Kitty’s bedroom door to tell her, ‘The mistress says will you come down to the drawing room, please, miss? There’s someone she would like you to meet.’

  ‘Oh.’ It was the first time her mother had ever asked to see her in the evening and Kitty wondered who it was she wanted her to meet. ‘Thank you, Mabel. Would you tell her I’ll be down in five minutes?’

  As soon as Mabel had gone Kitty laid down the book she had been reading and dashed over to the dressing table, where she snatched up her hairbrush and tidied her hair. She then smoothed the creases as best she could from one of her smart new skirts, and satisfied that she was as tidy as she could make herself for now, she went downstairs.

  She tapped tentatively at the drawing-room door and when her mother bade her come in, she entered. The first thing she saw was a very good-looking gentleman reclining on the chaise longue as if he owned the place, blowing smoke rings into the air from a very fat cigar and looking incredibly bored. He was very smartly dressed in a navy-blue pinstriped sack suit and a crisp white shirt, and he had fair hair and a moustache. He looked to be in his mid-thirties and was easily one of the most handsome men Kitty had ever seen, even if she did consider him to be rather old. The second he clapped eyes on Kitty, however, his bored look disappeared and he sat up straighter with a spark of interest flaring in his eyes.

  ‘So you are Kitty, Ruby’s little niece.’ He stubbed his cigar out in a nearby ashtray and advanced on Kitty with his hand extended. She shook his hand solemnly, embarrassed when he held on to hers for a fraction longer than was necessary, then he walked a full circle all around her, eyeing her critically up and down as she cringed beneath his scrutiny.

  ‘Quite enchanting,’ he commented to Ruby. ‘I can see you are related. She’s your sister’s daughter, did you say? And you reckon she can sing as well?’

  This must be how the poor beasts in the cattle market feel when the farmers are walking around them considering which one to buy, Kitty thought.

  ‘She has the voice of a little angel,’ Ruby assured him, then smiling at her daughter she told her, ‘Kitty, this is Max Thomas, my agent, the one I told you about.’

  ‘How do you do, Mr Thomas,’ Kitty said politely and he threw back his head and roared with laughter.

  ‘I do very much better for meeting you, dear girl,’ he chuckled, then to Ruby: ‘I see what you mean about her being unspoiled. The public would love her.’

  Kitty flushed, wishing they wouldn’t keep talking about her as if she wasn’t in the room.

  At last he directed a comment to Kitty when he told her, ‘I think it would be a good idea if you came along to see your aunt perform at the Prince of Wales Theatre in a couple of days’ time. You can decide then if a life on stage is really what you want.’

  ‘And do you have any more bookings lined up for me yet, darling?’ Ruby purred, feeling slightly jealous of all the attention he was bestowing on Kitty.

  He shook his head. ‘Not yet, I’m afraid. But let’s wait and see how this next booking goes, eh?’

  She pouted her pretty red lips and he grinned and was putty in her hands again. It was almost as if he had forgotten that Kitty was there.

  ‘Did you need me for anything else, Aunt?’ Kitty was beginning to feel decidedly in the way.

  Max was seated at the side of Ruby now, stroking the soft skin on her inner arm.

  ‘No, dear. I just wanted to introduce you. Do go back to whatever it was you were doing,’ Ruby murmured, fluttering her eyelashes becomingly.

  Kitty hastily left the room. It was looking rather as if Max Thomas was a little more than just her mother’s agent and she was only too glad to leave them to it. But at least I’ve got the theatre trip to look forward to now, she thought, and humming merrily she wandered back upstairs to her room and her book. There wasn’t much else to do. She now had someone to cook, clean and wait on her hand and foot, and if truth be told it wasn’t turning out to be as nice as she’d imagined it would be. In fact, half the time she was bored almost to tears and thought back fondly to the full and busy life she had led at Treetops. But she had made the choice to come here and now, the way she saw it, she had to become accustomed to it. It didn’t stop her missing everyone though and some nights her silk and lace pillows were damp with tears from where she had cried herself to sleep. I’ll ask Ruby where I might post my letter tomorrow, she promised herself as she was drifting off to sleep. She still hadn’t got round to sending it, and until she did it was unlikely she would hear from them as they didn’t have her address.

  Chapter Seventeen

  ‘I was wondering if you could tell me which way it is to the post office?’ Kitty asked her mother late the following morning. ‘I’ve written to Sunday and Tom and my friend, Ben, and I need some stamps.’

  ‘Oh, you don’t need to trouble yourself with things like that. That’s what we have servants for,’ Ruby told her as she daintily stifled a yawn with her hand. ‘Just pop them on t
he tray over there with my mail and one of the maids will post them later.’ It was almost twelve o’clock, but Ruby had only just got up and was still clad in her peignoir. Kitty had rarely seen her up and about before lunchtime.

  Crossing to the tray, she laid her letters on it.

  ‘Don’t worry,’ Ruby told her as she helped herself to a cup of coffee. ‘I have written to Mr and Mrs Branning and given them our full address so no doubt they’ll be writing to you very soon. If they’ve forgiven you for leaving them so abruptly, that is.’

  Kitty blinked. Her mother might have a point. She had left Treetops in rather a rush, despite being fully aware of how upset Sunday was about her sudden departure. But surely Sunday wouldn’t have expected her to miss the chance of meeting her birth mother? The girl tapped her lip with her forefinger. Never mind. In her letter she had told them truthfully how very much she missed them all, so Sunday and Tom were bound to respond when they received it. Feeling slightly happier, she then asked, ‘Did you have anything planned for this afternoon?’

  ‘What?’ Ruby already had her head buried in the latest copy of the Ladies Home Journal magazine. She was a great fan of the fashion section inside it. ‘What did you say, dear?’

  ‘I said, have you got anything planned for this afternoon – for us, I mean?’

  ‘Oh … no, no, I’m afraid not. I have a performance tomorrow evening and I always like to rehearse then rest the day before so that I look and perform at my best.’

  ‘Oh, I see.’ Kitty couldn’t help but feel let down. But then she brightened a little when she asked, ‘In that case would you mind if I went out for a while? I could take myself off and do a bit of sightseeing.’

  Ruby raised an eyebrow. ‘On your own? What if you get lost?’

  ‘I shall be fine,’ Kitty said as Miss Fox joined them. ‘I can always hop in a cab and give them this address if I do get lost, and they’ll bring me home.’

  ‘Hmm!’ Miss Fox didn’t look any too pleased with the idea. ‘I’m not so sure it’s safe for a young lady like you to be out and about by herself. There’s pickpockets and all manner of rogues just waiting to rob you blind.’

  ‘Oh, Foxy, stop fussing,’ Ruby scolded with a giggle. ‘She’s not a child.’ Then to Kitty: ‘Just be sure to stay in the places where there are lots of people and don’t venture into the back streets.’

  ‘D’you know what? I think I might just come with you,’ Miss Fox suddenly declared. She didn’t like the thought of Kitty going out alone at all, not until she knew her way about a little at least. She was also annoyed with Ruby, who didn’t seem to be making any effort whatsoever to spend time with her daughter. Phyllis Fox sometimes wondered why she had even bothered sending for the poor girl, but at least she could make what was left of the day enjoyable for her.

  ‘Go and get yourself ready,’ she told Kitty kindly and when the girl had skipped away she rounded on Ruby. ‘Would it hurt you to pay a little more attention to the girl?’ she demanded.

  Ruby instantly went into a sulk and blinked rapidly. ‘Oh, please don’t be horrible to me, Foxy,’ she said in a small voice. ‘You know how upset it makes me when you get cross with me. I’m sure Kitty is more than capable of taking care of herself. And you know how I need to rest before a performance. It takes so much out of me.’

  ‘No wonder. You’re no spring chicken any more, are you?’ Miss Fox retorted bluntly, and now real tears appeared in Ruby’s eyes.

  ‘How could you be so cruel?’ she whimpered.

  Miss Fox sniffed as she made for the door. ‘I’m not being cruel, I’m just stating a fact.’ And with that she left the room, slamming the door resoundingly behind her, leaving Ruby to jump up and closely examine her face in the mirror above the fireplace.

  As it turned out, Kitty enjoyed herself enormously that afternoon. Miss Fox proved to be surprisingly good company. She took her to see Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey, followed by Nelson’s Column and the Tower of London and finally, late in the afternoon, they stopped for refreshments in a very pretty tea room near Tower Bridge.

  ‘Thank you for coming with me,’ Kitty told her as she sipped at her delicious cup of hot chocolate. ‘I wouldn’t have got to see nearly as much if I’d come on my own.’ Then becoming serious, she asked quietly, ‘Do you think I’m a disappointment to my mother, Miss Fox? She doesn’t seem overly fond of spending any time with me.’

  The older woman’s heart went out to the girl. How disappointing it must be for her to finally have her birth mother claim her, only to then be told she must address her as Aunt and be left to her own devices. She still worried deep down that Ruby might have something in mind for the girl – although as yet she hadn’t worked out what it might be.

  She chose her words carefully as she answered, ‘What you have to understand is that your mother is used to being the centre of attention. She’s never had to put anyone else before herself, and much as I care about her and hate to say it, I have to confess she can be very selfish. But I’m sure things will come right in the end. You just have to give her time because, my dear, I fail to see how you could be a disappointment to anyone.’

  Kitty blinked rapidly to stop the tears that the woman’s kind words had caused to spring to her eyes. Perhaps it was she herself who was being selfish? After all, she had a wardrobe full of new clothes and was living a life of luxury now. Ruby had also told her that she would have a small allowance each week from now on, so all in all she had nothing to complain about. So why, then, was she missing Sunday and Tom so much? she wondered.

  ‘Now come on,’ Miss Fox said cheerily, hoping to jog the girl back into her former happy mood. ‘I reckon I can just about squeeze another cuppa out of this pot then we’ll take a stroll down past the river and see how far we get. How does that sound?’

  ‘Wonderful,’ Kitty said, and settled back to finish her scone.

  It was quite late when they arrived home to find Ruby already entertaining her agent, Max, in the day room.

  ‘Had a nice time, have you?’ he enquired as Kitty and Miss Fox walked past.

  Then Ruby surprised Kitty when she said, ‘Come in, darling. Max has decided that he’d love to hear you sing. He’s a very gifted pianist as it happens, so will you oblige him?’

  ‘Well, I err … I suppose so,’ Kitty mumbled, blushing.

  ‘Wonderful.’ Ruby clapped her hands together in that girlish way she had. ‘Well, there’s no time like the present, is there? And after that, Cook has kept some dinner hot for you and Foxy.’

  Tight-lipped, Miss Fox frowned and went on her way as Max rose and made for the piano. Kitty slowly went to stand beside it, feeling thoroughly self-conscious and very aware of his eyes watching her closely. Could she have known it, his heart was beating fast and he was praying that this girl would sing half as well as she looked. It was getting more and more difficult now to get bookings for Ruby, much to her chagrin, but if this girl had talent, he had no doubt whatsoever that he would be able to make her into a star.

  ‘Right – do you know “The Boy I Love is Up in the Gallery”?’

  It was one of her favourite songs. She swallowed and nodded solemnly as he took a seat on the piano stool and flexed his fingers. She then tried to relax and took some deep breaths as she remembered all that Miss Lark had taught her.

  When she was ready, he began to play – and as she sang the poignant lyrics she became lost in the song, and even forgot that Max and her mother were in the room.

  When it was done, she stood with her hands joined neatly in front of her and there was utter silence … until Max exclaimed, ‘Bravo! My dear girl, that was wonderful!’

  Kitty flushed prettily. Max was quite old, she considered, but he was still a very handsome man and she preened at his praise.

  ‘Yes, well done,’ Ruby said somewhat begrudgingly as she saw the appreciative way Max was watching the girl. ‘Why don’t you pop along to the dining room now and tell the maid you’re ready for your meal.’ The
moment the door closed behind her, Ruby asked him, ‘So what did you think?’ Although she supposed it was a rather unnecessary question as he was almost drooling. She could remember a time in the not too distant past when she herself had had that effect on him.

  ‘I think with a little training and the right clothes she’d go down a storm with audiences everywhere. And we would have to think of a new name for her, of course. Kitty Smith doesn’t sound quite right, does it? We need something a little more romantic.’

  ‘Hmm.’ Ruby frowned. ‘But only if you don’t get further bookings for me,’ she responded somewhat sulkily. Although she could see the possibility of Kitty bringing in a lot of money for her, she didn’t want it to be at the expense of her own career.

  ‘The thing is, Ruby darling,’ Max said smoothly, ‘you and I both know that this business is very fickle. The public like young, fresh entertainers and while you still sing beautifully …’

  When his voice trailed off she stuck her bottom lip out. ‘Are you trying to say that I am past my prime?’

  ‘I wouldn’t say that exactly.’ He had no wish to hurt her feelings but felt it was time to be honest. ‘But you and I both know that, managed properly, Kitty could become a highly paid artiste. That’s assuming you would wish to be her manager, with me as her agent?’ Max knew he really had no need to ask. He could see exactly the way Ruby’s mind was working.

  ‘Of course I would be her manager,’ she said immediately. ‘My niece is very young and green so would need someone to look out for her.’

  ‘That’s what I thought.’ Max tried to hide his amusement. Ruby was no fool; she knew what kind of fees Kitty might command, and he had no doubt that as her manager Ruby would take the lion’s share.

  ‘Well, let’s get your performance tomorrow night over with and then we’ll talk some more about it,’ he suggested, only too aware that, as yet, he hadn’t managed to procure any further bookings for her. Ruby was no longer in demand and despite his best efforts he’d had no success at all. Things weren’t helped by the state of unrest in the country. The possibility of war was becoming more likely and if that happened then the entertainment world would be badly affected.