by Rosie Clarke
‘Oh, I didn’t know that; I’ll look out for a bargain…’ Beth quipped as Sally prepared to leave the department.
She went to her counter and began to lightly smooth a felt hat with a soft brush. Hats that were left out on stands didn’t get dusty because she covered them with silk every evening, but customers often tried the hats on and they did sometimes leave fingermarks that needed to be smoothed out on the felts.
Sally spoke to Maggie for a few moments and then Mrs Craven arrived and she had a word with her before leaving.
‘You two are in nice and early,’ Mrs Craven said, smiling at them as she removed her hat and gloves. ‘I spoke to Sally about another junior to be shared amongst the departments for when staff are off sick or on holiday. She offered to have a word with Mr Stockbridge for us. I should like a girl I could train myself – the girl Miss Hart sent us when Maggie was away was not suitable for our department.’
Miss Hart visited every department each day. As the floor supervisor, or floor walker as was the official term for her post, it was her business to see that every counter was staffed, stock in place and any problems reported to her. However, because of her attitude towards her staff, Mrs Craven preferred to ask Sally to have a word. As the buyer for the department, her opinion would be listened to.
‘Aunt Helen thinks that Miss Gibbs should be paid more now that she is working as a counter assistant,’ Beth said. ‘I agree, but she will never speak up for herself…’
Mrs Craven nodded and smiled. ‘And that is why I spoke to Sally about it. I do not think there is any point in asking Miss Hart about a wage rise for a member of staff…’
Beth nodded her agreement. She took some of the velvet trays out and brushed them, rearranging the silver items attractively before placing them back in the counter and then the first customer of the day walked in, making straight for Beth’s counter.
25
Returning to her office after making a tour of the various departments and noting that the ground floor was exceptionally busy, Sally was about to ring for coffee when Mr Harper walked in. He was wearing an open-necked shirt, dark blue blazer and grey flannels that morning and looked so attractive that her breath caught in her throat. Normally he wore a suit when he came to the store, but she sensed this was only a flying visit.
‘I just popped in to give you this…’ he said and handed her what looked like a letter. As their hands brushed, Sally felt a flicker of something in her chest and knew that she had to avoid looking at him or she would give herself away. ‘It’s a letter from one of our suppliers praising you for your efficient manner in sorting out a recent difficulty.’
Sally looked at it and smiled. ‘They had a strike of their Jewish workers in the clothing industry and I accepted the shortfall and got what I needed from an out-of-town supplier – but I told them I would re-order as soon as they were back to normal.’
‘Well, they wrote to me to thank me for my patience – but it was you not me, Sally Ross.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘I have to go. I’m driving a friend of mine to an appointment…’
‘Have a nice time, sir…’
He glanced back and grinned at her. ‘It’s just good business, Miss Ross. I have to keep the ladies happy…’
Sally watched him leave and frowned. What was that supposed to mean? He’d been seen with several different young and beautiful ladies and the gossips had him down as a playboy, but she knew he worked hard. Was it possible he was just working to keep everyone happy when he escorted his friends wherever they wanted to go?
Shrugging, Sally rang for her coffee. Mr Harper was a very charismatic and handsome man. She would be mad to let herself think of him as anything more than her charming boss…
Sally glanced up as Jenni walked into the office later that day. Jenni’s face looked pale, her eyes dark shadowed. Sally could see at once that the news was not good and stood up, anxious to offer help or comfort.
‘Your friends?’ she asked.
Jenni looked strained as she said, ‘My friend was drowned, but the boy was plucked out of the water by one of the stewards and helped into a boat.’ A little sob escaped her. ‘Tommy was playing somewhere, down with some of the Irish children, and Marie couldn’t find him when the ship struck that iceberg. By the time she got him on deck, all the boats had been launched. One of the crew signalled to a boat to come back and he tried to help them climb down a ladder on the side of the ship, but it was listing badly. They both fell into the sea – and then this steward went in after them. He got the boy first and another woman, but Marie had disappeared. He looked for her for some time but couldn’t find her – they say she must have been sucked under by the pull of the ship as it sank…’
‘How dreadful,’ Sally said and went to put an arm around Jenni’s shoulders. She could see how devastated her employer was.
Jenni shook her head, moving away as if she found it unbearable to be touched. ‘I’m all right – but it means I have to leave at once. I’ve booked a passage on the same ship as I travelled over on and I go tomorrow – so that means you’re on your own, Sally.’ Jenni looked at her oddly. ‘I had thought to stay longer, but that boy needs a friend and his father is a busy man – a general in the army. He doesn’t have much time for little Tommy and I think Henry may be too wrapped up in his own grief to see what his son needs.’ Jenni blinked hard. ‘It’s my fault Marie was on that ship and I owe it to them to be there…’
‘Yes, I see how you would feel that, but of course it isn’t your fault,’ Sally agreed. ‘Don’t worry, Jenni. I shall not let you down, I promise. Mr Harper is here and I can consult him if I’m not sure about anything…’
‘I know that,’ Jenni said and sighed. ‘Ben is capable of running this place alone, but he can be too impetuous; I was meant to supply the rock he could cling to. I feel I’m throwing you in at the deep end, Sally, but I must leave immediately.’
‘I understand,’ Sally said. ‘I’ll ask your brother for his advice on anything new until I’m certain of my facts…’
‘Be careful, Sally…’ Jenni said suddenly and she was frowning. ‘I love Ben to bits and I’d do anything for him – but I know he has had quite a few girl-friends. They never last long and he just moves on to the next one. You’re not like the others and I would hate you to get hurt…’
Why would Jenni think she needed to warn her? Had Sally shown that she liked her boss a little too much?
Sally caught her breath. ‘I like Mr Harper, but I shan’t be foolish enough to give my heart away,’ she said, though she was half sure she might already have done so. ‘I know he wouldn’t – couldn’t – marry a girl like me…’
‘I’d be happy to see him settled with someone like you,’ Jenni contradicted, ‘but he’s always played the field and I don’t want him to do you wrong – so be careful around him…’ she sounded more American somehow in her concern.
‘Thank you for the warning,’ Sally said and forced herself to appear unconcerned. ‘I’m sorry you’re leaving and I hope you can sort things out for your friends…’
‘I’ll do my best,’ Jenni said and smiled oddly again. ‘Expect long cables from me. It will cost a fortune, but Ben can pay.’ She swooped on Sally and kissed her cheek. ‘Take care of yourself, my friend. I’ll be back before you miss me and then we’ll get to know one another properly…’
Sally sat looking at the door as it closed behind Jenni, feeling slightly bewildered. Sometimes, she thought she was walking in a dream, because everything had happened so quickly. One minute she was just a salesgirl and the next she was buying the stock for the whole of the first floor. If anyone had told her she would be given this job, she would have laughed in their face and she didn’t really understand why she’d been chosen. The only reason she could think of was that she’d spoken out when her employer needed someone with a voice, someone to show him a beacon of light and believe in his ability.
He’d been quite clear he wasn’t interested in her as a woman. Had he
seen something in her manner that told him she felt more than an employee should for her boss? Perhaps her feelings had shown despite her attempts to hide them.
For a moment she cringed with embarrassment. She needed to be sensible and make a better job of hiding her feelings.
Sally wished Jenni Harper could be here to help her for another couple of months. She’d hoped for the other woman’s support for a while longer, because it was a huge responsibility to buy for a store like this and she would have to ask Mr Harper for his advice more than she would wish. She admired Mr Harper, but she must distance herself from him, because it was the sensible thing to do.
Sighing, Sally applied herself to her list and crossed out two names. Neither were willing to send representatives and the voice on the telephone when she rang had been less than encouraging. She would consult Mr Harper on certain others, but now it was time she left for an appointment with another working jeweller in Hatton Garden. Silver jewellery had been one of the store’s early successes, far more than Jenni Harper had foreseen when she decided to try a few lines, and it made sense to build on what was doing well.
26
Beth was busy most of the morning. Given her break, she went down to the basement to have a cup of tea with Fred and share the coconut tarts she’d made the previous evening. He was in a cheerful mood now that his son had confirmed he was alive and well and the time flew by. Several days had passed since the tragedy and Beth’s plans to visit Fred at his home had been postponed, partly because of the tragedy and partly because Maggie had moved in. Now she wanted to put that right and show him she was a friend.
‘We should have a picnic in the park this weekend, because it looks like being fine,’ Beth said. ‘I’ll make the food and bring a basket with me and we can listen to the band as we eat.’
‘What about that friend of yours?’ Fred asked. ‘She seems a nice young lady. I’ll get my youngest son to come along and we’ll bring some food too – make a celebration of it…’
‘I’ll ask if she would like to come,’ Beth promised, bade him farewell and went back to the department.
Mrs Craven sent Maggie for her break next and they managed all three counters between them for the next half an hour. Mrs Craven took her break between half past one and two in the afternoon; it seemed to be the time when they were least busy, and although Maggie had a customer, Beth didn’t. She noticed that Maggie’s customer was a young man and that her friend seemed to be blushing a lot. After he’d gone, Beth went over to her.
‘I think that particular gentleman has been in before?’
‘Yes, he has,’ Maggie confirmed. ‘He bought a scarf and gloves for his sister and his mother liked them, so he has bought something similar for her…’
‘I think he comes to see you,’ Beth teased. ‘I’m sure he came in the other day and left without asking for anything when he saw you weren’t here.’
‘Oh, don’t,’ Maggie said and her cheeks were pink again. ‘I’m sure he doesn’t come for my sake…’
‘I can see he likes you,’ Beth told her. ‘It’s nice that he admires you, Maggie. He looks to be a very pleasant young man…’ And good-looking!
‘But I can’t… Muma would say I was far too young to encourage followers…’
Beth laughed at her look of embarrassment. ‘One young man who likes you isn’t encouraging followers, Maggie. If he asks you out to tea one day, you should say yes.’
‘He won’t!’ Maggie said and shook her head. ‘Besides, Muma would say that a nice young lady doesn’t go out to tea alone with a gentleman she hardly knows.’
‘We’ll see,’ Beth said with laughter in her voice. ‘Would you like to have a picnic in the park, listen to a concert with me, Fred and his son on Sunday afternoon?’
‘Oh yes, that would be lovely,’ Maggie said and her face lit up. ‘That is – if your aunt says it is all right…’ Doubt flickered in her eyes and she looked both young and vulnerable.
‘There are two of us to do the chores now,’ Beth replied. ‘We’ll have the house sparkling clean, so she can’t raise any objections. Besides, why should she? She could always come too if she wished…’
In the event, Aunt Helen was asked but refused because she was going out to visit a customer and have tea with her.
‘I’ve known Martha Hale for years,’ she confessed. ‘I made clothes for her when her husband was alive and for both of her daughters. She was saying that she gets very lonely on a Sunday, the only day her cleaning woman doesn’t come in, and both her daughters are so busy, she only sees them once a month…’
‘That will make a nice change for you, Aunt,’ Beth said, genuinely pleased. ‘You would be welcome to join our picnic, but you’ll enjoy tea with your friend.’
‘Perhaps another time, Beth, my dear,’ her aunt said and Beth sensed how much her aunt had softened in the past few weeks. She knew Aunt Helen really liked and approved of Maggie, who, she said, was a very thoughtful and well brought up young lady, and decided that must be the reason for the marked changed in her attitude.
Maggie had made cocoa for them all on the second night of her stay and she’d started taking a cup of tea up to Aunt Helen in bed. Although her aunt told her she shouldn’t bother, Beth noticed that she drank it and seemed to linger a bit longer in the mornings, enjoying being spoiled.
The two girls caught a bus to the park after Sunday lunch and met Fred by the bandstand, as agreed. Beth’s eye was caught by a poster on the railings advertising the newly set-up Royal Flying Corps, with a picture of a dashing young man in a smart uniform.
Fred’s son, Timmy, was with him and also a sulky looking young woman whom Timmy introduced as Dot. Her hair was a suspicious shade of blonde and she was wearing more than a little rouge on her lips. Her shoes were high, shaped heels and her dress was pale green and had a big frill around her ankles that looked far too good to go boating on the water or sit on the grass.
The weather was mild but certainly couldn’t be called hot. Both Beth and Maggie wore simple linen skirts to ankle length with white blouses and neat collars fastened with little ribbon bows. They had straw hats and little jackets that fitted into their waists, Beth’s dark blue and Maggie’s a jaunty red. The colour made Maggie look very pretty and Beth saw Fred’s son look from Dot to Maggie more than once and frown as he compared the easy way one fitted in and enjoyed the company. Dot picked at the food she was offered and complained that it was too hot and boring sitting around in the park, whilst everyone else enjoyed the picnic.
Fred had brought a bag with a couple of cricket stumps, a ball and a bat, and they amused themselves for a while when the band went off for refreshments. Timmy was a brilliant bowler and he caught both Dot and Maggie out first ball. Maggie laughed and told him how clever he was and Dot sulked. Beth managed to send him running after the ball three times before she was caught.
Maggie was fielding when Timmy had his turn at the bat and she jumped up and just missed the ball he sent flying, but someone behind her shot his hand up and caught it.
‘How’s that?’ he called and Maggie and Beth both turned to look.
Beth immediately recognised the young man who had come into Harpers a few days earlier to buy scarves and gloves and Maggie blushed scarlet as she saw the laughter in his eyes.
‘Good catch, sir,’ Timmy said sportingly. ‘Would you like to have a go and see if I can return the favour?’
The young man came forward and offered his hand. ‘Ralf Higgins,’ he said and accepted the bat. ‘Pleased to meet you all…’
Timmy did the honours all round and Ralf took the bat. He sent the girls flying after the ball half a dozen times, but then he was caught out by Beth, who just happened to be in the right place at the right moment.
‘Well done, Miss Grey,’ Ralf said. ‘You’re a better catcher than my sister Maisie – and she would love to be here to join us this afternoon. Whose turn is it now?’
The band had just begun to file back to their seats
and so they all took their places. Ralf just naturally seemed to find a place next to Maggie and Beth noticed that he talked to her easily and naturally in a low voice and that she was no longer blushing but smiling happily.
‘Did you see the poster advertising for men to join the new flying corps?’ he asked. ‘It looks good fun and rather tempting.’
‘The clothes he was wearing in that post looked very dashing,’ Maggie said teasingly and Ralf laughed good-naturedly and admitted it was half the draw, though he thought he would like to learn to fly.
At some time during the band’s performance, Dot became thoroughly bored, so Timmy made an excuse and left them all to it. Beth saw Fred frowning at his son’s retreating back but whispered to him that band music wasn’t everyone’s favourite.
‘He’s too young to be seriously courting,’ Fred said and sighed. ‘I dare say it won’t last, but she’s older than he is and I fear she’s got her claws into him.’
‘I think you may find that his eyes are opened sooner than you think,’ Beth said and clapped as the concert finally ended. ‘I did so enjoy my afternoon.’
‘As did I, Miss Grey,’ Ralf Higgins told her. ‘I was wondering if you would allow me to take you all to the ice cream parlour before we leave for home.’
‘I think I should be gettin’ on,’ Fred said. ‘I’ve things to do. Thank you – both of you for that delightful picnic and your company this afternoon. I cannot recall ever having a happier time.’
He offered his hand, but Beth gave him a kiss on the cheek. She would have hugged him, but there were ladies and gentlemen strolling in the park and a public display of too much affection might have been frowned on, even though it was for a man who might have been her father.
