Packards

by Patricia Burns

  Then one evening when they settled down at their usual table, the pattern changed. Johnny gave Daisy her glass of port and lemon, downed half of his pint at a go and thumped it onto the table.

  ‘I’ve gone and done something about it,’ he announced.

  ‘Done something about what?’ Daisy asked stupidly.

  ‘Isobel being taken advantage of by Mr Perry,’ he spat out the name as if it were poison.

  A feeling of doom wormed in the pit of Daisy’s stomach.

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘I went and saw Mr Edward.’

  Daisy gaped at him. ‘You did what?’

  ‘I stopped him yesterday when he came round Carpets and I asked him if I could speak to him on a very important private matter.’

  ‘Johnny! Are you mad? You went up to him and asked him? Whatever did he say?’

  ‘He looked at me, you know, that way he has like you’re something nasty on his shoe, and he said he didn’t think that I could possibly have anything to say that might concern him. But I stood my ground, and I told him it was to do with a certain member of his family and I didn’t think he’d want it aired in public. That made him think.’

  ‘Blimey! You are mad. He could’ve sacked you on the spot.’

  ‘Yeah, but he didn’t. He just sort of nodded and said, “My office, ten o’clock tomorrow.”’

  ‘That’s today?’

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘Bloody hell, Johnny, I wish you’d of told me before. I’d of talked you out of it.’

  Johnny’s face was set in lines of determination, just as, Daisy thought, he must have looked when he tackled Mr Edward.

  ‘No, you wouldn’t have, Daise. I made my mind up. I’ve been turning it over and over ever since you first told me, and I decided it was the only thing to do. I got to put a stop to it, you see. It ain’t right. Even if she never speaks to me again, I’ll have got her away from him. I know she ain’t going out with him willingly.’

  ‘No one makes her. It’s a free country.’

  ‘He does make her. He’s got the power, ain’t he? She’s afraid to refuse.’

  Daisy was about to say that if Mr Perry asked her out, she would tell him where to get off, but she realised that Johnny was probably right. Isobel hadn’t the courage to refuse.

  ‘So did you go and see Mr Edward? What happened?’ she asked instead.

  ‘I did. Our floorwalker, I reckon he thought I was about to get the push, when I said I had to go and see Mr Edward. Actually patted me on the shoulder, he did. Anyway, ten o’clock prompt, there I was at his office. Best not to start off by keeping him waiting, I thought.’

  ‘Right.’

  ‘Mind you, he kept me waiting. His secretary showed me in, and there he was sitting behind his desk reading some paper or other. “Thank you, Miss Whatsit,” he says to the secretary, but never a word to me. Just keeps me standing there.’

  ‘They like to do that. They think they’re breaking you down,’ Daisy said.

  ‘Yeah, well, I sort of coughed and he didn’t look up, so I said, “You wanted to see me, sir?” And he still doesn’t look at me, but he says, “No, Miller, you wanted to see me, I believe.” It’s like a war of nerves, see? It really got my goat. I thought, I’m not talking to you while you’re reading. I’ll make you look at me if it’s the last thing I do. So I didn’t say nothing. And in the end, he gives a sigh and signs this bit of paper he’s been looking at and sort of sits back in his chair and looks at me like I’m a dog what’s just thrown up on the carpet.’

  Daisy giggled. ‘Yeah, he does look at you like that. I seen him.’

  ‘“Very well, Miller, out with it,” he says. “But be quick. I haven’t got all day.” But by then, see, I’ve got angry. I’m not going to let him push me around. So I explain it bit by bit, slowly.

  ‘“There’s a young lady what’s working in Ladies’ Sportswear. Miss Brand.”

  ‘“A shopgirl?” he says.

  ‘“A young lady,” I tell him. “A cut above the rest here. Not the sort we usually have working here. Fallen on hard times, she has, and had to get herself a job.”

  ‘Well, he didn’t say nothing to this. Just looked bored. So I went on, “She’s not used to our way of life. She doesn’t know what’s what. She’s been brought up to be a lady, see, and she doesn’t know how to look out for herself and she doesn’t know how people can take advantage of her. She’s always been looked after. Had a chaperon, like, to go about with her. It’s not like the other girls in the store.” So by now he’s getting impatient.

  ‘“You’ve made your point, Miller,” he says, “I take it that this paragon is your sweetheart?”

  ‘I couldn’t make my mind up whether it was best to say yes or no. But then I thought that if I said yes he’d go against me just because I was getting on his wick, so I told him no. I said I was a friend of her roommate.’

  Daisy glowed with pleasure at being mentioned like this, then almost immediately felt hurt at being referred to as just a friend. Johnny seemed to be waiting for some sort of remark, so she managed a noise of agreement.

  ‘So then I told him that I thought that girls working at Packards was supposed to be protected, and how they wasn’t even allowed to eat at the same tables as us men, and how shocked I was to hear that Miss Brand was being pestered by someone she didn’t want to have round her.

  ‘By then I could see I was really pushing my luck. He was looking like he was ready to throw me out.

  ‘“Spare me the sermon, Miller. Just tell me what you came here to say. Just who is pestering this Miss Brand?”’

  Daisy found she was holding her breath. ‘What did you say?’

  ‘I looked him in the eye and I told it to him straight. “Your brother, Mr Perry,” I said. “He’s been taking advantage of an innocent young lady.”’

  Daisy gasped. ‘What did he say to that?’

  ‘He took it calm as calm. Like I was telling him we needed more Turkey kelims or something.

  ‘“Very well, Miller. Just leave it with me.” Cold, like. But I couldn’t let it be, I had to make sure he really was going to put a stop to it.

  ‘“You will do something about it, sir, won’t you?” I said.’

  That had to be it. That had to be the point when Mr Edward gave him the sack. Daisy could hardly bear it.

  ‘What did he do?’

  ‘He glared at me like his eyes was going to bore right through me.

  ‘“Be assured that I will deal with it, Miller, just as I will deal with you if this goes any further than this office. I trust you understand?” I said yes, and I got out while the going was good.’

  Daisy let out her breath in a great sigh of relief.

  ‘You got away with it! I can’t believe it.’

  ‘Neither could I afterwards,’ Johnny admitted.

  ‘You should be out on your ear without a character.’

  ‘I know.’

  He knew, and yet still he had done it, gone in there and fought for Isobel against the full power of the Packards.

  ‘I’m so proud of you. That was a very brave thing to do.’

  Johnny gave a shrug of depreciation. ‘Oh well – I had to, didn’t I? No one else was going to stick up for her.’

  Not even her so-called best friend, Daisy realised. She could have done the same, but she hadn’t. Not because she was afraid of losing her job, though that did come into it, but because she hoped that if Isobel stuck with Mr Perry then it would give her a better chance with Johnny.

  ‘He’ll have you marked down now,’ she warned.

  ‘I know. But it was worth it. He’ll deal with it, like he said.’

  ‘You think he will?’

  ‘Yeah. He wouldn’t’ve said so otherwise, would he? He’d’ve just slung me out.’

  ‘You’re right there. He would’ve.’

  And he had risked that, for Isobel. Tears constricted Daisy’s throat and welled behind her eyes. She hadn’t a chance against so
meone like Isobel. He didn’t see beyond her beauty and that stuck-up air of hers.

  ‘You’re either brave or stupid. I dunno which,’ she said. Her voice cracked with the effort of sounding normal. She took a swig of her drink and choked.

  Johnny thumped her on her back.

  ‘You all right?’

  She nodded, face scarlet and eyes streaming. Everything was so very far from being all right that she could not cope with anything but a lie. It was not until she had recovered and started on a second drink that a momentous thought struck her.

  ‘Of course, you know what he might do.’

  ‘Who?’

  ‘Mr Edward, what he might do to deal with it. He might sack Isobel.’

  Johnny stared at her in horror.

  ‘He couldn’t do that! It isn’t her fault. She’s the innocent party.’

  ‘What’s that got to do with anything? She nearly got the sack when that brother-in-law of hers came and made all that fuss. It was only Miss Packard sticking up for her that saved her.’

  ‘Oh my God – I never thought of that – what have I done?’

  ‘It might not come to that.’

  ‘But if it did, and she was thrown out, whatever would she do? She’s no one to turn to. Unless –’ Johnny broke off, and a slow smile spread over his face. ‘I could help her.’

  Daisy could feel a scream of frustration gathering inside her.

  ‘But she doesn’t want you, Johnny. You said it yourself – she’s different from us.’

  ‘But if she was in trouble, she’d have to turn to me. She could stay with my family. It’d all be very respectable. I’d make sure of that. I’m not like that bastard Mr Perry.’

  ‘No, you’re not, and that’s why you ain’t got a chance,’ Daisy almost shouted at him.

  He was not the least like Mr Perry. He was brave, reliable, resourceful – and besotted with Isobel.

  ‘We’ll just have to see what happens. It’s all up to Mr Edward now,’ she said.

  Isobel awoke reluctantly to face another day at Packards. She could hear Daisy moving around, going to the washstand, splashing water. In a couple of minutes, she would have to get up. She did not know if she could stand it much longer. The physical effort was wearing her down, the long hours standing behind the counter, while the dreary monotony of the days dragged at her spirit. She just wanted to stay beneath the covers for ever. Then she remembered that it was Saturday. Half-day. If the weather was clement, Perry was going to take her for a drive to Richmond for tea. Something approaching pleasure stirred her to get up and get on with the day.

  Daisy gave her an odd look. This was nothing new. Daisy blew hot and cold so often that Isobel had come to expect it of her. She just wished she could hand that wretched Johnny Miller to Daisy and tell her to take him away.

  ‘There’s something I got to tell you,’ Daisy said.

  ‘Is there?’ Isobel asked. She Was not sure if she could cope with any revelations at this time of the morning.

  ‘Yes. But there isn’t enough time now. Not to talk about it properly. How about this afternoon?’

  ‘I – er – I’m going out this afternoon,’ Isobel admitted.

  ‘With him?’

  ‘Yes.’

  She still could not bring herself to discuss Perry with Daisy. She knew that it was not what Daisy suspected, and that Perry was the perfect gentleman, but she despaired of convincing Daisy of it. Appearances were bad, she knew that. Young ladies did not go about unchaperoned with young gentlemen. But she had no one to accompany her now, and Perry had never given her a moment’s unease. Well, not many, anyway. It was so wonderful to be with a man who knew how to behave, who was charming and lively and had impeccable manners. It was all so different from her life at Packards and the people she mixed with there. While she was with Perry, she was back once more in the golden days before the death of her parents. And if he occasionally took her hand, or squeezed her waist, or even, as he had done once or twice lately, kissed her, then it was a small price to be paid.

  If she had expressed these thoughts to Daisy, she might have realised how much her attitude had changed over the last few weeks, but as it was, she simply thought she was being sensible.

  ‘This evening, then? It’s important, Iz. It’s about – well, never mind. You just enjoy your afternoon out.’

  ‘Oh – very well. This evening. And thank you, I expect I shall enjoy myself,’ Isobel said, mystified. Daisy had changed again. She had always been disapproving of Perry up till now. She sighed. There was no knowing how Daisy would react to anything.

  The thought of going out in the afternoon buoyed her up through the morning. She changed into one of her old but good tailor-mades and put on a crisp new blouse, then hesitated over a hat. Perry had sent her one only a couple of days ago, a darling thing in raspberry pink grosgrain silk with self-coloured ribbons and a froth of tulle. She knew the rules. She could almost hear her mother’s voice telling her that young ladies do not accept presents other than flowers or chocolates from young men. But it was so pretty, and Perry was always so well-behaved, that she could not see the harm in it. She put it on, it suited her, it stayed there. She went out to meet Perry at a quiet corner several streets away.

  He was there waiting for her in the motor car, and his face lit up when he saw that she was wearing the hat.

  ‘You look even more beautiful than ever in that,’ he said, helping her into her seat, handing her a motoring veil.

  ‘You shouldn’t buy me things,’ she remonstrated.

  ‘I know, but when I saw that hat in the shop window I couldn’t resist it. I knew you had to be the woman to wear it.’

  ‘It is lovely,’ Isobel admitted.

  ‘It is on you.’

  The afternoon followed the course of others they had enjoyed. They drove to Richmond through suburbs where trees were coming into leaf, walked a little on the famous hill and went into a teashop. Here, Isobel was treated to tiny cucumber sandwiches, delicious cakes and finest Assam tea from delicate bone china while waitresses saw to their every need. It was as if she were back in Tillchester with Mama, except that, she had to admit, Perry was a good deal more entertaining than Mama or indeed than any of her relations or friends there. When she was with him, she could almost forget that she had to go back to being a shopgirl at Packards. On the way home, they drove through the park, frightening the deer with the noise of the motor.

  ‘Oh look – poor things – they’re running away!’ Isobel cried.

  Perry promptly stopped the motor.

  ‘There – happy now?’

  Isobel gave a shaky laugh. The park seemed to be empty of other people.

  ‘Y-Yes.’

  He leant across and took the hands that she held clasped in her lap. She stiffened.

  ‘Oh Isobel, Isobel, you’re just like a frightened little fawn. Don’t you know now that I would never hurt you?’

  His voice was soft in her ear. She looked down at his right hand on hers.

  ‘I – I don’t know –’

  There was a movement, and his left arm stole round her shoulders. She caught her lower lip between her teeth.

  ‘There’s nothing to be afraid of. How could I break something so pretty? It’s enough just to look at you.’

  His hand touched her face, his finger stroking gently under her jaw and up her cheek. It was strangely soothing. Her tense muscles eased and her breath came out in a sigh.

  ‘Just let me see those lovely eyes of yours.’

  Obediently, she turned. He gazed at her.

  ‘So blue. I could drown in them.’

  He leant forward and kissed her gently on the lips. Isobel felt no revulsion. It was all right with him. She was safe. It was nice. Nobody else cared for her the way he did. He kissed her again, longer this time.

  ‘That’s better, you didn’t flinch. Did you like it?’

  Honesty compelled her to admit it. ‘Yes,’ she whispered.

  This time as hi
s lips met hers they moved, opened. She pulled back in alarm.

  ‘What –’

  ‘It’s all right. You’ll like it. I promise.’

  He caressed her cheek, smiling into her eyes. Isobel found herself unable to look away. He kissed her again, with such slow insistence that she found her own lips opening to his.

  ‘There – that wasn’t so bad, was it?’

  ‘No,’ she admitted. She was in such a turmoil that she did not know whether it was bad or good, only that it made her feel strange all over, as if every nerve in her body were tingling.

  Perry smiled. She held herself ready, expecting him to do it again, but instead he ran a hand down her arm, then sat back.

  ‘I suppose I had better drive you home.’

  ‘Er – yes,’ Isobel agreed. And all the way back, she was conscious of a slight feeling of disappointment.

  As always, they parted some way from Trent Street. Perry held her hands in his.

  ‘Till next week, then.’

  ‘Yes.’

  She knew that it was going to be a very long week.

  ‘Perhaps – perhaps you could call in at the store.’

  ‘I will – but I don’t want to get you into trouble.’ So considerate.

  ‘No, I know.’

  ‘I thought perhaps next week we could go for dinner, and the theatre.’

  Dinner and the theatre sounded altogether more dangerous than Richmond and a teashop. But she found herself saying yes.

  ‘That would be very nice.’

  ‘Au revoir, my little fawn.’

  ‘Au revoir.’

  He got back into the motor and drove off. This time, instead of walking away directly, she stood on the pavement and watched till he turned the corner. Then she wondered how soon he would come into the store.

  26

  IT WAS NOT until he found the bailiffs waiting for him that Perry realised just how bad his debts were getting. The men were lurking in the street outside his parents’ house when he returned from his romantic afternoon with Isobel Brand, and accosted him before he could get to the door. The gist of their message was that he should pay up by next week or they would go to his grandfather for settlement. Perry assured them with total sincerity that he would have the money ready, and was left wondering just how they knew that it was his grandfather rather than his father that he was afraid if. He did not realise just how closely the affairs of the rich and their not-so-rich dependants were followed by those whom they carelessly exploited.