A Sister's Shame

by Carol Rivers

  He took a long breath. ‘No, I don’t. And I’ll admit, it’s not up to me to put you off—’

  ‘You won’t,’ Marie interrupted. ‘My information is that this club is looking for quality acts, not hiring loose women. That is what you meant, isn’t it?’

  ‘I was only trying to help.’

  ‘Well, you haven’t. You’ve put the damper on it instead.’

  ‘You did ask.’

  ‘I wish I hadn’t now.’

  ‘Marie, I’m sorry. I spoke out of turn. But it’s only because I care for you.’

  Marie was upset. ‘I think going out again with each other would be a mistake.’

  He reached for her hand. ‘Forget what I said. I won’t mention it again. Let me drive you up West next Saturday.’

  ‘No, thanks. We’ll be busy practising.’ She wanted to let him know she was serious about the Duke’s.

  ‘When can we meet, then?’

  She heaved a deep breath. ‘Bing, you are a very nice person. I’m sure you will find someone nice to settle down with. A girl who wants a home and a family and vegetables in the garden, just like you do.’

  His eyebrows shot up. ‘You mean you don’t want vegetables in your garden?’

  ‘Don’t try to make me laugh. It won’t work this time.’

  ‘Tell you what, we’ll toss for it. Heads we go up West, tails we call it a day and that’s the last you’ll ever see of Bobby Bing Brown. You have my word on it.’

  ‘But that still gives you a chance.’

  ‘Yes, a small one. Go on, live dangerously.’

  She sighed and rolled her eyes. ‘All right. But hurry as I’ve got to get back.’

  He took a penny from his trouser pocket and flipped it. They both gazed at the coin on the back of his hand.

  She groaned. ‘Heads! That’s not fair.’

  ‘It’s fate,’ he said, grinning. ‘All right, friends it is, but one day we’ll drive up to Lyons and have a cream tea, then walk along the Embankment.’

  ‘You don’t give up easy, do you?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘I’ve got to go home,’ she said, blushing. ‘Vesta’s waiting.’

  ‘Righto. Hold on to this.’ Again he gave her his arm. On the way, he began to talk about his parents, Ivy and Johnny Brown, who lived in Aldgate. He reminded her he’d done a little travelling in the Navy. He even said that he would like to go to America to see his idol, Bing Crosby.

  ‘So you have got a dream,’ she said in surprise.

  ‘I don’t expect I’ll get round to it.’

  ‘America . . .’ she breathed, thinking of all the famous film stars she’d seen at the pictures. ‘I’d like to visit, too.’

  ‘You’re on. With your looks and my money we could go a long way.’

  She burst into laughter. As they walked, Marie knew she liked him – perhaps liked him too much. He always seemed to be able to win her round. But she had promised herself that romance wasn’t yet for her. And she meant to keep that promise, even if Bing Brown had other ideas!

  Chapter 9

  ‘I’m not convinced we’ve got it right,’ said Marie later that day after they had been practising to the records in their bedroom. They had the place to themselves as Ada and Hector had gone out. The Victor phonograph needed a new needle but that hadn’t stopped them dressing up in their costumes; pale pink and silver dresses with full skirts and taffeta petticoats that bounced around them as they danced. They only just fitted now, Marie reflected as she tried to adjust the bodice. The dresses had seen many alterations since the day Ada had first found them hidden under piles of crumpled clothing on the market stall. But they still looked pretty.

  ‘Why’s that?’ Vesta sank down on the bed, raising her feet to study the scuffs on her well-worn tap shoes. ‘These songs are our signature tunes, made famous by our namesakes.’

  ‘Yes, but it’s all swing and jazz nowadays. Fanny Brice and Josephine Baker are more popular.’

  ‘I still think our songs will do.’

  Marie frowned thoughtfully as she played with the soft silk bows on her dress. ‘We know the words to “Falling In Love Again”. We’ve sung it enough on the way home from work since we saw Marlene Dietrich looking so glamorous in The Blue Angel.’

  ‘Yes, that’s right, we do.’

  ‘And what about “I Found A Million Dollar Baby”? We know the words to that too.’

  Vesta giggled. ‘It will make a change from all the old stuff.’

  ‘Come on, we’ll begin with Marlene’s song.’ Marie dragged Vesta up from the bed. ‘Let’s look in the mirror and practise.’

  ‘Don’t make me laugh.’

  ‘I won’t. This is serious.’

  They practised for a good half an hour and finally got all the words right.

  ‘We don’t sound much like her,’ said Marie afterwards.

  ‘No, we’re more like stray cats. But with a little more practice we’ll be all right.’ They were laughing when a loud knock came on the front door. When they rushed out to open it, they found Teddy standing in the hall.

  ‘What are you dressed like that for?’ His dark eyes gleamed as he stared at their costumes. Wearing a dark grey suit and a matching Homburg he looked very handsome. Marie could feel Vesta almost wilting beside her.

  ‘We’re rehearsing,’ said Marie, feeling a little uncomfortable as Teddy’s eyes strayed down to their bare legs and stayed there.

  ‘Is there any news?’ asked Vesta hopefully.

  ‘Mr Scoresby has agreed to see you next Saturday.’

  Vesta flew into his arms. ‘Oh, Teddy, thank you!’

  Marie was embarrassed as Teddy held her close. ‘I told you I would try to fix you up.’

  Vesta disentangled herself slowly. ‘We’re very grateful.’

  Marie nodded. ‘Thank you,’ she said quietly.

  ‘I’ll drive you in my new car, if you like,’ said Teddy casually, leaning a shoulder on the door jamb. ‘But I’ll be singing later that evening so you’ll have to make your own way home.’

  ‘Thank you,’ said Vesta again, staring up at him with adoring eyes.

  ‘Six thirty sharp, then.’ He reached out and drew a finger down Vesta’s cheek. ‘Mr Scoresby will be impressed, I’m sure.’

  Marie was suddenly aware again of their old dresses. In this last year the twins had both filled out and the buttons on the backs of their bodices were straining. She didn’t like Teddy’s expression, but Vesta seemed flattered.

  ‘Better be going.’ He raised himself slowly. ‘Bye, girls.’

  ‘Bye, Teddy.’ Vesta watched him go up the stairs. Then she closed the door and fell back against it, sighing dreamily. ‘Oh, he’s simply wonderful. Fancy getting us an audition. And he said we would catch Mr Scoresby’s eye.’

  ‘Don’t get your hopes up,’ Marie warned her. ‘We’ve got to tell Mum first.’

  ‘She can’t stop us. And anyway, why would she want to?’

  But Marie knew they were dreading breaking the news to Ada.

  ‘Why didn’t you ask me first?’ Ada stood stiffly in the kitchen after placing her bags of groceries on the table. ‘I don’t want you going off somewhere strange on your own.’ Ada’s face had gone white after Vesta had told her.

  ‘But it’s the Duke’s, Mum,’ pleaded Vesta. ‘Everyone’s talking about it and saying how posh it is. And anyway, Teddy will take us there in his car so we won’t be on our own.’ Red spots appeared on her cheeks and Marie waited for the full force of Vesta’s disappointment to show itself.

  ‘I should have been asked,’ repeated Ada, beginning to unpack her groceries. ‘Now take off those costumes. They’re too small.’

  ‘Teddy said we looked pretty in them.’

  Ada glared at Vesta. ‘You must tell him you can’t go.’

  ‘We can’t do that,’ Vesta gasped. ‘He’s gone out of his way to get us an audition. The Scoresby brothers are looking for quality acts. We’re very lucky to get in.’

&
nbsp; Ada turned to Marie. ‘And what have you to say for yourself? Were you part of all this secret scheme?’

  ‘It wasn’t secret, Mum. It was just a vague offer from Teddy at first. Neither of us knew it would come to anything.’

  ‘You were wearing those when he called?’ Ada nodded to their dresses.

  ‘It was just a coincidence,’ Marie insisted. ‘We were practising in our bedroom.’

  ‘It was very underhand of you to go behind my back.’

  ‘Only because we knew you’d object,’ Vesta cried angrily. ‘We’re eighteen now and can do as we please.’

  ‘Not in this house, you can’t,’ Ada said as Hector strode in.

  ‘What’s going on?’ he asked, looking from one to the other as he heard the last of Ada’s words.

  ‘Your daughters will tell you.’

  Marie knew that, as far as Hector was concerned, they could do no wrong. Vesta knew this too, and immediately turned on the tears. ‘Mum’s being horrible.’

  ‘Now, now,’ Hector soothed, threading an arm around Vesta’s shoulders as she lifted a handkerchief to her eyes. ‘What’s this all about, Ada?’

  ‘A storm in a teacup,’ said Ada, waving her hand, ‘but no doubt your presence will make it worse.’

  Hector looked under his bushy eyebrows. ‘Come along, Ada, this just needs a little discussion.’

  ‘My answer is no,’ Ada said firmly. ‘They want to go off to this club that we don’t know anything about. It could turn out to be a den of thieves, for all we know.’

  Hector frowned at his wife. ‘What club?’

  Ada became flushed. ‘Somewhere called the Duke’s. Now don’t go on about it as you’ll only encourage them. They ain’t old enough to go gallivanting round dives.’

  Hector let out a long sigh. ‘Ada, our girls have been singing and dancing since they were old enough to walk.’

  ‘Not in clubs, they haven’t.’

  ‘This is our big chance, Dad,’ Vesta told him eagerly, the tears shining in her eyes. ‘We’ll never get another one like it. Teddy’s got an audition lined up for us at the Duke’s. It’s a real posh club and the owners will only audition good acts.’

  ‘Is that so?’ His eyebrows lifted and he nodded to the shopping. ‘Well, give your mother a chance to think about it. I can see she’s only just come in and could do with a nice cuppa.’

  Marie knew her father was trying to smooth things over. With his walrus moustache and dark hair, only very slightly going grey, he looked very distinguished. He had an upright bearing and booming voice that could be dramatic one minute and quite normal the next, a legacy of the years he had spent touring the country.

  ‘Tea won’t make the slightest bit of difference,’ said Ada, throwing him a stony look. ‘I won’t change my mind.’

  ‘Ada, love—’ Hector began, but quickly stopped as Ada’s warning gaze landed on him. He turned to Vesta and said meekly, ‘Your mother is the voice of reason here.’

  Ada seemed satisfied and nodded. ‘You already have a good job, Vesta. You don’t want another one.’

  ‘I hate the factory!’ exclaimed Vesta angrily. ‘Can’t you see how unhappy I am there? Every moment I’m at Ellisdon’s, I long to be away from it. And now I could be. It’s my one chance. Well, it’s our chance,’ Vesta corrected, looking at Marie. ‘We have decent voices and can dance, and it would be no problem entertaining people. After all, that’s what Dad is, an entertainer!’

  Hector smiled at the compliment. He patted his daughter’s shoulder. ‘Yes, it does seem to run in the family, Ada. Just look at our daughters! They’re beautiful and talented. They could have fine careers ahead of them if only we—’

  ‘Hector!’ Ada interrupted, her face now going red. ‘Just tell me this. Who are these Scoresby brothers? Why should they be interested in two young girls who have never done anything professionally? Why don’t they employ experienced people if they want new acts? Oh, it’s no use – why can’t you see the dangers?’ She took in a sharp breath and placed her hands over her mouth. Her eyes went to the faces around her and then, turning sharply, she ran from the room. Everyone heard the bedroom door slam.

  Hector gave a deep sigh. ‘I’d better go after her.’

  But Vesta caught his arm. ‘Why can’t Mum encourage us, Dad? What’s wrong with wanting to better ourselves?’

  ‘Nothing at all, love,’ Hector said mildly. ‘It’s just that she don’t want you to take risks or come to any harm.’

  ‘We wouldn’t, not with Teddy beside us,’ Vesta insisted.

  ‘He’s a nice enough lad,’ Hector agreed, rubbing his chin. ‘But I’m not sure your mother would understand.’

  ‘But we’re turned eighteen and can look after ourselves,’ Vesta cried as she, too, ran from the room.

  When another door banged, Hector raised his eyes. ‘What is happening to this household, Marie?’

  Marie sat down on the chair. ‘I don’t know, Dad.’

  ‘Do you want to go to this audition as much as your sister?’

  Marie nodded. ‘Yes, I do.’

  Hector smiled and patted her arm. ‘I’ll see what I can do.’

  As she sat alone, Marie couldn’t help thinking that the answer to her father’s question about what was happening to the family had something to do with Teddy. The trouble had started when Vesta had fallen under his spell. Perhaps their mother was frightened that Teddy would take Vesta away.

  Elsie looked at Marie with fondness. She had come in to find the argument still in progress and Marie had told her what had happened.

  ‘Well, Marie, what do you think about all this? Is that young whippersnapper Teddy to be trusted?’

  Marie wanted to say he was, for Vesta’s sake, but she held back. ‘He did keep his word to Vesta and spoke up for us, even though I thought he might just be boasting.’

  Elsie reflected on this. ‘He seems nice enough, pays his rent and don’t cause no trouble. But there’s something I can’t put me finger on. And when I have that feeling about someone, I’m usually right.’

  As much as Marie wanted to go to the audition, she felt the same as Elsie about Teddy. At the back of Marie’s mind was Bing’s warning about the Duke’s not being the right sort of club.

  ‘When he came to this house earlier this year,’ said Elsie, her face thoughtful, ‘I took him at face value. Well, he’s been no trouble and he looked clean and smart and had a fortnight’s money up front. Not many like that these days. And you know I’ve got a soft spot for anyone connected with the boards. The room above was gathering dust, with no other enquiries to rent it, so I took him on. But that’s as far as my knowledge stretches.’

  Marie saw Elsie touch the many gold rings she had on her fingers. She was wearing a black dress, which made the gold look even brighter. In her ears were gold studs and her dark eyes were very piercing. ‘Ah, well, it will all come out in the wash, as they say. Your mother will have the last say, even though you girls are nearly women now.’

  ‘Elsie, why is Mum so against us performing?’ Marie asked suddenly. ‘It always causes a row between her and Dad.’

  Elsie straightened up slowly, not meeting Marie’s gaze. ‘I told you, she’s protective.’

  ‘But is it only that?’

  Elsie walked to the door quickly. ‘Sorry, love, I’ve got to go. My friend from Bethnal Green is coming over and I’ve got to make tea. See you later.’

  Marie noted Elsie hadn’t answered her. Did she know more than she was saying? Elsie always gave a straight answer to any question.

  Marie watched Elsie walk across the hall and take her key from her pocket. She always kept the key to her own rooms on her, rather than leaving it to hang on a string. She had too many precious things to risk losing.

  Marie closed the door and wondered if her father had succeeded in changing her mother’s mind. All was quiet, which usually meant the calm before the storm. But if Mum had her way and refused to let them go, who would be the one to tell Teddy?r />
  Vesta refused to come out of the bedroom the next morning. After eating his breakfast, Hector decided to go out for a walk. ‘Just to get a breath of air,’ he told Ada. ‘Would you like to come with me, dear?’

  ‘No, I’ve got things to do.’

  After he’d gone Ada sat at the kitchen table and dropped her head in her hands.

  ‘What’s the matter, Mum?’ Marie sat beside her. ‘Are you tired?’

  ‘No more than usual.’ Ada looked up at Marie. ‘Your sister is being unreasonable. She makes me feel as though I’m a terrible mother. She hasn’t spoken to me or eaten a thing.’

  ‘She’ll eat when she’s hungry.’

  ‘I want the best for you girls,’ insisted Ada. ‘But I’m afraid to let you go out into that world.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Sometimes the entertainment business can be dangerous.’

  ‘But we have to learn.’

  Ada looked hard at her. ‘Your father sees only the good in everything.’

  Marie smiled. ‘That’s why we love him. You can’t shield us from life for ever, Mum.’

  ‘You know so little about what life holds in store.’

  ‘Do you want us to stay at Ellisdon’s for ever?’ Marie asked. ‘Even though Vesta is unhappy there?’

  ‘I didn’t know she was. Are you unhappy too?’

  Marie gave a brief shrug. ‘I don’t mind it, but I’d rather be singing and dancing.’

  ‘But that’s just a whim,’ Ada said gently. ‘One day you’ll get married and have a family like all girls do.’

  ‘Vesta and me want more in life.’

  ‘Is that why you’re not seeing Bing very often? I thought he was interested in you.’

  Marie blushed. ‘He’s just a friend.’

  ‘I see,’ sighed Ada, looking dejected.

  ‘Going on the stage is all me and Vesta ever think of.’ Marie knew she had to tell the truth even if it was painful for Ada to accept. ‘Since we were little girls, it’s been our dream. You know that.’

  ‘But you are still my two little girls,’ Ada said heavily, ‘and not grown-up.’

  Marie gazed into her mother’s sad face. ‘But we are.’