A Sister's Shame

by Carol Rivers

  ‘Well, I’m off to me bed,’ said Elsie pleasantly. ‘But I’ll warn you that Hector and the girls ain’t come in yet and there may be a bit of noise.’

  ‘Another visit to the Queen’s?’ said Nina softly.

  ‘No. As a matter of fact, the twins got a chance to sing and dance at the Duke’s. That club over Poplar way.’

  Nina looked shocked. ‘I wouldn’t have thought they would like that sort of place—’ She looked awkward. ‘I mean, they are still very young to work in a—’ Once again she stopped, going red.

  Elsie smiled. ‘Well, this club is supposed to be very posh.’

  Nina nodded uncertainly. ‘Oh, I see.’

  ‘As I said, if you do hear anything, don’t worry. It’ll only be them. Goodnight, ducks.’

  ‘Goodnight, Mrs Goldberg.’

  In her room, Elsie put her ear to the door. She heard Nina go up the creaky stairs, but she continued to listen for the front door. If that old sod tried to get in again, she’d catch him in the act. But all was quiet, and after a while Elsie went to her late husband’s cocktail cabinet and took out a bottle of port.

  She then made herself comfortable in Joe’s favourite chair, an old, chintzy relic that was worn on the arms, and the polished wooden frame had long ago lost its shine. In places, the upholstery was quite threadbare. The seat had sunk a little too, but with a cushion spread there, and one at her back, it was as comfortable as a bed.

  She sipped the mellow liquid and sighed deeply. Now what had that been all about with Nina? It was no business of hers, of course. Had Nina acted strange because she’d been caught in the act? Bringing in a visitor after hours was understandable if it had been a young man. A kiss and cuddle with a boyfriend was only natural, and she wouldn’t blame Nina for trying. But an old codger like him, even if he was her uncle . . .?

  Elsie gave a shudder. She didn’t like that set-up at all. She didn’t want to admit to herself what she was really thinking. The girl couldn’t be on the game, could she? If she was, she was hiding it well. But when the Duke’s was mentioned, Nina’s comment – that it wasn’t right for the twins – had struck Elsie as more worldly-wise than her looks gave her credit for.

  Elsie’s thoughts went to the future. If push came to shove and she ever found Nina trying it on under her roof, what would she do?

  Elsie took another sip of her drink. A landlady always had trouble with her lodgers in one way or another. Some paid up, some didn’t. Some were noisy, dirty and drinkers. Others couldn’t be bothered to give you the time of day. She’d had a few since Joe died. But her present residents were the best of the lot.

  Coming to a decision, Elsie reckoned that if Nina followed the rules of the house and kept her business away from here, then that was all right by her. A living was hard enough to make these days and some didn’t even bother to try. Even if the supposed Uncle Ivor paid for her rent, who was Elsie to judge anyone? Least of all a hard-working, quiet and decent sort who never said boo to a goose. Besides which, she had a soft spot for the girl. And that counted for a lot with Elsie.

  Chapter 14

  ‘Everything turned out wonderful!’ Vesta hurried over to Ada who had fallen asleep on the couch. ‘Mum, we’ve got the job two nights a week.’

  Marie sat on the other side of Ada. ‘Friday and Saturday. Teddy said Mr Scoresby was very pleased with us.’

  Ada wiped her eyes with her knuckles. ‘What time is it?’

  ‘Not much past eleven.’ Vesta tugged off her coat and did a little dance. ‘You should have seen us, Mum. We sang “Falling In Love Again”, followed by “Million Dollar Baby”. We were very nervous at first and couldn’t see a thing as the lights blinded us. But when we finished everyone clapped loudly.’

  Marie knew Vesta was still on cloud nine and, as usual, was exaggerating. There had been a brief and rather weak applause, which had been very disappointing. But the dancers had said the customers needed to get to know them.

  ‘So, you were successful.’ Ada’s voice was flat. ‘I’m very pleased for you both. But it’s very late hours to keep.’

  Vesta shrugged. ‘The club doesn’t get going till ten. The dancers are on first, then it’s us. After us, the band plays and Teddy sings. Although we didn’t stop to listen to him as we came home to see you.’

  Ada blinked her tired eyes. ‘You sang with a band?’

  ‘Yes, three musicians, one playing the piano, another the drums and the third a bass.’

  Ada nodded slowly. ‘What about your father?’

  Marie glanced at the door. Hector was still in the hall. His evening hadn’t gone so well. They knew he was preparing himself to face Ada. When he walked in, he had a bright smile. ‘Hello, Ada, dear. There, you see, I returned your daughters safe and sound.’

  He took off his black coat and folded it over his arm. ‘They sang and danced very well, I understand.’

  ‘Didn’t you see them perform?’

  Hector cleared his throat. ‘No, Mr Scoresby had other work for me to see to.’

  Everyone went silent. Marie looked at Vesta, who was lost in a world of her own.

  ‘What sort of work?’ Ada asked suspiciously.

  ‘This and that,’ Hector answered vaguely. ‘When one of the acts leaves I shall take their place. I’m in the wings until then and am quite prepared to start at the bottom of the ladder.’ Hector smiled even wider under his moustache and, bracing his shoulders, he added, ‘The pay is very good, you’ll be pleased to hear. Two pounds and ten shillings for only four nights a week.’

  ‘Have you accepted?’

  ‘Of course,’ said Hector, sounding surprised. ‘A regular job is what you’ve always wanted me to have. And I hope to make you proud of me again.’

  They were all silent when he went into the kitchen to make cocoa. Finally Ada spoke. ‘I suppose you are going to tell me you will be paid good money, too?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Vesta proudly. ‘We get two pounds, and if we’re good enough, much more.’

  ‘So you’ll keep your jobs at the factory?’ Ada asked anxiously.

  Marie glanced at Vesta. On the way home they had decided that if by Christmas they were still working at the club, they would leave Ellisdon’s. But neither of them wanted to tell Ada that.

  ‘Don’t worry,’ said Vesta quickly. ‘We promise not to do anything rash.’

  ‘I hope not.’ Ada looked doubtful. Then turning her head towards the kitchen, she said in a whisper, ‘Perhaps things will work out for the best, after all.’

  Marie couldn’t bring herself to tell Ada that she had seen Hector at the end of the long corridor, sweeping and clearing rubbish. His sleeves had been rolled up and he was mopping the sweat from his brow. It was humiliating for a man like Hector, with all his acting experience, to be made to do such work.

  ‘I wish you could have been there tonight,’ said Vesta, encouraged by Ada’s remark. ‘You should have seen the other girls in their costumes. They’re called Bev, Sal, Joanie and Rose. There was another girl too, Irene. But we didn’t see much of her. She was helping the barman, Pedro.’

  Ada nodded, pushing herself up from the couch. ‘All this excitement has made me tired.’ She bent and kissed them both, cupping their faces in her hands. She gave a deep sigh. ‘Elsie was asking after you. I said you’d drop by tomorrow.’

  ‘We will,’ they said together, but it wasn’t long before they too were yawning.

  ‘Goodnight, Dad,’ they shouted.

  ‘Goodnight, my clever girls.’ Hector appeared from the kitchen. He drew them into his arms. Kissing the tops of their heads, he whispered, ‘Your mother and I are very proud of you. I hope you know that.’

  ‘We do.’ They hugged him tight.

  Marie knew they had two wonderful parents who cared about them. She hoped dearly that, in the weeks ahead, they could make them even prouder.

  ‘I’ve never been so happy,’ sighed Vesta as they lay in bed. ‘Tonight we sang with a band, something we’ve never don
e before. And those girls seemed to like us.’

  ‘Yes,’ agreed Marie. ‘But they did give us strange looks.’

  ‘Because of our silly clothes,’ Vesta giggled. ‘With our old coats and no make-up we must have looked very old-fashioned. But soon we’ll have lovely clothes, new shoes, and powder and lipstick.’

  ‘We can’t afford all that.’

  ‘With the money we earn, we will.’

  ‘Having two jobs won’t be easy,’ Marie reminded her sister. ‘Especially going to work at Ellisdon’s early on Saturday.’

  ‘Joanie said we need new songs,’ Vesta said thoughtfully. ‘You’ll have to ask lover boy for more music’

  This woke Marie up. ‘I can’t ask favours from Bing. I’ve told him I don’t want to see him.’

  ‘He’s mad keen on you.’

  Marie stared into the darkness. ‘I don’t want to lead him on.’

  Vesta turned over. ‘You know you like him.’

  ‘He’s just a friend.’

  ‘I saw your face when Teddy said something about him.’

  ‘Teddy was very unkind.’

  Vesta gave a long sigh. ‘Listen, just ask him the next time we meet. You don’t have to marry the man.’ She glanced at Marie and adopted a more persuasive tone. ‘I’m sure he would be the first in line to offer his help, if he knew what you needed.’

  ‘Do you think so?’

  ‘Yes, I’m sure of it. That’s the kind of nice person he is.’

  ‘Well, yes, he is nice.’

  ‘There, so we both agree and our problem is solved,’ Vesta said with a contented sigh. ‘Now, sleep tight, little songbird.’ She kissed Marie’s cheek and was soon snoring softly.

  Marie stayed awake, lost in thought. Although she was almost persuaded that Bing would be eager to help, she wasn’t as certain as Vesta that this was the plan to follow.

  The next morning they told Elsie all that had happened. Elsie hugged them and congratulated them, but they didn’t stay long. They wanted to practise.

  But Marie was disappointed when, after an hour or so, Vesta flopped down on the bed. ‘We can’t keep going over these two songs.’

  ‘We’ll have to, until we learn something else.’

  Vesta looked up with serious eyes. ‘Next week, you’ll have to ask lover boy.’

  ‘Don’t call him that.’ Marie sat down on the bed and folded her arms. Neither of them spoke. Marie knew Vesta was unhappy at not getting her way.

  ‘You’ll ruin our chances,’ sulked Vesta, flouncing out of the room.

  The next day on their way home from work, Marie hurried past the dock gates. Vesta dawdled, deliberately stopping to look in. Marie didn’t want to see Bing and Charlie. She couldn’t let Bing think she liked him, when it was only to get something from him.

  When Friday came round, once again, Vesta was a bag of nerves. Hector had already started at the club and this was his third night.

  ‘What’s it been like at the Duke’s, Dad?’ Marie asked as they made their way to the club on Friday night. ‘Have you met anyone famous?’

  ‘No, not yet.’

  ‘What exactly is your role there?’ Marie chanced to ask.

  ‘The brothers don’t want any riffraff. I stand at the entrance sometimes and see who comes in.’ He hurried them on. ‘Listen, I’ll meet you girls afterwards in Duke Street,’ he said as they entered the basement and a curtain of cigarette and cigar smoke engulfed them.

  The same thrill of excitement was in the air as they made their way across to the door beside the bar. The club was busy; they could hear all the talking and laughing, and the bar was surrounded by drinkers. Hector led the way down the long passage, disappearing at the end through another door.

  The girls walked into the dressing room, which was in a state of chaos as the girls raced round, getting dressed. They were putting on their costumes, blue velvet ones, with golden tassels on the bodices, and placing blue feathers in strategic places.

  ‘You’re wearing those dreadful coats again,’ Bev said, without greeting them, turning her back to the mirror and giving her tassels a shake.

  ‘We’re going to buy new ones when we get paid,’ Marie said, quickly slipping off her coat.

  ‘I should think so too. What about make-up?’

  Vesta went pink. ‘We haven’t got any.’

  ‘Well, use mine, in that box there. Put it on like we showed you. Sorry there’s no time to talk but we’re due on a little earlier tonight.’

  ‘That’s all right.’ Marie slid off her coat and made sure to keep out of the girls’ paths as they rushed here and there. She and Vesta huddled together in front of the mirror.

  ‘You going to sing different songs?’ asked Joanie, who suddenly seemed to notice them.

  ‘No, the same ones,’ said Vesta, sounding cross. ‘We didn’t manage to get any new music.’

  ‘Perhaps we can ask the band,’ said Marie hopefully.

  ‘Doubt they’ll let you have it free,’ called Bev with a grin as she picked up a feather fan. ‘The price might be too steep for you, if you know what I mean.’

  All the girls laughed.

  Marie blushed again, but Vesta was still looking angry.

  ‘My sister has a friend who might help, but she won’t ask.’

  ‘More fool you, then, ducks,’ said Rose, frowning at Marie. ‘All’s fair in love and war. And I warn you, if you want to survive in this business, it’s mainly war.’

  ‘Cheer up,’ said Bev with a grin, ‘you might not have new songs, but you can have new costumes. Help yourselves.’

  ‘Try these, they’re the same size and colour,’ said Joanie, bundling two red silk dresses in the twins’ arms. ‘But you’d better hurry as time’s marching on.’

  They struggled into the red dresses and when Marie looked into the mirror, she was disappointed. The bodice was cut low over her breasts and the sparkling sequins made it look cheap. The skirt was too short and barely covered her thighs, so that when she moved it rode up. If this happened when they danced, it would be a case of trying to pull it down to look decent.

  When Teddy’s knock came, the girls rushed out.

  ‘This dress doesn’t feel right,’ complained Marie as Vesta twirled in hers. ‘We won’t be able to dance properly without everyone seeing our knickers.’

  ‘Don’t be daft, we’re performers,’ said Vesta distractedly as she played with the tiny red sequins. ‘Look how these sparkle and attract attention.’

  ‘Mum wouldn’t approve,’ said Marie doubtfully.

  ‘Mum’s not here to see us.’ Vesta had a big smile on her face as she posed in the mirror. ‘I love mine!’

  Very soon the dancers came bundling back, laughing and chattering. Marie’s heart was pounding behind her ribs as she and Vesta hurried up the steps to the back of the stage.

  As they were singing ‘Falling In Love Again’, Marie felt uncomfortable. The red costume was tight and too low at the neckline. When it came to their ‘Million Dollar Baby’ dance routine, they couldn’t perform their steps properly. When they ended, there were only jeers and whistles.

  As they came off the stage, Marie felt her cheeks burning with embarrassment, and when they walked into the dressing room Teddy was standing there. He didn’t see them as they stood at the door.

  ‘No one told you to dress them up like tarts,’ Teddy was shouting at Joanie.

  Marie wanted to drop through the floor. She had never felt so humiliated. So they had looked like tarts!

  Teddy whipped round and glared at Marie and Vesta. ‘Get those costumes off,’ he yelled angrily. ‘And take that stuff off your faces too. You’re lucky Mr Scoresby didn’t sack you on the spot.’

  Marie felt Vesta tremble beside her. When he strode past them and banged the door, Vesta burst into tears.

  All the girls gathered round. ‘Don’t cry, love. He’s had a rollicking from Wally, that’s all.’

  Vesta sobbed loudly. ‘But it wasn’t our fault.’
r />   ‘I know, and I owned up,’ Joanie admitted at once, her cheeks the colour of her red hair. ‘I just thought the dresses were the same size and would fit. Didn’t give much thought to them making you look like—’ She stopped and faltered. ‘Well . . . too old.’

  ‘You are a stupid mare,’ accused Bev angrily. ‘You could have got us all into a lot of trouble.’ She patted Vesta’s shoulder. ‘Don’t worry, Wally won’t hold you responsible. That was just a threat on Teddy’s part.’

  ‘I told you, it’s mostly war in this game,’ said Rose as she unlaced the front of her costume. ‘You two will have to toughen up if you want to stay in the business. You may have got on the wrong side of Wally tonight, but he didn’t sack you, be thankful for that.’ She looked at the other three girls. ‘Wally never asked us to help out with these kids. Let’s hope Teddy manages to smooth things over.’

  Marie looked at the four girls and was shocked to find they all wore the same expressions. Was it fear in their faces?

  ‘It’s not fair,’ Vesta kept on mumbling as they unhooked one another and slid off the scarlet dresses and stockings.

  ‘We should have had more sense,’ Marie insisted.

  ‘We’ll keep our noses out of your business,’ Bev called across the room. ‘Wally obviously wants you to keep the innocent look. Anyway, take no notice. Wally and Teddy can blow hot and cold. You just have to go along with it.’

  Vesta sniffed. ‘Teddy’s never shouted at me before. He’s always been so nice.’

  ‘You’ll learn a lot about human nature in this place, love,’ said Joanie as she took off her feathered headdress and flopped down on a chair.

  As they looked in the mirror and wiped their faces with grease, Marie saw the other girls behind them. They were talking in whispers. She couldn’t hear what they were saying, but she guessed they were talking about them.

  The look on their faces when Teddy had shouted at them had not escaped Marie. Yes, it was definitely fear she had seen in their eyes.