A Sister's Shame

by Carol Rivers

  Marie shook her head in confusion. ‘But we couldn’t leave you and Mum. This is our home and we love it.’

  ‘You must go. You are in danger, my dear. The Scoresbys are powerful and even have some of the police in their pay.’

  Marie felt as though she was trapped in a bad dream. It had the same feeling as the one she always had about the pregnant woman. ‘Are you sure, Dad?’

  ‘Yes, I’ve overheard the brothers talking. They give backhanders to the bobbies and even blackmail people in high places to get what they want. The only way for you and Vesta to be safe from the Scoresbys is to leave the East End.’

  ‘But where would we go?’ Marie asked bewilderedly. ‘We only know the island.’

  ‘Perhaps Elsie could help us.’

  ‘Even if she can,’ Marie pointed out, ‘Vesta won’t leave Teddy. She says she’s in love with him.’

  Marie looked at the pitiful sight of her father as he thrust his hand wearily through his untidy hair. Like her, he knew that Vesta’s feelings for Teddy would set her against any plan they could make to leave the island. Just like the dream she had had so many times, the feeling of dread was surrounding her.

  Ada had been right all along.

  And none of them had listened.

  Bing struggled yet again to tame his wilful mop of hair, which refused to sit flat on his head for very long, despite his attempt to force it into place with a wet comb. After a few minutes, his thick golden hair was standing on end again.

  He glanced out of the window at the Blackwall rooftops and smoking chimneys, which were slowly becoming eaten by the pale grey mist that was descending over the docks. November was proving to be cold and dreary, and the fog that now loomed spoiled any chance of a pleasant afternoon with Marie. A trip to the West End would prove impossible if the visibility worsened. The furthest they might get in the car would be Poplar, and perhaps a coffee stall open for a hot drink. But undeterred, Bing lifted the sheet music he had selected and slid it into the inside pocket of his overcoat, taking one more glance in the mirror. Straightening his tie and giving himself an encouraging wink, he left his small room and hurried down the steps of the tenement block and out to where he had parked his car.

  During the short drive to Sphinx Street, he wondered if he should chance even the short journey to Poplar. The fog was coming down thickly. But his heart sank when he arrived at number two. A large black vehicle he recognized as Teddy’s was parked in the road.

  As Bing climbed out of his car, Marie ran down the steps. ‘Oh, Bing, something awful’s happened,’ she blurted as he met her. ‘I . . . I must go after her—’

  He held her shoulders gently as the damp yellow mist swirled around them. ‘Hold your horses, what’s up?’

  ‘Vesta stayed out all night with Teddy. Then when she came in today, she said she was leaving.’

  ‘Leaving home?’

  Marie nodded, pushing strands of wavy hair from her eyes. ‘Dad tried to stop him, but Teddy just pushed him aside. Mum begged her not to go, but she wouldn’t listen. I’ve got to try again before he drives off.’

  Bing glanced at the car, then led Marie back to the steps. ‘Go inside in the warm.’

  ‘What are you going to do?’

  ‘Talk some sense into her, if possible.’ Bing gave her one last gentle push. When he reached the car, Teddy climbed out.

  ‘What do you want?’ Teddy demanded, moving cautiously round to where Bing stood.

  ‘I want a word with Vesta.’

  ‘What business is it of yours?’ Teddy sneered, poking a finger in Bing’s shoulder. ‘Get lost and don’t interfere again.’

  Bing felt his anger rise. He pushed Teddy’s hand out of the way. ‘Listen, you lowlife, you don’t scare me. I ain’t an old man you can push around. Or a woman you can threaten. Your first mistake was getting out of that motor and the second was opening your big gob.’

  Teddy lunged at him, but Bing snatched his collar and dragged him round to the side of the car. Vesta’s white face appeared at the glass.

  ‘Leave him alone!’ she screamed as she wound down the window, her eyes wide in fright.

  ‘Let go of me—’ Teddy began, only to cower as Bing pressed him back against the car.

  ‘Are you really intending to go off with him?’ Bing demanded as he gazed at Vesta.

  ‘Course I am. I love him. Now let him go.’

  ‘This is your chance – your last chance – to change your mind,’ Bing muttered, exerting pressure on Teddy, who was going red in the face as Bing held him fast.

  ‘Why would I do that?’ Vesta demanded, sticking her head out to look at Teddy. ‘You’re hurting him, you monster!’

  ‘He’ll live,’ growled Bing angrily. ‘Vesta, get out of the car and come with me. Your family loves you, and wants you back.’

  ‘Leave us alone!’ Vesta said, pulling the collar of the expensive-looking coat around her pale face. ‘They drove Teddy away and I’ll never forgive them. You can tell them that Mr Scoresby has offered me a part in his new cabaret and I’ll never go back to Ellisdon’s.’

  ‘I’ll have you for this, Brown, and that’s a promise,’ Teddy snarled as Bing reluctantly released him. As he stumbled into the swirling layers of fog, Bing could hear him cursing.

  The car soon sped away into the yellowing mist and Bing could only watch helplessly. Teddy was a coward at heart, full of bluster, and an opportunist. How could Vesta be so blind to the truth?

  Sighing heavily and pushing his hands in his pockets, Bing walked back to number two, his heart heavy. He feared for Vesta but, more than that, he feared for Marie.

  ‘How could she go off with him like that?’ Ada cried as she sat on the couch, her eyes red raw and a crumpled handkerchief in her hands.

  ‘Now, now,’ soothed Hector, his once handsome face creased with worry lines as he put his arm gently round her. ‘She’ll soon tire of being away from home – you know our Vesta.’ He looked across to where Marie sat with Bing on the easy chairs beside the fire. Marie saw the secret agony in his eyes.

  ‘It’s him, that Teddy, who’s turned her against us.’ Ada stood up, pacing the room as though she was trying to think aloud. ‘Where is she living? Is it with him? But she couldn’t! Living in sin would be against all we’ve taught her. Oh, Hector, you must get her away from him. It’s your responsibility as her father.’

  ‘But, my dear, what can I do? She says she loves him.’

  ‘She don’t know what love is. All she has is these big ideas that you gave her; never a day went by when you told her she could be famous if she went on the stage.’

  He nodded, sinking his head on his chest. ‘And for that I am truly sorry, Ada. I should have listened to you.’

  ‘Sorry won’t help our daughter now,’ Ada said, angry tears filling her eyes again. ‘As a mother, I know she’s in danger, I feel it!’

  ‘I’ll speak to her on Friday,’ Marie said quietly.

  ‘And I shall be beside you when you do,’ Hector nodded, squaring his shoulders in a fresh attempt to look positive. ‘With a little diplomacy, we’ll persuade her to come home, I’m sure.’

  ‘She didn’t even say where she’d been last night,’ croaked Ada, threading her handkerchief between her fingers as though she hadn’t been listening. ‘She just came in and announced she was leaving. Just like that. As though all the years before didn’t matter. As though we were nothing to her. She ain’t even taken her clothes. Just said he was going to buy her new ones. Like that coat she had on today. I’ve never even seen it before. Dressed up like a little madam, she was. No, not a madam, but someone that I didn’t recognize . . .’ Ada held her face in her hands and began weeping. Hector went to her and held her in his arms.

  The room was silent as no one knew what to say.

  Marie looked at Bing. ‘I’ll make some tea.’

  After a while, he joined her in the kitchen. ‘Marie, I don’t want you to go back to the club,’ he told her firmly.

&
nbsp; ‘I don’t want to, either. But—’ She stopped as she put the kettle on to boil. Turning to Bing, she whispered, ‘Mum doesn’t know this, but Dad says he’s been saving up for me and Vesta to go away. Like you, he believes the Scoresbys are bad people, but now it’s too late. Vesta’s gone with Teddy. If I leave the club, how will we see her if she don’t come home? As it is, they’ve separated us. I’m in the chorus line, and Vesta is to sing in this new room that’s specially for Wally’s rich friends.’

  ‘Did Vesta go along with this idea?’

  ‘Yes, I’m afraid she did.’

  ‘Christ, that ain’t good.’ Bing pushed a worried hand through his hair. ‘But how can I protect you at the club?’

  She smiled. ‘Is that what you want to do?’

  He nodded. ‘If you’d let me.’

  She felt his arms go round her, pulling her gently against him. ‘Marie, listen, I understand you feel responsible for Vesta, but it sounds like they ain’t about to make it easy for you at the club.’

  ‘I know. But I’ve got to stay till we know about Vesta.’

  ‘Then I’ll be there to meet you after you finish. I want the Scoresbys to know that someone is in your corner.’

  ‘You’d do that for me?’

  He lifted her chin tenderly. ‘That and a lot more. This ain’t the time to tell you, but I love you, Marie. Always have. Always will.’

  ‘Oh, Bing, I—’

  ‘You don’t have to say anything.’

  Marie’s eyes filled with tears. ‘I don’t deserve you.’

  ‘I just want you to know the truth. I can’t keep saying I’m only a friend. What I feel is more than friendship. Much more.’

  He bent his head slowly and kissed her full on the lips. She found herself kissing him back, her heart pounding. ‘Oh, Bing,’ she mumbled, her body quivering as he held her.

  ‘I love you, Marie,’ he told her again.

  She looked into his eyes. ‘And I love you too.’

  He smiled, tracing a finger over her cheek. ‘Then whatever lies ahead, we’ll face it together, right?’

  She nodded, but what could Bing or anyone do, if the Scoresbys were as powerful as Hector had said?

  ‘Let’s have a smile now and try to cheer your mum and dad up,’ he whispered, taking her hand. ‘Tomorrow is another day. Things won’t look as black as they do now.’

  Marie hoped that was true. Dare she let herself have hope? For a few short moments, the icy feeling inside her disappeared and a comforting warmth replaced it.

  Chapter 23

  ‘I’ll hold your sister’s job until Friday,’ said Mr Morton the following week. ‘But after that, I’ll find someone to replace her.’

  ‘Thank you, Mr Morton.’ Marie stood alone in his office before his large desk. The offices were in a building adjacent to the factory and very clean compared to the dirty, dusty and noisy shop floor.

  Folding his hands in his lap, he rested back in his chair. His long, stern face wore an expression of curiosity. ‘And you, Marie, do you intend to remain here at Ellisdon’s?’

  ‘Yes, Mr Morton, of course.’

  ‘You’ve been here since you left school?’

  Marie nodded, looking down in her lap and remembering the days that she and Vesta had shared at Ellisdon’s. They hadn’t all been happy, but they had been together and had a laugh. That was, until the job at the Duke’s came along.

  ‘Have you thought about your own future?’ Mr Morton asked.

  Marie looked up, surprised at his question. ‘No, Mr Morton.’

  ‘There will be a position free in the clerical department soon. I would like to place someone there whom I can trust and engage someone new for the cutting room.’

  ‘But I can’t type or do shorthand,’ she blurted.

  A kind smile broke over Mr Morton’s stern face. He sat forward, adjusting the glasses on the end of his long nose. ‘This particular post requires a runner between the factory and the offices, delivering parts and correspondence. Also you will be required to check off the leather as it is brought in by the barges to the warehouse. It’s a responsible job, requiring good timekeeping. Do you think you could do that?’

  ‘Yes, I think so, Mr Morton,’ Marie nodded.

  ‘Good. You’re a bright girl. And you’ve been with us long enough for me to believe that you will be suitable for the job that Miss Davis did.’

  ‘Miss Davis?’ Marie repeated in surprise. ‘Flo Davis?’

  He frowned. ‘Do you know her?’

  ‘Only in passing.’ Marie felt her cheeks grow warm.

  ‘Well, she was a good employee and I’m sorry we lost her due to her unfortunate circumstances. Now, I think that’s all. Think about the offer I have made you and let me know by the end of the week.’

  ‘Thank you, Mr Morton.’

  She left the office and hurried across to the factory. The chimneys were belting out smoke across the docks and the cold November wind was blowing the dust from the open containers across the bare yards. The hoots and sounds from the river, along with the cry of the gulls, added to the lonely feeling of the day without Vesta to talk to.

  As Marie put her coat in the cloakroom and wrapped her coarse apron around her waist before going to the cutting room, she looked in the mirror. A wave of sadness engulfed her. She missed Vesta so much. Not even the offer of the new job had helped, although it would be a fresh start if Vesta truly wasn’t coming back. She didn’t like to think about that. Perhaps by Friday, Vesta would be home.

  Marie looked at her reflection in the cracked, rusty cloakroom mirror. Her abundance of blonde waves and her big blue eyes stared back. So Flo Davis had been telling the truth.

  ‘Unfortunate circumstances’, Mr Morton had said. Marie shuddered at the thought of Flo having Teddy’s child, with little hope of marrying the father.

  On Friday, when Marie arrived nervously at the club, neither Teddy nor Vesta was to be found. ‘Teddy said you’re to wear Bev’s old costume,’ said Rose in the dressing room as she smeared red lipstick over her lips. ‘You’ve seen us do the routine enough times. So you’ll easily pick it up.’

  Marie listened as Rose repeated the steps and saw Sal and Shirley smirking in the mirror. She knew the girls didn’t like her, but she wasn’t going to let them see that she cared. She didn’t ask about Vesta either, as she knew they wouldn’t tell her.

  Their performance that night was brief, as a brawl started at the bar. Pedro dealt with the drunks but the club was left empty, and the cabaret and band was dismissed for the night.

  ‘I told you it won’t be the same round here,’ complained Rose to Shirley as they took off their costumes. ‘Wally is going to save Teddy and his star acts for the posh lot. We’re the mugs who’ll have to put up with the gropers and the drunks.’

  Marie hung her costume on the rail, quickly putting on her coat. She wanted to try to find Vesta.

  ‘Goodnight then,’ she called as she slipped her bag over her shoulder.

  ‘’Night,’ answered Shirley and Sal, barely glancing her way as they listened to Rose’s fierce complaints.

  ‘No use going up there,’ shouted a voice as Marie made her way along the dark passage.

  Her heart leaped. She turned quickly to see the familiar figure of the piano player. ‘Oh, it’s you, Benny.’

  ‘There’s no point in going up there, gel.’

  ‘I want to find Vesta.’

  Benny slid on his battered trilby. ‘Wally’s had the door removed and a wall built there instead.’

  Marie frowned. ‘But why do that?’

  ‘There’s a new club on the other side now. Come on, I’ll tell you on the way out.’

  They made their way past the dressing room and office, where the door was open. The office was cleared out, except for a table and chair in the corner.

  ‘It’s empty!’ she gasped as they paused to look in.

  ‘Pedro is running the show here,’ Benny explained as he guided her across the desert
ed club and into the cold night. ‘Keep it under your hat, but the club failed to meet expectations and is in debt.’

  ‘And so they’ve just left?’ Marie asked bewilderedly.

  Benny nodded. ‘Wally bungs Pedro a wedge, of course, to front what remains of the business. Meanwhile, the new club is called the Blue Flamingo. I hear it’s very up-market.’

  ‘But what about us?’ Marie asked. ‘Is Pedro our boss?’

  Benny shrugged. ‘Dunno, love. We’ll have to wait and see what happens. Now, do you want me to walk you up to the High Street? It ain’t healthy to be out here on your own.’

  ‘I was hoping me dad would meet me.’

  ‘No chance of that.’ Benny grimaced. ‘That nutter Pedro sent him down in the cellars. It ain’t right an old bloke like him should have to shift all that booze.’

  Marie’s shoulders slumped. ‘Poor Dad.’

  Just then, headlights appeared and a vehicle drove slowly down the alley. It stopped and Bing climbed out.

  ‘This is Benny, one of the band,’ Marie said as Bing approached. ‘Benny, this is . . .’ Marie hesitated as the two men eyed each other suspiciously.

  ‘Let’s just say I’m someone in Marie’s corner,’ Bing muttered, sliding an arm around her waist.

  ‘Good on you, son,’ Benny approved, nodding. ‘Just you take care of her, eh?’ He tipped his hat and disappeared into the darkness.

  Marie smiled up at Bing. ‘Don’t worry, Benny is to be trusted.’

  ‘If you say so,’ said Bing uncertainly. ‘Did you see Vesta?’

  ‘No. Benny told me that they’ve had the door sealed up and opened a club on the other side, called the Blue Flamingo. The Duke’s is in debt and the Scoresbys have left Pedro in charge.’

  ‘So the rats are jumping from the sinking ship?’ Bing growled.

  ‘Looks like it.’

  ‘What’s worse, Pedro’s made Dad go down in the cellars to work.’

  ‘Christ, Marie, he’s too old for that. In my book, the two of you are better off quitting the club right away.’