A Sister's Shame

by Carol Rivers

  ‘You ain’t in their league, Teddy bear.’

  ‘We’ll see,’ rasped Teddy irritably. ‘I’ll get away from them somehow.’

  Pedro laughed. ‘That’ll be the day.’

  Teddy forgot his anger and frowned. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘They own us, lock, stock and barrel.’

  ‘Not me, they don’t.’ Teddy gulped his drink. ‘As soon as Dearlove and his cronies are fixed up, I’m off. What the Scoresbys don’t know is that those twins have cost me dearly. I planned to get the two of them, but only got one. Her sister was the full goods – a better voice and looks and altogether a rich man’s brass – but I had to settle for second best.’

  Pedro looked at him slyly. ‘I had trouble with that very same tart on Saturday.’

  ‘What? Marie?’ Teddy frowned in puzzlement.

  ‘The old geezer was pie-eyed and fell over. The girl sends this right mouthy joker in to face me up.’

  ‘Who?’

  ‘Dunno. Someone who knew that Wally still runs the Duke’s.’ Pedro described what had happened and Teddy’s face darkened.

  ‘Stroppy sort with a loud mouth?’

  ‘That’s him.’

  ‘He’s caused me trouble before.’

  ‘I can soon put a stop to that, Teddy bear.’ Pedro reached across and stroked Teddy’s hand. ‘Just give me the word.’

  Teddy started and clutched his drink. ‘Not yet. I’ve got to think it all out.’

  ‘Don’t leave it too late,’ Pedro warned.

  ‘Does Wally know this?’

  ‘Course not. He don’t give a monkey’s about the Duke’s now. Listen, if you really want to get shot of the Scoresbys, why don’t we shack up and leave together? Cut our losses while we can. I know a few people on the boats. We could be on the other side of the world in a couple of months. Think about it. I’ve always looked after you, Teddy bear. You can trust me.’

  Teddy turned slowly to the barman and saw another madman staring across at him. The light in Pedro’s eyes was disturbing. Teddy groaned inwardly. How had he got himself into such a situation? He was swimming with sharks. But as Pedro had reminded him, he could count on him in a tight spot. And, Teddy decided anxiously, there may be more of those to come before he had saved enough to cut loose.

  Teddy forced a smile, though his stomach revolted. He was holding a candle to the devil. ‘All right,’ he murmured. ‘We’ll bide our time. I don’t intend to come out of this with nothing. The Scoresbys are raking it in at the Blue Flamingo. And before we leave, I want some of it too.’

  Pedro grinned, touching him. Teddy recoiled again. ‘That’s what I like about you, Teddy. You’re a greedy bugger, the same as me.’

  Chapter 33

  It was over three weeks since Marie and Hector had left the Duke’s and there had been no word from anyone. Marie hoped that that part of their lives was now over. She had begun to enjoy the weekends again. It was Friday and after leaving the factory she walked towards the dock gates. Although it was early, she hoped that she might see Bing and Charlie.

  But as she came into sight of the gates, another figure about her own size and dressed in a fawn coat with a fur collar, gloves to match, and high heels hurried towards her.

  Marie stood still. Her mouth fell open. ‘Vesta?’

  ‘Oh, Marie, I hoped you’d be walking this way.’ Vesta hugged her.

  ‘What are you doing here?’

  ‘I’ve come to see you, of course. It’s early knock-off from the factory on Fridays. I still remember, you know.’

  Marie gazed at her sister. ‘Have you seen Mum?’

  ‘No.’ Ada linked her arm through Marie’s. ‘I wanted us to talk alone. Can we go and sit somewhere?’

  Marie glanced at the dock gates and Vesta frowned. ‘Or are you meeting Bing?’

  ‘No, I’ve no special plans.’ Marie didn’t want to miss the opportunity of talking to her sister and she hadn’t arranged to meet Bing.

  ‘Island Gardens?’ said Vesta.

  ‘Yes, all right.’ Marie was very surprised. She had never expected to see Vesta anywhere near the factory again, even if it was just to speak to her. They took the next turning that led away from Ellisdon’s and Vesta glanced over her shoulder. ‘I didn’t see any old faces.’

  ‘Mr Morton let me off early.’

  Vesta glanced down at Marie’s coat and shoes. ‘Course, I thought you looked smart. You’re in the offices now.’

  ‘Yes.’ Marie was glad she’d given her shoes a good polish last night and worn a decent herringbone coat to work.

  ‘You’ve had your hair cut,’ Vesta said, glancing at Marie’s new short style.

  ‘Yes. I went up to Poplar to the hairdresser’s.’

  ‘It looks nice. I’ve grown mine.’ Vesta touched her long bob.

  They met each other’s gaze and laughed. ‘It’s just like the old days,’ said Vesta, squeezing Marie’s arm as they walked. ‘Do you remember which one of us first did our hair differently?’

  Marie nodded. ‘You did, on our eighteenth birthday. You pinned your hair up. And it did look lovely.’

  Vesta’s smile faded. ‘Do you ever think of when we were kids?’

  Marie nodded. ‘All the time.’

  ‘So you miss those days too?’

  ‘Yes, but now we’re grown-up and our lives are very different.’

  Vesta gave a sharp nod. ‘I suppose you blame me for ruining your career?’

  ‘Why should I do that?’

  ‘Because I left you at the Duke’s.’

  Marie shook her head. ‘No, I don’t blame you for that. But I wish it could have been different. That place could only bring trouble.’ She paused. ‘Dad and me have left there now.’

  Vesta stopped dead. ‘You have?’

  ‘Yes. Come and sit on a bench and I’ll tell you all about it.’

  They walked into Island Gardens and past the entrance to the foot tunnel that led under the river to Greenwich. The light was going now, but the red sun still shone above the river, glowing softly on the water and sending shafts of light through the bare trees. The smell of salt and tar rose up from the river, and the hoots were loud from the tugs and ships that were going in and out of the port.

  When they were seated, Marie told Vesta everything that had happened since Pedro had taken over. ‘If it hadn’t been for Bing, he would have left Dad down in the cellar.’

  ‘Teddy never told me about it,’ said Vesta in a whisper. She looked hard at Marie. ‘I suppose that’s something else you blame me for, nearly getting Dad killed?’

  ‘No, I don’t blame you for anything. Nor does he. We all decided to work at the Duke’s.’

  ‘Yes, but as I said before, I left you and Dad behind.’

  ‘Are you still happy?’ Marie asked.

  ‘Yes, course,’ Vesta nodded quickly but her eyes soon filled with tears and her lips trembled as she looked away.

  ‘What’s wrong?’ Marie touched her arm.

  ‘Nothing.’ Vesta gave a little choke. Her chin dropped onto her fur collar. ‘That’s not true,’ she mumbled, wiping away a tear with her gloved finger. ‘Everything’s wrong. And I’ve only myself to blame.’

  ‘You mean you aren’t happy with Teddy?’ Marie’s heart lurched.

  ‘He sees other women. And although he says it’s his job, I don’t believe him.’

  Marie listened to the story of the Christmas party and how Vesta had caught Teddy kissing another girl and slapped his face.

  ‘But you told us you had a wonderful time.’

  ‘I was just pretending as I didn’t want you all to see how unhappy I was.’ She took out a hanky and dabbed at her eyes. ‘So awful I can’t tell you about it.’

  Marie took her wrist. ‘Of course you can. Remember, we tell each other everything.’

  ‘Not this I can’t.’

  ‘Vesta, you’re frightening me.’

  ‘I’m frightened too. Teddy ain’t the same any more. He goes off f
or days on end and is never in. He won’t let me work at the club and makes me . . . well, he says I have to go with this other person, Bill, I met at the party.’

  ‘Go with him?’ Marie repeated, puzzled.

  ‘To his place in the West End.’

  ‘What to do?’

  Vesta shrugged. ‘At first it was to read for him, like I told you. He said if I had a nice reading voice, as good as my singing voice, then one day I could be an actress. It was what Teddy told me too, and like a fool I believed them.’ She looked away again. ‘It never worked out that way. Marie, please don’t ask any more.’

  ‘I won’t if you don’t want me to. But what can I say to convince you to leave Teddy?’ Marie pleaded. ‘It’s not too late to start afresh and leave this part of your life behind. If only you would!’

  But Vesta turned and hid her eyes. ‘I can’t,’ she mumbled.

  ‘Why did you come to the factory today?’ Marie asked, pulling her back round.

  ‘I needed someone to talk to.’

  ‘Someone?’

  ‘You, of course.’

  ‘Vesta, come home.’

  She hung her head. ‘I don’t know if I could.’

  Marie leaned forward. ‘You don’t mean Teddy would try to stop you?’

  She shrugged. ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘He can’t force you to stay with him.’

  Vesta looked into Marie’s eyes. ‘That’s the thing, I don’t think he wants me any more. Yet, I don’t know if—’ She stopped, putting her hanky to her mouth. ‘Oh, it’s all such a mess.’

  Marie drew her into her arms. ‘It’s all right, don’t cry.’

  ‘It’s all I do these days.’

  Marie waited for the tears to subside. ‘Vesta, me and Bing have set the date.’

  ‘What?’ Vesta looked shocked as she sat back.

  ‘Please don’t be upset.’

  ‘I’m not. What’s the date?’

  ‘Friday, April the 26th at St Luke’s. Charlie is going to be our best man and Dad will give me away. Would you be my bridesmaid?’

  ‘Oh – oh!’ Vesta looked as though she was going to cry again. ‘You’d really want that when I’ve treated you so badly?’

  ‘That don’t make any difference.’ Marie felt hopeful as Vesta didn’t refuse. ‘Then you could come and stay for a few days.’

  ‘I couldn’t stay with Mum and Dad, though. I’ve missed you all so much, and I know what I’ve lost by pushing you all away. But if I was to go home, even for a short while, Mum would get the truth out of me and that would make both me and her very sad. It might even spoil the happiest day of your life.’

  ‘You could stay with me and Bing, then. We’ve got a place in Manchester Road.’

  ‘What, your own house?’

  Marie felt guilty. ‘It’s nothing special. Just rooms that Bing found, and he’s doing up before we move there.’

  ‘I don’t think so,’ Vesta mumbled. ‘With a new husband you wouldn’t want me around.’

  ‘Course I would.’

  ‘Ain’t you having a honeymoon?’

  ‘Not till September. It would be lovely to have you with us. And then you would be able to see how you liked being on your own again. Well, you wouldn’t be on your own, ’cos you’d have us. Will you at least think about it?’

  Vesta nodded sadly. ‘Yes, all right.’

  ‘There’s a girl at work who’s selling her wedding dress. It’s cream satin and only six months old. She has two bridesmaid’s dresses as well. They’re blue and very pretty.’

  Vesta was close to tears. She mumbled something and stood up. ‘You won’t tell Mum and Dad you’ve seen me, will you?’

  ‘Not if you don’t want me to. Can I come to visit you?’

  Vesta looked alarmed. ‘Teddy wouldn’t like that.’

  ‘Can I write to the Blue Flamingo? Will you get the letter?’ Maire thought of the letter she had written, still at home.

  Vesta frowned. ‘I might. There’s a drawer they keep the post in.’

  ‘Vesta, I miss you.’ Marie held her tight.

  ‘I’ve got to go.’

  Marie wanted to take her sister home, back to the safety of Sphinx Street and their old way of life. But she knew that Vesta would never go back to the factory, even if she did leave Teddy. And with what Vesta had said about Teddy not allowing visits from her family, it sounded as if he controlled her life. Marie was very worried about how much danger Vesta had put herself in.

  As dusk fell, Vesta left. Marie longed to tell her everything could be put right if only she had the courage to leave Teddy. But Vesta still had feelings for him and Marie knew that nothing would be resolved until these died.

  ‘What’s next on our list?’ Bing asked as they strolled to the market the following afternoon.

  They were shopping for things for Manchester Road. Marie loved their cosy nest into which Bing had already moved. He had painted it from top to bottom, and even bought a new mattress for the iron bedstead from a reputable West End dealer. Marie didn’t want to find any bugs between the springs, a common occurrence for newly-weds in rented accommodation. But Bing had found it comfortable and clean and completed their bedroom with an eye-catching bird’s-eye maple wardrobe and chest of drawers. The last to be decorated was the small scullery. Elsie had given them a decent set of pots and pans and Marie was searching for cutlery. But most of the knives and forks on the stalls were bent or tarnished. Bing had found four small, round pudding bowls with no chips or cracks, though they did look rather worn. The painted flowers were faded, but it was still a matching set.

  ‘I’m not sure,’ Marie answered distractedly. She was trying not to think about her offer to Vesta yesterday. What would Bing say if he knew she had seen Vesta and offered to have her at Manchester Road? They weren’t even having a honeymoon until September. The wedding weekend was meant to be very special and spent on their own. Now she had told Vesta she was welcome to stay there.

  ‘What’s up?’ he asked suddenly.

  ‘I’ve done something you won’t like.’

  ‘Won’t know till you tell me, will I?’ He stopped and looked at her.

  Marie explained how Vesta had turned up at the factory and they had gone to Island Gardens. When she told Bing about Teddy and the wealthy man, Bing rolled his eyes.

  ‘What’s she got herself into?’

  ‘I don’t know. And there’s something else. I asked her to be my bridesmaid.’

  ‘What did she say to that?’

  ‘She wasn’t sure, as she didn’t want to stay with Mum and Dad. So I said she could come to us at Manchester Road.’

  ‘What?’ bellowed Bing.

  ‘I know I should have talked to you first.’

  ‘But we’ll have only just got spliced.’ Bing held out his gloved hands. ‘Blimey, Marie, what were you thinking?’

  ‘I thought it might encourage her to leave Teddy.’

  ‘She’s got a home to go to, if she wants.’

  ‘I know.’

  Bing closed his eyes and sighed long and deep. He turned and walked on, his breath curling up in the cold air. Marie knew he was a kind and thoughtful man who would do anything for her and, as she caught him up and slid her hand through his arm, she hoped that if Vesta did come to their wedding he would reconsider and let her stay with them.

  When they reached the market Bing looked over to the coffee stall. ‘Fancy a hot drink?’

  ‘Yes please.’

  Marie sighed. She felt as though she was being pulled in all directions. But she understood why he was angry. She went over to the first stall, full of bric-a-brac. Her mind was churning. She would soon be Mrs Brown – would they have many arguments like these when they were married? Bing was easy-going and nothing seemed to ruffle his feathers. Marie feared she had taken advantage of his good nature.

  She looked around for something they needed for Manchester Road. Even the girls at work had got together to buy them beige chenille curtains for t
he front room. Bing’s mum and dad had got them a posh set of china from Petticoat Lane. And Elsie, Ada and Hector were also contributing to their bottom drawer. Marie looked at the many items: tea strainers, picture frames, lavender bags, bits and pieces of jewellery and dozens of ornaments. But her mind kept straying back to the quarrel they had just had.

  Then someone nudged her elbow. ‘Hello, ducks, remember me?’

  Marie looked at the woman; a long, lined, pale face framed by tight black curls trapped under a floral headscarf gazed back at her. Her crumpled raincoat smelled strongly of mothballs. ‘Bev, is that you?’ Marie gasped.

  ‘Yes. It’s me. I ain’t a ghost, though I expect you thought I might be, after that night at the club.’

  ‘It’s a relief to know you’re still around.’

  ‘Only just.’

  ‘What happened?’

  Marie saw Bev look around nervously before she answered. ‘I dyed my hair to change my looks after the quarrel with Rose.’

  ‘You dyed it because of that?’

  ‘Rose was in with the Scoresbys. She was paid to tell them what was being said amongst us. She had it in for me from the start cos I was friends with Joanie. After Wally fired me that night, Pedro forced me out in the alley and gave me a slap. He tried to make me tell him where Joanie was, but I truly didn’t know. I thought I’d had me chips, but luckily a copper came along. I managed to get away, but I knew if I didn’t get out of the East End, I’d wind up like Irene.’

  ‘I thought she fell in the dock.’

  ‘She fell in, but with someone’s help. See, once or twice she got stroppy and bad-mouthed Wally, the silly cow. It was only a matter of time after that.’ Bev looked around again, her eyes flying here and there. ‘After that pasting from Pedro I’m always looking over me shoulder. I ain’t been back to these parts till today and, blow me down, I bump into you. What’s going on in your life now? Where’s Vesta? Is she still as daft over Teddy?’

  ‘She’s living with him now,’ Marie explained.

  ‘Christ!’ Bev rolled her eyes. ‘She always liked him. Think that was only a matter of time.’

  Marie felt a stab of pain. It was true.