A Sister's Shame

by Carol Rivers

  ‘I saw Sal over Greenwich,’ Bev continued in a whisper. ‘Did you know that Pedro kicked the girls out without a penny? Wally’s only interested in his new club.’ She touched Marie’s arm. ‘Is your dad still working there?’

  ‘No, and neither am I. Dad fell over in the cellars and couldn’t get up. Pedro threatened to shut him in down there.’

  ‘What!’ cried Bev.

  ‘If it wasn’t for Bing, my husband-to-be’ – she pointed to the tall figure at the coffee stall – ‘coming to help us, Dad might have been down there all night.’

  ‘Pedro is a sadistic sod. Him and Teddy are a heartless pair.’ She glanced quickly at Bing. ‘But your bloke looks a good ’un.’

  ‘Yes, he is.’ Marie suddenly realized how good Bing was. Why had she hurt him? She wanted them to be on their own on their wedding night as much as he did. But she also loved Vesta and was afraid she wouldn’t leave Teddy without somewhere she could go.

  ‘I hope that sister of yours sees sense,’ warned Bev. ‘Tell her from me, Teddy’s a bad ’un.’ Bev adjusted her headscarf, pulling it over her face. ‘Listen, as much as I’d like to catch up on old times, there’s always a chance someone might recognize me. It was nice seeing you, gel.’

  Marie watched her leave; a round-shouldered, dowdy figure in an old raincoat and flat shoes. What had happened to the bubbly Bev with the glamorous makeup and blonde hair? The Duke’s had changed her, just as it had Vesta.

  Marie walked over to Bing, who was paying for the coffee. He turned round. ‘Was that our first ding-dong?’ he asked with a grin.

  ‘I think so.’

  ‘We’d better put things right, then.’

  She looked into his brown gaze. ‘I’m sorry about what I said to Vesta.’

  ‘Any other time wouldn’t have mattered.’

  ‘It just came out of me mouth.’

  He grinned. ‘And what a lovely mouth it is.’

  She blushed as he looked at her with love, all trace of anger gone.

  They sat on the old wooden seats close by. ‘Guess who I’ve just seen?’

  ‘Go on, surprise me.’

  ‘Bev, the dancer from the Duke’s who Wally fired.’

  ‘What did she have to say?’

  ‘Pedro hit her to make her tell him where Joanie was. She didn’t, as she didn’t know herself. After that, she left the East End. Now she has dark hair and wears no makeup so she’s not recognized.’

  ‘One day that Pedro is going to get his comeuppance.’

  ‘She told me to tell Vesta that Teddy is no good.’

  ‘A bit late, don’t you think? And anyway, once Vesta wouldn’t have listened to a word against Teddy, as your mum found out.’

  ‘That’s all changed now.’

  ‘Then she’s got to make the break. People like Teddy and the Scoresbys are bullies, the worst of their kind. They build their trade on fear and are successful at it. Vesta has to leave whilst she can or else I’m concerned it will be too late.’ Bing took her hand. ‘Sorry I lost me rag. Your sister will never be turned away from our door, and that’s a promise. I’ll always do what I can to help her because I know how much she means to you.’ He bent and kissed her.

  Marie’s heart filled with love. She knew they would have quarrels and life would have its share of ups and downs. But she also knew Bing would always be there for her.

  Just as she would be for Vesta.

  Chapter 34

  Vesta gazed from the window. The rain had stopped and the March wind was blowing the skirts of the women who walked by. Some held their hats. Others tugged at their scarves, pulling them closer round their chins. The clouds were grey above and although she couldn’t see clearly from her swollen left eye, she could still see from her right. Lifting her hand to touch the swollen skin of her cheek, she jumped. Even the pressure of her fingertips hurt. But it wasn’t her black-and-blue face that was troubling her, it was something much worse than that. She had missed two periods now. Was she pregnant? The thought of it made her feel sick. What would Teddy do, if he found out?

  Vesta left the window and walked round the small room. It was her prison now, until she was released to see Bill. The thought of this made her feel much worse. Why had she been so gullible? Why had she believed that Teddy and Bill had wanted to further her career? She had been so stupid. She’d even decided that if Bill had asked her to move in with him she would have. After all, Teddy didn’t want her. She knew that now. Neither man wanted her. They only wanted to use her.

  Vesta sat down on the couch. She was trapped. She had to sit within these four walls each day, wondering what she had done with her life. After the beating Teddy had given her last week, because she had refused to go to Bill’s, she was trying to think of a way to escape. But where could she go? She wanted to see Marie again. She wanted be Marie’s bridesmaid. She wanted to be part of the family again and forget her terrible past. But she couldn’t see Marie like this. She couldn’t walk out in the street like this. And would Teddy follow her? He’d told her she was their possession now, that she could never go back to working in a factory. She liked the good life too much. Was that true, she wondered as she thought of Ellisdon’s, the dust, dirt and grime and the life she had always resented. What man would have her now? Even a man like Charlie.

  Slowly she got to her feet and went to the cocktail cabinet to pour her favourite drink, gin and lime. Waiting to feel it warm her inside, she caught sight of herself in the mirror. She looked like an old hag. Peeping out from the swollen mounds around her eyes were two tiny, pale blue moving marbles. The contrast of purple and mauve skin surrounding them was shocking. The split above her eye was healing. Thank goodness it wasn’t visible below her hairline. But her hair! She put her fingers through it. Lank and colourless, it clung to her head. She hadn’t been able to raise her arms properly to wash it. Her right arm had been bent back when Teddy threw her to the floor.

  Vesta gave a sob and sank down on the couch again.

  What was going to happen to her? At least, looking like this, she wouldn’t be forced by Teddy into seeing Bill again. She shuddered as she thought of his hands exploring her. All his wealth and status didn’t change the fact it was only sex he wanted from her. She had been sold, tricked into believing Bill was her friend, then given some awful drink that had gone to her head and something else – a pill. And, just like at Christmas, she had woken up in Bill’s apartment, unable to remember anything clearly. Vesta closed her eyes. She wanted to cry, but she couldn’t. She had shed so many tears.

  And now she lived in fear. Fear of waking up in this place on her own, fear of Teddy arriving. She stiffened as she heard the key in the door. It opened suddenly. Teddy stood there. Vesta wondered how she could ever have loved him. She looked into his dark, menacing eyes that she had once thought were so handsome.

  ‘So you’ve bothered to get up at last.’ He looked around. ‘This place is a dump. You live like a pig in a sty.’

  She took a step back and said nothing. She had learned that silence was better than opening her mouth. Everything she said seemed to annoy him.

  ‘Here,’ he said, dropping a bag on the table. ‘There’s some make-up in there to cover your face. You don’t seem to have done a very good job of it so far. And look at the state of you. Next week, I’ve told Bill you’ll be ready to see him again.’

  Vesta was wearing her dressing gown and slippers. She couldn’t put on her bra or slip as it was too painful to move her arm. Teddy walked towards her. ‘Your hair’s a mess.’

  ‘Teddy, it’s my arm. I—’

  ‘Not more moans and groans?’ he snapped, pulling the dressing gown apart. ‘It was those that got you into trouble before.’

  Vesta put her lips together to force herself not to cry out as Teddy held her breast. She couldn’t stand his touch. But she had to. If she refused to let him do what he wanted, he got angry. That was how she wound up like this.

  ‘Go in the bedroom whilst I pour myself a dr
ink.’

  Vesta felt sick again. Not just the normal sickness that happened when Teddy or Bill touched her, but another type. A sickness she was even more afraid of.

  ‘Well?’ He glared at her. ‘Go on, you silly cow.’

  She turned and went to the bedroom. She hadn’t bothered to make the bed. She knew Teddy would be angry when he saw it. She pulled the cover over quickly.

  When Teddy came in, she watched him take off his clothes and stand naked before her, a surly smile on his face. He took his drink in one gulp and handed her a glass.

  ‘Drink it down.’

  She did, hoping it would soon put her out of her misery.

  Teddy came towards her. She felt her skin crawl as he guided her fingers to his body. She knew what he wanted her to do. And there was nothing else to be done, but do it.

  At last Easter Sunday was here, celebrated by Marie and Bing at St Luke’s, where they were to be married and their banns had been called. As it was Easter, the Reverend had asked them to attend the service. The tall spire had glistened as though welcoming them as they walked arm in arm through the big wooden doors. The stained-glass windows shed rays of coloured light as the couple walked down the aisle. Although they weren’t regular churchgoers, everyone seemed very friendly. The organ pealed and the choir sang stirring hymns; age and history seemed to rise up from the polished pews as they sat there.

  ‘Imagine, Marie,’ whispered Bing, looking handsome in his dark grey pinstripe suit and blue spotted tie. ‘We’ll be standing at that altar in five days’ time. And Charlie will have your ring in his pocket. My mum and dad and your parents and Elsie and all our friends will be here to see us get wed. And you’re gonna be the most beautiful bride on God’s earth.’ He gave a long sigh of satisfaction. ‘And, although we won’t be going away, we’ll have our honeymoon in September to look forward to.’

  Marie smiled up at the man beside her. In September they were going to Southend for a week, when they both had two weeks’ holiday from work. Southend was by the sea, with all the fun of the fair. At the end of the season it wouldn’t be too crowded for them to find a nice bed and breakfast place.

  As much as she was looking forward to the day, Marie was beginning to lose hope that Vesta would be her bridesmaid. She’d heard nothing, receiving not even a letter. So she had written to Vesta care of the Blue Flamingo, to remind her about the wedding. Had she got the letter? And if she had, why hadn’t she written back? Even if it was only to say no, that she had decided to stay with Teddy, it would have been better than nothing.

  As she’d walked home from the factory each day, Marie had hoped she’d see her twin. She told herself that, as usual, Vesta would appear at the last minute.

  But that hadn’t happened. And now there were only five days to go until the 26th.

  ‘Happy?’ Bing whispered again.

  She nodded. She was happy. But was Vesta?

  When they arrived home, Elsie and Ada were discussing the reception that was to be held after the service.

  ‘You two look pleased with yourselves,’ Elsie grinned as Bing and Marie walked in.

  ‘We are,’ Bing nodded. ‘By this time next week we’ll be Mr and Mrs Brown.’

  Ada smiled, pushing a stray lock of her hair under her turban. ‘I hope you said a prayer for us, Marie, and Vesta too?’

  ‘Yes, I did.’ Marie looked into Ada’s eyes. She saw the sadness that Ada had been careful to hide during the months they had been preparing for the wedding. Vesta was never far from their thoughts. And though Marie had kept her letter to Vesta a secret, Vesta turning up to be her bridesmaid had been her one hope of making Ada happy.

  ‘Elsie and me are preparing the food and drink the day before,’ Ada hurried on as she looked down at her list. ‘Your bouquet and the buttonholes will be delivered by Freda on Friday morning. She’s putting some flowers in the church too.’

  Marie had chosen lilies for her bouquet and, as Freda had a son who worked at Covent Garden, they had got them at a knockdown price.

  ‘Now, is your dress ready?’ asked Ada for the hundredth time, and Marie nodded. ‘It’s in my wardrobe. I didn’t even need to have it cleaned, as the girl I bought it from had already done that.’ Marie had tried on her wedding gown and found it fitted perfectly. She and the girl at work were about the same size. Marie knew that the blue bridesmaid’s dress would be just right for Vesta. She hadn’t shown it to Ada. She didn’t want her to get up her hopes and then be disappointed. Instead she had hung both dresses in the wardrobe at Manchester Road.

  ‘On the day, we’re going to have both our doors open.’ Elsie puffed on one of the long, brown cigarettes she had taken to smoking lately. ‘The food’s going to be in your mum’s and the drink in mine. No doubt there’ll be a bit of noise, with the knees-up, but there’s only Nina and Wippet to worry about and they’ll both join in, I’m sure.’

  Marie smiled as the two women nodded in agreement. Ada and Elsie were growing closer; with Hector helping out more in the house since he’d left the Duke’s, Ada liked to sit in Elsie’s kitchen, putting the world to rights. Marie knew they talked about Vesta and were hoping that somehow she’d come to the wedding. At the weekends, they went to the market or sometimes caught a bus to Poplar. Lately they had been occupied writing invitations and making long lists. One of those invitations had gone to the Blue Flamingo.

  ‘And you, young man.’ Elsie jabbed her cigarette at Bing, coughing as she inhaled the strong smoke. ‘I hope that car of yours don’t conk out. You’ll have a lot of delivering to and fro, that day.’

  Bing smiled. ‘Don’t worry on that score, ladies. My mate Charlie is helping with the driving. And, as I’m not supposed to see the bride on that day, he’s coming round for you girls first.’

  ‘Is the groom riding a bike, then?’ Elsie chuckled.

  ‘No,’ laughed Bing with good grace. ‘I’m sporting out for a taxi as I’m staying with Mum and Dad the night before, and we’ll all come in that.’

  ‘Don’t let Charlie lose the ring,’ warned Elsie. ‘You know what he’s like when he’s had a few.’ They all remembered the story of Charlie getting drunk and being beaten up.

  ‘What are you wearing, Elsie?’ Marie asked, knowing full well that Elsie would put on a show.

  ‘Oh, a nice little two-piece I picked up down the Lane. But it don’t compare to your mother’s dress and coat. She looked like a girl of twenty-one when she tried it on in that little shop up Poplar.’

  Marie looked at Ada, who was going pink. ‘Mum, you never said.’

  ‘Oh, Elsie’s exaggerating!’ Ada was trying to hide her blush as she added quietly, ‘Your dad and me don’t want to let you down, love. This is an important day in your life. Time to get out the glad rags.’

  Marie had wanted to buy both Ada and Hector their wedding outfits. She had saved enough from the club to pay for her wedding. But Ada wouldn’t hear of her spending her money and had gone out with Elsie to buy something special herself.

  Suddenly Ada sniffed.

  ‘Oh Gawd,’ muttered Elsie. ‘What’s wrong, gel?’

  ‘I’m sorry, but I can’t help wishing your sister was here, Marie. It don’t seem complete without her.’

  Marie was silent. If only she could tell Ada that Vesta was coming!

  ‘Ada, you ain’t gonna spoil it for Marie, are you?’

  ‘No, course not.’ Ada wiped her eyes.

  ‘This is Marie’s day,’ Elsie said firmly. ‘And if Vesta has got any sense, she’ll be there, with us, in the front row.’

  ‘But what if she ain’t?’ Ada was tearful again.

  Elsie shrugged. ‘Then there’s sod all we can do about it.’

  Marie touched her mother’s hand. ‘You’ve sent an invitation, don’t forget.’

  Ada got up and drew Marie into her arms. ‘I won’t let you down on the day.’

  ‘I know you won’t, Mum.’ Marie hoped that, even if Vesta didn’t get the invitation and letter, she would remem
ber that Friday the 26th was her wedding day and would turn up.

  Vesta found a moment to slip into Wally’s room, whilst the men were talking in the club. Teddy had brought her with him to the Blue Flamingo, as he wanted the Scoresbys to see her. He now openly called her ‘the goods’ and told her that she had to use make-up to cover her bruised face, as the Scoresbys wouldn’t be happy to see damaged goods. Her reflection in the mirror before she had left had made her wince. The bruises were all covered and the mascara looked heavy and thick over her eyes. He had told her to wear bright lipstick and jewellery and more new clothes that he’d bought her. She felt like the tart Teddy had accused her of being.

  Vesta looked around Wally’s room. The last time she had been here, she had been happy. Wally had told her how well she had sung. How the customers had liked her. Little had she known then what these evil men had planned for her.

  Her heart raced and she tried to quell the feeling of sickness. Once Teddy had finished his business with the Scoresbys, he would come to find her. After that he would take her back to her prison.

  If only Marie had written to her! Vesta gazed around the room she had once thought was lavish and spectacular. But now she hated the gold and black décor and naked figurines. The ugly paintings on the wall of half-clothed men and women weren’t classy. They were crude.

  She went to Wally and Leo’s desk. Quickly she opened the top drawer. It was here the correspondence was kept; she’d seen Wally open it and take out his papers. Now, as she rummaged through, she saw documents of all kinds.

  Someone’s loud laughter drifted into the room. She could hear Teddy and Wally talking. Someone said Bill’s name. She shivered as she thought of what was being discussed, closing her eyes in shame.

  She pulled out the drawer beneath. Her heart raced. There were two letters with her name on. She picked them up. They had been opened. One was in her mother’s handwriting. The other was Marie’s. Inside the first was a pretty card. It was an invitation to Marie’s wedding on Friday. The other was a letter from Marie. Tears filled Vesta’s eyes. She wanted to be with her family. Then her eyes caught something else at the back of the drawer and she gasped. It was a gun.