‘That’s Junie’s dog,’ Constance said, not masking her disapproval. ‘Get down, Digger!’
‘Well, hello!’ Eliza crooned, holding Digger’s happy little face as his tail pumped excitedly. ‘Aren’t you just gorgeous?’
‘Tea?’ Constance asked smoothly, already waving a hand at Maria, who scuttled off to do her bidding. Eliza pulled at her other glove, taking up the offer of a seat on the best chair in the room, the velvet settee by the fireplace. She was dressed in a lemon-coloured suit and looked rather perfect in Junie’s eyes, from the tip of her French twist to her white patent leather shoes.
‘Nice to see you, Eliza,’ said Ursula.
‘Hello again,’ mumbled Isabel.
‘Hello, girls,’ Eliza said. ‘How are you, Ernest?’ She offered him her cheek for a kiss.
‘In excellent health, thank you. You’re looking very well yourself.’
‘Thank you kindly, although you’re in terrible trouble with me. How dare you keep this delightful girl hidden out of sight for so long?’ Eliza pouted, reaching out for Junie’s hand, which she surrendered in surprise.
Ernest looked uncomfortable. ‘My sincere apologies, I’m afraid I’ve been rather selfish on that account. Besides, we’ve all been a bit preoccupied,’ he said as he turned down the wireless.
‘Well, no more. Poor darling needs to have a bit of fun in these dreary times. Come down for luncheon on Friday. I’m getting a few of the girls together so you can meet some of the gang.’
‘That sounds wonderful, thank you,’ Junie said, touched.
‘Sure you won’t lead her astray and take her out afterwards? I know what you’re like with that dance hall, you and your friends,’ Ernest said, lighting a cigarette at the door.
Eliza took one herself from a thin gold case, feigning innocence as she leant forwards for him to light it. ‘I promise not to do anything you wouldn’t do.’
‘I’m sure the girls would love to see the family home,’ Constance said, looking fit to burst at the idea of such a social coup but Eliza seemed determined to ignore those two elephants in the room (as she confessed to Junie with a giggle much later).
‘Don’t dress too formal, just a nice frock you can wear to the club afterwards,’ Eliza said with a wink at Ernest.
‘Minx,’ he said, smiling, but he looked a little worried.
Junie wasn’t. She was excited. A Friday night away from the Farthingtons! She wondered if Michael could meet her somehow, away from prying eyes, of course.
‘Right, well, I’d best be off,’ Eliza said. ‘Don’t like to stay out too late at night.’
‘But what about tea?’ Constance asked as Maria arrived with the best china.
‘No, she should probably go. I don’t mean to alarm you, Eliza, but they are running a blackout test tonight, so you’d best get home,’ Ernest said.
‘You kept that very quiet,’ Constance objected.
‘I’ve told you before, Mother, top secret is top secret. Not for running home and telling Mummy.’
Eliza laughed, turning to Junie as she left. ‘Don’t forget your dancing shoes.’
Junie made a mental note to buy some as they all went outside and watched Eliza get into her very flash-looking car then drive off with a wave.
‘Oh, a silver Mercedes,’ breathed Isabel, awestruck. Personally Junie was more impressed with the idea of having a driver’s licence and wondered if she could talk her way into getting herself one.
‘You’d think she could have invited the twins,’ Constance said, sniffing.
‘I don’t want to go. Wouldn’t know what to say to those girls,’ Ursula admitted.
‘Me neither,’ Isabel agreed.
‘For goodness’ sake – they’ve got a hothouse! Even an imbecile can talk about flowers!’ Constance said in disgust, striding back inside.
Junie had to stifle a giggle at Ursula’s confused whisper to her sister: ‘Why is the house hot?’
‘I don’t know,’ Isabel whispered back. ‘You’d think rich people like that could afford some fans.’
Constance had insisted she take a gift but Junie had considered dumping it quite a few times on the two bus rides and the hot walk it took to get to the Chamberlains’ harbour-front residence at Point Piper. It was quite a feat to see past the enormous orchid in its blue pot and avoid falling, but she finally arrived, pushing the buzzer and staring at the plaque on the stone wall, which read Aqua Majestique. It made her smile, thinking of the little sign Cliffy and Jake had nailed on a tree at Burning Palms that read Fibro Majestic, with an arrow pointing at the shack, but her amusement faded as the gates opened in response to her ring.
There, in all its privileged glory, sat the most beautiful house Junie had ever seen: Jane Chamberlain’s home. And in front of it stood the most intimidating butler she had ever seen. He was eyeing both herself and the plant with glacial disapproval.
‘Can I help you?’
‘Er, yes, Miss Junie Wallace here to see Miss Eliza Chamberlain.’
That melted him a fraction but he looked down at her new black dancing shoes with suspicion before they moved.
‘Mind the lawns, miss.’
Junie navigated her way carefully, managing to stay on the wide flagstones and away from the grass somehow, and making it all the way up the front steps to the entrance hall.
‘Good Lord, she’s brought a tree with her!’ exclaimed Eliza, gliding in, a vision in pale pink.
‘Constance,’ Junie explained from within the foliage and Eliza laughed.
‘Well, it could have been worse, I suppose. Mother does love her flowers. Come in, come in. Alfred, find this a spot somewhere – mind you don’t block the view,’ she instructed and the reluctant butler relieved Junie of her awkward load, allowing her to follow Eliza through to the guests.
It was difficult not to gawk now that she had a clear view of the place. Everything was exquisite, from the towering columns to the polished marble bannister on the circular stairwell. An actual waterfall ran soothingly in the corner and masses of flowers adorned side tables in artful arrangement, possibly the work of Jane Chamberlain. But all flashes of elegance paled in comparison to the view that greeted her from the balcony.
‘Wow,’ was all she managed as the harbour was unveiled in brilliant, sun-soaked magnificence. It seemed the home was, in fact, very well named. A swimming pool met the shallow gold beach that hosted several expensive yachts just offshore, and they bobbed gently in the pale blue. Behind this stretched a harbour preparing for war with its gunships and cranes, but almost as a sideshow compared to the dazzle of sun on water leading to the span of the bridge.
‘Still with us?’ Eliza said, watching her with a grin. ‘A lot of people say “wow”. Daddy threatened to call the house that when they built it but Mother wouldn’t allow it, of course. Come, meet the girls.’
Junie followed a little nervously, conscious of the seam of her green dress sitting just right and hoping she’d hit the mark. She had – the ladies all wore similar styles in an array of colours, one even in red, and she was relieved. All that shopping with Constance had paid off, as excruciating as it had been.
‘Ladies, allow me to introduce Junie Wallace. Junie, this is Maree Thornton, Margaret McKinnon, Patricia Fairfax and Eugenie Hayman.’
Junie nodded at each in turn. She already knew that Eugenie was Cecil Hayman’s wife, Ernest’s friend in Singapore. The others looked familiar from the lawn party at Government House but she hadn’t stayed long enough that day to be introduced. Or inspected, more to the point. She was certainly under inspection now – all the way down to the tips of her new shoes, which were happily grass free. Fortunately she seemed to pass and found herself seated between Patricia and Eugenie.
‘Goodness, have you walked in this heat?’ asked Eugenie, fanning her own, very red face.
‘Yes, it isn’t far from the bus-stop.’
‘It is when the mercury’s nudging a hundred, although the papers say it will cool o
ff tonight, so that’s welcome news.’
‘Do you like mint juleps?’ asked Patricia.
Junie said yes, even though she had no idea if it was a drink, an appetiser or possibly some kind of flower from the enormous hothouse nearby. As it turned out it came in a glass, and was very refreshing after lugging the plant all the way here. Even better than champagne.
The afternoon turned out to be a rather pleasant one from then on, and Junie found the company entertaining enough, despite the conversation centring around places she’d never been and people she didn’t know. And what the chances were of rain, courtesy of Eugenie. As it turned out, the woman stuck to only two topics of conversation all day: the current weather and the impending weather. At least it wasn’t about Cecil and Singapore, which would have made things rather sombre. Nobody seemed particularly keen to discuss their husbands or beaus at all, or Ernest for that matter, but they all knew him anyway, so what to tell?
They did ask about the wedding, after all they were at that age. Apparently they were all attending, which Junie managed to pretend she was aware of.
She had supposed the whole afternoon would pass by in idle chit-chat and gossip, and that expectation turned out to be well founded, but she hadn’t expected the women to be so nice to her. Junie wondered if Eliza had instructed them to be so, and why. She certainly hadn’t expected them to be quite so risqué, as revealed when Eliza’s friend Eddie sailed by on a manned ferry with his troop. The radio blasted from the boat – ‘Chattanooga Choo Choo’ – and there was much waving and catcalling across the water.
‘Give us something worth fighting for, gals,’ yelled Eddie as he swung from the top deck.
‘You heard the man. Come on!’ called a slightly inebriated Eliza. She climbed onto her chair and raised her skirt, showing off some impressive legs, and the others clambered to do the same. Junie joined them, giggling, and soon six pairs of pins flashed across the harbour to the enthusiastic reception of some very lucky marines.
There was much laughter after that but by far the best part of the day for Junie came when the big clock inside struck five. At last they could freshen up to go out dancing at the Trocadero. Junie had sent a note to Katie, who was staying with the Rileys, and her friends from Braidwood would meet them there. She prayed that Michael had received her note too and she would get to see him again after six long days apart. The thought filled her with both joy and dread, because as much as she longed to see him, she also knew that tonight could herald the end. Time was closing in on the inevitable truth.
Junie piled into the cab with the others, her mind swirling in a cocktail of excitement and trepidation, but also hope, however nonsensical that was. That youthful brand of it that grasped at the happy stuff beyond logic, now left to bubble along with the mint juleps in Junie’s head.
It was an impossible thing to ignore as the car carried her to George Street, the city’s heart, to dance with the pulse of a country at war. To whatever changes were heralded upon the warm breeze, whatever fate awaited, this late summer’s night.
Eighteen
The Trocadero was full, despite the tension that had settled over the city, or perhaps because of it. It seemed every young person in Sydney had turned up determined to defy the Japanese threat. Junie gaped at the sight of girls being twirled about and even flipped upside down as Dick Freeman’s orchestra played ‘In the Mood’.
The American and Australian military presence was high; marines, soldiers, pilots, servicemen, nurses and officers – there were khaki, blue and white uniforms from one end of the hall to the other. And then there were the civilians, a kaleidoscope of girls in dresses and skirts. The music pumped in their blood and filled the room with a frenzied recklessness that only war could produce. Tomorrow they may all face invasion, combat or even death, but tonight was all about that music and how much it matched their youth and passion.
Junie spied Katie, Beryl and Dorn at a far table and took Eliza’s hand, leading the other women over to them. After some enthusiastic hugging, mostly from Katie, Junie made the introductions. They were yelled rather than spoken over the band but even so, Junie noticed the condescending looks the Sydney girls cast her Braidwood friends. Looking at them herself, strictly from a society viewpoint, she couldn’t help but cringe inwardly at their home-made cotton skirts and blouses. Then she felt ashamed.
‘Genie-Junie! How good is this place?’ Katie yelled to Junie happily. ‘And look!’ She held up a bottle of wine and poured her a glass. ‘Managed to sneak some of Dad’s stuff in. Want some?’ she asked Eliza.
‘Er, no, thank you. I’ve a tab here.’ Eliza gestured to a waiter who nodded back at her in recognition and made his hasty way to the bar. Patricia Fairfax gave a derisive little laugh, which Katie didn’t seem to notice but it made Junie blush.
‘Look at the size of the band, Junie!’ Beryl exclaimed.
‘And the dancing! Those two are amazing,’ Dorn said, pointing at a couple who were in full jitterbug, and Junie had to agree, although she wished her friends would look less wide eyed at it all.
‘Don’t you have dancing in that country town of yours?’ Eliza asked Dorn.
‘Not like that,’ Dorn said, her mouth falling open as the girl hung upside down.
‘Perhaps I could ask my friend Eddie to give you a lesson,’ Eliza suggested, waving at the marine they’d flashed their legs at earlier that day.
‘Nice gams!’ he yelled as he spun an equally talented dancer about.
‘Must be all the jitterbugging,’ Eliza called back. ‘That’s him. He’s very flash.’
‘Oh no, I think I’ll just dance with our boys, when they arrive,’ Dorn replied, looking suddenly nervous and moving closer to Beryl.
‘You needn’t feel intimidated. The city boys won’t bite,’ Eliza said and the other girls laughed.
‘And they don’t really care what you wear as long as you can keep up,’ added Margaret McKinnon, glancing at Dorn’s polished but worn shoes.
Katie paused mid-drink, lowering her glass to the table. ‘City boys might not bite, but it seems the city girls do.’
‘Oh, here comes the champagne,’ Eliza said smoothly as two waiters arrived with several bottles on ice. Junie felt a momentary relief from the tension that was further broken by the arrival of the boys.
‘They’re here!’ cried Beryl, waving.
They all turned to watch Cliffy and Jake make their way through the crowd, a few others in tow.
‘Katie!’ Jake exclaimed, grinning widely as he arrived. ‘You look beaut!’
‘Knock it off,’ she said, but with a pleased smile. The others were mixing and saying hello but one important party was missing.
‘Where’s Michael?’ Junie asked Cliffy, trying to hide the eagerness in her voice.
‘On his way. Had some officers’ meeting.’
Junie breathed out, both relieved and nervous.
‘Who’s Michael?’ Eliza asked, watching her.
‘Oh, uh, one of our friends. Excuse me,’ Junie said. ‘Might just visit the Ladies.’ She made her getaway, deciding that she didn’t want anyone to see her greet Michael when he showed up – it would give too much away.
The powder room was hot as she reapplied her lipstick, and she stared at her reflection, ordering herself to calm down. The right words would come when she needed them. The rabbit would find something for her to say.
She went back out and moved along the wall to search the crowd for him. So many uniforms, so many men, but only one who mattered. The music was beating hard as her gaze fell on the awkward mix of her old and new friends. Then Cliffy was shaking someone’s hand and the figure turned. Michael.
Junie drank in his face, her stomach filling with butterflies, her heart almost hurting at the sight of him. She waited for him to feel the love that seared through her and across the chaos of the dance hall, and so he did, finding her and sending her an intimate message with his eyes that was so strong it was as if he had actually touched he
r. It seemed impossible that they were not alone as the rest of the world faded into nothing and he made his way across.
But then she saw something else, something that rammed into her throat, stopping her breath. Ernest. He was here and he was approaching from the left, two drinks in hand, his eyes on her too. Junie was trapped, a victim of her own making but a victim all the same. The truth would be impossible to hide now; Michael would know she hadn’t broken her engagement to Ernest and Ernest would know she was having an affair with Michael. That was the only possible outcome. The room began to spin and she fought to find the air that refused to fill her lungs. Lies, lies, lies. She was filled with them and about to explode. Junie felt her world crumbling into the floor as her legs gave way.
But then she was dancing. Someone had caught her and was spinning her away into the crowd. She stared at her rescuer’s face in shock, recognising it as belonging to that American captain from the party at Government House. The one named after a fish.
‘Remember me?’ His white teeth flashed and she blinked at him.
‘Marlon?’
‘Got it in one.’ He held her strongly, steering her away from Michael and Ernest and losing them deep in the throng.
‘What – why?’
‘Next time you go out dancing, you should check to see if your fiancé is in the room before you send another man a look like that,’ he said in her ear, nodding politely at another dancer as they bumped their way through.
‘I don’t know what you – what you mean.’
‘That man you just melted and who obviously melted you right back. That scene was hot enough to fry eggs. Not a stranger, I take it?’
‘No.’
He nodded, the crowd now a protective wall around them. ‘Thought as much. Is he your lover?’
Junie gasped. ‘That is…none of your business.’
‘No, I don’t suppose it is. Should I take you back?’
‘No!’ She stopped dancing, looking over her shoulder, her mind scrambling. ‘Just – oh God, I need to get out of here.’
‘Might be difficult to explain if you just disappear, last seen with a Yank,’ Marlon said. ‘I think you have enough complications in your life. But of course, it’s none of my business…’
Worth Fighting For Page 13
