by June Francis
She was glad that during that afternoon several people called in for cakes and tea. Betty did some waiting on and seemed to enjoy it. Emma was relieved to have other things to think about, so less time to dwell on Dorothy’s shocking news and her suspicion that the uncle was responsible for Betty’s pregnancy. No wonder she had run away, but how terribly sad it was that she had been unable to tell her aunt or Dorothy about what had taken place.
Yet in a way Emma could understand why. It was just too awful to talk about and, in the normal way of things, girls of Betty’s age, or even hers and Dorothy’s, weren’t expected to know much about what went on when it came to sex. It was something that wasn’t discussed openly. She had no idea how she was going to get Betty to unburden herself, when most likely she wanted to try and forget about it.
By early evening, the fine day had given way to drizzle, and after the evening meal Betty went up to her bedroom, having told Emma that she felt in the mood to do some painting. Lila dropped by, having heard on the grapevine that Emma had her halfsister staying with her.
‘So Betty’s come to visit,’ she said, sitting herself down in front of the fire.
‘Yes. She’s been ill and has come here to convalesce,’ said Emma.
Lila looked her straight in the eye. ‘I see. How long is she going to be staying?’
‘As long as it takes for her to get better,’ said Emma, after a moment’s hesitation.
‘I heard that she ran away from an orphanage, would you believe?’ said Lila with a wry smile.
‘Well, you know that can’t be true because she wasn’t in an orphanage. She has left home but that’s because she hasn’t been well,’ said Emma.
‘In what way not well?’ asked Lila.
Emma rolled her eyes. ‘As having been very sick and needing to convalesce. I’m just a bit concerned about her exams, but I’m sure we’ll be able to work something out.’
‘But will you be able to cope financially with having Betty here?’
‘The repairs to the roof will have to wait,’ said Emma, handing Lila a cup of tea.
‘How did business do today?’ asked Lila.
‘Not too bad,’ replied Emma, smiling. ‘And Betty was a great help.’
‘It’s early days, though, isn’t it?’ said Lila, looking thoughtful. ‘And you have to admit it’s a lot duller here if you’re used to the hustle and bustle of Liverpool.’
‘I know what you’re saying,’ said Emma, her smile fading. ‘But I’m sure she’ll be able to occupy herself. And Dorothy, Maggie and Irene are planning to visit in summer. My roof might leak and the window frames are rotting but we’ve lovely countryside and the fresh air will do them good. Anyway, it’s a while off yet and there’s the coronation to look forward to before then.’
‘So what are your plans for the coronation?’ asked Lila. ‘I’ll be listening to the service on the wireless with Dad. Mam’s on duty at the hospital. They’re having a party there afterwards. You can both come and listen to the radio with us if you like. Makes it more of an occasion than if just the two of us are on our own. Dad admires you and would enjoy your company.’
‘What!’ exclaimed Emma, surprised.
‘He says you’re a go-getter and that one day you’ll have some brass.’
Emma smiled as she curled herself up in an easy chair. Tibby immediately jumped onto her lap. ‘Didn’t know your dad had a crystal ball,’ she said, stroking the cat. ‘I’ll think about it. Do you want the last scone and another cuppa before you go home?’ she asked.
Before Lila could reply, there came a knock on the back door and a male voice enquired, ‘Anybody in?’
Lila and Emma exchanged looks and the next moment Lila was on her feet and opening the door. Outside stood Dougie Marshall. Instantly Emma waited for that rush of longing at the sight of him but it did not come. Absence had not made the heart grow fonder in this case. She guessed that he had come to check up on Betty. No doubt he would then relay the news that she seemed to be settling in OK back to Maggie, via his brothers, while she would let Dorothy know that she was all right.
Emma got to her feet. ‘How nice to see you, Dougie. Step aside, Lila, and let the man in.’
‘He’ll be hungry. No doubt he’s hoping you’ll have a pan of soup on the boil and will whip up a batch of scones in no time at all,’ said Lila dryly.
Dougie protested, ‘I don’t come here just to eat Emma out of house and home, you know. There is another purpose to my visit. How is your dad? I’d like to talk to him about my brother, Pete.’
‘What about your brother, Pete?’ asked Lila, giving him a startled look.
‘I’d like some advice from your dad about what it’s like having difficulty walking when you’ve been active.’
‘I’ll ask him.’ Lila glanced at Emma. ‘I think it’s time I was going. See you soon, and think about what I said about Coronation Day.’ She slipped out of the door and was gone.
Dougie stared at Emma. ‘What is it about me that makes her rush off?’ he complained. ‘I could have gone with her. I bet her dad would enjoy seeing a new face.’
‘She hasn’t said she doesn’t like you,’ said Emma, returning his gaze. ‘So are you just here to see Mr Ashcroft or is it for news of Betty that you can take back to Liverpool?’
He smiled and bent and kissed Emma’s cheek. ‘I came to see how you’re getting on as well. You look great.’
‘Thanks a lot,’ she said dryly.
There was a pause.
‘So how is Betty?’ asked Dougie. ‘Her cousin was in a right state over her. She thought she might have thrown herself in the canal. I was of the opinion that was a bit drastic in the circumstances, but then you never can tell what’s going on in people’s heads. The cousin’s quite good-looking.’
‘Yes, she is,’ said Emma, wondering if he was going to turn his attention to Dorothy now. ‘You can tell her that Betty’s fine. She’s upstairs doing some painting. I’ll be writing to Dorothy to let her know how things are, anyway, and about the decisions I’ve made.’
‘Will Betty be coming back to Litherland?’
‘It depends on the replies I get to my letters.’ She paused. ‘Do you want a cup of tea? I’ve one scone left.’
‘No, it’s OK. I’ll go after your friend. Where do they live?’
‘Just outside the village.’ Emma was thinking that his visit was very short-lived and told her much about his feelings for her. He was definitely not the one for her.
‘Quiet spot, is it? Not much going on?’
‘No.’
‘Poor bugger. D’you mind if I—?’
‘Of course not. You go after her. Turn left when you leave here. I might follow you on. I’ll just have a word with Betty.’
She waved him away and, as soon as he had gone, she made for the stairs. She had only started up them when she heard Betty coming down. She looked pale. ‘I heard a man’s voice. Who was it?’
‘Dougie Marshall.’
‘You mean Norm and Pete’s brother?’
Emma nodded. ‘He came to see if we were OK and now he’s gone chasing after Lila. I thought I might join them. See if Mr Ashcroft takes to him. D’you want to come? The walk might do you good.’
Betty hesitated. ‘Perhaps I will. I’ve heard so much about him but never set eyes on him. I’ll just put my brushes in water. Be with you in a minute.’ She went back upstairs.
Emma washed her hands, tidied her hair, changed her shoes and grabbed a jacket. She was ready by the time her half-sister reappeared. Betty had changed into a clean skirt and blouse and looked smart. As soon as they had left the house, she linked her arm through Emma’s and they hurried after Lila and Dougie.
They were walking at least a yard apart and Dougie seemed to be doing all the talking, which was no surprise to Emma. She caught up with them and Lila flashed her an odd little smile.
Dougie said, ‘You were quick.’
‘Do you think so?’ she responded. ‘This is my sister,
Betty. She’s heard that much about you that she wanted to meet you.’
‘He doesn’t look like the twins,’ said Betty to Emma.
Dougie heard her. ‘No, thank God, two of them is enough.’
‘So how long can you stay, or are you heading back to Liverpool this evening?’ asked Emma.
‘Not sure yet,’ said Dougie.
Lila hesitated. ‘I don’t want you staying long at our house. Dad’s not used to visitors and he won’t want your pity, you know.’
‘He won’t get it,’ rasped Dougie, his smile vanishing. ‘Your dad was wounded in the war. Mine was killed.’
Lila’s face went blank with shock. Dougie stared at her and looked uncomfortable but he didn’t apologise for the swift rebuke he had given her. Emma felt embarrassed by their exchange. Betty glanced at her sister and rolled her eyes. Emma pulled a face. The only sounds now were the breeze rustling the trees and of a blackbird singing.
It was not long before they reached the house. She could see Mr Ashcroft in the window as they went up the path. He must have heard them coming because he turned his head and looked down at them, with an arrested expression on his face. Emma thought how he did not often have visitors and that the unexpected arrival of two strangers must have taken him aback. She could only hope that he and Dougie would get on with each other.
Lila led the way inside and ushered the other three into the front room. ‘Dad, Emma and her sister have come to see you with Dougie, the policeman I mentioned. He wants your advice. I’ll be in the kitchen if I’m needed.’
Jack Ashcroft switched off the wireless and stared at Dougie. ‘You must be the young man whose brother fell off a wall and is crippled. How can I help you?’
‘I’d like to know what helps you to cope and what makes life harder for you in your condition?’ he said without hesitation.
Emma decided to leave the two men alone and murmured to her sister that she was going into the kitchen. Instantly Betty followed her. They found Lila standing over by the window, staring out over the garden.
‘They’re talking. I think you were worrying about your dad unnecessarily,’ said Emma.
Lila turned round with a sad expression on her face. ‘They’re two very different men. If only Dad had just a little bit of Dougie’s confidence I think he would force himself to get out into the world, instead of sitting in here day after day making his models.’
Emma said quietly, ‘Don’t be so hard on your dad. I’ll tell you something. Betty and I will come and listen to the coronation on the wireless with the pair of you. I’ll make a special cake for the occasion.’
‘Thanks!’ said Lila, giving a half smile.
‘No trouble. You tell your dad after we’ve gone.’
When they returned to the front room, it was to find Dougie inspecting Jack Ashcroft’s latest model. ‘This is really good. What you need is a market for them,’ said Dougie, picking up one of the ships Jack had made. ‘I’d like to buy this one.’
Jack looked astounded. ‘I did that from a photograph. It’s the troopship that brought me home.’
Dougie nodded. ‘Then you could do another one if I bought this. I’ve the perfect place for it in our house. I’ve one pound ten shillings on me,’ he said.
Jack said gruffly, ‘I’ll take ten shillings. I could make you a new model as that one’s been around for a while and is a bit dusty.’
‘If you do that,’ said Dougie, ‘I’ll pay you a pound and come back to pick it up. You or Lila could write to me and let me know when it’s ready.’
Emma thought how nice Dougie was being to Lila’s father and she warmed to him all over again. If only she knew where she stood with him. But he had given her an idea. ‘Why don’t I display some of your models in my front room where I serve teas, Mr Ashcroft?’ she suggested. ‘Could be that you might get more sales.’
Jack stared at her and his Adam’s apple moved convulsively. ‘You’d have to take a percentage,’ he said roughly.
‘Of course,’ she replied, considering his pride. ‘I’ll charge a bit more than the price you fix.’
‘Mam’ll be pleased if you do sell some of your models,’ said Lila. ‘Thanks for putting the idea into his head, Dougie,’ she added, smiling up at him.
‘I admire your father’s skill,’ he said, touching her cheek with the back of his hand. ‘I’m sure there must be a bigger market for his models in Liverpool.’
Jack chuckled. ‘I think you’re being a bit too ambitious for me, lad,’ he said. ‘But I’ll bear it in mind.’
‘You can’t be too ambitious,’ said Dougie, glancing at Lila. ‘I’d best be going. Don’t forget to get in touch with me when it’s ready.’
‘It’s unlikely to be before the coronation,’ said Lila. ‘I’ll see the three of you out.’
‘What a nice man he is,’ said Betty, during the walk back to the cottage.
‘Aye, not like some,’ said Emma.
Betty guessed who she meant. If only Aunt Elsie had not married Uncle Teddy, then she could still be at home, seeing her friends and going to school. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to be with Emma, but she would have much preferred for them both to be celebrating the coronation with Irene, Maggie and Dorothy. She remembered how her younger cousin had hinted that her mother might actually rent or buy a television so they could watch the queen being crowned as it actually happened. Betty would have enjoyed doing that, but she would never return to her aunt’s house whilst he was living under its roof. If only he could drop dead, it would make her day.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
‘I hate this frock!’ Maggie crossed her arms and dragged the short, puffed-sleeved gingham dress over her head and threw it on the bed. ‘It’s too young for me.’
‘I thought you chose it,’ said Dorothy, glancing over at her sister.
‘You’re joking! I don’t get to choose anything now,’ she said with a mutinous expression. ‘I’ll have to wear the last one I chose myself; at least the short sleeves are plain and the neckline is not so frumpy.’
‘Mum will have something to say,’ murmured Dorothy, brushing her hair.
‘I don’t care. It’s all her fault! She’s determined to treat me like a kid. I’d love to do something to shock her into realising that the world’s moved on since she was my age.’ Maggie removed a pink and white polka-dot frock with a sweetheart neckline from the wardrobe and put it on.
‘She’s had enough shocks lately, so behave yourself,’ said Dorothy, placing her hairbrush on the dressing table. ‘You’d better get a move on.’
Maggie began to brush her hair. ‘I suppose you haven’t mentioned Betty having gone to live with Emma in your last letter to Jared?’ she asked.
‘No, it would be difficult knowing what to leave in and what to leave out. Besides, Mum might have already written to him,’ said Dorothy, reaching for the Max Factor lipstick she had treated herself to last Saturday.
Maggie nodded and fastened her hair into a ponytail. She cocked her head to one side. ‘Did you hear the front door go then? That means another of the neighbours has arrived. I’m surprised Mum’s asked so many to come as they might start asking more questions about our Betty. I know a couple of kids in the street have asked me where she’s gone.’
‘What did you tell them?’ asked Dorothy, outlining her lips.
‘That she’s staying with her dad’s relatives. It’s true, isn’t it?’
Dorothy nodded, dabbing ‘Evening in Paris’ behind her ears, wondering if any of the women would get the wrong idea and think that which her mother had done her best to avoid. ‘I wonder what Mum’s told them.’
Maggie shrugged. ‘Let’s forget it for now. The television’s on and I think I’ve just heard the door go again! There’s going to be quite a crowd in the living room.’
‘Perhaps I should go on ahead,’ said Dorothy.
‘No! Wait for me,’ said Maggie.
‘Isn’t it time you were downstairs, Dorothy,’ said Teddy, th
rusting his head around the jamb. ‘Your mum can’t do everything herself, you know.’
‘I’ve already been helping out in the kitchen,’ said Dorothy, an edge to her voice. ‘Now, if you’ll get out of the way, Uncle Teddy.’
He moved aside to let her through but then blocked the doorway so Maggie couldn’t get past. He touched her shoulder and she shrugged off his hand. ‘Don’t do that!’ she said.
He scowled. ‘What’s wrong with you, Maggie? I’m just being affectionate.’
‘I d-don’t want you being affectionate. Dorothy!’ she called. ‘Uncle Teddy is messing about and won’t let me past.’
Dorothy poked him in the side with her elbow and, reaching round him, grabbed hold of Maggie’s arm, so forcing him to move out of the way. ‘If you don’t mind, we’ve got things to do, Uncle Teddy,’ said Dorothy. ‘Come on, Mags.’
He muttered something beneath his breath that they did not catch. ‘We mustn’t let him spoil our day,’ said Dorothy, hurrying downstairs.
‘I can’t wait to see the queen in her golden coach,’ said Maggie, her eyes sparkling, thinking that, according to the timetable in the Echo, the first procession would arrive at Westminster Abbey at quarter to nine, but it would not be until eleven o’clock that the queen would take the oath. She was due to be crowned at twenty-five to one. It was going to be a long service.
The sitting room was already occupied by a number of neighbours and the sisters realised they would have to grab a cushion and sit on the floor. Hopefully Elsie wouldn’t expect them to make tea and carry it round with a plate of biscuits just yet.
‘It’s a blinking shame that it’s raining,’ said the woman from next door.
‘Let’s hope it goes off or it’s going to spoil the street party,’ said another.
‘At least there’ll be more food than we had for VE and VJ Day,’ piped up an elderly gentleman.
Dorothy could remember VE Day. Her father had still been alive and so had Aunt Lizzie. Her eyes were shiny with tears, remembering her aunt saying that they must be glad that the war in Europe was over, even though her husband and thousands of other men wouldn’t be coming home.
