Tilly's Story

by June Francis

  ‘I’ll do no such thing,’ said Alice, picking up the broken piece of lipstick from the rug. ‘This is my house and I’ve a good mind to lock you in your bedroom so there’ll be no wedding for you.’

  ‘You just try locking me in,’ said Tilly, furious that her sister should threaten her with such a punishment. ‘I’ll climb out of the window and if I fall and break my neck, it’ll be your fault.’

  ‘What’s going on here?’ asked a voice from the doorway. ‘Your carriage awaits, Cinderella.’

  The sisters turned as one and stared at Seb. He stood with his shoulder resting against the doorjamb, watching them.

  ‘Thanks, Seb. I’m almost ready,’ said Tilly, glad to see him, certain he wouldn’t allow Alice to prevent her from going to the wedding. ‘I’ve just got to get a clean handkerchief.’

  ‘Fine with me. I’ll tell the others you won’t be a minute,’ he said.

  ‘She’s been giving me cheek,’ said Alice, her face flushed. ‘I don’t think she should be allowed to go to this wedding.’

  ‘Try and stop me,’ said Tilly, turning on her. ‘It would do you good to get out and have some fun. It’s what I intend to do.’

  ‘And who would look after the children if I’d decided to go to the wedding?’ asked Alice.

  Seb interrupted them. ‘Didn’t you volunteer to look after the twins so you had an excuse not to go? James and Flora are keeping their eye on them right at this moment so you’d best get down there.’

  Alice made no move to do what he said but placed the lipstick on the dressing table and went over to the window. She ran a finger along the windowsill as if checking for dust but surreptitiously she glanced out of the window at the automobile parked at the kerb. She could see the tops of the women’s heads. Hanny was wearing the hat Alice had made her for Clara’s wedding. As for the younger woman, she was wearing the one that Alice had given her for the twins’ christening last year. Suddenly it seemed ludicrous that she was not going anywhere but her hats were and she felt like spitting nails.

  ‘Robbie Bennett’s nephews and nieces will be at the wedding,’ said Seb. ‘The eldest one, Wendy, is the same age as Tilly, and is looking forward to meeting her.’

  Alice turned and looked at him. ‘You’ve met her?’

  Seb nodded. ‘She’s a good kid. Robbie said she was a great help to his sister, Peggy, after her husband was killed in the war. I met her when I visited Watson’s motor showrooms in Renshaw Street. I wanted to know how much they were charging for a Dodge touring car.’

  ‘And what were they?’ asked Tilly, interested.

  ‘Six hundred and twenty-five pounds. If we could sell a few of them I’d be a happy man.’ Seb picked up the hat from the bed. ‘Here, you’ll be needing this, Tilly. You can’t go to a wedding without a hat.’

  Both sisters made to speak but changed their minds. Tilly stood still while Seb placed the eau-de-Nil, high-crowned hat with artificial green flowers lining its narrow brim on her head. It was a perfect fit like every hat that Alice made. Seb kissed Tilly’s cheek. ‘Enjoy yourself.’

  She thanked him, picked up her lipstick and popped it in her handbag and, with a last glance at her sister’s set face, hurried from the room. As she went downstairs, she could hear Alice talking. No doubt she was complaining about her all over again, she thought with a grimace. Hopefully Seb would calm her down. She wondered what her sister would say if she was ever to find out that Mrs Black had shares in the family motor business. When the company was in dire straits due to a lack of sales during the war, she had stepped in and helped Kenny and Seb out. Both Alice’s brother and husband had known she would rather starve than accept help from Eudora Black. Without any discussion, those in the know had silently accepted to keep it a secret from Alice. Tilly firmly believed that Seb and Kenny had made the right decision.

  She left the house and hurried down the path to where the motor was parked. There was just enough room for her to squeeze into the back with Hanny and Clara. Kenny was in the passenger seat and Freddie was driving.

  They all smiled at her. ‘That’s a lovely frock you’re wearing,’ said Clara, who was wearing a pink skirt and jacket with a white organdie blouse. ‘Did Alice make it?’

  Tilly shook her head. ‘I didn’t dare ask her to because of it being for Mrs Black’s wedding.’

  ‘I know what you mean,’ said Hanny ruefully. ‘She’s really got a cob on about us all going. I’m glad I had this outfit made for Freddie and Clara’s wedding so I had something fairly new to wear. Although,’ She sighed. ‘I wish I had your figure, Tilly. I put on too much weight with the twins and despite all the running around I’ve done since they were born, I’m finding it hard to shift it.’ She turned to Clara. ‘You’re going to have to watch that, love, now you’re expecting.’

  ‘What’s this?’ asked Tilly, her ears pricking up.

  ‘We’re having a baby,’ said Freddie, without looking round. Tilly’s heart sank and she almost blurted out: You didn’t waste any time, did you? It had been difficult enough for her being Clara’s bridesmaid and having to stand in the church, hearing him say, I do. She could imagine what it was going to be like now Clara was pregnant. Freddie would treat her as if she was made of porcelain and Hanny and Alice would welcome her into their club. It would be Mothers United! They’d have their heads together discussing morning sickness, varicose veins, the actual birth, as well as breast feeding and the best way to keep your nappies white.

  ‘Congratulations!’ Tilly managed a bright smile. ‘When’s the baby due?’

  ‘Christmas!’ answered Clara, positively glowing. ‘It could be born on the twins’ birthday.’

  ‘I hope not! Fancy having to buy three birthday presents on Christmas Eve, as well as Christmas presents.’

  ‘You don’t have to buy anything,’ said Hanny firmly. ‘We know you don’t get much of a wage.’

  ‘Alice doesn’t believe that and all because I bought a lipstick,’ murmured Tilly.

  ‘You do have a birthday next week,’ said Hanny. ‘I’m sure the company can afford to give you a rise. Isn’t that right, Kenny?’

  ‘I’ll mention it to Seb,’ he said.

  Tilly murmured a thank you and found herself dithering again about moving away from Chester.

  ‘I wonder if Don Pierce will send you a card,’ said Hanny.

  ‘I like Don,’ said Kenny, glancing over his shoulder at the three women. ‘He’s witty, funny and talented. But I’m not sure if he’d be in favour of you painting your mouth, Tilly.’

  Tilly sighed. ‘Please, Kenny, don’t you have a go at me, too. Alice had enough to say.’

  ‘Doesn’t approve of you wearing the new in-colour lipstick, does she?’ asked Hanny, her eyes twinkling. ‘Trouble with Alice is that she’s forgotten what she was like at your age. She was only fifteen when she fell for Seb. Kenny worried himself sick about her because she loved clothes and made the most of herself when she went out with him.’

  ‘She never tells me anything cheerful about when she was young,’ said Tilly, slipping an arm through Hanny’s and hugging it. ‘Just before I came out I had lipstick smeared right across my face because she made a grab for it to stop me putting it on and then she threatened to lock me in my bedroom. I’d move out right now if I had somewhere to go.’

  ‘You’re not serious?’ asked Hanny, her blue eyes concerned.

  Tilly did not answer.

  Kenny said, ‘I could see this coming. Can’t you sort it out between the two of you, Tilly love?’

  ‘I don’t think so,’ she said with forced cheerfulness. ‘She’s adamant I stop seeing Dad and I won’t.’ Kenny glanced at his wife but this time both kept silent. ‘I can guess what you’re thinking and I don’t expect you to take my side,’ said Tilly, her voice quivering.

  ‘I suppose you could always come and sleep on our sofa as a temporary measure,’ said Clara. ‘Although—’

  ‘No! It wouldn’t work,’ said Tilly firmly. ‘Thanks all
the same but I don’t want to cause trouble between you and Alice. Besides, I need a room of my own because I’ll want to write.’

  ‘Perhaps you could sleep at the yard,’ suggested Freddie.

  ‘No, she can’t,’ said Kenny hastily. ‘You’re forgetting the new apprentice is going to bunk down in the building; he’ll be acting as a caretaker. But I have to admit I don’t like the idea of your leaving home, Tilly. You’re too young. This matter could be easily be remedied if you were just more discreet about seeing Dad.’

  ‘I tried to be discreet,’ said Tilly indignantly. ‘But Alice was forever asking me where I was going and whether I was meeting Dad. As it happens, I haven’t seen him since Mrs Black moved to Liverpool.’

  ‘So you’ll be seeing less of him,’ said Kenny. ‘You could point that out to Alice.’

  Tilly thought, I’m making no promises, and pressed her lips tightly together.

  Silence fell as the car motored across the Old Dee Bridge and headed on through the bustling streets of Chester to the road that would take them to Birkenhead. Clara broke the silence by beginning to discuss the coming wedding and how different it would be from her own. Tilly let the conversation wash over her, thinking ruefully that standing on her own two feet was not going to be easy. How could she combine being independent with seeing more of her father? She decided that while she was in Liverpool she would put feelers out and see if anyone she came in contact with knew of any available lodgings, as well as suitable employment. Surely in a city the size of Liverpool she should be able to find something?

  Chapter Three

  ‘You must admit Mrs Black is looking good for her age,’ whispered Hanny in Tilly’s ear, as they stood amongst the milling crowd outside the Spiritualist church on Daulby Street.

  ‘They both look happy, that’s the main thing,’ said Tilly, gazing at the newly married couple.

  ‘She’s looked years younger since they started seeing each other,’ said Joy, Hanny’s younger sister, who had held the post of Mrs Black’s housekeeper for the past few years. A plump, warm-hearted woman in her late twenties, she had a cheerful manner despite having lost the man she loved during the war. ‘And her name’s Mrs Bennett now, don’t forget!’

  ‘It’s not going to be easy getting out of the habit of calling her Mrs Black,’ said Hanny.

  ‘I like what she’s wearing,’ said Tilly, her hazel eyes fixed on the bride, who was dressed in a lavender shot silk dress and jacket with a matching hat decorated with artificial violets tucked in the brim. As for the groom, he was looking extremely dapper in a charcoal grey suit and spotless white shirt with a silver coloured bow tie.

  ‘What did you think of the blessing service?’ asked Clara.

  ‘Well, they certainly cut out all that about marriage being for the procreation of children,’ said Hanny, small dimples appearing at the corners of her mouth.

  ‘Thank goodness! It would hardly have been appropriate,’ said Joy.

  ‘Alice would have had a fit if she knew about us being united with the spirits in a circle of love,’ said Tilly, her eyes twinkling.

  ‘I liked that part,’ said Clara. ‘I thought of my parents and gran.’

  ‘I confess my mind wandered off some of the time,’ said Hanny absently, looking about her. ‘I kept thinking about the twins and hoping they weren’t driving Alice round the bend.’

  ‘Are you looking for someone?’ asked Joy, noting her sister’s behaviour.

  ‘I had thought that Gabrielle might have turned up to watch Eudora and Robbie do the deed,’ answered Hanny.

  ‘Actually, Mrs Black did send her an invitation but she declined, saying that she had a previous engagement. I don’t suppose you know that she’s singing on the stage at the Belmont Picture House,’ said Joy. ‘It’s only about a ten minute walk from the new house. She calls herself the Liverpool Nightingale. Anyway, I’m going to have to toddle off now. I’ve left a couple of hired maids in charge back at the house, but I want to be there to take the cloths off the buffet and make sure that the champagne is chilled enough to serve to the guests as they arrive.’

  ‘Can I come with you?’ asked Tilly. ‘I thought I might have seen Dad here, but I suppose I should have realised he’d find the service, and all these people, too much to cope with.’

  ‘Of course,’ said Joy, linking her arm through Tilly’s. ‘Wendy, Mr Bennett’s niece, is coming back with me, too. She’s a helpful young woman.’

  Tilly remembered Seb mentioning this girl and looked forward to meeting her. She excused herself and went with Joy to where Wendy Wright, a mousy-haired, slender girl with wide-apart grey eyes and pleasant features, was standing. She was wearing a dark blue dress with white spots and a white straw hat with a blue ribbon. She stood a little apart from the crowd, watching the antics of two younger boys and a girl who appeared to be performing some kind of dance.

  Joy touched her arm. ‘Are you ready, Miss Wright?’

  Wendy started. ‘Yes, Miss Kirk. I’ll be glad to get away. I’m seriously thinking of disowning these three. I don’t know where Mam’s disappeared to but I hope she’s not far away and makes sure they keep out of trouble.’

  ‘Are they your brothers and sister?’ asked Tilly.

  ‘Yeah. Are you Miss Moran?’ Wendy gave her a cool stare.

  ‘Yes. Tilly Moran. I’m glad to meet you,’ said Tilly politely, thinking the girl did not sound so friendly. ‘My brother-in-law, Seb Bennett, mentioned having met you.’

  ‘He said you were nice looking and he was right,’ said Wendy. ‘He also said you were a secretary but you look too young to be one of them.’

  ‘Seb flatters me,’ said Tilly, taken aback by the other girl’s bluntness. ‘I’m more your general dogsbody, although I do type invoices and letters and reports, as well as do the filing and make the tea.’

  ‘I wish I could type. Then I could work in an office and earn my own money. As it is, Mam insists on my working in the shop and I feel it’s my duty to do so with me being the eldest,’ said Wendy, a tiny frown furrowing her pale brow.

  ‘What shop is that?’ asked Tilly.

  Before Wendy could answer, Joy interrupted them. ‘Come on, you two. You can talk in the car. I’ve no time to waste. The driver has to come back here after he’s dropped us off.’

  The girls followed her and climbed into the back of the black shiny car waiting at the kerb. They relaxed against the back of the leather seats.

  ‘Wouldn’t you just love to marry a man who owned a car like this?’ said Wendy, spreading her skirts so they didn’t crease. ‘I’d like to learn to drive.’

  ‘You would?’ said Tilly.

  ‘That’s what I said. Imagine how quickly you could get from A to Z and to take to the open road. Whizzing along the country roads away from the dirt and smoke of the city. I could even go up to Cumberland or to Blackpool.’

  ‘Don’t you like living in Liverpool?’ asked Tilly, surprised.

  ‘Of course, I do! I like the shops and bustle but there are times when I like to get away. At the moment I can only manage to get as far as the park or New Brighton. Uncle Robbie took us all out in his new car the other week and it was a real treat. I told Mr Simpson about it and he was impressed. I don’t think he realised we had a rich relation.’

  ‘Who’s Mr Simpson?’

  Wendy smiled and her face changed utterly, so that Tilly’s first opinion of her changed. ‘Mr Simpson’s a private detective who comes into the shop. Mam says he’s not good-looking enough to be handsome but I like the way he looks. She says he doesn’t dress smart enough but I don’t mind that either. I’ve told her, as a detective, he sometimes has to disguise himself so that he appears ordinary, so no one would give him a second glance.’

  ‘I’ve never met a private detective,’ said Tilly, feeling a stir of interest, but thought she had better show some interest in the shop. ‘So what kind of shop do you have?’

  ‘A newsagent’s and sweet shop but we sell cigarettes, a
s well. The shop used to be two shops next door to one another and were owned by two spinster sisters,’ explained Wendy. ‘But they died within days of each other and the leases came up for sale. We have Uncle Robbie to thank for loaning Mam the money to buy up the leases. She’d always wanted a shop but used to say that Dad was as useless as a snowball in Hell when it came to him getting her what she wanted.’

  ‘He’s dead, isn’t he?’ said Tilly sympathetically.

  ‘Yeah! According to Mam he wasn’t much cop as a husband but he was an OK dad.’ Wendy sighed and fiddled with a brooch pinned to her dress. ‘He gave me this when I was ten, after me gran died. I really value it because it’s all that I have to remember her by. We’ve no photographs of her but at least I’ve a couple of me dad. I’ll show you them if you ever come round to our shop.’

  ‘So where is your shop?’

  ‘West Derby Road. We’ll pass it on the way to Uncle Robbie and Aunt Eudora’s house.’

  A silence fell.

  Tilly glanced out of the window at the passing scene and thought about what Wendy had told her and how such a job as hers was perfect for meeting people and learning about their lives. She wondered what she did in her spare time, not that she could imagine the other girl having much of that between working in the shop and helping her mother in the house.

  Tilly turned to Wendy. ‘What do you do when you have any free time? Do you read at all?’

  ‘I read the newspapers and magazines in between serving customers. I like to keep abreast with what’s going on in the world and up to date with the latest fashions,’ said Wendy. Her face took on a dreamy expression. ‘I’d love to go to Paris, wouldn’t you?’

  ‘I suppose I would,’ said Tilly, thinking that Wendy’s clothes weren’t very fashionable. Probably that was due to her mother keeping her short of money. She thought of Alice, another one who took a great interest in the latest fashions and with her nimble fingers could imitate the patterns of the designers’ latest creations. ‘Who would you go to Paris with if you had the chance of going there?’