Kitty laughed. ‘You know, darling, you are absolutely wonderful.’
Annie beamed.
‘Anyway, I’ve asked for you and Rose to come as part of the package and, after some persuading, they have agreed.’
Annie’s eyes widened. ‘I don’t know what to say! Thank you, thank you from both of us. I’m sure Rose will be as thrilled as I am.’ She fought the urge to throw her arms around Kitty.
Kitty turned to look at herself in the mirror. ‘I can’t have you leaving me when I still need you.’
Matthew popped his head round the door. ‘Are you ready, Annie?’
Kitty turned on her seat and glared at Matthew. ‘I thought the singing lessons were in the mornings?’
‘They are as a rule, but we’ve been so busy with moving theatres I thought we could fit them in where we can until things settle down a bit.’
Annie bit her bottom lip as she glanced at Kitty. ‘If you don’t mind, and can spare me for half an hour, I’d like to have my lesson.’
Kitty raised her eyebrows. ‘Of course.’
Matthew nodded. ‘Come on then Annie, warm up your voice as we walk.’
Annie nodded and took a breath. ‘La, la, la…’ Her voice travelled up and down the scales several times.
‘Excellent, I can hear you’ve been practising, so well done.’
Their footsteps thudded and resounded in the empty auditorium as they walked towards the piano.
9
There was no concern about the war in Great Earl Street, everything was carrying on as normal. The cars chugged past slowly, some coughing out clouds of black smoke into the air. Others hooted their horn occasionally, making people turn to find out why only to see nothing untoward. Annie sauntered towards the market; she loved the atmosphere. All the traders were calling out to the people passing by, each trying to sell their wares. There was laughter between the sellers as they all called out to get a sale. The aroma of hot soup mingled with fresh bread. She wasn’t hungry but the smells were very enticing, she could almost taste it. Annie swerved to avoid two young children giggling as they ran out of a shop, quickly followed by a young woman, who looked flushed as she chased after them. Annie bumped into a man. ‘Oh, I’m so sorry, please forgive––’
‘There’s no need.’ Peter’s smile brought colour to her cheeks. ‘It’s unusual to see yer on yer own.’ He looked around him. ‘Are they trailing behind yer somewhere?’
Annie looked away, wondering if he was disappointed Joyce wasn’t with her. ‘No, they are both at work so I thought I’d try and find Foyles Bookshop. Joyce has told us so much about it and I love a good book. I might even buy one for Margaret.’
‘Margaret?’
Annie smiled. ‘My sister.’
‘If you give me a minute to finish showing ’arry ’ow to stack apples so they don’t fall and get bruised, I’ll come with yer.’
Annie frowned. ‘What about your barrow?’
Peter’s smile widened. ‘It’ll be all right, ’arry knows what he’s doing, and I pay him extra when I’m not around. Anyway, Fred on the next barrow will keep an eye on him for me, it’s not like I’ll be gone all day.’ Peter paused for a moment. ‘Unless, that is, yer don’t want me to come wiv yer?’
Annie’s stomach lurched up into her chest, where her heart was racing.
‘Morning, Peter.’ An old man waved as he shuffled passed.
Smiling, Peter looked over and raised his hand. ‘Morning, Mr Thompson.’
Glad of the distraction, Annie took some deep breaths and hoped he wouldn’t notice her shortness of breath.
Not looking at her, Peter picked up a wooden box. ‘I don’t want to force myself on yer.’ He placed the box under the barrow. ‘That is, if yer’d rather go by yerself, then I won’t be offended like.’
Annie watched his every movement and took a few seconds to realise he had finished talking. Once again, she could feel the heat creeping up her neck. ‘No… that is I’m happy for you to come with me but I don’t want you to lose your livelihood for a trip to a bookshop.’
Peter laughed. ‘It’s not any old bookshop, it claims to be the best one around, probably in the world.’
Annie giggled. ‘That’s quite an accolade. It’s a good job I’m going to see this magnificent shop then.’
‘Give me a minute.’ Peter turned and quickly showed Harry how to stack the apples and talked about giving some of the old ladies extra.
Annie smiled as she listened. ‘You’re quite a softie, aren’t you? How are you going to build your empire if you give people “extras” as you put it?’
‘You sound like Joyce.’ He took her hand and gently placed it under his arm. ‘Oh sorry, I shouldn’t have done that, it’s a bit forward of me and I’m probably a bit dusty from unloading all the vegetables.’
He moved to release her hand but she held on tight, feeling the strength in his upper arm under the thin sleeve of his jacket. ‘Don’t worry, I grew up on a farm. My father and brother work the land, while my sister and I helped out with the chickens and picking the crops.’
Peter frowned. ‘That’s a bit of a difference to London with all these buildings, let alone the amount of people and cars. This must feel awful to yer.’ He chuckled. ‘I could be selling his homegrown produce, there’s nothing finer that’s for sure.’
Annie chuckled. ‘You sound just like him, but it took us a few hours to get here by train so I shouldn’t think you’ll ever be selling produce from our farm. Anyway, what we didn’t need he gave to the local greengrocer to sell on his behalf. Mind you I think they charged him too much for the privilege.’
‘Perhaps one day I’ll meet yer pa, he sounds like my kinda man, and we can talk about selling what yer grow.’ Peter guided her left on to Shaftesbury Avenue.
Sadness ran across Annie’s face.
‘Sorry, did I say something wrong? I know I can get carried away and speak without thinking at times.’
Annie gave him a tearful smile. ‘No, you haven’t said anything wrong. It’s just my pa has told me I’m not welcome back.’ She paused, while she pushed her hand inside her coat pocket and pulled out a small white handkerchief and dabbed at her nose. Annie screwed the thin piece of cotton material into a tight ball.
Peter gently stroked her hand.
Butterflies immediately fluttered around Annie’s stomach. She took a deep breath and slowly released it. ‘Don’t get the wrong idea, he’s a good man, the best.’ She hesitated for a moment. ‘I think he only said it because he didn’t want me to come to a big city like London where he couldn’t protect me. I think he thought I wouldn’t leave, but I did, and it’s upsetting to think I may not see him again.’
‘Your pa’s no different to most fathers, they all want to protect their daughters from the monsters of this world.’ Peter lifted his arm slightly but quickly lowered it again, fighting the urge to wrap his arms around her. She wasn’t Joyce and he was unsure how she would react. He had to be patient. ‘If he’s a good man like yer say ’e’ll come round, yer just have to give him time.’
Annie nodded. ‘I’m sorry, I’ve said too much. I don’t know what’s got into me.’
Peter shook his head. ‘Don’t keep saying yer sorry. Whatever yer tell me won’t go any further, I promise, and I don’t break promises.’
Annie looked up at his kind eyes and instinctively knew he was telling the truth. ‘I know but me almost crying isn’t a fun time is it? I blame you entirely.’
Peter chuckled. ‘Me? Why?’
Annie giggled as he jutted out his bottom lip. ‘Because you remind me of him.’
‘I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not.’ Peter guided Annie to one side to avoid a man carrying several baking trays of bread. ‘I get the impression yer think your father’s boring.’
Annie frowned. ‘Oh dear, I am a bad daughter because he’s far from it. He and my mother love each other to bits and he’s a wonderful father—’
‘But?’
Peter shook his head. ‘I expect he’s content, and if that’s true, why would he want to risk losing everything on a whim.’
Annie frowned. ‘Is that all men want, to be content?’
Peter stared down at the pavement for a moment before looking up at her. ‘I think most people would jump for joy at feeling content with their lot. The trouble is people don’t realise what they ’ave until it’s taken away from them.’
‘Is that what happened with you and Joyce?’ Annie’s hand shot up and covered her mouth. ‘I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have said that, it’s none of my business.’
Peter shook his head. ‘There’s never been anything going on with me and Joyce. We’re really good friends and ’ave been since the day she fell into my barrow, nearly tipping it over.’ He chuckled. ‘We just managed to stop everything from falling off it.’
Annie giggled. ‘Oh my, that’s one way to get someone’s attention! I’ll have to remember that one.’
Peter chuckled. ‘I’d rather you didn’t risk hurting yourself, and we don’t need anything that dramatic, thank you very much.’ He gave her a sideways glance. ‘Anyway, you’ve already got my attention so what more could you possibly need?’
Annie gave a little laugh. ‘You are funny.’
‘I’m glad you find it amusing, ma’am.’ Peter chuckled. ‘We need to turn right here.’ He placed his hand over hers as they waited at the edge of the pavement for a break in the cars. ‘Once we get across this road, we will be on Charing Cross Road, then it won’t be long before you’ll see the shop sign for Foyles, you can’t miss it.’
Annie grinned. ‘I’m actually quite excited, which is ridiculous really.’
Peter stepped forward off the pavement and Annie followed suit. ‘You wait until you see it and then tell me it’s ridiculous.’
It wasn’t long before the white painted sign for Foyles Bookshop was visible. Annie gasped with delight. ‘I can see it, I can see it.’ She giggled when she turned to see Peter grinning at her. ‘What?’ She smiled. ‘I told you I loved books.’
Peter chuckled. ‘I know but I ’ate to think what you’ll be like once you are in there.’
As they got nearer Annie saw the racks of books standing outside and the people milling around looking at them. She squeezed Peter’s arm. ‘You know you said you wouldn’t be out all day…’ She giggled.
Peter gazed down at her face, lit up with excitement. ‘I can spend all day with you in the bookshop, but I believe you’re the one that has to get to work this afternoon.’
Annie groaned. ‘That’s true.’
Peter waved his arm in front of him, gesturing for her to enter Foyles before him.
Annie stepped inside and her mouth dropped open. ‘Oh, Peter, I didn’t know so many books existed.’
Peter chuckled. ‘I told you, I’ve ’eard said that if you can’t buy it ’ere it doesn’t exist.’
‘That’s what we like to think.’
Both Annie and Peter looked to their left to see a tall, grey-haired man smiling at them.
He nodded at them both. ‘Mr Leadbetter, at your service. Welcome to Foyles Bookshop. If you can’t find what you are looking for then please do ask me, or one of our assistants.’ He lifted his arm. ‘Miss Taylor will assist you with any queries, or purchases, and the payment booth is just over the far side where Miss Appleton will be at your service.’
Annie stood open-mouthed as she gazed around her. ‘So many books.’ She turned to Peter. ‘Stay close or you may never see me again.’
Mr Leadbetter and Peter chuckled.
‘You wouldn’t be the first person to get lost in this shop.’ Mr Leadbetter smiled. ‘Please enjoy your time here and don’t forget: if you buy your books from here you get a refund of tuppence on all returns.’
Annie shook her head. ‘I think I’ve died and gone to heaven.’ She giggled. ‘Thank you, Mr Leadbetter.’
Mr Leadbetter nodded and moved away to talk to another customer.
Annie turned to Peter. ‘Never mind the theatre, this is where I want to work.’
Peter laughed. ‘I don’t think you mean that.’ But Annie was already moving towards one of the many racks stacked high with books.
*
Annie pushed the door open of the Meet and Feast Café. A bell chimed and Joyce looked up from behind the counter. She looked different with the white cap sitting neatly on her tied-back hair. She was wearing the traditional waitress uniform of a long black dress and white apron; its frilled straps sat neatly on her shoulders. The smell of bacon hung in the air along with the distinct aroma of coffee.
Joyce’s cheeks coloured slightly as she stepped forward to greet her friends. ‘Hello, this is a lovely surprise.’ She forced a smile. ‘Are you here to eat or did you just pop in as you were passing?’
Annie nodded. ‘It would be lovely to eat but if nothing else I could do with a drink of water. It may be September but it’s sweltering out there.’ She fanned her hand in front of her face.
Joyce immediately ran the cold tap for a couple of seconds before filling a glass and passing it over the counter.
Annie gratefully took the glass and gulped down the cold water, enjoying the chill as she swallowed.
Rose looked around her. There was a selection of wooden tables, a mixture of odd shapes and sizes, haphazardly placed around the small café. A large ornate dresser leant against the wall, stacked with crockery and glassware. Framed pictures of mealtimes hung from the picture rails. Laughter came from a large group of people over the other side of the room. ‘This looks a nice place. Maybe we’ll have some lunch before we go to work, if there’s a spare table.’
Joyce nodded. She’d known Rose would want to come and meet Simon and yet she was still unprepared for it. She studied her friends for a moment. They were beautiful, but Annie had an innocence that seemed to shine through. Joyce knew that no amount of perfume could hide the fact she always smelled like a fry up; she hated it and now she had spots popping up on her cheeks. She shook her head; it had been like this for some time so she didn’t understand why it was suddenly bothering her. Simon hadn’t been his usual chatty self that morning; there had been no ready smile for her when she arrived for work. The heat of the sun had already broken through so it wasn’t going to be a good day for working in a kitchen. With Annie following her dream, or at least trying to, Joyce had thought about asking Simon if she could make a few cakes to bring in and sell by the slice but he had been quite distant towards her, so she had kept quiet. Joyce had hoped they could talk about the war, had wanted his opinion about it, but decided against it and thrown herself into her work. The idea of Simon and Peter going off to fight worried her but she hadn’t said anything to her friends. She sighed, wishing she’d kept quiet about Simon. ‘Follow me, I’ll show you to a table. Luckily that one by the window has just become available, so you can watch what’s going on and enjoy the sunshine.’
The girls nodded and followed Joyce in single file, weaving in between tables.
Rose looked at the plates of food as they moved between each table, everything from the all-day breakfast to pies and sandwiches.
Annie was the first to sit down on the wooden chair. ‘It’s certainly warm out there. Joyce can I have a cup of tea please while I decide what I’m having to eat.’
‘Make that two please, three if you can join us.’ Rose pulled out the chair opposite.
‘I’m afraid that won’t be possible but I’ll fetch yours.’ Joyce turned and walked back to the counter.
‘I must say all the plates of food look quite delicious.’ Rose leant forward. ‘So do you think we’ll
get to meet Simon?’
Annie frowned, while taking a menu from between the salt and pepper pots. ‘Leave Joyce alone, if she wants us to meet him, she’ll introduce us.’
Joyce looked across at them and took a deep breath; she had a feeling there was going to be an embarrassing moment for her. Why? She wasn’t sure. Was she ashamed of where she worked, especially as she had arrived in London with her own dreams? Was it Simon? She blushed, highly unlikely, they were just friends. Joyce picked up her tray and began threading her way through the tables with the tray of crockery, nodding to customers as she passed them.
The girls looked up and watched in silence as Joyce put the white and blue china tea things in front of them.
Annie smiled as she picked up a cup. ‘These are pretty.’
‘I think so; I managed to get them off a stall in Oxford Street. I brought three sets but unfortunately they don’t match.’
Annie placed the cup back on its matching saucer. ‘I think somehow that adds to it.’
Rose looked wide-eyed at Joyce. ‘So, will we get to meet Simon while we’re here?’
Annie’s face screwed up with anger. ‘Rose.’
‘That’s all right, Annie.’ Joyce took a deep breath and held her hands tight in front of her. ‘I knew that’s why you had come here today, I’m not daft.’
Rose chuckled. ‘Well, I don’t like to disappoint anyone. So, are we going to meet him or are you hiding him away?’
Annie shook her head. ‘This is nothing to do with me.’ She lifted the top of the teapot and began stirring the light brown tea with the spoon from her saucer.
Rose giggled. ‘You want to meet him as much as I do.’
‘As I’ve already said, it’s up to Joyce. He’s her friend.’ Annie picked up the tea strainer and rested it on her cup and began to pour the tea.
Joyce picked up the empty tray, while trying to ignore the heat that was starting to engulf her. ‘Rose, it’s a busy time so I’m afraid Simon will be too busy for idle chit chat.’ She moved to walk away just as Simon came out of the kitchen.
a heartwarming WW1 saga about love and friendship (The West End Girls Book 1) Page 15