a heartwarming WW1 saga about love and friendship (The West End Girls Book 1)

by Elaine Roberts

  Annie stood up. ‘That’s all right you’ll get it back with time, we all get tested by the demons in our heads.’ She gave her a hug. ‘You have good friends and should have shared your burden with us and we would have tried to have come sooner. Your Uncle Arthur is a different man now, and I know he’s sorry for what he’s put you through.’

  Rose looked up. ‘I agree, I think he’s come out the other side and you should be proud you didn’t desert him when he needed you the most.’

  Joyce looked tearful as she looked at her friends. ‘It’s been so wonderful having you here. It means more than I can say.’

  Annie rubbed the rough bobbly sleeve of Joyce’s coat. ‘Don’t worry about the future. If we have to move, we’ll face it when the time comes, and we’ll face it together.’

  *

  Annie passed Kitty her usual early morning coffee, adding a tiny splash of brandy. ‘I really don’t like the winter at all, it’s so grey and cold here in London.’ She put the glass bottle back in the drawer.

  ‘You’re spoiling me.’ Kitty tried to laugh but it caught in her throat and she started coughing.

  ‘It’s only for medicinal purposes so don’t get used to it.’ Annie rubbed her hand up and down Kitty’s back. ‘We’ve got to get you well enough for this evening’s performance.’ She picked up a blanket and wrapped it around Kitty’s shoulders. ‘Why don’t you lie down for a while?’

  Kitty shook her head. ‘Can you please go and find Stan for me?’

  Annie nodded. ‘Of course, are you going to be all right?’

  ‘Yes, I might just lie down on the chaise for a moment.’

  Annie hovered. ‘Let me help you.’ She held onto Kitty’s slender arm and guided her to the chair, then went back for the coffee. ‘Don’t try and move until I get back, I’m not convinced you’re going to be able to perform tonight.’

  Kitty gave her a weak smile. ‘Let me worry about that. You just find Stan for me.’

  Annie nodded and walked over to the door. ‘Are you sure you’ll be all right?’

  Kitty nodded.

  Annie ran down the corridor and poked her head round the door of the sewing room. ‘Have you seen Stan?’

  Rose looked up from the dress she was sewing. ‘No, is everything all right? You look quite pale.’

  ‘I don’t know, Kitty wants me to find Stan.’ Annie leant back and peered further along the corridor before looking back at Rose. ‘I don’t think Kitty is well enough to do tonight’s performance – not that she’s said that but she doesn’t look well.’

  Rose raised her eyebrows. ‘What will they do? Kitty doesn’t have an understudy.’

  Annie shrugged. ‘I don’t know, but I need to find Stan. If you happen to see him can you tell him Kitty needs to talk to him?’ She left before Rose could say any more, almost running to the stage.

  Stan walked around the corner and collided with Annie.

  Annie gasped for breath. ‘Mr Tyler, Kitty wants a word with you. She’s not at all well.’

  Stan eyed her for a second.

  Annie raised her eyebrows, wondering what it was that she saw flicker across his face, there only for a moment before it was gone.

  Stan took a deep breath. ‘Right, I’ll go and see her.’

  Annie turned to walk with him back to the dressing room. He was pacing it out and Annie found herself trotting alongside him.

  He gave her a sideways glance. ‘This could be very serious.’ Stan cleared his throat. ‘Mind you, Kitty has never missed a show so I’m sure we’re worrying for nothing.’

  Stan walked into the dressing room just as Kitty pulled the blanket back over her shoulder. He smiled at her then remembered himself and gave a look of concern. ‘I hear you wanted to see me.’

  Annie followed him in and wrinkled her nose. Was that onion she could smell?

  Kitty coughed into a handkerchief. ‘I don’t think I’m going to be able to do the show tonight.’

  Stan stared at the star of the show. ‘What? How are we meant to get a replacement at this late in the day?’

  Kitty’s eyes were watery and bloodshot. ‘I’m sorry, Stan, someone else is going to have to do it.’

  Stan paced around the room throwing his hands up in the air. ‘Like who? To play Elphin Haye is a big role.’

  Kitty winked at Stan. ‘Why don’t you let Annie do it?’

  Fear trampled over Annie’s worried features. ‘I can’t do it, I’ve only been back a few weeks.’ She groaned. ‘I’m not an actress. You need to get better before tonight.’

  Stan stopped pacing and gave a half smile. ‘That’s an excellent idea, Kitty, panic over.’

  ‘I can’t do it. I don’t know the lines.’

  Stan rested his arm on Annie’s shoulders. ‘I see you mouthing each line from the wings every evening.’

  Annie’s stomach lurched up into her chest. ‘That’s not the same as performing it on stage in front of hundreds of people.’

  Stan nodded. ‘That’s true but you’ve watched it enough to be our best option.’ He peered over at Kitty before glancing back at Annie. ‘You won’t let us down, will you? You know the old saying the show must go on. Well, it’s very true, we have people who have bought tickets and we can’t let them down.’

  Kitty sneezed into her handkerchief. ‘You can do it, Annie. You wanted to be on the stage so now’s your big chance.’

  Annie dropped down on the sofa next to Kitty. ‘Not at your expense I didn’t.’

  ‘I will probably be over the worst of it tomorrow so it will probably be for one night only. Just enjoy it.’

  Stan clapped his hands and rubbed them together. He looked pleased with himself when he spoke. ‘Good, that’s that settled then.’ He looked at Annie. ‘You need to spend the day practising your lines and the movement on the stage of you and the other players.’

  Annie could feel the colour draining from her, she couldn’t believe it was happening; she needed to go and see Rose. She jumped up and ran out the room and along the corridor.

  Stan’s booming voice followed her. ‘I hope we haven’t scared her off.’

  Kitty’s voice held a smile. ‘She’ll be all right. Have they arrived yet?’

  Annie almost fell into the sewing room, her face flushed from where she had been running. ‘Rose,’ Annie scowled. ‘Rose, Stan and Kitty only want me to play the leading role tonight because Kitty’s too sick.’

  Rose jumped up and clapped her hands. ‘That’s wonderful! Not that Kitty’s sick, but you getting your chance on the stage. It’s what you’ve always dreamed of.’

  Annie shook her head. ‘I can’t do it, I really can’t.’

  Rose took Annie’s hands in hers. ‘Calm down, take some deep breaths.’ She pulled her friend to a nearby chair and sat her down. Rose pulled a chair over and sat next to her. ‘I don’t understand, I thought it was what we came to London for. It’s what you’ve been going on about for years, remember?’

  Annie nodded. ‘Not like this! I wanted to start off at the bottom, you know, do rehearsals, learn what I have to do.’

  Rose nodded. ‘Just remember you’ve watched this show practically every night from the wings. The only time you didn’t was when you went home and we’ve been back a few weeks now so it’s all fresh in your head. You definitely know all the words and the songs.’ She paused. ‘You know it’s an honour to replace Kitty, and for one night you’ll be fine.’

  Annie’s eyes widened. ‘Who said it was only for one night?’

  Rose fidgeted in her chair. ‘Obviously no one did, I just assumed that as soon as Kitty is feeling halfway decent she’ll want to start work again. After all that’s what she’s like.’

  Annie stared at Rose for a minute before nodding in agreement.

  ‘Shall I help you practise?’

  ‘I think Kitty will, if she’s not asleep.’

  *

  Annie stared at herself in the mirror as she mumbled the words to “I Would Like To Marry You”.

/>   Rose helped Annie into Kitty’s first dress for the show, pinning and stitching where it was a little big. ‘Are you all right? You’re mumbling away to yourself.’

  ‘I feel sick. I’m trying to remember the words to “I Would Like To Marry You” because I have to sing it on my own in the first act.’ Annie shook her head. ‘I can’t believe I agreed to do this. What am I saying? I didn’t agree, it was thrust upon me!’

  Rose smiled. ‘Try to enjoy the moment. This is your dream, remember. This is what you’ve wanted for most of your life.’

  ‘Please stop saying that.’ Annie rolled her eyes heavenward. ‘Anyway, I always imagined I’d have my family cheering me on when the time came.’

  ‘Well, you are going to have to make do with me, Stan and Kitty, your theatre family. I’m sure when you tell them about it the family will be able to picture it as though they were here.’

  Kitty wandered into the room. ‘How are you doing? You’re bound to worry about everything but that’s part of performing, everyone’s nerves are terrible at this point.’ She stood back to admire the costume. ‘You’ve done a good job, Rose. I will be in the wings watching so good luck.’

  Panic raced across Annie’s face. ‘Oh my goodness, that in itself terrifies me.’

  Kitty laughed. ‘Don’t worry, you won’t be able to see much of the audience but they will be able to see you so just pretend you are performing in front of your family and friends. It’s going to go well.’

  Annie eyed Kitty suspiciously. ‘Your cold sounds a little better, and your eyes aren’t bloodshot anymore. Maybe you could play the role yourself now.’

  ‘I do feel a little better but you will be on in five minutes so there’s not time to make any changes at this late stage.’

  Annie opened her mouth to speak.

  A sharp rap on the door made her jump. ‘Time ladies, we need you in the wings, there’s less than two minutes to go before the curtain is pulled up.’

  *

  Tom Cradwell and his family followed the usher’s instructions and wandered down the aisle. Margaret stared open-mouthed at the magnificent theatre. They took their seats next to Joyce and Peter. He hadn’t known what to do when he’d received Rose’s telegram a few days earlier but he knew he couldn’t miss Annie’s first role on stage. His stomach churned. Annie wouldn’t know they were there until the show was over; they had all been sworn to secrecy. The lights went down in the auditorium.

  Stan Tyler walked out and peered into the darkness of the auditorium. ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, for tonight only the role of Elphin Haye will be played by Annie Cradwell. Please enjoy the show.’ Stan walked off into the wings.

  The curtains opened, the lights were lit on stage and the audience clapped as the show began.

  Stan took his place next to Kitty and Rose.

  Kitty watched Annie focused on the show and grinned. ‘I’m so glad I’ve finally got rid of the smell of onion. It really did sting when I rubbed it under my eyes.’

  Rose could feel her eyes welling up. ‘You’re certainly an amazing actress. This is wonderful; I’m hoping this will stop her crying herself to sleep at night. Thank you.’

  ‘It was a team plan.’ Kitty and Rose hugged as Annie walked on to the stage, all nerves forgotten.

  Stan glanced across. ‘Annie has been through so much. I hope she enjoys it and doesn’t hate us forever.’

  A few minutes later Annie burst into song and the audience sat hushed as they listened.

  Rose watched in awe as her friend sang and moved elegantly around the stage. She tore herself away to glance at everyone sitting in the front row, all mesmerised at Annie’s performance and her ability to melodically dance with the notes with strength and passion.

  Tom squeezed Margaret’s hand as he stared wide-eyed at Annie, losing himself in the music and his daughter’s wonderful voice. His eyes became watery. Blinking rapidly, his gaze darted around the audience, wondering if they were hearing what he was. How he wished Ivy could see their daughter bring the song to life.

  Margaret looked up at him, loving what she saw.

  Peter leant forward in his seat holding his breath as Annie sung her heart out.

  Joyce shook her head slowly, with her fingertips pressed to her lips. She nudged Peter, who peered over his shoulder and gave her a broad smile before staring back at the stage.

  The music stopped. The audience was silent for what seemed a lifetime. Annie held her breath as she glanced at Kitty, who was wiping her eyes. Had she let them down? Her heart was racing. The theatre suddenly erupted with everyone jumping to their feet cheering and clapping. Annie’s eyes welled up and she gasped as the wall of applause hit her. Beaming, she caught sight of her father and Peter following everyone to their feet, along with Margaret and Joyce.

  The orchestra began the opening chords of the next song.

  Acknowledgements

  As I write this most of the world is in some level of lockdown, thanks to the Coronavirus, it’s a strange time that we’re living in with more people working from home and having to find new ways to entertain themselves. As always there have been some splendid heroes/heroines sprinkled with some villains, but I hope everyone stays safe and keeps well. I haven’t been out of the house for several weeks and, for once, I can say I’m grateful for technology so I can see my children and grandchildren over the Internet.

  My eternal gratitude and thanks must go to my son, James, for being a sounding board for my plots and asking me so many questions, which I have to say at times have driven me round the bend, but they always make me think so thank you for your never-ending support and interest. I would like to thank all my children for encouraging me to carry on writing, and for asking most days how much I have done or how I’m getting on. This is an especially big thank you as they are all key workers in this pandemic, so they have plenty going on without worrying about me.

  A big thanks, and a lot of love, must go to the people I have never met, the virtual friends on social media and readers. I have had huge support from them and that means the world to me, especially as I’m quite shy and don’t often comment on posts but will always “Like or Love” one to show I have read it.

  I almost feel it goes without saying that I thank all the writing community and friends for their encouragement in the last year. I’d like to thank the Aria team, with special thanks going to my editor, Rhea Kurien, for her patience, understanding, and for giving me time and space. You have been a pleasure to work with and have fine-tuned my novel.

  I truly hope everyone who reads it enjoys the first instalment of my new series.

  Thank you.

  Elaine xx

  If you wish to talk to me, here are my details:

  Facebook: facebook.com/ElaineRobertsAuthor/

  Twitter: twitter.com/RobertsElaine11

  Website: www.elaineroberts.co.uk

  About the Author

  ELAINE ROBERTS had a dream to write for a living. She completed her first novel in her twenties and received her first very nice rejection. Life then got in the way again until she picked up her dream again in 2010. She joined a creative writing class, The Write Place, in 2012 and shortly afterwards had her first short story published. Elaine and her extended family live in and around Dartford, Kent and her home is always busy with visiting children, grandchildren, grand dogs and cats.

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