by Fiona Ford
With Jack’s help, Arthur quickly settled and by the time Alice returned downstairs, she was delighted to find Dot had taken matters into her own hands and served everyone already. ‘Have you left enough for Joy and Rose?’
‘Bugger ’em,’ Dot snapped. ‘They knew what time tea was. It’s gone half past eight now, if we leave it any longer we’ll be eating our breakfast.’
‘I’m happy to wait if we’re not all here,’ Jack said kindly. ‘I mean I don’t want to put anyone out.’
‘No, Dot’s right.’ Alice was firm. ‘They were due an hour and a half ago.’
‘I agree,’ Mary said, playing with the stem of her glass. ‘We all made an effort to be punctual; I don’t see why we should wait any longer.’
‘Well, if you’re sure, I won’t say no,’ Jack said. ‘Alice has talked about this wonderful pie for the past two weeks and I can’t wait to try it.’
At that the table broke into laugher, leaving Jack looking more than a little confused. ‘What did I say?’ he asked.
‘Sorry, son,’ Mr Button chuckled. ‘I just don’t think anyone has ever said they couldn’t wait to try Woolton Pie before.’
‘Dot sniffed. ‘It’s certainly a dish we have a lot.’
‘But Alice’s is legendary,’ Flo offered loyally.
‘Well, now I’m intrigued,’ Jack said, picking up his fork in his right hand, much to the amazement of the group.
‘Oi! We might be on rations in this country but manners cost nothing,’ Dot said, pointing to his knife with her forefinger.
Startled, Jack gazed at Alice for help. ‘What have I done wrong?’
‘Your knife,’ she said. ‘We don’t eat with just a fork in England.’
‘Oh.’ Jack looked around and immediately spotted his mistake. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to cause offence. It’s just in the States we don’t use our knives unless it’s for a steak or something like that.’
At the mention of the word steak, Alice felt her eyes glaze over with what she was sure was a mix of lust and envy. She couldn’t remember the last time she had enjoyed red meat, let alone a steak.
‘No harm done, Jack,’ Mr Button said kindly. ‘I’ve no doubt that if I spent time in your fine country I’d make the odd mistake here and there too.’
‘You’d know to bloody use a knife and fork, though, wouldn’t you,’ Dot muttered in a stage whisper.
At that everyone erupted into laughter again, and Alice felt a swell of happiness as she looked at the faces surrounding her. This moment was almost perfect, she thought contentedly, until she realised that someone was missing from the table: Luke. As another round of laughter passed around the table, Alice allowed the happy sound to wash over her and did her best to join in. Some moments were never truly perfect.
Chapter Eighteen
The following Sunday Alice found herself walking through the streets of Belgravia in the pouring rain as she made her way towards Mayfair House. Her best black court shoes were so worn she had needed to put cardboard in them, and she hobbled down the streets with Arthur sleeping soundly in his pram, feeling for all the world as if she didn’t belong.
Although Alice knew that parts of Belgravia had been bombed, this particular street with its stonewashed buildings, so tall and elegant with their matching front doors complete with boot scrapers, looked as if they had hardly been touched by the atrocities Hitler had wrought. And if it hadn’t been for the holes in the stone walls where the metal railings used to be, Alice could have been forgiven for thinking that war didn’t exist in this particular corner of England at all.
Gingerly she rounded the corner and continued to gawp at her surroundings. She had only ever been to Belgravia once before and that was when she was a child. Her father had brought her and Joy to one of these posh houses where they had enjoyed tea with a very smartly dressed woman who spoke with a broad South London accent just like them. Alice hadn’t a clue what or who she was, but going by the smile on her father’s face, not to the mention the rather large bag of cash he’d been carrying as they left, the woman worked for him in some way or another.
Spotting the opulent red-bricked building which she knew to be the hotel, Alice hurried towards the entrance where she had arranged to meet everyone. Joy’s invitation to afternoon tea at her new workplace was a nice gesture and Alice was determined that the afternoon would be a success.
‘Where’ve you been?’ Dot demanded, tapping her watch. ‘You were supposed to have been here ten minutes ago.’
‘Yes, come on, we’re starving,’ Flo grumbled. ‘I deliberately didn’t eat breakfast or lunch in preparation for this.’
‘It’s true, she didn’t,’ Aggie said, straightening her grey felt hat. ‘She said she didn’t want to spoil her appetite.’
Dot raised an eyebrow. ‘You can’t blame Alice for that, Flo.’
Flo rolled her eyes. ‘Perhaps not, but I can try.’
‘Hear that,’ Aggie whispered in a stage whisper to Dot. ‘She’s grumpy because she didn’t eat.’
‘They never listen to their elders,’ Dot replied with a wink, before nudging Alice. ‘This one’s the same.’
Alice and Flo exchanged looks of mock despair before Alice spoke. ‘I’m sorry, it took me ages to get Arthur off to sleep.’ She peered gingerly into the pram, afraid the sudden chatter of voices might have disturbed her son. ‘Do you really think it’s all right that I’ve brought him? I mean this place is a bit hoity-toity, ain’t it? I can’t imagine they take too kindly to children here.’
‘Oh, they won’t,’ Mary said authoritatively as she turned up the collar of the army greatcoat she still wore to keep out the rain. ‘Children should always be bally well seen and bally well never heard.’
Alarm passed across Alice’s face. ‘You see. I shouldn’t have come.’
‘But what I was trying to say, if you’d let me finish, is that these hotels are always very accommodating to their guests so you mustn’t worry.’
‘And what if Arthur cries?’ Alice said fretfully.
‘Then one of us will take him outside so he doesn’t disturb the other diners,’ Flo said kindly. ‘Really, Alice, you mustn’t worry so much. I know it’s not ideal but this isn’t the problem you think it’s going to be.’
‘All right,’ Alice sighed, still feeling reluctant. ‘Shall we?’
‘About bloody time,’ Dot grumbled, leading the little group through the double doors that were quickly opened by a uniformed doorman.
Stepping inside, Alice felt all the more conscious of the cardboard in her shoes. She wasn’t usually so unconfident – after all, years at Liberty’s where she’d hobnobbed with royalty from across the world had given her good training, but she was aware that she was always the one serving them not the other way around. Now here she was in this very grand hotel feeling like a fish out of water.
The first thing Alice noticed was the beautiful scent of freesias wafting through the air, then she saw the glittering chandeliers, as beautiful as the ones that used to grace the Assembly Rooms. Feeling a pang of regret as she thought of that fateful night, Alice glanced quickly down and took in the white marble floor, which gleamed like the Liberty silk that had made her wedding dress. Elsewhere, gold-framed pictures of lands that Alice had never seen and would likely never see graced the walls, while a rich red carpet that looked as though it was as thick as the mattress she slept in clad the huge wooden staircase that led to the floors above.
‘It’s beautiful,’ Mary breathed. ‘I haven’t been here since Cynthia’s debutante ball ten years ago. It was a frightful gas – jolly good cream cakes as I remember.’
‘Well, it looks as though we’re about to sample some for ourselves.’ Flo grinned. ‘There’s Joy.’
Alice smiled gratefully at her sister, who was beautifully turned out in a pair of black trousers – many women were wearing them these days – along with a gorgeous silk blouse; Alice recognised it as an old Liberty print.
‘Hello, girls
, we’re just through here!’ Joy ushered them all inside to the dining room.
Alice brought up the rear, her jaw dropping as she took in the fact that this room was even grander than reception. White linen tablecloths adorned the thirty or so tables while five more chandeliers hung from the ceiling. At the back of the room, a team of smartly dressed men and women wearing a uniform of black seemed to keep magically reappearing with trays filled with so much delicious-looking food Alice was sure her mouth wasn’t just watering, but dribbling.
Joy led them to a table by the window and they all sat down. ‘I thought we would all have the traditional afternoon tea so I ordered already – I hope that was all right?’ she said, appearing suddenly nervous as she straightened the serviette on her lap.
‘That was very kind of you, Joy,’ Mary said sincerely as she closed her menu. The waiter arrived with their tea and she continued: ‘I must say it all looks rather splendid, doesn’t it?’
‘How the other half live,’ Dot marvelled as she took a sip of the tea the waiter had just poured.
Joy made a face before she leaned over the table and began to whisper: ‘It can be a bit bloody annoying when you come in here and see all this lot eating like kings while the rest of us are on scraps.’
‘It makes you wonder how they do it,’ Rose grumbled. ‘I mean why doesn’t the government stop them or something?’
Dot guffawed and slapped the table. ‘Because half the government is in here, love! Still,’ she continued, helping herself to more tea from the pot the waiter had left on the table, ‘for once we can enjoy a slice of the good life as well. Very nice of you, Joy, I must say, to organise all this for us. You sure you’re not going to get in no trouble for it?’
Joy shook her head. ‘It’s my pleasure. The way you girls have welcomed me into your home and your hearts – well, I want to say thank you.’
‘We’re very glad you found us,’ Rose said in a kinder tone that Alice thought sounded much more like her old friend. ‘You’ve brightened up our lives.’
‘Being here, despite what you were saying about the way the other half live, Dot,’ Mary ventured, ‘well, it does at least feel as if we’ve got an afternoon off from the war, doesn’t it? We’re just a group of rather fine ladies taking tea.’
‘You’re right,’ Rose agreed. ‘I do in fact feel rather fine sitting here.’
Mary grinned. ‘It’s as though we could be Liberty customers for once.’
‘Oh no, we’ll never be that posh.’ Alice chuckled as the waiter returned with a platter of sandwiches piled high on a tiered stand. They looked and smelled delicious, with delicate cucumber sliced between perfect triangles of white bread, while on the tier below stood a selection of salmon, ham, egg and cheese all sliced with the same care and precision.
‘Ham!’ Flo screeched. ‘When was the last time you saw ham?’
‘Or salmon?’ Mary breathed admiringly. ‘When did any of us ever see salmon?’
There was a brief silence then as the girls simply gazed in wonder at the spread before them, each unable to believe that such luxurious foods still existed in the world.
‘Let’s not stand on ceremony then,’ Dot said, holding up her delicate china plate and filling it with a sandwich of each variety. ‘Oh my days! That’s beautiful. Never in my life have I eaten something so delicious.’
Mary laughed at the obvious pleasure on the matriarch’s face. ’I’d have thought Mr Button would have been bringing you to places like this all the time, as he’s manager of Liberty’s.’
Dot made a face. ‘I’ve not seen much of Edwin these days. He’s always so busy at work. I half wondered if he’d gone off me!’
‘I don’t think so,’ Flo said sadly. ‘We’re just horribly short-staffed at the minute. I swear that’s the only reason I got the deputy manager’s job, because I was the only one of the department managers that didn’t have a family at home to rush back for.’
Aggie shook her head in despair as she helped herself to another cucumber sandwich. ‘Do you see how she puts herself down, every chance she gets?’
‘I’m not,’ Flo protested, turning to her aunt, ‘I’m just being realistic.’
‘And I keep telling you that you need to have more self-belief. You’re more than good enough for that role, so start believing in yourself.’
Flo was just about to open her mouth to reply, when she saw her aunt clutch her chest. ‘You all right, Aggie?’ she asked, her face flushed with worry.
‘Fine, love.’ Aggie waved Flo’s concerns away. ‘Just a bit of cucumber gone down the wrong hole, I think.’
Joy was immediately on her feet and pouring a glass of water. ‘Here,’ she said gently, pressing the glass into Aggie’s hand. ‘Drink this slowly, you’ll feel much better. That blasted cucumber’s always catching in people’s throats.’
‘Thanks, love,’ Aggie whispered gratefully.
As the older woman took a sip, the rest of the girls looked on in alarm.
‘Will you all get back to your butties, girls,’ Aggie hissed. ‘I feel like a zoo exhibit the way you’re all staring!’
‘Sorry,’ Flo whispered before turning to everyone else. ‘What were we talking about?’
‘Staffing,’ Mary put in. ‘And the lack of it. I was just about to say that being short-staffed can’t be a new thing, can it? I mean the men went off to war a couple of years ago.’
‘Yes but now women have been conscripted a lot of our girls have gone part-time or have been called up themselves,’ Flo explained as she continued to shoot her aunt anxious looks. ‘It’s only married women or carers, or some lucky few that haven’t been.’
‘Well, I haven’t been called up yet,’ Mary sighed. ‘I can only think it’s because of my discharge from the ATS. I’m glad I joined the Red Cross last Christmas though; it’s made me feel as though I’m doing a bit more. And Rose’s Red Cross talk the other week has been very inspiring. I can’t wait until it becomes a regular event.’
At that the girls all nodded their heads. ‘It was a lovely idea of yours, Rose,’ Flo murmured. ‘What made you think of it?’
Rose shrugged, barely glancing up from her plate of sandwiches. ‘I just felt it was something we should be doing, but I’ve decided not to bother organising any more. I’ve one final one in a few weeks then that’ll be it. I mean, let’s face it,’ she said, letting out a hollow laugh, ‘I don’t think the public like a permanent reminder in front of them of what happens if you don’t get the help you need in time.’
‘Rose, you can’t give up on the talks,’ Mary persisted. ‘It was a brilliant idea, and all of Liberty’s was behind you.’
‘Apart from Mrs Claremont,’ Rose said listlessly, ‘and perhaps she was right. No, sorry, my mind’s made up. I’ve spoken to Mr Button and he said if I don’t feel up to it I don’t have to do it.’
With that Rose returned to her sandwiches, leaving the rest of the girls unsure what to say next.
‘Have you heard much from David, Mary?’ Flo asked, changing the subject.
‘Not since last week. He said he was preparing to move overseas but wouldn’t say where.’
‘Of course not,’ Dot said. ‘And what about his sister, Mabel?’
A flash of anger passed across Mary’s features before she spoke. ‘He didn’t bring her up. I think he knows I don’t like to hear or talk about her.’
‘We none of us do,’ Aggie murmured in agreement. She still looked a little pale after her sandwich incident. ‘It breaks my heart every time I think about what she got up to with my former brother-in-law. At least Mabel Matravers is under lock and key though, unlike Bill Wilson. He won’t let this go without a fight, I’m telling you, girls, so watch your backs.’
Flo laid a comforting hand on top of her aunt’s. ‘And I keep telling you my father’s not coming anywhere near us; you know he won’t risk going back inside. Aggie, you have to relax, he’s long gone.’
‘Flo’s right,’ Mary said softly. ‘Besi
des, if he’s cross with anyone it’ll be Mrs Matravers. According to David’s last letter she’s trying to atone for her sins and has provided police with details of his last known address and those of his friends.’
‘Well, that’ll certainly have my old man gunning for her,’ Flo muttered, her cheeks pinking with anger.
‘Still, I should have thought David needs to talk to someone about all this,’ Dot pointed out reasonably, ‘and you are his intended, darlin’. I know it’s uncomfortable to listen to him go on about his sister, but it’s probably just as painful for him to talk about it as it is for you to hear it.’
‘And no doubt he’s worried about that niece of his,’ Aggie added. ‘Flo tells me Mrs Matravers had her little girl in prison.’
Mary gave a curt nod of her head. ‘That’s right – Emma. She was born in March I think, though she’s being looked after by the state at the moment, something else David’s not happy about. It’s all such a mess.’
‘Have you thought any more about setting a date?’ Flo asked.
Mary shook her head. ‘David mentioned something in his last letter about us bringing it forward but I would still rather wait. I still want to marry in peacetime.’
‘Whenever that’ll be,’ Dot snorted.
Alice wiped her mouth with her serviette. ‘Dot’s right, Mary. We don’t know when this war’s going to be over. The last one was four years long, for crying out loud. We’re three years in already.’
‘But the Americans are here in their droves,’ Mary protested. ‘Surely now it’ll be over in months with their help?’
‘And money,’ Dot added sagely.
‘Look around you now – the place is swarming with them,’ Aggie added.
‘They’re always here, as you can see,’ Joy added, gesturing at the room. ‘Usually complaining about the British weather and the terrible food.’
‘Bloody cheek!’ Dot grumbled. ‘There’s no rationing for them with their food parcels and whatnot from America. Let ’em whinge, I say.’