The Liberty Girls

by Fiona Ford

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Creeping out of bed as dawn broke, Alice was surprised to find Luke wasn’t beside her. She quickly padded down the stairs to the kitchen, where she found Luke standing by the range in a threadbare dressing gown still far too big for him, making a pot of tea.

  ‘What are you doing?’ she asked, unable to keep the surprise from her voice.

  ‘Peace offering,’ he said glumly. ‘I behaved horribly last night and wonder if you can ever forgive me.’

  As Luke set the steaming cup down on the kitchen table for her, Alice gasped in surprise as he presented her with a round of toast complete with a scraping of butter. The National Loaf was somewhat tasteless and scarce, but the rare sight of breakfast freshly prepared by her husband made it seem as if it had come out of the Ritz.

  ‘Don’t think this gets you off the hook that easily,’ she grumbled, taking a large bite. ‘You embarrassed me in front of my mates and left me to come home alone.’

  Luke looked contrite as he sat in the chair opposite, leaned forward and squeezed her hand. ‘I really am sorry, Alice. I don’t know what came over me.’

  ‘Too much drink, I should think,’ she said wryly, raising her eyebrow at the stench of his breath.

  ‘I had one too many at one of the pubs up the road after I left you. Drowning my sorrows.’ He leaned back and scratched his chin thoughtfully. ‘Look, I do understand you have to work.’

  ‘Good,’ Alice said curtly. ‘Because I said I’d help get the ball rolling with the fashion parade so I’ll be back late.’ Luke nodded as she took another bite of her toast. ‘When does your medical officer visit again?’

  ‘He came yesterday,’ Luke looked sheepish. ‘Said I’m a long way from being ready to go back to active service.’

  Alice dropped the toast on her plate and reached forward to take her husband’s hand. ‘Luke, why didn’t you tell me? I could have helped you.’

  Letting out a bitter laugh, Luke looked into her blue eyes. ‘How, Alice? With the best will in the world, how could you have helped me?’

  Alice considered her husband’s response. ‘I could at least have listened,’ she said eventually. ‘I’d have understood.’

  ‘Would you?’ Luke sighed. ‘Because half the time I’m not sure I understand. I mean where’s the sense in wanting to go back into a war? I already nearly lost my life once, why am I in such a rush to go and do it again?’

  ‘Because you love your country,’ she said fiercely. ‘Because you want to fight for our way of life to continue. Because you’ve seen what’s happened to those poor Jews and know it’s not right.’

  There was a pause then as Luke offered Alice a weak smile. ‘I appreciate you trying to help, love, but I think this is something I have to work out for myself. Besides, I don’t want to burden you, it’s not fair.’

  ‘I’m your wife,’ Alice said evenly. ‘If you can’t talk to me who can you talk to?’

  Luke’s gaze dropped to the floor. ‘It’s not that simple. I know you and Arthur have been here fighting your own war on the home front, and that things have been difficult for you in a way I could never understand, but I promised myself that when I came home I wouldn’t talk about the horrors I’d seen. A lot of blokes were the same. We none of us wanted to taint our marriages by bringing that stuff back with us.’

  Luke lifted his chin to meet Alice’s eyes and she saw a glimpse of the person she knew of old. His eyes were filled with a heady mix of pain, determination and protectiveness and she felt her heart go out to him.

  She took his hand again and gently squeezed it. ‘Maybe you should try,’ she urged softly. ‘Luke, you don’t need to protect me. Perhaps you should try telling me a bit about what life was really like for you in France.’

  There was a pause then, as Luke gave a tiny nod of his head. ‘All right. Maybe it’s time.’

  Alice held her breath, bracing herself for the truth as Luke began to speak.

  ‘When I was trapped over there all I could think about was you and our child. I thought about what I was missing out on, what a waste of life it was that I was cocooned in this hell not knowing if I would ever get out. It devastated me, Alice, but I slowly learned to rely on myself. It was the only way I could get through it all,’ he said looking her straight in the eye.

  As Luke finished talking Alice felt a burst of anger at the lies that spilled so easily from his mouth. ‘I can’t imagine how terrible it was for you,’ she said slowly. ‘All alone like that, not able to get in touch with me to even let me know you were alive.’

  ‘It really was awful. I look back now and I don’t know how I survived it.’ Luke’s eyes took on a wistful expression. ‘It was the thought of you and our child that helped me cope through those long, dark days … Oh, I’m going out with an old pal tonight, did I mention it?’

  Alice shook her head, wrong-footed by the change of subject.

  ‘Yes, Ralph Patterson,’ Luke ventured. ‘We trained together and he’s been injured too. Though he’s well now and just been put on admin duty. We bumped into each other last week and he suggested a pint.’

  ‘All right,’ Alice said evenly. ‘Have a nice night.’

  Pushing her plate of half-eaten toast away she got to her feet and looked at her husband. As her eyes roamed over his familiar face it suddenly hit her that she had no idea if he was telling the truth. Was he really going for a drink with his friend or was he up to something else? And that was the biggest problem of all, she thought sadly. While she might be doing her best to forgive him, to want to try again, the trust in their marriage had been broken. Turning her back on him, she walked up the stairs to get ready for work,

  ‘Aren’t you going to finish your toast?’ Luke called.

  ‘No thanks,’ she shouted back. ‘I’ve had enough.’

  From the moment Alice arrived at Liberty’s that morning she was rushed off her feet. The department was inundated with customers thanks to the competition posters that had gone up and the announcements in the press. At lunchtime Flo dragged her down to the stockroom.

  ‘What on earth’s up with you?’ Alice grumbled after being manhandled. ‘You haven’t had another letter from Neil, have you?’

  Flo shook her head. ‘Nothing like that.’

  ‘Well, then what is it? Mrs Claremont will have my guts for garters if she catches me gossiping down here, even if it is with the deputy store manager.’

  But Flo said nothing; she just looked stricken.

  ‘What is it?’ Alice tried again, more gently this time.

  ‘I’ve made a mistake,’ Flo whispered, her eyes wide with despair. ‘A big one.’

  Alice rested her hand on Flo’s forearm as she encouraged her to continue.

  ‘One of our agents, Beath’s – over in Canterbury, you know – has been on the phone. There’s been a problem with an order they placed with me. They’ve received two hundred rolls of utility fabric and say they only ordered twenty but we’ve charged them for two hundred. I know they ordered twenty, but somehow I’ve written two hundred.’

  ‘All right, Flo, calm down,’ Alice soothed. ‘Could there have been another order form? Something that came later?’

  Flo shook her head. ‘I’ve looked everywhere. I think I must have been going mad. It happened when I came back to work after Aggie died, but the delivery only went out the other day, on my day off. My mind can’t have been on the job. I’m so ashamed.’

  ‘Come on now, there’s no need for all these tears. What do Beath’s want?’ Alice asked.

  ‘They’ve done it. They’ve sent the hundred and eighty rolls back and demanded a refund, which of course I’ve actioned, but to lose that amount of money in order is dreadful.’ Flo wailed. ‘They say they’d never have ordered that amount and I know that.’

  Alice pinched the bridge of her nose as she tried to think. This was so unlike Flo; she never made mistakes like this. ‘What are you going to do?’ she asked.

  Flo shrugged. ‘What can I d
o? I’m going to have to own up and tell Mr Button. A mistake like this is very bad for business.’

  Alice nodded. ‘I think that’s the best thing. The sooner you tell him the sooner he can help you fix it.’

  ‘But I could get the sack!’ Tears were pricking Flo’s eyes now. ‘And then what?’

  ’You’re not going to get the sack,’ Alice said firmly. ‘Just tell him the truth and I’m sure he’ll understand.’

  ‘I don’t think he will. I think he’s going to be furious.’

  ‘Sadly, my love, I don’t think you’ve got a choice. Come on, do it now – once it’s done you don’t have to think about it. You can tell me everything during your tea break.’

  ‘If I’m still here,’ Flo replied dolefully.

  ‘Go!’ Alice said, shooing her friend up the stairs in front of her.

  Reaching the top Alice’s heart sank as she came face-to-face with Mrs Claremont.

  ‘Seems to be your day for gossiping, Mrs Milwood,’ she said in a steely tone. ‘You’ve had another visitor while you’ve been down here. He’s disappeared into gifts but I imagine he’ll drift back here soon enough.’

  ‘Do you know who it was?’ Alice asked. She really wasn’t in the mood to talk to Luke, particularly not at work.

  ‘I’m not your social secretary, Mrs Milwood,’ Mrs Claremont snapped. ‘I’ve no idea who he was.’

  ‘Excuse me Mrs Claremont,’ Flo began, ‘but I needed to speak to Mrs Milwood on urgent business regarding the fashion parade. Our first stitching event is tomorrow; I assume you will be in attendance as acting head of the department?’

  Mrs Claremont drew herself up to her full height and shook her head. ‘Unfortunately, I have a prior engagement. I will be on hand during the day should anyone have concerns.’

  ‘I see,’ Flo said, giving her a withering stare. ‘That’s a shame.’

  With that Flo swept past Mrs Claremont, leaving Alice to follow suit. Walking back across the floor towards the cash register, she saw the department was empty apart from one man.

  At the sight of him, her heart leapt. ‘Jack?’

  ‘Alice, there you are. How are you?’

  ‘I’m well. You?’ she replied, cautiously moving towards him.

  Jack beamed at her, and the sight of his familiar smile made her melt inside. ‘I just wanted to drop by and see if you were busy tonight?’

  ‘Tonight?’ Alice echoed. ‘Why?’

  ‘I thought you might like to see a movie. Gone with the Wind is on and I’ve never gotten around to seeing it.’

  Alice raised an eyebrow in surprise. ‘I can’t believe you’ve never seen it. It’s wonderful.’

  ‘Does that mean you’d like to go with me? I’ll throw in a drink at the Rainbow Corner. Not Coke again, I promise.’

  Alice chuckled as she thought for a moment. She had told Jack the two of them could be friends, and not only was Luke out for the night but Arthur was still away with Dot. Where was the harm in spending a couple of hours with a handsome GI?

  ‘All right. I finish at half past five today. Do you want to meet me after work?’

  ‘Perfect,’ he said, clapping his hands together in delight.

  Watching him leave, Alice felt her pulse race at the thought of spending another evening with Jack. No matter how hard she tried to tell herself that Jack was only a friend, she knew her emotions were sending her into dangerously deep waters.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  As Alice walked out of the staff door, Jack was waiting for her. The sight of him in his GI uniform was the tonic she needed after a hellish day and she couldn’t wait to escape from her life with a few hours in his company.

  ‘Right on time!’ He beamed, tapping his watch.

  ‘Well, I know you military men are sticklers for timekeeping,’ she said as they began walking along Kingly Street together.

  ‘That and I don’t like to keep a lady waiting.’ Jack chuckled. ‘Now how about a proper drink first? I thought we could go to the pub rather than Rainbow Corner.’

  They were outside the King’s Head; Alice looked longingly at the door. ‘Yes please. If I’m honest, I could really do with a port and lemon.’

  ‘Then your wish is my command,’ Jack said, holding open the door for her.

  He escorted her to a table by the window, helped her off with her jacket and then went to the bar. Moments later he returned with a pint and a suspiciously large glass of port.

  ‘I hope you’re not trying to get me drunk, Jack Capewell,’ she said teasingly, eyeing the glass.

  ‘Not at all, ma’am! You just looked like a lady in need.’

  Alice took a sip and allowed the liquor to trickle down her throat. The warmth of the port immediately began to take the edge off her day and so she took another sip, enjoying the relaxed feeling that spread between her shoulders.

  ‘I needed that,’ she said eventually, setting her glass back down on the stained wooden table.

  ‘So I see,’ Jack remarked wryly, taking a sip of his own drink. ‘What’s happened today?’

  Alice rolled her eyes. ‘Where to start? But before we get into all that, tell me about you. How have you been?’

  ‘Fine. I’m being put in charge of a new unit so I’ll be sticking around London a while longer.’

  ‘That’s good news! Are you pleased?’

  ‘I am now you and I are friends again,’ Jack replied bashfully. ‘The truth is I sorta don’t have anyone else to spend time with.’

  ‘What about all your friends in the army?’

  Jack winced. ‘They’re great guys, but when you’re the boss, you’re not really pals with anyone.’

  ‘I understand. Flo said she had to keep a distance when she was made up to deputy store manager. Mind you, I never saw anything different about her.’

  ‘How is Flo?’

  Grimacing, Alice wondered just how much she should say. Taking another gulp of her drink, she decided to come right out with it. ‘The short story is that Flo made a mistake and this afternoon she was demoted.’

  ’What?’ Jack gasped. ‘Just like that? What did she do?’

  ‘Got an order wrong. I won’t go into it all, but suffice to say it was a colossal mistake and Flo is now back on the shop floor and she’s devastated to have let people down.’

  ‘Poor Flo,’ Jack said earnestly. ‘Is she all right?’

  Alice nodded. ‘I saw her at tea break in the canteen and she said that in a funny way it was a relief. She hated being in charge really and missed the shop floor.’

  ‘So at least she’s back with customers then?’

  ‘She is,’ Alice confirmed, folding her hands in her lap to stop herself drinking her port too quickly. ‘And she’s back in fabrics too, plus we’ve got the store’s utility fabric fashion parade for her to throw herself into.’

  As Jack raised an inquisitive eyebrow Alice told him about the store’s latest plans.

  ‘That’s great,’ he said when Alice had finished.

  Alice sighed. ‘It is for me, but not so great for Flo. She used to run fabrics, now she’s just a run-of-the-mill shop assistant, while Mrs Claremont, who knows next to nothing about fabrics, continues to kill the department.’

  Jack looked confused. ‘But your fashion parade at the end of the month must be helping you guys along?’

  ‘It is,’ Alice ventured. ‘But Mrs Claremont had nothing to do with it. In fact she won’t even come along to our first stitching night to get things moving.’

  ‘What did she suggest it for then if she didn’t want to get involved?’ Jack asked, looking perplexed.

  ‘She didn’t!’ Alice thundered. ‘It was my idea and she took the credit for it.’

  Jack shook his head in astonishment. ‘And I thought the military had it bad with some shady characters. My, my, your Liberty’s is like a movie.’

  ‘Speaking of which,’ Alice said finishing her drink. ‘Shall we get going?’

  Together the two of them strolled th
rough the streets towards Leicester Square. It was another warm, sunny night and Alice allowed herself to bask in the sunshine after spending all day inside. Before long they reached the cinema itself; Jack paid for the tickets and she followed him inside. They were just in time.

  Alice lost herself in the story, enjoying every moment of Rhett and Scarlett’s romance being played out on the big screen. However, her long and difficult day at Liberty’s combined with the warmth of the theatre made her fall asleep; she woke only when Jack shook her.

  ‘Oh my days!’ she gasped, coming to. ‘I can’t believe I fell asleep.’

  Jack helped her on with her jacket. ‘That’s all right. It’s a long movie. Besides, you seemed so comfortable on my shoulder I didn’t want to wake you.’

  Alice flushed bright red. ‘I’m so sorry,’ she whispered.

  ‘You don’t need to be.’ He chuckled. ‘Your snoring was only faint.’

  ‘No!’ she gasped. Her hands flew to her mouth in horror before she realised Jack was joking. ‘You swine,’ she giggled, playfully swatting him with her right hand.

  ‘Hey, easy now!’

  As they walked outside, Jack asked. ‘What do you feel like doing now?’

  Glancing at her watch, Alice felt another flush of horror. ‘I’d better get back, I’ve an early start in the morning to help get everything set up for our stitching night. I’m sorry.’

  At the announcement, Jack’s face fell, before he managed to recover himself. ‘No problem. Let me walk you to the Tube.’

  Together they sauntered in no particular hurry back through Leicester Square.

  ‘How’s Jack Junior?’ Alice asked as the evening breeze whipped around her neck.

  ‘He’s fine. He wrote me last week, says he’s been out riding.’

  Alice made an impressed face. ‘He’ll be rounding up the cattle for you by the time you get back. A real-life cowboy.’