The Liberty Girls

by Fiona Ford

  ‘For me? Why?’ she asked perplexed.

  ‘Well, you’ll be getting married soon.’ Flo sounded excited. ‘Perhaps we ought to think about making you a dress.’

  Alice smiled wistfully. ‘I remember my own dress. It was beautiful, a dropped waist and high neckline with full sleeves and veil to match. I felt every bit as gorgeous as Princess Valentina.’

  ‘I remember the day you chose the fabric – had to be persuaded you were worthy of something so beautiful,’ Dot said with a smile.

  ‘What was it?’ Mary asked.

  ‘A gorgeous Liberty silk,’ Alice murmured. ‘Even with the discount and the fact I was allowed to buy it at wholesale price it seemed a fortune. Luke paid for it in the end.’

  That wedding dress had been a symbol of their love and all they meant to each other. She still had it now, hanging in the back of her wardrobe, where it was gathering dust. But she would never part with it; the dress was something she would always cherish.

  Mary shrugged, her face the opposite of a blushing bride. ‘I don’t know if and when he’ll get leave, and I’m not sure he wants to marry me just for me, if you know what I mean.’

  Alice wrinkled her nose in confusion. ‘I don’t know what you can mean. What other reason could he have for wanting to marry you other than because he wants to be with you?’

  ‘I think a lot of it’s because he wants to adopt baby Emma,’ Mary said, her tone wary.

  ‘Mrs Matravers’ baby?’ Alice asked in surprise.

  Nodding, Mary traced a finger in the pattern of the Tana Lawn that lay stretched out in front of her. ‘Yes. He feels guilty that she’s being raised in care when we would be perfectly capable of giving her a home. And then of course, in time, Mrs Matravers would be able to see her when she was released from prison.’

  Alice let out a low whistle. ‘That’s a tall order. How do you feel about that?’

  Mary met Alice’s gaze, her green eyes tortured. ‘I just don’t know. Obviously I feel for the child, but it’s such a lot to take on. Part of me believes it might be better for her if she never had anything to do with Mrs Matravers and could grow up far away from a life of crime.’

  ‘Mary, surely you can’t mean that,’ Flo protested.

  ‘I bet you she does,’ Jean said, having caught the tail end of the conversation. ‘My dad was a drinker and Mum – well, Mum had better things to do. I couldn’t wait to leave.’ As her voice trailed off, Alice’s heart went out to the girl. She looked broken, but Alice knew better than to pry. Some secrets were better left unsaid.

  In an effort to change the subject, Flo put down the pattern book she had been flicking through. ‘Things going all right with Luke now then?’

  Alice bristled. ‘Whatever makes you think they weren’t all right before?’

  ‘Well, just the way he was the other night in the pub. Neither one of you looked very happy,’ Flo said quickly. ‘Sorry, I don’t mean to cause any offence.’

  Alice did her best to soften her expression. ‘Sorry. It’s been difficult since Luke came back. I suppose we’ve both had to adjust.’

  ‘’Course it has,’ Mary exclaimed sympathetically. ‘Luke’s had to deal with getting to know his son, an injury and being on sick leave from the RAF.’

  ‘Perhaps he needs something different to take his mind off things?’ Mary said thoughtfully. ‘Would he consider joining the Home Guard, do you think? Just temporarily, until he’s strong enough to get back in the RAF active duty. They’re always looking for people.’

  ‘That’s a good idea!’ Alice said. For the first time in a long time she felt a flash of hope. ‘Perhaps if he was with some like-minded souls he might feel a bit more hopeful himself.’

  ‘Settling down is bound to take time,’ Dot mused, before she fixed her gaze on Alice pointedly. ‘Have you talked to Jack about this?’

  At the mention of his name, Alice coloured. She opened her mouth, ready to change the subject, and then changed her mind. Perhaps she would feel better if she confided in her friends.

  ‘Last night Jack told me that he had feelings for me, that he’d never come between a husband and wife, but that he wanted me to know,’ she said, admitting half the story to test the waters.

  ‘Cheeky bloody devil!’ Dot remarked.

  Flo sighed. ‘I think that’s sweet.’

  Alice caught the look of concern on Mary’s face. ‘What do you think?’ she asked.

  ‘It all depends on what you said to Jack.’

  ‘I told him that Luke and I had problems,’ Alice said hesitantly, unable to read Mary’s expression. ‘But I said we were committed to one another and that we had made vows.’

  ‘Good for you,’ Dot chimed in.

  ‘As long as you really feel like that,’ Jean chirped shyly. ‘I mean, when you fall in love, you fall in love.’

  Alice looked at the younger girl in surprise. What did she know about Alice’s feelings? She felt a hot fury rise. ‘I am not in love with Jack. I am a married woman; Jack was just my friend. He got confused, that’s all.’

  ‘Was? Flo asked bluntly. ‘Aren’t you going to see him again?’

  ‘No,’ Alice replied hotly, unable to meet Jean’s gaze. ‘It’s for the best if we have nothing do with each other from now on.’

  There was a silence then as the girls reflected on Alice’s words.

  ’That’s a shame,’ Mary said eventually. ‘But probably for the best if you want things to improve with Luke.’

  ‘Mary’s right,’ Dot said softly. ‘Jack was a nice fella, I’m surprised at him really, but he does wear his heart on his sleeve.’

  ‘A lot of the Yanks do that,’ Flo said wisely. ‘I’ve seen them at the pub all gabbing about the women they’ve loved and lost back home.’

  Dot rolled her eyes. ‘Lot of fuss about nothing. Easy come, easy go for them from what I’ve heard.’

  ‘Not Jack,’ Alice protested. ‘He adored his wife. Was devastated when she died.’

  ‘I know.’ Flo smiled sagely. ‘But no matter how nice he is you’re better off without him. Plus he’s got a kid as well – you don’t want a complicated friendship when there are children concerned.’

  ‘Which is why I don’t blame Mary for being cautious about David’s suggestion,’ Alice said, successfully steering the conversation back to her friend. ‘It’s a lot to think about.’

  Mary nodded gratefully. ‘It is. Then of course there’s the fact David still doesn’t want me getting called up. He worries, he says.’

  ‘Have you been called up yet?’ Alice asked.

  ‘No.’ Mary shook her head. ‘I mean I’m busy enough with the Red Cross, so I’m not looking for anything extra.’

  ‘Have you seen much of Rose up there?’ Dot asked suddenly. ‘I feel like she‘s disappeared. I asked her along tonight to help out but she said she was too busy.’

  ‘She’s so different these days – she seems withdrawn,’ Flo said sadly.

  Jean’s eyes widened. ‘She shouted at me the other day.’

  ‘Rose?’ Alice exclaimed. ‘Never in this world. She doesn’t have it in her.’

  ‘She did that day,’ Jean replied. ‘I just told her I thought she was ever so brave for coming back to work like she did after her accident. She snapped that there was more to her than her white stick and one day people would see that.’

  There was an intake of breath amongst the girls at Jean’s revelation. ‘I would say that sounds unlike her too,’ Mary sighed, ‘but she’s been so off with me and Malcolm lately – when she’s in of course.’

  ‘Where is she then?’ Alice asked. ‘As if I couldn’t guess.’

  ‘With Joy,’ all the girls, bar Jean, chorused.

  ‘Why is she spending so much time with your sister?’ Flo queried, bewilderment filling her face.

  ‘I don’t know. But what I do know is if Joy is involved it’s not likely to be good news.’

  Dot frowned. ‘I thought you and her had made up now.’

&n
bsp; ‘We have, sort of. But a leopard don’t change its spots and Joy’s a filthy great big leopard. Ever since Joy came to her rescue that day at Mayfair House, Rose has been besotted.’

  ‘It’s true,’ Mary agreed, ‘and I don’t think it helps that she’s missing Tommy more than she lets on. She still won’t agree to him asking for compassionate leave.’

  ‘Well, perhaps it’s time we made her see sense,’ Dot said firmly. ‘She’s changing beyond all recognition, girls, and we need to do something about it.’

  As the girls nodded Alice felt a flash of relief. Together they might be able to get Rose back on the straight and narrow, even if the same couldn’t be said for her sister.

  Chapter Forty

  The sound of crying woke Alice from a deep, dreamless sleep. Sitting upright she came to straightaway and snapped on the bedside light, only to find Arthur’s cheeks were flaming red as he bawled his eyes out.

  The sight of him scrunched up like an old paper bag, as he beat his fists against his sides tugged at her heartstrings. He had been sleeping through the night for weeks now. Was this because of her? Was he crying like this because she had been working too long and hadn’t been around for him as much as she should? Or was he in pain?

  ‘Come on, sweetheart,’ she said in a soothing tone, trying to calm him.

  If anything Arthur’s cries became louder and more persistent and so she hurriedly checked him to see if he needed changing. Realising that he didn’t, she decided to try feeding him instead. Taking a quick look at Luke, she saw the bedspread draped over his head was moving and she felt a flash of alarm. The last thing she wanted to do was upset Luke; he was always dreadful if he didn’t get a full night’s sleep and the last thing she wanted was an argument in the middle of the night.

  Hurrying towards the door, she made to open it before Luke was properly disturbed. Only as she laid her hand on the doorknob she realised it was too late.

  ‘Alice love, what’s going on?’ he asked in a loud whisper.

  Turning around, Alice couldn’t resist smiling. He looked like a little boy with his hair mussed up and eyes half open.

  ‘Ssh, go back to sleep,’ she replied in hushed tones. ‘It’s just Arthur.’

  ‘Is he all right?’ Luke asked, rubbing his eyes.

  ‘Fine. I’ll just feed him and he’ll go out like a light.’

  ‘All right.’ Luke looked relieved. ‘Would you like any help?’

  ‘At feeding him?’ Alice asked in horror.

  Despite the earliness of the hour, Luke couldn’t help smiling at his wife’s stricken face. ‘Well, I could give him a bottle, but no, I just meant I could perhaps make you a cup of tea for when you’d finished.’

  ‘That’s very sweet of you, but please, just get back to sleep.’

  Much to Alice’s surprise, Luke got to his feet. ‘Alice, let me help you,’ he begged. ‘You’re at work all day and with the baby at night. I want to do something for you.’

  Looking at the concern etched across her husband’s face Alice felt love flood through her. Leaning across to kiss his cheek, she gazed at him tenderly. ‘What you’ve just done is more than enough.’

  With that she took their crying son down the stairs and prepared to feed him, feeling bowled over with surprise. Settling herself down in the chair, she decided to savour the moment with her child. As she rocked him contentedly in her arms, his breathing became calmer and he fell into a deep sleep. She allowed the weight of his head against her chest to soothe her. Was it possible she, Luke and Arthur could be the happy family she always dreamed they would be?

  Despite the interruption in the small hours, Alice arrived at work feeling lighter, brighter and far more like herself than she had for some time. It seemed that she wasn’t the only one, as walking on to the shop floor she saw Flo standing by the gleaming glass cash register, humming to herself while she flicked through the sales books.

  ‘Blimey, you’re chirpy,’ Alice marvelled.

  ‘I am more than chirpy, I am over the moon.’ Flo beamed, peering over the counter. ‘Last night was a roaring success. Look at all these sales books; we filled them with orders.’

  Alice took a look at the paperwork and saw Flo was right. The books were teeming with orders from customers who were keen to order the utility prints and make their own utility garments.

  ‘We haven’t been this busy for a long time!’ Alice exclaimed.

  ‘It’s had a knock-on effect on leather goods too. And hats. The girls were telling me all about it last night. Before the stitching event got started lots of customers were buying accessories to go with their new outfits.’

  ‘Before they had even made them,’ Alice remarked drily.

  Flo giggled. ‘You know what our customers are like. They adore the chance to buy anything they can that’s Liberty’s – war or no war. Our fashion parade gives them the perfect excuse to do just that.’

  About to pass the books back to Flo, Alice caught sight of Mary and waved her over. ‘Look at these!’

  ‘I’ll take those, thank you,’ Mrs Claremont thundered from behind them.

  Whirling around, Alice saw the woman’s face was contorted with anger as she snatched the books from Mary’s hand. ‘You shouldn’t be looking at these, you work in carpets,’ she hissed, before turning to Flo. ‘And you certainly shouldn’t be looking at them either. They are none of your concern. I am head of this department. As such it will be me that looks at them and decides if the new customers are our kind of customer.’

  Alice looked at Mrs Claremont in astonishment, her good mood evaporating in an instant. As she took in the look of disgruntlement on her boss’s face Alice felt a wave of anger. ‘You’re really going to go through these books and decide who is a good customer and who is a bad customer?’ she exclaimed, hands on hips. ‘After we all worked our fingers to the bone at the stitching evening last night, an idea you insist was yours and yet you didn’t even come to the event!’

  Mrs Claremont’s jaw dropped open. ‘I beg your pardon – how dare you talk to me like this? I am your supervisor; you will treat me with respect.’

  Warming to her theme, Alice leaned forward so her face was just inches from her boss. ‘I know you’ve had me hauled over the coals for insubordination before now, and you’ll probably do it again, but you’re ruining Liberty’s, do you hear me, ruining it! Your lies, your demand for respect are killing what’s special about the place.’

  As Alice stopped there was a silence as Mrs Claremont looked at her in pure fury. Her grey eyes were alive with anger yet she looked almost satisfied at what Alice had just done.

  ‘You stupid girl,’ she said, a hint of a smirk playing on her lips. ‘I’ll have you moved from your precious fabrics if it’s the last thing I do.’

  With that the woman turned her back and marched straight up the stairs. Alice looked at the other girls in shock. ‘What have I done?’ she whispered.

  ‘You were brave and you said what needed to be said,’ Mary said supportively.

  Flo nodded in agreement. ‘You did that, but blimey, Alice! She’s going to string you up for this, you daft mare.’

  For the rest of the day Alice found she was barely capable of working at all as she thought about her outburst. She was always so calm, so respectful of her superiors, but Mrs Claremont had got under her skin and for the life of her Alice couldn’t understand why. She supposed it had something to do with the pressure she was under thanks to Luke and Jack. Yet she knew that it was really about Mrs Claremont and the way she ran the fabric department. It had all changed after that day in the café, she mused. The moment she had said that the Liberty girls were her family, Mrs Claremont had withdrawn completely, and since then had gone out of her way to be awkward and unfriendly. It made no sense, Alice thought desperately, but then neither did what she had just done. She had worked at Liberty’s for a decade and never once been in trouble; instead she had been proud to have worked her way through the ranks. Yet all that looked as if i
t would count for nothing as Mr Button and the board would surely throw her out on her ear. Alice hung her head in shame. How could she have been so stupid as to throw her job away like this? What would Luke say? They needed the money. What had she been thinking of?

  Towards the end of the day Mr Button had called her to his office for a quiet word before she went home.

  Standing before him, she felt as if she were back at school with the headmaster reading her the riot act for coming in late. Now as Mr Button sat behind his desk to tell her how disappointed he was in her, Alice found she couldn’t disagree.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ she said and meant it. ‘I went too far.’

  Mr Button’s eyebrows shot up so far his forehead they disappeared into his hairline. ‘Yes, Mrs Milwood, I would categorically agree that you went too far.’

  At the use of the term Mrs rather than Alice, she couldn’t help wincing. Mr Button was one of the fairest but kindest men she knew. If he was talking to her this way then she had to deserve it.

  ‘Would you like me to gather my things?’ she asked quietly.

  ‘Of course I wouldn’t like you to gather your things,’ he snapped. ‘What I would like is for you to respect Mrs Claremont.’

  ‘But—’

  Mr Button held his hand up to stop Alice talking. ‘But nothing,’ he said firmly, cutting her off mid-flow. ‘I have never seen such blatant disregard for an acting head of department. Mrs Claremont is conscientious and she deserves your respect.’

  At that Alice bowed her head in sorrow. Mr Button meant the world to her, he was the father she had never had; she hated the fact she had let him down so badly. ‘I’m sorry. I wish there was more I could say.’

  ‘I beg of you to say nothing,’ he fumed. ‘Your tongue has got you in enough trouble today.’

  ‘Yes, sir.’

  There was a silence then as Mr Button took off his glasses and glanced out across the windows. Alice followed his gaze over the bombed-out city – such devastation, she thought, not just out there but in this store too.

  ‘If only you girls understood just half the pressure I am under to make this shop work during wartime,’ he said, putting his glasses back on and turning to face her. ‘I have the family and the board, as wonderful and understanding as they are, begging me to make sure this store doesn’t go the way of others with no stock, no reputation and no staff. I don’t just have to think of the next day and the next week but the next year and what may happen if this dreadful war does or doesn’t end. This endless bickering between staff members is of no help whatsoever.’