The Liberty Girls

by Fiona Ford

  ‘Is that why your children left?’ Alice gasped. ‘Because they found out what you had done?’

  Mrs Claremont nodded. ‘They wanted nothing more to do with me. I begged them to stay but they felt what I had done was disgraceful.’

  ‘What about your family? Your friends? Surely they could see why you did it?’ Alice cried. ‘You had no choice.’

  ‘Not one,’ Mrs Claremont replied matter-of-factly. ‘They all thought the children would be better off without me and said that the honourable thing to have done would have been to have gone to the police.’

  ‘But if you had done that, then the Mob could have come for you another way,’ Alice said, understanding. ‘And then your children would have been orphans.’

  ‘Precisely,’ Mrs Claremont said with a grim smile. ‘I did what I had to for my children, for our survival. But my family and friends thought my behaviour unforgivable and turned their backs. For the past few years I had nobody. When I met you, Mrs Milwood, I thought that we were kindred spirits, but when I saw the support you had I let jealousy get the better of me. Out of all the things I’ve ever done, Mrs Milwood, that’s the one I regret the most. I’m sorry.’

  Alice reached across the table and clamped her own hand over her former manager’s. As her eyes roamed the face of the older woman, she could see in an instant the toll that years of pain and worry had taken. She realised she recognised Mrs Claremont. Not because she knew her, but because she had seen women just like her, defenceless, powerless, broken women that her father had taken advantage of, all for his own ends. He had destroyed hundreds of women like Mrs Claremont – but not any more. In that moment Alice realised she had the perfect opportunity to atone for some of the crimes her father and her sister had committed.

  ‘Could you pop into Liberty’s later, Mrs Claremont?’ Alice asked suddenly, getting to her feet. ‘We’re holding the fashion parade tonight. Could you come in before it starts?’

  A flash of concern crossed Mrs Claremont’s face. ‘Yes, but why? Nobody will want to see me there.’

  ‘Trust me when I say that they will. Now don’t be late.’

  With that Alice left the café without saying another word. There had been enough suffering, enough talking, now was the time to make a change.

  Chapter Fifty-Eight

  The scene before her took Alice’s breath away. The large floor space beneath the crystal chandelier had been transformed from its usual grand walkway linking the departments and now looked as if it belonged in a Parisian couturier. Rows of velvet-covered chairs stood underneath the chandelier with a centre staging area in the middle for everyone to walk down and display their outfits.

  On either side of the chairs, mannequins dressed in rolls of utility fabric had been neatly stacked to create a colourful display and as for the grand sweeping staircase itself, Alice could see each step had been polished until it shone.

  Clutching Arthur tightly, wisps of his baby hair tickling her chin, she could see already that the space was a thrum of activity with guests waiting for the parade to start. As Alice got closer she saw that there were three chairs laid out in one corner, and that Flo was sitting excitedly at one end, complete with a notebook in one hand and pen in the other.

  ‘What are you doing in a judge’s chair?’ Alice asked, bewildered.

  Flo turned to her, excitement etched across her face. ‘Mr Button has asked me to be one of the judges! Isn’t that brilliant?’

  ‘But why?’

  ‘Mrs Claremont was supposed to be doing it, don’t you remember?’ Flo hissed. ‘So Mr B. has asked me to join him and Betty Fawcett on the panel instead. Now go, Alice, we’re about to start.’

  Rudely sticking her tongue out at Flo, Alice briefly smiled at Betty, then found a seat next to Mary, Rose and Dot.

  ‘I was beginning to think you weren’t coming,’ Dot grumbled.

  ‘I was just helping Hilda,’ she replied, settling Arthur on her lap.

  ‘Yes, what was that all about?’ Mary asked.

  Alice chuckled and tapped the side of her nose. ‘You’ll see shortly.’

  Turning over her right shoulder to assess the crowd, she saw that the place was packed, with some even standing at the back. There were quite a few faces that she recognised, she thought, smiling at a couple of regulars, but plenty she didn’t. Scanning the crowd, Alice saw to her delight that Millie and Doreen from Jolly’s had turned up. She waved to them, excited they could be here for this wonderful event celebrating the very best of Liberty’s. With a flash she remembered the drapery manager from Jolly’s, Mrs Downing. Her friend would have loved to be here for this, Alice thought sadly. She had made Jolly’s her world after her husband had died and this would have been like Christmas for her. There was one face that still hadn’t arrived though, she realised: Mrs Claremont. Alice had got to the store early this evening and managed to talk to Mr Button before the event. He had been extremely understanding, all things considered, but Alice had a feeling that the generosity he had been feeling might disappear if Mrs Claremont didn’t put in an appearance soon.

  Alice shook her head free of her worries and dropped a kiss on her son’s head. Tonight was supposed to be happy, she thought, pushing all sadness aside as Mr Button took to the stage.

  ‘Ladies and gentleman, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to this, the very first Liberty fashion parade. Please put your hands together and welcome our judges, the wonderful actress Betty Fawcett, who has honoured us with her presence here tonight, and our head of fabrics, Mrs Florence Canning.’

  There was a deafening round of applause as Betty stood up and blew kisses at the crowd. Alice couldn’t help chuckle; Betty had always known how to work a crowd. As for Flo, she just smiled, looking utterly starstruck.

  ‘Now, many of you know we were supposed to hold this parade a couple of weeks ago at the Mayfair House Hotel, which very sadly burnt down the night of our event,’ Mr Button continued. ‘Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who was affected by the blaze.’

  There was a pause then as Mr Button cleared his throat once more, and Alice suddenly felt a set of eyes burning into her. Turning to her left she saw Jack sitting just a few chairs along. The love and kindness in his gaze was not lost on her and she felt a yearning for him like no other.

  Lost in her emotions, Alice almost didn’t notice the thunderous applause that came as the first of the night’s entrants took to the stage. Shaking herself back into the present, Alice concentrated on what was happening in front of her and pushed Jack to the back of her mind.

  The women taking part in the parade had worked so hard over the last few weeks and Alice felt a flash of pride at their creations. Some of these women – like Mrs Hillingdon, she thought with a smile as she watched her show off a skirt she had made – had never held a sewing needle before in their lives. What they had achieved was incredible and they should all be thrilled. But as Hilda took her turn on the makeshift podium Alice felt real gratification – she had truly endured more than most to come out on top.

  Looking at Hilda now as she walked confidently in front of the throngs of people who had gathered for the show, Alice clapped loudly, cheering her on.

  ‘Why do I recognise that dress, Alice?’ Dot asked as Hilda passed them. ‘I’m sure I’ve seen it before.’

  Alice nodded. ‘It’s my wedding dress. Hilda and I tore it apart. We kept the dropped waist, but shortened the sleeves.’

  Dot’s jaw dropped in shock. ‘Not your wedding dress! Why?’

  ‘It’s time to look forward not back, and hanging on to that dress when my husband and I are no longer together is living in the past. It’s the future I’m interested in now.’

  As Hilda came off the stage there was yet more enthusiastic clapping. Alice glanced over at the women and saw Jean was sitting at the end of the row ably making sure the contestants had everything they needed. Alice watched her and grinned. She had a feeling that with the right training Jean would become a very
capable member of the fabric department.

  Now, Mr Button took to the stage, accompanied by the perennially glamorous Betty Fawcett. Dressed in a utility gown made from the latest Liberty striped print she looked breathtaking, Alice thought.

  ‘Thank you, everyone.’ Mr Button called over the applause. ‘I think you will agree that all our contestants did a wonderful job tonight of showcasing not only how magnificent our Liberty utility fabric is but how delightful it looks in these new styles – wouldn’t you agree, Miss Fawcett?’

  ‘I certainly would!’ Betty beamed, waving to the crowd. ‘I have long been a fan of Liberty’s, as you know, and I can promise you that all my friends will be stocking up on their utility fabric here when rations allow. I think what these women have proved tonight is what can be done with very little, and the imagination shown with new and old fabric is absolutely amazing.’

  ‘Have you and the judges agreed on a winner?’ Mr Button asked.

  ‘We have. It was a very difficult decision but we felt that the last lady, Hilda, wore such a beautiful outfit, and we all agreed it was a fantastic way of showing what you can do with what you already have.’

  At the announcement everyone was on their feet cheering and Alice couldn’t have been more elated. She and Hilda had worked hard that afternoon to make the simple dress Alice knew would fit Hilda like a glove. And now, knowing that her old wedding dress had made way for a bright new future for Hilda gave Alice a great feeling of hope.

  ‘Well, that’s it, ladies and gentleman,’ Mr Button said as Betty presented Hilda with her prize. ‘Our Liberty fashion parade is at an end but I do have some rather good news. The parade has been such an unexpected success that we will be making community stitching sessions a permanent event. So, if you or your friends would like to come along to the store on Friday evenings and learn how to make one of these fabulous creations with our very own fabric girls, then come along.’

  The girls looked at one another in surprise and Alice barked with laughter as she turned to Dot. ‘I won’t even ask if you knew anything about this.’

  ‘When will you learn that man tells me nothing?’ Dot giggled, but then her smile vanished. ‘What the hell is that old cow doing here?’

  Alice turned to follow her landlady’s gaze and saw she had spotted Mrs Claremont making her way in. ‘Dot, leave it. I asked her to come.’

  ‘You did?’ Rose gasped. ‘Why?’

  ‘Because Mrs Claremont was stupid and made some poor decisions, but that doesn’t mean she deserves to spend the rest of her life being punished. I’ve recently discovered she’s been dealt more than her fair share of bad hands – just like the rest of us. She deserves a second chance.’

  ‘You must be joking,’ Dot snorted.

  Alice looked at her earnestly. ‘I’m not and I really would like your support.’

  ‘I don’t know, Alice,’ Mary said warily.

  ‘Neither do I,’ Dot added, ‘but you know that if you want our support you’ve got it.’

  Alice smiled gratefully at her landlady and friend just as Mr Button and Mrs Claremont appeared. ‘So what did you all think?’ Mr Button said, acting for all the world as though he didn’t have a sacked member of staff by his side.

  Dot nodded. ‘Wonderful, Edwin, a worthy winner.’

  ‘Yes, Hilda was a triumph,’ Rose offered.

  ‘She was, wasn’t she!’ Flo was beaming as she came up to join the little group. Spotting Mrs Claremont her face dropped like a stone. ‘Oh, hello there, wasn’t expecting to see you.’

  ‘None of us were,’ Dot said bluntly. ‘So why are you here, if you don’t mind me asking, Mrs Claremont?’

  The former fabric manager gazed at the floor looking uncomfortable while Mr Button addressed the group. ‘Mrs Claremont and I have spoken at length and we have agreed that she will return to Liberty’s. Not in a managerial capacity, you understand; instead she will return to gifts as a sales assistant.’

  At the news there was a sharp collective intake of breath as the group tried to make sense of what they had just been told. The silence was broken by Mrs Claremont clapping her hands together.

  ‘If I may,’ she said in a gentle tone that Alice had never heard before, ‘I would like to say something and that is I’m sorry. I truly am sorry for the way I treated you all. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but please believe me when I say that I have come to realise how very wrong I was. If I could undo what I did, especially to you, Mrs Canning’ – Mrs Claremont turned to Flo and shook her head in sorrow – ‘then truly I would. But I can’t. The only thing I can do is apologise over and over and promise you that when I return to this glorious store I shall endeavour to spend every moment I can making up for what I did.’

  At that the rest of the girls looked at each other and smiled before Flo spoke. ‘There’s nothing to forgive. You’re one of the Liberty family, Mrs Claremont, and we always forgive and we always forget.’

  ‘It’s the Liberty way,’ Rose said softly.

  Chapter Fifty-Nine

  Once the prize-giving had finished and Hilda had uttered a thousand thank yous to Alice and the rest of the Liberty girls for all their help, Alice stifled a yawn.

  ‘Well, I suppose I’d better be getting back.’ She stood up with a sleepy Arthur in her arms.

  Dot looked pointedly at Jack who had been waiting patiently for a moment with Alice but was now slipping on his coat. ‘Isn’t there someone you need to speak to before you go anywhere? That poor man’s been hanging about for you long enough.’

  Alice toed the floor uncertainly. She felt a flash of nerves even though she had invited Jack along.

  ‘Go to him,’ Rose urged. ‘Tell him how you feel; it’s time.’

  ‘She’s right,’ Mary said sagely. ‘I know you’re nervous, but you don’t need to be. He’s a good man.’

  ‘Indeed he is,’ Dot added quietly. ‘You don’t have to make no promises to each other tonight, Alice. But you deserve to be happy. Now why don’t you give me Arthur and I’ll take him back with me.’

  Seeing Jack was coming towards her, Alice steeled herself. She knew what she had to do, what she wanted to do, and she wasn’t going to shy away from this chance at happiness any more. Handing Arthur to Dot with a kiss, she walked straight over to Jack, meeting him under the chandelier.

  ‘I’m so glad you came,’ she whispered.

  Jack smiled, the wide easy grin that she recognised as if it were her own, lighting up his face. ‘Me too.’

  Alice felt suddenly shy. ‘Do you perhaps want to go for a walk outside?’

  ‘All right,’ he replied, guiding her gently towards the door.

  Outside, Alice took a deep breath and she realised Jack was doing the same. ‘I don’t know why I’m so nervous!’

  Jack smiled as he lifted his chin with her forefinger. ‘I know why I am. I don’t usually fall for married women, much less do anything about it. But you, Alice, I can’t think about anyone else but you. I’ve loved you from the day you crashed into me in Bath.’

  ‘And I you,’ Alice cried, the truth of her feelings rising to the surface and with it all the emotions she had tried to bury. ‘I tried for so long to deny it, to tell myself you didn’t mean anything at all to me, but you mean the world to me; I don’t ever want to lose you.’

  Jack clasped each of her hands and rested his forehead against Alice’s, his breath warming her cheek. ‘But you’re married, honey. We can’t do a thing while you’re married.’

  ‘But I’m not,’ Alice spluttered tearfully, ‘I mean, I suppose officially I am, and that will take some working out. But Luke and I aren’t together any more.’

  A look of confusion and then hope crossed Jack’s face. ‘How can that be?’

  Tearfully Alice told him the entire story. Of how he had slept with Joy and then deserted her, their son and finally his country to set up a new life with Hélène.

  ‘I’ve no idea what this means. I don’t know if you and I can hav
e any kind of future together.’ Alice sniffed. ‘And even if we were to try there would be the stigma of it all. I’m a married woman; I don’t know what it’s like in the States but here people love nothing more than to gossip.’

  Jack laughed. ‘They like to gossip back home too. But you know what, Alice? I don’t care about gossip there and I don’t care about it here either. My darling, you are the woman I want to be with for the rest of my life. I would walk to the end of the earth for you, and even if we don’t know what our future together looks like or how we can work it out, just knowing that we both want the same thing, the chance of happiness together, is more than enough for me.’

  Tears of relief splashed down Alice’s cheeks as she let out a long breath. She hadn’t realised how worried she’d been about what Jack would say to her unique situation with Luke.

  At that Jack gathered her in his arms; then he bent down and pressed his lips against hers, filling Alice with a desire she didn’t know it was possible to feel. As she gave into the sheer deliciousness of his kiss once more, she savoured the delight that came from knowing this would be the first of so many kisses together. As they finally broke apart and she looked up into his eyes that were filled with nothing but love, Alice knew that she had finally found the man who would help her create the family she had always dreamed of, but she also knew she had found a man she deserved. Jack wasn’t someone who wanted to rescue her and he wasn’t someone she needed; instead he was someone she wanted. The death of her sister had taught Alice that happiness was short-lived, that it needed to be grabbed with both hands, no matter how difficult that was. Although she didn’t know what the future had in store for her and Jack, Alice was smart enough to realise that it wouldn’t be a fairy-tale. She had long given up on the idea of a perfect upbringing for Arthur, but what she hadn’t given up on was ensuring his childhood was filled with love. If she and Jack forged a life together Alice knew that it would be messy, complicated and sometimes painful. There was an awful lot they needed to resolve, but for now, in this moment, Alice revelled in the delight of her own happy ending.