Wartime Blues for the Harpers Girls

by Rosie Clarke

  ‘Why don’t you ask her? She can’t be short of money now and perhaps she would like a day or two out in the New Year.’

  Sally looked at him thoughtfully. ‘I could ask. I doubt very much if she will be able to leave her husband, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.’

  ‘Good – and now, I want to talk to you about your mother, Sally. I know you wrote to her new address, but she hasn’t answered your last letter and it has made you anxious for her. Would you like me to go down and find out why?’

  Her eyes lit at the suggestion. ‘Oh yes, Ben, I should – but are you sure you feel up to it? You couldn’t possibly drive yourself…’

  ‘I can get a car and driver easily enough,’ Ben told her but looked at her seriously. ‘Are you prepared for whatever she might say? I don’t want you to go breaking your heart over her if she isn’t what you think…’

  ‘I am sure she is my mother and she does want to see me – why else would she approach me and follow me for so long?’

  Ben shook his head. ‘I don’t know, Sally. I don’t understand why she hasn’t replied to your last letter – but I intend to find out.’

  Sally nodded. ‘I’ll write to Maggie and invite her up after Christmas – on a Sunday afternoon. That will make it possible for Rachel to attend.’

  ‘Whatever suits you, my darling.’

  She frowned. ‘Have you spoken to Rachel recently, Ben?’

  ‘No – why do you ask?’

  ‘Because she seems a little distracted, as if she has something on her mind – I’ve wondered if she is frightened of something… Of course, William is in the hospital and she can’t see him, which must cause her terrible grief. I can’t imagine how awful that must feel. To have your husband ill and not be able to see him would be agony.’

  ‘Well, there you are then,’ Ben said. ‘She is probably worried about her husband. There isn’t much you can do about that, Sally, because they won’t let her visit until he is rid of that terrible disease.’

  ‘No, I know – and yet I feel there is something more… something she won’t say. I shall have to make sure I take time to talk to her and discover what is wrong…’

  36

  It was the Saturday before Christmas, and Rachel was planning what for her could be one of the happiest she’d ever known. Both she and Hazel had been buying little gifts and hiding them away for the big day. Having Lizzie to fuss over and spoil had drawn them closer together and given Rachel’s mother-in-law something to fill her empty life. Lizzie called her Nanna and climbed on Hazel’s lap to be petted at every opportunity. Rachel might have felt jealous, except that Lizzie’s face lit up when she got home and she always ran to her to be picked up and kissed. She had brought such joy to their lives that Rachel did not resent sharing her with the woman she now genuinely felt was a friend and was fond of.

  She had received a letter from William recently. Penned for him by a nurse, it reported that he was feeling better and making good progress and now had hopes that he would completely recover.

  When I came here, I thought I would die here. However, the doctors and nurses are excellent but strict and I am being well cared for. There is a marked improvement in my condition, Rachel dearest. I feared I should leave you a widow too soon and blamed myself for ruining your life once more – but now I believe I shall have another chance to make you happy. I know you love your work at Harpers, my dear love, but perhaps we could think about retiring to the sea somewhere? We shall talk when I am well again, for I have no wish to tear you from you friends if you feel it would upset you…

  Rachel wasn’t sure how she felt about retiring to the sea. She loved her job and did not want to leave, at least for the moment – but that did not worry her as much as what William might say when he returned and discovered what she had done.

  Since the night she’d felt she was being shadowed, nothing untoward had occurred and she had begun to lose her fear of having Lizzie taken away from her, although she could never quite forget that Lizzie had a father out there somewhere and he had taken revenge on Lizzie’s grandmother, his violence leading to her death. What would he do to the woman who had stolen his daughter if he ever came after her?

  For some weeks after that incident, Rachel had lived in fear of being attacked, but it hadn’t happened. Had he been arrested for beating his mother or had he returned to his fighting unit? And what ought she to do for the future? Rachel had taken Lizzie away to protect her on an impulse, but she knew she had acted unlawfully and had no right to keep the little girl without her father’s permission. So far no one had questioned it, but what would William say and what if the authorities became interested and decided she wasn’t a fit person to have charge of Lizzie?

  It was concerning, so along with the happiness of caring for their little girl had come the worry of what the future might bring. Rachel knew she needed to confide in someone and Sally Harper would be the person she would normally ask for her opinion, but Sally had so much to do and she was carrying her second child. Rachel suspected that her friend did not have as good health as she pretended. She’d seen her looking tired and had begged her not to do too much, but that was like asking the tide not to come in. Sally Harper was Sally Harper and she would carry on even if she felt unwell.

  Glancing round her department that morning, Rachel was pleased to see that it was busy and both Shirley and the new salesgirl she’d taken on to replace Marion – Ruby Marlowe – were selling stock easily. Rachel had been busy the whole morning on her own counter and Susie Browne, the new junior, had been helping her by wrapping gifts and handing them to the shoppers. It was mostly men buying gifts for their wives and daughters and the silver jewellery had taken a pounding. An extra order from one of their preferred makers was due in that morning, just in time for the last-minute rush, and Rachel gave a sigh of relief when Fred Burrows came in with two parcels for her.

  ‘Is that my new stock?’ she asked and he nodded.

  ‘Yes, just arrived, so I brought it straight up, Mrs Bailey. I knew you would be wanting it.’

  ‘That is so kind of you, Mr Burrows – how is Beth? Are you both ready for Christmas?’

  ‘Well, I am, but Beth is rushing around like a demented ant,’ he said with a grin. ‘I think those kids are going to be utterly spoiled this year. My friend Vera tells me she’s bought them lots of little things and I haven’t been behind in buying them treats – still that is what it is all about, isn’t it? The children…’

  ‘Yes, it is,’ Rachel agreed and smiled as he left the department.

  Fred had reminded her about the Christmas she was planning for Lizzie. Of course, he had no idea she’d adopted – how she liked to think of it – a little girl, but she was sure he would approve… Of course, she remembered now: Fred had a friend called Harry who was an ex-policeman. If she took Fred into her confidence, she was certain he would understand and he might also be able to give her advice or help her make it right…

  Suddenly, Rachel felt the shadow lift a little. She hadn’t considered talking to Fred, but now she saw that he was ideal. He would be loyal to her because of Beth and he might have some idea of how she could find out about Lizzie’s father and whether she would be allowed to keep Lizzie once the authorities found out what she’d done.

  Turning her mind back to work, she left her new assistant at the counter and took the boxes into her office to unpack and price them. If this volume of trade kept up, she knew they would need some of the beautiful silver bracelets, brooches and necklaces inside. They were mostly repeat orders of popular stock, but Sally had told her about a range of new brooches that were silver representations of ballerinas, well-dressed ladies and novelties, like a riding whip and a sword set with tiny diamonds, which was rather expensive but exquisite. For an hour or so, Rachel was lost in the wonder of such lovely things and her amazement at Sally Harper’s ability to keep finding such treasures. However, as soon as she was able to take her lunch break, she headed for the basement to talk to Fred b
efore she lost her nerve.

  ‘You could have knocked me down with a feather and that’s the truth,’ Fred said to his friend Harry that evening over a pint of beer in his kitchen. ‘Mrs Bailey is a most respectable lady and I was shocked when she told me what she’d done – but of course I see why she did it. Given the situation, I might well have done it myself!’

  Harry nodded but looked grave. ‘She’s broken the law, of course – but she’s not the first woman to let her heart rule her head when it comes to kids. There is a tradition of it in the East End – we look after our own, don’t we, Fred? Well, I reckon the best thing is to find the girl’s father and see what he is up to. If he’s serving in the Army, he might not be able to care for her – and he’ll need someone to look after Lizzie if he does want her. He might see sense and let her stay where she’s safe, loved and cared for – and he might sign a paper giving her over into Mrs Bailey’s care.’

  ‘Knowing Rachel, it would break her heart if she had to give the child back,’ Beth said. ‘I wish she’d told us before… I knew something was worrying her last time she came for tea, but I thought it was her husband being away in the hospital.’

  ‘We all thought the same,’ Fred agreed. ‘I think she was afraid to tell anyone and then this morning something made her realise that she could talk to me.’ Fred smiled at his daughter-in-law. ‘Mrs Harper has too much to do, though we all know she would try to help – but it’s best this way. Harry will help us, won’t you?’

  Harry grinned and swallowed another mouthful of beer. ‘Be glad to, Fred. Life gets a bit dull when you live alone and you’ve no work. I’ll do my best to find this chap – and I’ll persuade him to do the right thing if he has any sense of decency.’

  ‘Thanks, Harry,’ Fred said, looking at his mate’s empty glass. ‘Fetch us another beer, Beth. I think this deserves a little celebration, don’t you?’

  ‘Yes, I do, and I’ll pop into Harpers in the morning and tell Rachel,’ Beth said. ‘She must bring Lizzie to tea on Sunday and I’ll find something nice for her for Christmas.’

  Fred chuckled over his beer. Beth was enjoying herself buying and making gifts for everyone and he loved to see her happy. His heart still ached each time he remembered Tim and that was every day, but he hadn’t let it destroy him. He knew that life had to go on and his memories were good ones. He just wished that Jack could get home for Christmas. Beth was keeping her fingers crossed, but Fred didn’t expect it. Jack had told them he was on the Atlantic run and that took longer and was still dangerous despite the escorts. The U-boats could attack suddenly and unseen and could still sink an unsuspecting ship before they were attacked in retaliation and driven to the bottom of the ocean or destroyed. All Fred prayed for was that it wouldn’t be Jack’s ship that took a fatal hit next time.

  ‘I didn’t feel I could burden anyone with my worries,’ Rachel told Beth when they shared a pot of tea at Betty’s Café across the road from Harpers in Rachel’s afternoon tea break. ‘You have your children and Jack to think about – and I know you’re busy getting ready for Christmas.’

  ‘So is everyone,’ Beth retorted. ‘You know I would have time for you, Rachel. Now, I want you to promise you will bring Lizzie to tea tomorrow – and you must tell Sally. She can come too.’

  ‘Yes, I shall talk to her now – and I can’t thank you and Fred enough for understanding.’

  ‘Harry is going to do all he can and I would trust him with my life,’ Beth declared a little too forcefully. ‘Well, you know what I mean.’ She laughed as Rachel looked at her, eyebrow raised. ‘He is clever, knowledgeable about all matters of law and he says if he can find Lizzie’s father and get him to sign, you can probably keep her – at least until Mr Robinson makes other arrangements.’

  ‘Thank goodness! I thought I might get arrested for stealing her.’

  ‘No, Harry’s says not – he says it happens quite a bit in the poorer homes where a mother dies and neighbours take in orphaned children, often splitting the family up amongst several other families. Most of the time no one knows and no one cares – unless a complaint is made. Then the police have to investigate, but otherwise they tend to turn a blind eye. Their problem is with the kids on the street who aren’t lucky enough to be taken into neighbours’ or relatives’ care… Besides, Lizzie’s father is wanted for questioning over the beating he gave his mother. We might think she deserved what she got – but if they find him guilty, he is still a murderer – and as such, he would not be allowed access to his daughter from prison.’ Beth looked around the café with interest. ‘Nothing changes much here, does it? Do you remember when we first came here? It was mostly Sally, Maggie and me then – but afterwards you came too. That all seems so long ago.’ She sighed wistfully.

  ‘Do you miss working at Harpers?’ Rachel asked her.

  ‘I do and I don’t.’ Beth said. ‘At first I missed it terribly. I hardly knew what to do with myself all day – but now I have two children I have too much to do to think about myself much. I’ve made more friends locally and Fred’s Friend, Vera comes round most days and gives me a hand. She will look after the children if I want to pop into Harpers and see my old friends so I’ve got used to it – but I’d like to come in part-time when the boys are at school.’

  ‘I’m sure we’d all love to have you back,’ Rachel said and looked up as the café owner came over with their Chelsea buns. ‘Oh, those do look lovely, Betty. How is trade now?’

  ‘Busier than ever,’ Betty said, beaming. ‘We get most of your young ladies in here for their break, Mrs Bailey – and your customers come here too to sit and have a cuppa before they catch the bus home. Going to Harpers is such a treat, they don’t want the day to end so they linger and talk to their friends about what they’ve bought.’ She waved her hands as Rachel opened her purse. ‘No, they are on me, Mrs Bailey. I know you send a lot of customers my way when they ask where they can get a decent cheap meal.’

  She went back to her counter to help her husband serve more customers and Rachel smiled. ‘Now, wasn’t that nice of her – but she’s always good to us and I’m glad Harpers is bringing her more trade.’

  ‘By the looks of it, she can hardly keep up with it,’ Beth said and gathered her things. ‘Now don’t forget, Rachel. You bring Lizzie to tea on Sunday and Harry will talk to you – he might even have some news.’

  ‘Oh, that would be a relief,’ Rachel said, ‘but I don’t expect anything too soon. I’ll see you this weekend then… Lizzie will like playing with your boys…’

  37

  It was Sunday, the day before Christmas Eve. Ben looked at the neat semi-detached house and frowned. Somehow, he hadn’t expected it to look so spick and span. Jenni had made him think that the woman claiming to be Sally’s mother was an imposter or, at best, if she really was Sally’s birth mother, a rogue who just wanted to get her hands on some of the Harpers’ money.

  ‘Why else would she appear now?’ Jenni had demanded when he rang her and told her of his plans to go down and see Sally’s mother. It had seemed a reasonable question to ask given that it had taken so many years for Sally’s mother to approach her. ‘You be careful, Ben. She will get her claws into Sally and you will forever be putting your hand in your pocket.’

  ‘I’m not a fool, Jenni – and neither is Sally…’ Ben was slightly annoyed with her. He was fond of Jenni, but sometimes she tended to ride over other people’s feelings, perhaps without realising what she was doing. ‘I should not let Sally be hurt.’

  ‘Well, I’d leave things as they are.’

  Ben ignored her and carried on with his plans. Having arranged a car, he’d had nothing to do but sit back and read some paperwork. Despite his efforts to get clear of his war work while he needed to rest his shoulder, he was still having to advise on certain matters of purchase and logistics.

  He walked up the path and knocked at the door. After a moment or two, it was opened and the woman who stood there wore a dark blue dress with a white colla
r and she was wearing a pinafore over it, her hands floury as if she had been baking.

  ‘I’m sorry to disturb you, but I’m Ben Harper…’

  ‘I know who you are,’ she said. ‘I’ve seen you with my daughter, Mr Harper. That is how I discovered where she was – from a photograph in the newspaper. I’d searched for years and eventually gave up hope until I saw that photo.’ She laughed and he saw Sally in her immediately. ‘Here’s me wittering on and you still on the doorstep. Would you like to come in? I just have a cake to finish and some sausage rolls to go in the oven.’

  She led the way into a spacious kitchen, set with pine dressers and a large table on which stood the evidence of her industry. Going to the sink, she washed and then dried her hands and turned to look at him.

  ‘You want to know why I haven’t answered my daughter’s recent letter, don’t you?’

  ‘Yes, please. She is upset by your silence. You told the detective that you would visit her, but she’s heard nothing since.’

  ‘Do sit down. I’ll make a pot of tea and try to explain…’ A smile lit her eyes and any doubts Ben might have had about her being Sally’s mother melted like snowflakes. That was Sally’s smile. He would know it anywhere.

  ‘Thank you, I shall. I think you have a long and interesting tale to tell – Mrs Ross?’

  ‘Mrs Tarrant now,’ she said. ‘But you may call me Sheila if you’d like?’