Rainy Days for the Harpers Girls

by Rosie Clarke

  ‘Aye, I know,’ he said and smiled. His gaze seemed to caress her. ‘But who looks after you, Marion? One day you will need someone to love and care for you.’

  He winked at her and walked away, leaving Marion’s heart pounding. She went into the kitchen, ignoring the expectant looks from Robbie.

  ‘Well,’ he said as she poured the cocoa into mugs minutes later. ‘Did he ask you?’

  ‘Yes, but I told him I was going with my family. Milly and Kathy are looking forward to it.’

  ‘And?’ Robbie persisted. ‘We saw him walk you back, Marion.’

  ‘I told him I would dance with him if he asked…’ she said, nursing the secret of her Sunday walks to herself for the moment. It was a little too precious to share with her teasing brother just yet. ‘Drink your cocoa, Robbie. I’m going to take Ma’s up and then I need to get ready for the morning. I mustn’t be late or I could lose my job.’ Working at Harpers meant so much to her, but her mother wouldn’t understand that – all she thought was that Marion might get more working in a factory, but that would be like being in hell after the glory that was Harpers’ Emporium.

  13

  Minnie looked at herself in the mirror that Sunday morning, checking that her hair was neat and her dress looked clean and smart. Going to lunch with Jonathan and his daughter was a big thing for her and she’d almost said no, but then something had made her change her mind. After all, what harm could it do? She was going as Maggie’s friend and she desperately wanted to meet Becky, Jonathan’s daughter.

  ‘Are you ready, Minnie?’ Maggie asked and she turned for inspection. ‘Oh, you do look lovely – blue suits you well…’

  It was the first time Minnie had worn her favourite bluebell-coloured dress since Mildred died. Strictly speaking, she ought still to be in mourning for her sister, but Mildred had told her to be happy and she wore black at work all the time; it felt good to be wearing a pretty dress again.

  Rachel looked at her as they went into the sitting room and smiled. ‘That dress suits you, Minnie. You should hurry, both of you, you don’t want to be late – and don’t worry about me. I shall be with William all day.’

  The two companions kissed her and told her to have a lovely time with her fiancé and then went out of the house together, clutching the fruit cake they’d made between them as a gift for their hosts. Chattering and laughing, they caught the bus that would take them to Jonathan’s house. His home was out towards Clerkenwell, but in a nicer area, just before the wholesale jewellery centre with all its little workshops, so they got off and walked to the row of terraced houses. Several trees were growing in a green space opposite and Minnie thought what a pleasant street it was, very similar to the one she and Mildred had grown up in before her father moved into the big house. It was after the move that Papa had started speculating and investing in shares and it was the shares that had lost him much of his money, leaving his daughters struggling to manage on their income after his death.

  ‘Welcome to our home,’ Jonathan was at the door with his daughter, a huge smile of welcome on his face. It made Minnie’s heart catch and she felt she was back when they’d first met and fell in love and he’d smiled at her then in just that way. ‘We’ve been looking forward to you coming – and this is my daughter Becky. Becky, my love, I’ve told you about Miss Minnie – she works in the alterations department at Harpers…’

  ‘A little offering,’ Minnie presented the cake. ‘We made it together.’

  ‘Minnie made it, I just put it in the oven,’ Maggie said and laughed as Minnie blushed.

  ‘Lunch won’t be long,’ Becky said and offered her hand. Impulsively, Minnie leaned forward and kissed her cheek. Becky smiled, looking surprised but pleased. ‘Do come in both of you and take off your coats and hats. The food is almost ready.’ She looked at her father. ‘I’ve got something I want to show Maggie – why don’t you take Miss Minnie into the garden and show her the roses? Papa is very fond of his roses, Miss Minnie.’

  ‘Oh yes, I love them too…’ Minnie blushed as she remembered. He’d proposed to her as they admired her father’s roses, just before the illness that killed poor Papa…

  ‘Yes, do come and see them,’ he said and smiled at her in the way she remembered from all those years ago. ‘These young things have secrets – and we have a few minutes before dinner is served. I have some lovely red roses, still in tight bud at the moment, but gorgeous in May and June. I seem to recall your favourite was always the damask roses.’

  Minnie’s heart caught as he looked at her. Did he truly remember after all these years that it was the really old-fashioned roses that she loved more than anything?

  ‘Oh yes,’ she said and blushed. ‘Papa had a beautiful pale pink one and it smelled wonderful. Not all roses smell as good as those did.’

  ‘Mine are all perfumed,’ he said. ‘I remember you telling me that to be perfect roses should smell sweet…’

  He’d remembered that too! Minnie’s heart pounded as she followed him into the small garden. There were stocks and other sweet-smelling flowers in the borders, but the roses were growing well and would be a riot of colour and perfume soon and almost all of them were damask roses. It was almost as if he made his garden for her… She felt tears sting her eyes, but she blinked them away quickly. It was foolish to let her imagination run away with her, but when she allowed herself to look at him, she could see that he was remembering too.

  ‘Do you remember, Minnie?’ he said and her throat swelled with emotion. ‘Do you recall where we were when I asked you to marry me and you said yes?’

  Minnie nodded wordlessly, because they were standing by the very rose; she knew it would be a full-blown pink rose that smelled wonderful once the tight bud had opened. ‘Yes, of course I do, Jonathan…’

  ‘You promised to wed me and then changed your mind…’ He looked at her sadly. ‘You broke my heart the day you told me you couldn’t ever marry me…’

  ‘You knew why,’ she said and her voice broke. ‘You understood that Mildred couldn’t manage without me…’

  ‘Yes, I understood. I knew you were too sweet and generous, too loyal to desert your sister, and she didn’t like me enough to live with us, but I never stopped loving you, Minnie. I married because I was lonely and Becky’s mother was a nice girl – but I always loved you, and, if I’m honest with myself, I believe I still do…’

  ‘Oh, Jonathan…’ she whispered. ‘How could you? After all this time?’ How could he still love her as she was now? She’d been a young girl when they parted, in the first flush of her beauty, and the years had stolen her prettiness, replacing it with an older, sadder face and a fuller, less ethereal figure.

  ‘Yet I do…’ His smile swept her back, through the years of regret and selfless devotion to her sister to a sunlit day and a young man who had poured out his heart to her. Now, here he was, just the same to her as he had been on that fateful morning and she felt giddy with an emotion she could hardly credit but must be happiness.

  ‘I don’t know what to say…’

  ‘Is it too late?’ he asked, the croak of emotion in his voice. ‘Mildred isn’t there between us now – but perhaps you’ve forgotten me?’

  ‘No, how could I?’ Minnie whispered faintly. ‘I never stopped loving you…’

  ‘Minnie…’ His hand was reaching for hers when a voice from the door behind them stopped him.

  ‘Poppa – lunch is ready…’

  ‘Later…’ he said urgently to Minnie. ‘I have to go out after lunch, but I’ll be back for tea – and I’ll walk you home, if you will let me. The girls may want to go off by themselves for a while.’

  ‘Yes,’ Minnie said and blinked hard. ‘We’ll talk later, but only if it doesn’t upset your dear little girl…’

  Jonathan smiled and gestured for her to go in and she did so, greeted by Becky, who took her hand and led her through to the dining room. She was chattering away with Maggie and telling her what a nice lunch they were going to
have, which gave Minnie time to recover herself.

  Jonathan had never stopped loving her, but she wasn’t sure what that meant. He had a grown-up daughter and Becky might object to her father courting a woman he’d known before her mother. Minnie smiled at her nervously. She could never take her own happiness at the expense of someone else’s, yet she knew that it was meant to be. Fate had decreed they should meet again and when they walked home later, she would tell Jonathan how much she wanted to be his wife – providing Becky was happy with the idea.

  ‘I can’t tell you how much it means to me to have found you again,’ Jonathan said as he walked her home that evening. ‘I know you will think it is far too soon to think of anything more than friendship – but I am going to say this, my dearest Minnie. I lost you once and I couldn’t live with myself if I just let you drift away from me. I want us to be together for the rest of our lives…’

  ‘Jonathan…’ Minnie gasped, not quite sure what he was saying to her. ‘Do you mean…?’

  ‘I asked you to marry me years ago and I lost you. I understand that you felt you needed to support your sister, dearest, but I want you to know that my love never died and, as far as I am concerned, you are still the lady I wish to have as my wife.’

  ‘So many years…’ Minnie said, feeling as if a wind had swept her off her feet. ‘I don’t know… I’m not the same as I was and you have a daughter to consider.’

  ‘I love Becky very much, but I do not see her as an obstacle – unless you do?’

  ‘Oh no…’ Minnie felt almost giddy with excitement, nerves and a feeling that she must be dreaming. ‘I know we’ve only just met but already I love her as if she were my own.’

  ‘I know she will love you, too so there is nothing to stop us marrying. If we hesitate now, we could spend the rest of our lives regretting it, dearest. I know it seems too soon, but I don’t want to waste another moment of our lives…’ Jonathan took her hand and kissed it. ‘You are as beautiful now as the day I first met you, Minnie Lumley, and I know my heart – but I shall give you a little time to know yours…’

  Minnie smiled at him shyly. She believed she knew her heart and it was telling her to seize this chance with both hands and never let go. ‘I think I might like to be your wife one day,’ she said shyly. ‘But I do need a little time to catch my breath, Jonathan. It has all been rather sudden…’

  ‘You must have known who left the flowers in your sewing room at Harpers?’

  ‘Well, I did think…’ She blushed as she recalled holding the vase of Lily of the Valley in her hands and inhaling its fragrance. ‘I couldn’t believe it was happening to me, Jonathan. I had given up all hope of love, you see.’

  His smile lit up his face, which was as dear to her as it had always been. ‘Know that you are much loved, Minnie, and always will be, whatever your answer.’

  ‘Oh, Jonathan, my very dear friend…’ Minnie smiled tremulously. In her heart, she knew he was right to speak out now, even though so many years had passed. They had wasted half their lives; they could not afford to waste any more. ‘I shall give you my answer very soon, I promise…’

  ‘Then I am content,’ he said, pressing a kiss on her hand.

  She sighed with content because he was so old-fashioned and courteous and it was exactly what she liked and needed.

  14

  Rachel noticed that Minnie was quiet and thoughtful that evening. She’d returned home from her lunch at Mr Stockbridge’s home with a large bunch of wonderful flowers picked from his garden. The scent of narcissus permeated the apartment and lasted for the next few days, as did Minnie’s odd mood. She listened to what the others were saying, complimented Maggie on a new dress and asked Rachel about her new home and what she planned to do, and yet, whenever they were occupied elsewhere, the thoughtful, slightly sad look came back to her eyes.

  Was she worrying about what would happen when Rachel married? Rachel had racked her brains to think who might share the flat with Maggie and Minnie when she left, but none of the girls looking for a room seemed right. It made her feel guilty that she would be letting her friends down, but she really wouldn’t recommend that they ask Miss Browning.

  She couldn’t help thinking about what the head of the men’s department had told her. He seemed to think Janice Browning had been in his department when the silk tie went missing, but he hadn’t seen her take it – and Rachel did not feel justified in going to Sally Harper unless she had proof. No one else had reported anything missing to her, so perhaps it was just an isolated incident and a coincidence that Janice happened to be in the department… and yet there was something about that girl…

  Perhaps Rachel was being unfair, but she didn’t quite trust Janice. She felt instinctively that the girl wasn’t quite what she pretended to be. Beth had told her that when Sally fainted, she’d particularly requested they keep her secret and neither Beth, nor Maggie, nor Marion had mentioned it. Although Rachel had felt she ought to tell Sally’s husband for her own good, she didn’t approve of Janice running behind Sally’s back to her. There was something sly about it somehow and Sally would have hated it that the girl had discussed her personal business with anyone.

  Rachel didn’t like to see her friend unhappy, though Minnie didn’t seem to be unhappy, just thoughtful and a little wistful. It was obvious that she had secrets and unless she chose to confide them, Rachel did not feel able to ask what was wrong. No doubt it was just a little unease about what would happen after Rachel married.

  She put all thoughts of her friends from her mind and wondered about the visit to William’s apartment, which she’d arranged for the following week. It would be their home once they were married and William was concerned that she should change anything she needed to her own taste. It would be nice having her own home again, though she thought she would miss her friends sometimes and she didn’t really know William well yet.

  Minnie saw the hot house roses in her room when she arrived at work on Monday morning and knew immediately that Jonathan had placed them there in a little cut-glass vase for her. There were only three perfect blooms, but they must have been so expensive, because his own roses were not yet in bloom! She picked them up, smelling their sweet fragrance. Beneath the vase was a small white envelope and inside was an invitation to the theatre and dinner the following evening. His thoughtfulness touched her heart and she smiled, because Jonathan was determined to court her.

  What a lovely gesture it was and she felt thrilled to know that her life was just beginning all over again. The years of lonely nights and evenings spent working just to keep a roof over Mildred and her own head were behind her and the future opened out, glorious and exciting, because suddenly she was loved and she loved. She could have a home of her own and a husband to love her, as well as a lovely daughter to make a fuss of and take out to buy clothes and to parties and tea at her favourite places.

  ‘Oh Mildred,’ she sighed. ‘I do wish you’d known happiness like this, my dear. You just never understood there was so much more to life.’

  ‘I’m meeting William for lunch today,’ Rachel said to Minnie Sunday morning at breakfast. ‘We’re going to look at his apartment first – I hate to leave you alone all day, because I know Maggie is going out…’

  ‘Oh no, Rachel, you mustn’t worry about me,’ Minnie said and smiled a little mysteriously. ‘I’m going to church with a friend. We like the early morning service, so I shall leave straight after breakfast and I’m not sure when I’ll be home…’

  ‘Oh, good,’ Rachel said, surprised but relieved. ‘Well, have a good day, Minnie, and I’ll see you this evening.’

  ‘Thank you, my dear – and I hope you have a nice time with William.’

  ‘I shall.’

  Rachel noticed that Minnie was wearing a pretty dress and hat, but she hadn’t stopped to gossip before she left the apartment and Rachel had no time to spare as William was calling for her at ten o’clock that morning.

  He was at the door before Maggi
e had departed and she called goodbye to the girl as she went straight out so as not to keep him waiting.

  ‘You look lovely,’ he told her. ‘Is that a new hat? I like it very much, Rachel.’

  She smiled and nodded, because it was nice that William noticed she’d gone to some trouble to look her best for him.

  ‘Are we going straight to your apartment now?’

  ‘Yes…’ He looked at her hesitantly. ‘I hope you will like it – and you can change anything – but if you hate it, I can sell and buy something else…’

  ‘I’m sure it will be lovely.’

  Some fifteen minutes later, Rachel looked round the spacious apartment, which overlooked a garden square. It was twice the size of the one she shared with her friends at the moment and had beautiful friezes round the walls and long sash windows. At the moment, the colours were a little sombre, but all she needed to do was change the wallpaper for something lighter and less majestic and hang new curtains in a toning shade. The furniture was Sheraton, pale walnut and satinwood and beautiful.

  ‘It is lovely,’ she breathed. ‘Oh, William, I had no idea it would be like this…’

  ‘You’re sure you like it? I want you to be happy, my dearest Rachel. I may not have told you how very happy you’ve made me?’

  ‘Only a hundred times,’ she said, teasing him.

  ‘So, you can be happy here?’

  ‘I only want to change some colours,’ she told William, smiling up at him. ‘The furniture is lovely, where did you get it?’

  ‘It belonged to my mother and she left it to me,’ he said. ‘I think her mother bought it new when she was a bride because it is Regency and was no doubt expensive at the time. If you would prefer something more modern, Rachel dearest…’

  She placed a finger to his lips. ‘No, thank you, William, I love your apartment and I only want to change the wallpaper in our bedroom and the curtains in some rooms.’