Rainy Days for the Harpers Girls

by Rosie Clarke

  ‘And at the moment, you don’t much care if you do?’ Ben asked, touching the heart of it.

  Marco nodded grimly. ‘Let’s hope it doesn’t happen,’ he said and then his smile returned. ‘You tell Sally I refused to tell you her surprise. See you later, my friend.’

  Marco walked away, knowing that Ben Harper, friend and employer, was watching him, concerned for him and anxious. Perhaps he should’ve kept it all inside, but you didn’t lie to friends, and it was good to talk to someone who understood and didn’t condemn.

  17

  ‘Look at that!’ Beth said to her father-in-law as she showed him the paper she’d bought on the way to the bus stop that evening in mid-May. The newspaper boy’s insistent cry had aroused her curiosity and she scanned the headlines, reading aloud, ‘The police arrested fifty-seven protestors as they attempted to reach Buckingham Palace. All they wanted to do was present a “Votes for Women” petition to the King and they arrested them… it’s just not fair!’

  Fred nodded his agreement. ‘I got an early edition, Beth. They’ve grabbed Emmeline Pankhurst again and she looks frail and ill – they ought to leave her alone, poor woman.’

  ‘They say the demonstration was a thousand strong and some of them used weapons to try and break through the police cordon.’ Beth felt tears sting her eyes. ‘Why couldn’t they just let them deliver the document? What harm could it do?’

  ‘None, as far as I can see.’ Her father-in-law patted her arm, ‘I’m glad you weren’t there, Beth.’

  ‘I couldn’t take time off,’ Beth said. ‘Sometimes I think I’m not a very good member. I only go to the meetings when it suits me and I haven’t been on a march for ages…’

  ‘Those who do run the risk of arrest and the treatment in prison is so harsh,’ Fred said. ‘I call it barbaric – and I wouldn’t want a member of my family being treated like that.’

  Beth sighed. ‘I know, but I do admire the women who risk everything for the cause. I know some of them have little to lose, because they come from terrible homes and some have brutal husbands.’ She frowned, because many other women had joined the cause and they were educated women from respectable backgrounds. ‘I’m so lucky that I don’t want to risk my job and all we have, though sometimes I feel guilty when I think of those that do.’

  ‘You’re with them in spirit,’ Fred said, looking sad. ‘I’m all for peaceful protests – but the militants make it worse for the rest of you.’

  Beth didn’t answer, feeling thoughtful. The bus had arrived and they boarded together. She tended to agree with Fred, though her heart went out to the women who had been arrested. They would be subjected to all manner of rough treatment, forced to wear prison clothes, offered foul food and when they refused to eat, force-fed with a tube up their nose. Beth understood why women who had been treated that way became hard and more determined, because it was a wicked way to treat anyone who just wanted equal rights.

  Fred frowned over the paper Beth had given him. ‘Have you seen this article about the new super tax the government brought in earlier this month? They’ve reduced the threshold from five thousand a year to three. Ten pence halfpenny on an income of a thousand and one shilling and four pence on two and a half thousand pounds – and this new super tax is up to five pence in the pound if you earn more than seven thousand pounds.’

  ‘I don’t need to worry yet then,’ Beth joked. ‘I’m nowhere near the minimum.’

  ‘But Jack might be if he makes the hotel pay,’ Fred said. ‘Once he has that running properly, he could easily earn five thousand a year or more.’

  ‘So, he will have to pay super tax.’ Beth pulled a face. ‘It doesn’t seem fair, does it? He’s struggling to make a profit and when he does…’

  Fred shrugged. ‘Could be worse, love – if those damned Serbians keep stirring up trouble, we’ll have more to worry about than a bit of income tax…’

  ‘Oh, Fred, don’t,’ Beth said. Her father-in-law had been muttering about a war for years and nothing had come of it. ‘I’m sure the government is too worried about other things, like the Irish Home Rule bill, to want a war.’

  ‘They may not have a choice,’ Fred said darkly. ‘Here’s our stop, Beth. You go home and I’ll nip down the pie shop and fetch us some supper to save you cooking tonight.’

  ‘Thank you,’ she said gratefully. ‘It’s been a busy day – and one of the girls got in a muddle with her stocktaking and I had to help her sort it out. She’d been taking hats from the reserves without marking them up in her book and it took me an hour to get it straight.’

  ‘You should speak to the manager or Mrs Craven,’ Fred said. ‘If she is careless or defiant, she needs a warning…’

  ‘I’ve given her two warnings myself,’ Beth told him with a frown. ‘She said it was the junior’s fault – that she’d told Miss Kaye to put them in the stock book. Marion denied it and I tend to believe her – but if I report one, I have to report both to be fair, because one of them should have made sure the hats were recorded in the stock book as well as the sales book. It is Miss Browning’s counter, but Miss Kaye often fetches new stock for her…’

  ‘If the junior fetched new stock for you, what would you do?’

  ‘I’d write it down myself,’ Beth said firmly and nodded as her father-in-law got off the bus and gave her his hand to help her down. ‘Yes, I see what you mean – it is Miss Browning’s responsibility, not Marion’s. I’ll have to think about it…’

  ‘Time to forget about work,’ Fred said. ‘You tell that son of mine to get home on time this weekend and take you somewhere nice – dancing and dinner – and he’ll hear from me if he doesn’t.’

  Fred departed to fetch their supper as Jack would once again be working all hours, and Beth let herself into the kitchen, smiling over his last remark. The range had died down and she made it up so that they could boil a kettle for their tea. As she busied herself with setting the table, Beth’s thoughts cleared. It was Janice Browning’s fault and perhaps it might do her good if Mr Stockbridge gave her an official warning. Beth might speak to him when she got the chance. It could bring Janice to her senses before things went too far – and Fred was right, it was time she and Jack went out for some fun again; she shouldn’t be thinking about work in her own time.

  ‘I wanted to select some of your lapis lazuli jewellery for my special window,’ Mr Marco said when he came up to the department on Tuesday morning and spoke to Beth. ‘Mrs Harper has come up with a wonderful idea – and I believe you have all your stock in now?’

  ‘Yes, I do,’ Beth replied, smiling at him. Mr Marco was a favourite with many of the staff and everyone loved it when a new window was unveiled.

  ‘I’ll show you some that has just come in. Mrs Harper priced it, but I haven’t put it in my stock book yet.’

  She brought out a box which was filled with tissue-wrapped items and began to reveal the lovely pendants, bracelets, broches and earrings. Most were silver, but a few were 9 carat gold. Beth spread fifty items on the velvet pad for him to see and watched as he unerringly picked the most attractive pieces. By the time he’d finished, he’d selected twenty-five of the most outstanding jewels.

  ‘I need to list these as taken for the window,’ she said and beckoned to Marion. ‘Can you help me, Miss Kaye? I want you to list the stock number, description and price of each piece that Mr Marco takes with him, please. They must be listed on a paper for Mr Marco to take with him and I need a copy for my book.’

  ‘Yes, of course, Mrs Burrows.’ Marion smiled at the window dresser. ‘These are lovely. I shall look forward to seeing the window, sir.’

  Beth placed the pieces that were not chosen back in their box and returned them to her safe in the office. She locked it and put the key in her desk and then returned to the counter. Mr Marco had gone, taking the stock he’d chosen with him. Marion was serving a customer.

  She sold a leather bag, wrapped it and dealt with the customer’s change and then turned to Beth.
‘Mr Marco says he will make a copy of the list and keep it in his files for reference, Mrs Burrows. I put our copy in the top drawer with the receipt book.’

  ‘Good, well done, Miss Kaye,’ Beth said. ‘Could you rearrange that design of hats in the corner please? It looks a little jaded – perhaps a few styles that haven’t been out, but make sure to list them if you bring them through.’

  ‘You want me to list them?’ Marion questioned. ‘Miss Browning told me it was her job…’

  ‘Yes, it should be, but in future, if you bring them out, please list them yourself.’

  ‘Very well, Mrs Burrows.’ Marion went off with a little frown.

  Beth wondered if she’d done right, but she didn’t want a repeat of what had happened before.

  Three customers entered the department at that moment and two of them headed to Beth’s counter. Maggie served the other with scarves and Beth sold a leather bag, one piece of the lapis lazuli jewellery and a silver bangle with amethysts. The gentleman had bought one item of jewellery for his daughter and one for his wife.

  Beth was tidying her stock away when she heard raised voices and saw that Miss Browning was verbally attacking Miss Kaye. The department was momentarily free of customers, but she could not have a quarrel between staff on the floor and went quickly to stop it.

  ‘What is going on here?’ she asked Miss Browning.

  ‘She wrote up my stock book,’ Janice Browning said accusingly. ‘It is my job and if she’s done it wrong, I’ll get the blame…’

  ‘Show me.’ Beth held out her hand for the book. She looked at the list of hats used, mentally checked them off with those displayed and nodded. ‘These are perfectly correct, Miss Browning. Miss Kaye has done what I asked, because I did not want a repeat of what happened the other day.’

  ‘You always take her side,’ Janice said sulkily. ‘It’s not fair…’

  ‘I beg your pardon?’ Beth said, looking at her sternly. ‘You said Miss Kaye should have done it because you were busy last time and, since you were serving, I asked Miss Kaye to make sure nothing was mislaid. I believe you owe her and me an apology.’

  ‘I don’t see why,’ the girl glared at her. ‘Oh, all right, I apologise – but it isn’t right…’

  ‘Perhaps you should take your break now, Miss Browning…’

  Janice Browning glared at her and walked off without another word.

  Beth nodded to Miss Kaye and walked back to her counter as a customer entered the department. She hoped she’d done the right thing, but Janice Browning couldn’t be allowed to question her authority.

  It was when she returned from taking her own lunch break that Beth looked for the list of jewellery Mr Marco had requested for his window display. Marion Kaye had told her she’d placed it in the top drawer with the stock and sales book and Beth wanted to copy it into her book before it got lost. She looked in the drawer, lifting up the sales book and then the stock book and then ran her hand along the back of the drawer in case it had got stuck, but there was no list. Marion was standing watching Miss Browning serve and Beth beckoned her over.

  ‘Yes, Mrs Burrows, what may I do for you?’

  ‘Where did you put the stock list for the things Mr Marco took?’

  ‘In your top drawer with the sales book and stock book.’ Marion’s eyes went to the drawer. ‘Where is it?’ She lifted the books out and ran her hand round just as Beth had done, then went to the front of the cabinet to see if it had somehow fallen down, but it hadn’t. ‘I did put it there, Mrs Burrows. I know I did…’

  Beth frowned. ‘Who served on this counter while I took my lunch?’

  Marion hesitated, her eyes flicking to Janice Browning, but she didn’t answer.

  ‘Yes, I see – well, we must hope Mr Marco took a copy as he said he would,’ she said with a frown.

  ‘Oh, I copied it into your stock book too,’ Marion said. ‘Mr Marco suggested it and he wrote out the list while I entered it in your book.’

  ‘That was thoughtful of him and very sensible of you, Marion. Thank you – and I’m glad you did it, because I know I can trust you to look after things properly.’

  Marion smiled and returned to her place in time to pack the hats for Janice Browning. She did it so beautifully and that was the only reason that Beth allowed her to remain as Miss Browning’s assistant most of the time. The list had disappeared and Beth knew that only one person could have taken it and there was but one reason she would have done it – to cause trouble for Marion, perhaps to see her dismissed and just because Beth had asked her to make sure the stock was written up properly. What sort of a chip had she on her shoulder that she would try to get Marion reported to the manager? Mr Stockbridge could very well have decided to sack her and Beth knew how important this job was to her.

  What kind of a girl would deliberately try to get another sacked? Beth frowned over it. She’d been uneasy over Janice Browning for a while now and if she’d been spiteful herself would have had her sacked instantly, but everyone deserved a second chance. However, she would keep an eye on Miss Browning and if she saw any signs of malice towards either Maggie or Marion, she would speak to Mrs Craven and ask her advice. In fact, she might talk to her that evening and see how she would treat an incident of this nature.

  ‘I’m glad you told me,’ Rachel said as they had a cup of coffee across the street from Harpers, in Bessie’s café, and talked about Beth’s problem. ‘It is probably because you’re not much older than she is and she knows you haven’t long been promoted, she thinks she can get away with things.’

  ‘So, should I tell her I know? Should I force her to explain? She already thinks I favour Miss Kaye.’

  ‘I imagine that list will turn up somewhere in the next day or so, probably in Miss Kaye’s bag or jacket pocket.’

  ‘You think Miss Kaye lied?’

  ‘No, but Miss Browning will know her trick didn’t work, so she will try something else – and you have no proof she took it. Maggie could have taken it and so could Marion Kaye – in fact, Mr Marco could have taken it with him…’

  ‘He didn’t,’ Beth said. ‘But you’re right; I have no proof, which is why I didn’t accuse her immediately.’

  ‘I should watch her closely and if you have any reason to suspect her of dishonesty report her to me or Mr Stockbridge – but if it is just spite against another member of staff, then perhaps we could move her to another department.’

  ‘I wish I could arrange for her to be moved.’ Beth shook her head. ‘No, I’m being weak. I have to make her respect me and behave decently.’

  ‘Sometimes it just isn’t possible to do that with sly girls,’ Rachel said. ‘Try not to worry about it, Beth, but be careful not to judge. You have to be fair to all your staff and give Miss Browning the benefit of the doubt until you catch her in a lie.’

  ‘Yes, thank you, I see that now,’ Beth said and felt relieved. ‘I wondered if you and Maggie would like to come to tea on Sunday – Miss Minnie too, of course.’

  ‘I should be delighted,’ Rachel said, ‘but Minnie and Maggie are both having lunch and tea with Miss Stockbridge. Maggie took Minnie there a few weeks back and she got on so well that she’s been invited back three times since…’

  ‘Oh, I am pleased. I spoke to her in the alterations department the other day, just popped in to ask about a suit I’ve seen I should like to buy. I tried it on, but it is too big on the waist. Miss Minnie told me it would be no trouble to alter it – and said she would be happy to do it for me in her own time for nothing, but I insisted on paying something.’

  Rachel nodded. ‘Your aunt used to make your clothes or alter them for you, of course. Minnie is very good – better than most seamstresses I’ve met.’

  ‘Yes, I’ve seen some of her work and it is lovely. I’d love to have her make me a dress for evenings – something to go dancing in.’ Beth sighed. ‘The gowns Harpers stock are too smart and too expensive for me. I want a simple design with some embroidery to make it special
.’

  ‘Yes, I feel the same,’ Rachel said. ‘I’ve been meaning to ask Minnie to make me a new evening gown. I dare say she could set up in business for herself if she chose, but she likes working at Harpers.’

  Beth nodded thoughtfully. ‘We should speak to Sally,’ she said. ‘Why doesn’t Harpers have a bespoke facility for women who would like to have an evening gown designed just for them? Minnie could be in charge and do the embroidery herself.’

  ‘That is a brilliant idea, Beth,’ Rachel said. ‘Now that she has more room in the new building, they could take what was the lingerie department for the bespoke gowns.’ She smiled at her. ‘Shall I suggest it, or shall you?’

  ‘Why don’t we take Sally out for a meal one evening?’ Beth said. ‘You, Maggie and me – the original Harpers Girls – and I’ve made her some baby things…’ She hesitated. ‘We’re well into May now and her baby is due the second week of June, she thinks, so it should be fine if we do it soon.’

  ‘Yes, let’s ask her,’ Rachel said. ‘We can give her the gifts we have and tell her our idea together.’

  18

  ‘It won,’ Ben said, looking triumphant as he entered the sitting room of their apartment, where Sally was sitting sipping orange juice, a pile of the new autumn and winter catalogues on the little onyx and gilt wood coffee table beside her. ‘Durbar 11 won the Derby at Epsom and I’m a hundred pounds richer.’

  ‘Clever you,’ Sally said, looking up for his kiss. She could smell the whisky on his breath and smiled. He’d obviously been celebrating with a couple of drinks and might have been just a little tipsy. ‘What will you do with your fortune?’

  ‘Spend it on my beautiful wife,’ Ben responded promptly, savouring the kiss. ‘You smell delicious – good enough to eat…’

  Sally’s eyes sparkled with mischief. ‘That is the prawn, salmon and cod pie Mrs Hills popped in the oven for our supper. She has done some green beans and shredded cabbage ready, so I only have to turn the cooker on.’