by Rosie Clarke
The girls obeyed and the department had customers throughout the afternoon. Trade was brisk and they all sold something, though the flurry of customers they’d had earlier was not repeated.
25
‘That girl must have hung about waiting her chance,’ Beth told Fred when he met her that evening after work and they caught the bus home together. ‘She knew how we work and was brazen enough to walk right in and steal from under our noses…’
‘Some people have no shame,’ Fred said and shook his head. ‘I saw her hanging about the basement a few times and wondered what she was up to, but she seemed a helpful girl and I didn’t suspect her of wrongdoing. She obviously felt so bitter about being moved that she wanted to pay you back and was willing to take a huge risk.’
‘Marion should have called out to me, but she didn’t know what to do and I can’t blame her,’ Beth said and frowned. To have cried thief would have caused a fuss and upset customers, so perhaps Marion had done the wiser thing.
‘Would you have gone after her and stopped her – with all those customers about?’
Beth thought about it and then shook her head. ‘I had jewellery on the counter. I could have lost more than a thirty-five-shilling scarf.’
‘You need another assistant or a junior,’ Fred said. ‘In a busy department like yours, three of you just isn’t enough at times.’
‘Yes, we must have our junior,’ Beth agreed. ‘Mrs Craven said a new girl will start next week.’ She nodded. ‘Of course, that is why Janice Browning took her chance today. She was leaving anyway and she’d been paid her holiday money. Maggie said she’d seen her entering the store with bags, not from Harpers but somewhere else she’d been shopping. No one would notice a scarf in with all the other stuff. I wonder if she took anything else…’
‘I wouldn’t mind betting they will find a few things missing from other departments when they start looking. If she had the cheek to steal from your department, she quite possibly took something from others.’
‘That would make it more serious,’ Beth said. ‘I think I shall pop up and see if Sally has time to speak to me in the morning. If anyone knows if stock is missing, it will be her.’
Sally smiled as Beth was sent through to her and immediately asked Ruth to fetch coffee and biscuits. ‘I know you’re busy,’ she said, ‘but Rachel told me she would pop into the department and keep an eye on things while you came to see me. Miss Browning would be foolish to try it again, because we’re all on the lookout for her now, but she might not know what’s good for her.’
‘So, you agree with me that she might have stolen from other departments?’ Beth asked anxiously.
‘Yes, unfortunately, I have proof,’ Sally said. ‘There are several items missing from the lingerie department – so easy to stuff in a pocket or inside your dress – and a new tweed skirt. The junior says she remembers Janice taking three items into the changing rooms, but when she went in to fetch them after she left without buying, only two remained. She reported it to her supervisor at once, who alerted Mrs Craven just ten minutes after you told her about the scarf. So far, we believe an expensive fountain pen, a silver milk jug and a man’s silk tie have all been taken – and all these things in the space of the last couple of days…’ Sally sighed. ‘There is always a certain amount of pilfering in a shop like this, but most of it started when she came here. Ruth and I checked the records and, until Janice came, we had lost only two items from the ground floor, but after she started, at least one stock item was lost each week until yesterday, when there seems to have been a flurry of thefts.’
‘It was her revenge for being demoted, as she saw it.’ Beth sighed. ‘I thought I was avoiding trouble, but it seems I’ve cost you dear…’
‘You had nothing to do with it,’ Sally said. ‘The girl was bad and should never have been employed here. I have spoken to the police and given them a description; they think she is probably a habitual shoplifter and gave false references when applying for the job, though we can’t work out yet how she managed to get false references through to us. It is a great shame and Mr Stockbridge is very upset at being taken in. He says that he wrote to her reference and received a very good answer from her former employer. She was supposed to be a model employee…’
‘She probably stole the headed paper the letter was written on,’ Beth suggested and Sally inclined her head but still looked puzzled. ‘Fred saw her hanging around his department…’ She gave a cry of understanding. ‘Of course! She watched for the letter to appear in the post rack – perhaps it had the name of her previous employer stamped on the envelope, as many do – and swapped it for her own reference.’
‘You could be right.’ Sally stared at her incredulously for a moment. ‘I fear she may have done – but how can one tell with a girl who can look you in the eye the way she did and make out butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth?’
‘Some of the girls could have lost their jobs over missing stock,’ Beth said, feeling upset. ‘It is very unfortunate – one bad apple…’
‘Thankfully, she doesn’t seem to have started stealing a large amount from us until she was moved from your department,’ Sally replied. ‘I dare say she has been taking stuff elsewhere and eventually the police will catch her.’
‘Yes.’ Beth shook her head. ‘Don’t you think it’s sad?’
‘Sad and foolish,’ Sally agreed. ‘We’ve both had hard times, Beth, but neither of us would have thought of stealing. I can’t feel too sorry for her when I think of all the hard-working men and women who labour all week for the price of one of the items, she took.’
‘I’m not excusing her,’ Beth said, ‘but she could have made something of herself. I was thinking she might take over a department one day…’
‘That is for honest people like you, dear Beth,’ Sally said and smiled at her. ‘Now, let us think of something nicer – Ben was wondering if you and Jack would come to dinner at the flat one evening…’
‘We should love to,’ Beth said. ‘When were you thinking?’
‘Ben said this weekend.’ Sally’s smile dimmed. ‘He thinks the situation in the Balkans is worsening. The Russians are mobilising and the Kaiser is making threatening noises…’
Beth had a sinking feeling inside as she thought of what was happening abroad. ‘Jack says he’ll be needed if war breaks out…’
‘Yes, I know, it’s horrid,’ Sally said. ‘Ben being American, won’t be called on…’ A little shudder went through her. ‘I wouldn’t put it past him to join if we declare war…’
‘I asked Jack what would happen to the hotel. He says his partner will manage – he’s too old to volunteer – and his father can keep an eye on things.’
‘Fred won’t leave us, will he?’
‘He says he’s too old for the army, but he’ll volunteer for home defence or whatever is required.’ Beth blinked hard. ‘I can’t believe he’ll be accepted for anything like that. War won’t come here, surely…’
‘I shouldn’t think so, not for a minute,’ Sally agreed. ‘Ben says it will be a storm in a teacup, but he thinks a lot of young men will join up just for the fun of it…’
‘Fun!’ Beth looked at her in horror. ‘Surely there’s no fun in men getting shot at?’
‘You know what men are like when it comes to war and adventure,’ Sally said and shrugged. ‘No one thinks it will be much fun, but the youngsters will join up in flocks. Some will think it’s easier work than they have now and patriotic too; they want to do their bit for King and Country’
Beth finished her coffee. She hadn’t eaten one of the chocolate biscuits, because she felt suddenly sick and shivery. ‘Well, I wish the foreigners would all go away and fight their own wars. Why should our men get involved?’
‘I agree, but we’re women,’ Sally said and laughed. ‘Cheer up, Beth – the navy will probably get their gunboats out, fire a few rounds and then the enemy will run home.’
Beth laughed as her friend intended. ‘You’re wi
cked, Sally Harper. How is that little darling of yours?’
‘Adorable,’ Sally said, ‘and quite happy with her worshippers at home. Pearl and Mrs Hills have combined to spoil her and I’m with her for most of her feeds. I think she only has to open her mouth and one of them has her out of the cot and on their laps.’
‘You’ll never do anything with her if they pick her up all the time,’ Beth said. ‘My mother always said babies should be left to cry because it spoils them if you pick them up every time they do.’
‘Try telling that to Pearl and Mrs Hills,’ Sally said and made a face. When we get home, Ben is just as bad, always picking her up and telling her how beautiful she is – she will be vain, of course.’
‘No, she won’t, because she’s your daughter,’ Beth said and glanced at her watch. ‘I’d better get back or Rachel will kill me.’
‘Has she given you a date for her wedding?’ Sally asked, standing up and smoothing biscuit crumbs from her elegant dress. ‘I think it’s soon now, early next month. She mentioned an invitation on its way only this morning…’
‘Yes, it’s all arranged for the 15th August,’ Beth replied. ‘She said it was sooner than she’d anticipated, but William had persuaded her to bring it forward just in case. She is a bit worried about what Miss Minnie and Maggie will do when she moves out…’
‘You mean about renting the apartment?’
Beth nodded. ‘I think Fred would agree that we could offer Maggie a room for a while and I suppose she could share with Miss Minnie, if they wished…’ Her father-in-law was so easy going that she knew she didn’t even have to ask if he minded her friends staying in his house.
‘I know Maggie will be all right with you, but Miss Minnie… well. She was Rachel’s particular friend and she might not feel comfortable…’
‘Well, the offer is there,’ Beth said and, at Sally’s invitation, kissed her on the cheek. ‘I’ll tell Rachel on my way back to the department.’
‘That is so kind of you to offer,’ Rachel said. ‘I’d planned to give them until September to find somewhere, but William begged me to bring the wedding forward. He is very worried about the situation and says he will not wait to be called if it happens – his grandfather was a cavalry officer and so was his father. He went into politics instead, but if it’s war…’
‘Sally says a lot of men will rush to join up,’ Beth said and shuddered. ‘Jack says he’ll be needed, but I keep hoping it won’t really happen.’
‘I think it has been inevitable that Russia and Germany would go to war since the assassination,’ Rachel said. ‘It’s just a matter of time…’
‘Oh hell!’ Beth muttered and then flushed. ‘I beg your pardon, but you know how I feel.’
‘Of course, I do, Beth; we all feel the same,’ Rachel said. ‘Thank you for the offer – I shall speak to both Minnie and Maggie this evening and hear what they have to say…’
‘Good.’ Beth smiled and watched as her friend left the department. She’d been surprised when Rachel first said she would marry again so soon, but now she was pleased for her friend. Everyone should grab their happiness while they could.
Beth spoke to Fred about the room that evening when they got home. She’d mentioned it before and he’d told her to go ahead and offer it to her friends. He nodded his approval.
‘I doubt Miss Minnie would want to stop here long, but it’s somewhere for her to come if she’s stuck,’ he said thoughtfully. ‘However, that young Maggie – well, I dare say she’ll be glad to be here with you.’ He smiled. ‘It will be a bit of company for you at night, Beth. If Jack is away and I’m on fire watch…’
‘Fire watch?’ Beth looked at him in surprise. ‘Is that what you expect to be doing?’
‘I’ve already joined the volunteer unit,’ Fred said. ‘We’ll be needed to help with fires and the like at night – the enemy may have spies here and they will try to sabotage our factories, so they’ll need volunteers to keep a watch at night, and some of the regular firemen will be joining up to fight…’
‘Surely they are needed here?’
‘Aye, they are, and most will see it as their duty to stay and keep London safe, but some of the younger ones will be off as soon as the call comes.’
‘It hasn’t happened yet – and it’s a holiday this Monday. Bank holiday and everyone is looking to have fun – a day at the sea with the kids…’ Beth frowned. ‘I don’t see why we should fight at all, Fred. Our government offered to mediate and they turned them down, said we were presumptuous…’
‘British insolence they called it,’ Fred said and nodded his agreement. ‘We ought to tell them all to go to hell, Beth, but there’s only one way to do that.’
Beth sighed. Fred read every single line of every report on the situation and he was convinced Britain would have to fight despite all the voices raised against it. She supposed a lot of the men at Harpers felt the same way and wondered just how many of their staff would have to fight, if it came to it.
Marco looked at himself in the dressing mirror of his bedroom. He had a smart flat not far from Harpers, which he had furnished exquisitely and his flair had made it a perfect example of Art Deco decadence – at least, that was what Julien had told him, teasing him as they spent precious hours here. It seemed so lonely without him.
He was due to attend a private party that evening. Given by an actor well known for his flamboyant ways and his sexual tastes, Marco was an honoured guest and he knew there would be good food, the best wines, cigars and witty company. He was welcome at all the theatrical parties, because his talent was recognised and no one cared that he had loved a young man rather than a girl – many of his friends had the same tastes. All of them were considered outsiders by mainstream society, except by the enlightened few such as Fred Burrows and the Harpers.
Fred was very worried about the coming war, Marco knew. He had two sons, both of whom could be called upon to give their lives for their country. Marco had spent an hour talking to him in the basement earlier that day, discussing the coming war as he sourced bits and pieces he needed for his latest window. Marco liked the man who had come to Harpers because he’d refused to be a bully and cane the boys in his school – Fred was a man of principle.
‘I’d fight if they’d have me,’ he’d told Marco over a cup of hot sweet tea. ‘It’s the duty of any man that can – but I fear for my sons. If I could go for them I would…’
‘Yes, I believe you would.’ Marco had smiled, because he respected Fred and all he stood for. Also, he knew that Julien would have joined up already.
Marco smiled oddly as he switched out the light and prepared to leave for the evening. He would go to his party because he had nothing else to do – but he already knew where his duty lay and he wouldn’t shirk it. Men of his age would be needed; he was only forty after all and could still fight or march if need be, though it was likely he would be used in other ways. Perhaps in the stores or the canteen. When the call came, he would answer.
26
Dinner with Sally and Ben was lovely and they all talked and laughed over the meal, enjoying the chance to relax and share their thoughts, hopes and dreams for the future. Ben and Jack went into a huddle when Sally took Beth off to see her daughter and the ominous words, conflict, war and mobilise, were heard as the women left the room.
‘It won’t all be war talk,’ Sally reassured Beth as she took her into the child’s bedroom, which was pink and white, with lots of lace, soft fluffy rugs and toys, and reassuringly calm. ‘Ben wanted to have a chat with your husband about the hotel. He won’t be joining up, at least for a while, and he says he’ll offer to cast an eye over things for Jack. He has some idea of them going into partnership in a restaurant at some point …’ Sally made a wry face. ‘At the moment, every penny we have is tied up in Harpers’ new premises, but Ben would like to diversify in the future and I’m sure that’s what they will be talking about.’
‘Oh, I see, that would be wonderful, Sally.’
‘You’re so lucky to have her, Sally…’
‘Yes, I know – even when she wakes us every hour through the night,’ Sally said and laughed. ‘Although she isn’t as bad now. I give her a feed at night and she settles, but Paula feeds her with a bottle during the day and that makes it easier for me. The midwife at the hospital would not approve, but my doctor said that it was better for me to do it that way if I wanted to work – and I do.’
‘You’re so brave,’ Beth said. ‘A lot of women wouldn’t dare to go against the midwife.’
‘In rich families, the child is often breastfed by a wet nurse, of course. Luckily, Jenny has taken to the bottle, which is good because it means I don’t need to be here all the time.’
Beth nodded, because Sally was always so modern and full of new ideas. She would never adhere to the old rules that a woman must stay at home and nurse her baby herself. Perhaps that rule only applied to the ordinary woman and women from the aristocracy had never nursed their own babies. Yet Beth felt that perhaps Sally was missing out on that special bond between mother and child. Was it possible that she could have a good marriage, loving husband, beautiful child and a job that a lot of men would love to have? Was she pushing her luck too far?
‘You’ll have a child one day,’ Sally said gently. ‘It will happen, Beth, you just have to be patient.’
‘I know – but this war…’ Beth couldn’t voice the fear inside her. If Jack volunteered for the merchant navy and his ship was sunk… She shook her head. It was wrong and foolish to think like that and she had to be strong for him, because he was the one who would be leaving all he’d strived for to serve his country.