Rainy Days for the Harpers Girls

by Rosie Clarke

  ‘We’d better go back,’ Sally said as the baby continued to sleep, undisturbed by thoughts of war. ‘I thought she might wake so you could hold her, but she’s so peaceful I don’t like to wake her.’

  ‘Oh, no, please don’t,’ Beth said and looked at the baby again. ‘She is so perfect…’

  ‘Yes, she is,’ Sally agreed.

  They returned to the sitting room and found the men drinking brandy in Ben’s treasured old glasses that he’d found in a London antique shop; they were Georgian glass and very precious, a sign that he valued his visitors. He saluted his wife with a loving smile and inclined his head to Beth.

  ‘Your husband is going to be my partner in a new high-class restaurant in Oxford Street when we find the right premises,’ he announced enthusiastically. ‘It won’t be for a while, perhaps a few years, but we’ll call it Harpers to tie it in with the store, but Jack will be a partner and, in the meantime, I’m going to look after his interests at the hotel while he’s away…’

  Beth looked at Jack and saw he looked pleased, if a little stunned. He didn’t know Ben Harper as well as she did and hadn’t realised what a powerful force he could be when he was enthusiastic about something. Jack looked as if he’d been picked up by a strong wind and carried further than he could yet comprehend. It was probably all talk brought on by the fine brandy, but the idea of diversifying might be something for the future – if Jack ever got the hotel to the stage where his manager could take it over and he didn’t need to be there all hours. However, she wouldn’t count her chickens just yet. Men tended to get big ideas over their after-dinner drinks.

  ‘We need that little café next door to us to sell up and we could keep it all together,’ Sally said and saw a gleam in her husband’s eye. Both men had clearly been enjoying the brandy and Ben was already thinking about the adjoining properties and lining them up in his mind. ‘But not just yet please, we mustn’t run before we can walk.’

  ‘No need to remind me,’ Ben said. ‘Jack knows I’m not ready to move on it yet, but we’ve agreed a way forward for the future.’ He beamed at them all. ‘It’s something to strive for – something to survive for… for our families.’

  ‘I’ll agree with that,’ Jack said hoarsely and then grinned. He lifted his glass. ‘To the future of Harpers – all our futures.’

  ‘All our futures!’ Everyone sipped their drinks and Beth and Sally smiled at each other in amusement.

  More drinks were produced and they all had a nightcap before Beth and Jack left in a taxicab.

  ‘It’s just as well I didn’t bring the car,’ Jack said as they were driven home. ‘I’m not sure I could have made it; I might have had one too many…’

  ‘It was that twenty-five-year-old brandy,’ Beth said and smiled as he lolled against her. Her husband wasn’t used to fine wines and brandies and it had gone to his head a little. ‘Ben is very generous – perhaps too much so.’

  ‘He has a good head for business,’ Jack said. ‘Good man to have on your side, Beth – even if he is an American…’

  ‘Jack! He’s Sally’s husband and my boss.’

  ‘Well, I said he’s a good bloke,’ Jack said and laughed a bit too loudly. ‘I don’t usually care for American’s, but he’s all right.’

  ‘Yes, he is,’ Beth agreed. Some of the staff at Harpers hadn’t been sure when he’d first announced he was taking over the store after his uncle’s death, but he’d proved to be a good boss and by marrying Sally he’d surely put down roots in London that he wouldn’t want to pull up? ‘Everyone likes him at Harpers.’

  ‘Of course, they do,’ Jack agreed and nuzzled her neck. ‘Are you tired, Beth? I’m not. A bit carried away, but happy and a little bit amorous…’

  Beth laughed up at him, her arms sliding about his body as she went to him without reserve. She’d drunk enough of Ben’s brandy to let all her inhibitions fly away and as Jack laughed, kissed her passionately and then carried her up the stairs to their room, she was conscious of feeling happy. At that moment, the war and all it entailed was far from her thoughts.

  Jack made love to her that night with a passion and hunger that took her breath and made her cry out his name. She had never felt as good as she did when they touched and loved, reaching a far place that she hadn’t known existed until that night. Yes, she’d gradually come to pleasure in her husband’s arms, though it had taken her a while to let herself feel it, but this time she was swept away and afterwards lay with tears on her cheeks and her body tingling with love and yet a feeling of utter content.

  ‘Oh, Beth, my darling, I do love you so much,’ Jack said and promptly fell asleep with his head on her naked breasts.

  Beth stroked his hair gently, her tears trickling into her mouth so that she could taste the salt. He was so precious to her. She hadn’t realised quite how much she loved him until these past few days, when the possibility of the war had raised his ugly head.

  27

  ‘Oh, that is so kind of Beth, inviting us to stay with her for a while,’ Minnie said when Rachel told her what had been suggested. ‘I can see how helpful that would be…’ She seemed to hesitate, then, ‘I am not quite sure, though it might be a good idea for a time.’

  ‘I’m sure Beth doesn’t expect you to stay there for ever. Maggie is looking forward to it, but, of course, she knows the whole family…’

  ‘Yes, of course…’ Minnie looked pensive. ‘Beth is always so kind and I love dear Maggie and I should be quite comfortable sharing with her – it’s just that my circumstances may alter soon…’

  Rachel waited, but Minnie didn’t enlarge, just looked vague and either excited or uneasy. She wasn’t sure which but felt it wasn’t her place to push. The suggestion had been made because neither she nor Maggie had had much luck looking for a room they liked. They couldn’t afford to keep the flat on and Rachel had given notice, which meant they would have to leave a few days after her wedding. She’d felt very guilty over it for a while, because it seemed so unkind to turn them out – especially Minnie, who she’d invited to share. It might have been better to leave her at the boarding house, but the flat was nearer her new job at Harpers and Minnie had seemed so much happier once she’d settled into the job. Especially after she’d started going to tea with Becky Stockbridge every weekend. She seemed to have a new spring in her step and her eyes were bright, her mouth always turning up in a smile. Sometimes, Rachel could hardly recognise her as the timid sister of Mildred and wondered what had given her this new energy and confidence.

  She spoke to Maggie on Sunday morning after Minnie had gone out for a little walk. ‘You are happy about moving into Beth’s after my wedding, aren’t you?’

  ‘Yes, very much so,’ Maggie told her. ‘You know I stayed with Beth at her aunt’s and I like Fred and of course there’s Tim. He goes home as often as he can. Jack is like a big brother to me. I shall miss seeing you every evening, Rachel – but I shall see you at Harpers. You won’t be giving up your job?’

  ‘No, not for the present,’ Rachel agreed. ‘William is going to make inquiries about joining the Army in some capacity as soon as we’ve had our honeymoon. His family would expect it, because they’ve always had military connections and, in the event of a war, he feels it is the right thing to do – though he may not be front line, of course. We thought it best if I continue to work until it all blows over, because he might be away a lot. Everyone thinks this conflict will not be much, Maggie. William is confident that it will be settled by Christmas. If they had only listened to our government, there need not have been any of this trouble at all, but he says we shall have to send a few gunboats and rap them over the knuckles a bit; he thinks it inevitable.’

  ‘Tim says he thinks they may get a bit of action in the Royal Flying Corps and he thinks it is great fun,’ Maggie said with a frown. ‘I can’t see how it can be – after all, they use guns and things and that means men get hurt, doesn’t it?’

  ‘Yes, I think it is inescapable that some will b
e hurt – even killed – but hopefully they will pull back on the brink and we may still avoid it.’

  ‘Fred Burrows doesn’t think so…’ Maggie bit her lip. ‘The men seem to be so excited over it – but I think it’s horrible. I wish they would all stop talking about it. Why does it have to happen?’

  ‘It’s all a matter of treaties and alliances,’ Rachel said. ‘William explained it all to me, but I can’t remember half of what he said – but apparently we have to support France and Russia, and Germany and their allies are the aggressors. It all seems nonsense to me and I just keep hoping they will all see sense and talk it over rather than fighting.’

  ‘Yes…’ Maggie let out a sigh and decided to change the subject. ‘Minnie and I are going to lunch with Becky and Mr Stockbridge again this week. Tim has to work, so I said I would, because Minnie was keen, though I should’ve liked to go to a meeting of the Women’s Movement. Some of the members are saying that the militants should scale down their activities in the event of a war. They won’t like it because they still haven’t achieved what we want and some of them have been treated so badly – but to do otherwise would make us traitors. Just because we don’t like the way the government treats Mrs Pankhurst doesn’t mean we can betray our country by causing problems…’

  ‘Oh, I do agree,’ Rachel said instantly. ‘I’ve never really liked the idea of using violence – and those bombs could have hurt a lot more than just property. I do not hold with murder, even if it is in a good cause.’

  ‘I feel the same as you and so does Beth,’ Maggie said. ‘I want the vote for women as much as anyone, but I don’t want to kill anyone to get my way.’

  ‘I’m going to miss having you about all the time,’ Rachel said, smiling at her fondly, ‘but we shall meet at work – and you will have to come and have tea with me sometimes. You can always ask Becky to come with you – or Tim if you wish…’

  ‘Yes, I shall, thank you,’ Maggie said and kissed her cheek. ‘You’ve been such a good friend to me since my father died. I don’t know what I should have done without you and Beth, Sally, too, of course, but she seems above me these days, even though she doesn’t mean to.’

  Rachel nodded. ‘Sally is very busy, Maggie, and she has Harpers to look after. Mr Harper relies on her for so much – and, of course, she has that beautiful little girl.’

  ‘She is gorgeous,’ Maggie said. ‘Sally brought her in to the office the other day and then took her on a tour of all the departments. I thought she was beautiful.’

  ‘Yes, I saw little Jenny, and I think she will grow up to be as charming as her mother,’ Rachel said. ‘Well, I must get ready. William is calling for me shortly. We’re going to his house and taking some of my things…’ She paused and laughed. ‘It was so funny when he took me to meet his family. They were trying to be polite, but they didn’t know what to say to me, because they’d never heard of a woman working as a supervisor and they seemed to be confused as to whether to welcome me to the family or dismiss me to the servants’ quarters.’

  ‘Oh, Rachel, how could they be so unkind?’

  She smiled and shook her head. ‘No, really, I didn’t mind. William warned me they were funny old things – and why should I mind? He loves me and they won’t do anything to offend him.’ She shook her head at the memory. ‘Shall you be back for tea, Maggie?’

  ‘I think we’ll probably stay for tea and come home at about seven…’

  ‘I’ll be back by then too so we’ll catch up this evening.’

  On Monday morning, the newspapers reported that the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy had been mobilised. The Kaiser had already declared war on the Czar of Russia and tension was heightened. Everyone was waiting for the news that would plunge Britain into war. The newsboys all over London were shouting the news that the British government had warned Germany that they would stand by the treaty of 1839 and protect the French coastline.

  It was a bank holiday and for Rachel the day seemed to drag. Minnie had gone out first thing in the morning wearing her best summer frock and hat and Maggie had gone to meet Tim, who had a day off from his unit. William had told her he would be at meetings all day and she spent the morning packing bits and pieces and pacing the flat that suddenly seemed too small.

  After eating a solitary lunch, she packed some home-made cakes and caught the bus to see her former mother-in-law. Mrs Hazel Craven greeted her with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

  ‘I suppose this is the last time I shall see you,’ she said sourly, looking at the beautiful diamond ring on Rachel’s left hand. ‘You won’t bother with me when you’re married to that man.’

  ‘I see no reason why I shouldn’t visit now and then, as I always have,’ Rachel said. ‘I thought we were friends, Hazel – the fact that Paul died and I’m going to remarry should make no difference to that.’

  To her consternation, Hazel burst into tears, sobbing into her lavender-scented handkerchief. ‘I thought you would forget me now…’

  ‘Of course, I shan’t,’ Rachel said and suddenly realised how lonely Hazel must be. Paul had been her only child and unlike Rachel she had not found work or made lots of new friends. ‘I shall never forget Paul and I shall never forget you. I hope that when I am settled in my new home you will come and have lunch or tea with me sometimes, and I shall still visit.’

  She wiped her tears. ‘What a foolish woman I am, Rachel. You seem so busy and happy with that job – and now you’ve found a new love…’

  ‘Yes, I am very lucky,’ Rachel told her. ‘But if this awful war starts, my William will join up and that means I’ll be spending a lot of time alone, I shall certainly need all my friends and that includes you, Hazel.’

  ‘Thank you,’ she said and then gestured to the kitchen. ‘I’ll just go and put the kettle on.’

  Rachel stayed until gone seven, talking and sharing tea and cakes. Hazel showed her the dress and coat she intended wearing to the wedding and a hat she’d bought especially, in Harpers.

  ‘Very smart,’ Rachel said. ‘I’m so glad you’re coming to the wedding, Hazel. I don’t have any family other than you and I really appreciate it.’

  Hazel had pressed a soft parcel into her hands. ‘It’s good linen I had when I was first married,’ she told Rachel. ‘I don’t use it now and I’d like you to have it.’

  ‘Thank you, I should love it,’ Rachel said and kissed her cheek. ‘William’s family have accepted me; I was made welcome at their home for lunch, but I know they don’t really approve – and you really are my only family apart from William.’

  She left Hazel Craven happier than when she’d arrived, making up her mind to encourage her to take up some kind of charity work when she next saw her. Her former mother-in-law would never look for paid work, because she hadn’t been brought up to think of it. Hazel did not have Minnie’s talents with a needle, so wouldn’t be able to find genteel work she could manage, so lived on the income from the money her late husband had invested for her. It was sufficient for her to live decently and she didn’t have to go without anything, though she didn’t have a great deal to throw away either and she must have thought long and hard before buying a new hat for Rachel’s wedding.

  Rachel had known what it was like to have to count the pennies after Paul died, but she’d found work and now she was to marry a man who she knew to be comfortably off, if not rich. He had already told her that he would be setting aside a sum of money for her that would be hers to do with as she wished.

  Some of his personal fortune was in shares and he was concerned because the stock exchange had announced it was closing its doors and would not reopen until things were more settled.

  ‘I’ve put money aside for us both in case there should be a crash,’ he’d told her. ‘But, as I was unable to liquidise my holdings, I could take a hit – so it’s just as well I put some away for you.’

  William wanted her to be independent of his family, because although they’d been polite while she was in their home
, they hadn’t seen her as being of their class and she would never wish to ask them for anything.

  Afterwards, William had told her his thoughts. ‘If anything should happen – and I’m not thinking it will – but if it should, you will be independent for life, Rachel. I don’t want you to sink into genteel poverty as many widows do, so that money is yours.’ He’d smiled as she’d tried to protest. ‘No, my dearest one, I am adamant. You will continue to work for a while, as it is your pleasure, but I shall make you secure. I’m not a very wealthy man, but I am very comfortably placed, which I know you do not care for one jot, but you will oblige me by accepting my gift.’

  Rachel had simply kissed him. What else could she say. She’d never told William how difficult things had been for her after Paul died, but he knew and he was making sure it could not happen again. She was grateful and it just made her even more certain that he was the man she loved and she was doing the right thing by becoming his wife.

  When she got back to the flat that evening, Rachel discovered that both Maggie and Minnie were there, sitting drinking a glass of wine, which was unusual, as their usual bedtime drink was a cup of milky cocoa.

  Minnie blushed as Rachel looked at them. ‘What is the celebration?’

  ‘Go on, tell her,’ Maggie said and the excitement was bubbling out of her. ‘Show her your hand, Minnie.’

  Minnie slowly raised her left hand to show the pretty ruby and pearl five-stone ring. ‘Will you congratulate me, Rachel? Mr Stockbridge – Jonathan and I – we are to be married.’

  ‘Goodness gracious!’ Rachel was astounded and sat down on a chair before her legs went from under her. ‘I had no idea – neither of you breathed a word. Did you know, Maggie?’

  Maggie giggled but shook her head. ‘Becky told me she thought her father was sweet on Miss Minnie and I knew he smiled all the time when she was around. They went to look at his roses a lot and I understand there were walks in the park…’ Her eyes teased Minnie. ‘Tell Rachel all of it, Minnie.’