Lily of Love Lane

by Carol Rivers

  ‘And Dad and Uncle Noah can buy a few cigarettes instead of tobacco.’

  Josie nodded, her face brightening. ‘Are you sure you want to do this for us, Lily?’

  ‘I’m sure, Mum.’

  There was silence until Bob Bright coughed and hit his chest with his fist. As he patted his cardigan pockets, he mumbled, ‘I could do with a fag now.’

  They all laughed. ‘Oh, Dad, it’s nice to have you back with us again.’

  ‘I didn’t like to see your mother on the floor.’

  ‘Well, it got you down here, didn’t it?’

  ‘I suppose so.’

  Josie looked at her husband sitting beside her. ‘You do look much better, love. Thank you for the tea, it was a very nice thought even though half of it went on the floor.’

  Everyone laughed again. Suddenly Lily felt the floodgates of relief open inside her. The nightmare they had been living in was receding and there were better times ahead.

  On a fine Sunday morning in September, when the first autumn mist crawled over the island, Lily said goodbye to friends and family. She joined Charles in the large blue car that waited outside her house and waving to her family and the Parks and Jameses who had congregated outside her house, she could hardly believe she was leaving home. But, as Charles gave a toot on the horn, her heart leapt at the wonderful smile he gave her.

  As she sat beside him, watching Love Lane disappear in the mist, she gave a little tremble. She was both excited and apprehensive. She had no real idea what her duties would include, nor whether she’d be able to perform them well enough, and that, in addition to sleeping in a strange bed for the first time in her life, was enough to make her stomach churn with anxiety.

  How quickly the last five weeks had passed! All the time her father had improved and, best of all, had shown no signs of wanting to escape or resume his old habit. Occasionally he would go upstairs and detach himself from life, but most of the time he was content to sit by the fire with Uncle Noah or have a short walk around the block. Her mother was still cautious and kept an eagle eye on him. But he was not the strong man he once was. Even walking to the end of the road was a challenge, although Lily knew that with time he would grow a bit stronger.

  Josie was happy again. She had already grown accustomed to a renewed income, provided by Charles. She enjoyed the luxury provided by three pounds, three shillings every week.

  As Charles drove steadily towards Dewar Street, half of Lily was enthralled at his presence and the prospect of being in his life, living in the beautiful home that she knew awaited her was a dream come true. But her other half was naturally missing the people left behind. Hattie had promised to write and Ben had told her that if ever Charles couldn’t drive her back to Love Lane on Saturday mornings, he would come for her in his new car.

  ‘I was most pleased to see your father up and about,’ Charles said, suddenly breaking into her thoughts.

  Lily nodded, smiling as she thought of her father’s brave smile as he hugged her goodbye.

  ‘Do yer best love, and don’t worry about us,’ he had comforted her, just as the old dad would have said.

  ‘He’s much better now,’ Lily replied. She wanted Charles to know that he need not be concerned her father would relapse into his old habits. That part of his life was finished now. He’d had a big shock seeing her mother on the floor and thought he was responsible. Lily had noticed that since that day he was deliberately making small steps into taking his place in the home again.

  ‘And your friend Hattie?’ asked Charles, his perfectly formed hands grasping the steering wheel. ‘How is married life suiting her?’

  Lily glanced down at the rabbit’s foot on her collar. She had bought herself a new coat for today and as she fingered the fur, she smiled. ‘Hattie’s very happy. And business is picking up at market.’

  ‘I’m glad to hear it.’

  ‘And what of your friend Ben? Do you have his blessing on your new life?’

  Lily glanced quickly at her companion. ‘He’s very happy for me.’

  ‘I’m glad to hear that.’

  ‘He’s just bought a new car.’ Lily was proud of Ben as he was determined to make a success of the expansion of his business.

  ‘How very interesting. What is he going to use the car for?’

  ‘City work, I think.’

  ‘A very enterprising young man.’ Lily nodded, reflecting on how last night Ben, Hattie and Reube had come in to wish her good luck. They had made it a happy occasion and she had been grateful for that. It was only Hattie who, as she left, shed a tear.

  As they passed the Queens Theatre, Lily reflected on all that had happened since she first met Charles four years ago. Would she have ever guessed then that she would be sitting beside him in a beautiful car, on her way to live at Dewar Street? She smiled. No, not in a million years.

  But as she stole a glance at his handsome profile, in her heart she felt that her destiny was to be with him. That is what she believed. And Lily felt certain that one day, her life would change yet again. In her most private moments, she saw herself wearing not the pink bridesmaid’s dress, but a long, flowing white one with a veil. And beside her, looking down on her with love filling his deep, dark eyes, was the man who had never left her thoughts in all the time they had spent apart.

  Chapter Twenty

  October 1936

  Lily stood in the well-lit hall of number four Dewar Street. As always, at the end of the week, she cast her eye over the polished wood floors and long flight of stairs. Everything was spick and span. For two years now, Mrs Brewer had been a blessing. Not only could she rely on the older woman to turn up each day, but her work was faultless. Small and rotund, Mrs Brewer cared for the house as if it was her own. The fires were always lit before nine, the washing attended to on Mondays. The other four mornings were divided equally between upstairs and downstairs. Her trustworthiness made it quite unnecessary for Lily to check her work.

  Now it was Friday evening and Lily was eagerly awaiting Hattie. Charles was away on one of his trips and Lily had suggested that Hattie come straight from work and spend the night at Dewar Street. The offer was eagerly accepted and Mrs Brewer had prepared the guest bedroom in readiness.

  ‘Is there anything else you want, Miss?’

  ‘No, thank you, Mrs Brewer. My friend will be here soon.’

  ‘I hope she finds the room to her liking.’

  ‘I’m sure she will.’

  ‘Are you sure you won’t want me to come back after I’ve fed me old man, and save you the bother of cooking?’

  ‘No, that’s all right. I’ve prepared the trolley. We’ll just eat lightly tonight.’

  ‘Well, if you’re sure? I’ve set the table in the back parlour and there’s a nice fire going in the drawing room. The bed is all made up for your friend and clean towels left in her room.’

  ‘Thank you. Are you doing anything nice this weekend?’

  Mrs Brewer gave a frown of concern. Her plump face under her black felt hat gave her a homely appearance, but now she looked anxious. ‘We was going up to Tower Hill to see our daughter and her hubbie. They’ve got two rooms above a shop, nice and comfy it is. But the rumours are rife there’s going to be a meeting.’

  ‘What sort of meeting?’ Lily asked politely. She was only half listening as her mind was elsewhere. Charles had seemed distracted when he’d left at the beginning of the week. His absences had grown more frequent in the past few months and his mood had not always been easy on his return. Over the past two years she had learned to recognize the signs. Sometimes he would say very little and yet at others he would ask for her company at supper. The stories he told her were all very amusing of the upper class circles in which he moved.

  ‘Ain’t you read the Daily Herald? It’s those bloody Blackshirts again.’

  Lily came quickly back to the present. ‘What about them?’

  ‘My Tom says Mosley plans to march on the East End. I tell you Miss, if he tries
there will be a riot. The commies and fascists will be at it like mad dogs, with the dockers in between.’

  ‘I thought all that was over,’ said Lily, ‘when Mosley left government.’

  ‘Don’t you believe it. Since thirty-four they’ve been digging in down this way, trying to recruit as many as they can. Tom works for a Jewish concern. Don’t usually employ the gentiles, but without him they’d be lost. As you know he keeps all them weavers’ machines running like clockwork. A real magician he is and they know it. Anyway, he tells me some of the Jewish blokes and their families have had a bad time of it with the Blackshirts. Beaten up, some of them are, by these thugs. Now, I’m no symapthizer to any religion and I ain’t no Socialist either, but me and Tom believe in British justice and fair play. The Jews, the Poles, the Frenchies, whoever they might be – seeing women beaten up of any creed or colour don’t sit well with us.’

  ‘They beat up women?’ Lily said in surprise.

  ‘That’s what’s happened, yes.’

  Lily suddenly remembered the man who had accosted her at market. He’d had a mad look in his eye and she was only saved by Charles. Were the Blackshirts still as threatening?

  ‘But what do they want with the East End?’

  ‘They want power, that’s what. Think they’ll get it through dockers’ votes. Mosley intends to get a foot back in government whilst he hobnobs with the aristocrats on the quiet. My old man gets all the information first hand. But as me daughter lives up Tower Hill, I take exception to not being able to visit her, just because of some hooligans.’

  Lily thought of the days when there was trouble at the market. They seemed a long way off now. She would ask Hattie if there was any recurrence at Cox Street.

  ‘Anyway, better be off.’

  After the older woman had gone, Lily walked through the newly decorated hall into the drawing room, admiring the work which she had arranged to be done. The aspidistra stood in a new pot, its broad leaves shining under the electric light that had been installed in the house. What would Hattie think of the pastel colours of the walls that had replaced the heavy green and red flock wallpapers that left the house so dark? The new cream muslin curtains were modern and the stylized birds and foliage patterns she had found in the upstairs rooms were long gone. Lily had created simplicity, combining the pale greens and yellows of the walls to contrast with darker shades of carpeting. Charles had applauded everything she had done. He had spared no expense to accommodate her wishes.

  Lily looked out of the drawing room window. Through the now sparkling panes of glass the street was quietly fading into dusk. She drew the curtains as the warmth from the big open fire that burned in the grate gave a cosy glow to the room. The two pink chairs that she had retained were drawn up either side of it. Lily looked around her with satisfaction. She couldn’t wait to see the expression on Hattie’s face when she showed her upstairs.

  Half an hour later the two girls stood in Lily’s private quarters. Over her large bed was spread a deep blue cover, the same shade as her long linen curtains that fell from a gleaming brass rod. The thick Turkish rug that covered the pine floorboards was of different shades of blue and sunflower yellow and Hattie gazed around in wonder.

  ‘Fancy this being yours, Lil.’

  ‘I think how lucky I am when I wake up each morning.’

  Hattie sighed wistfully. ‘I wouldn’t mind something like this meself.’

  ‘When you get your new house, I’ll help you to paint it.’

  Hattie looked glum. ‘I don’t know when that will be.’

  ‘It will be worth the wait.’

  ‘I hope so.’

  ‘Come and sit down on me new couch.’

  The two girls went into the next room. A walnut coffee table was placed next to a beige couch that Lily had filled with cushions.

  ‘This is nice too,’ said Hattie, sitting down. ‘Were these expensive?’

  ‘I bought them in Oxford Street.’

  Hattie nodded to the walnut bookcase. ‘Have you read all them?’

  Lily nodded as she sat by her friend. ‘I sit here at night after I’ve finished downstairs.’

  ‘What time is that?’

  ‘After dinner, about nine o’clock.’

  ‘That’s a long day.’

  ‘Yes, but I get the weekends off.’

  ‘I like that.’ Hattie pointed to the statue of a young woman dressed like a nymph. It was made entirely of pink frosted glass.

  ‘Charles gave it to me.’

  ‘I wish Reube would give me an expensive present.’

  Lily laughed. ‘I don’t know if it’s valuable. But it looks nice.’

  Hattie stood up and went to gaze in the large black-edged mirror above the bookcase. She wet her middle finger on her tongue and drew the tip over her eyebrows. ‘You and me should go into business,’ she said as she studied her reflection. ‘We both like quality, the better things in life.’

  ‘What sort of business?’ Lily asked, amused.

  ‘If we had our own shop we could divide it up. Fashion and home decoration.’ Hattie’s eyes sparkled.

  ‘How would we get customers?’

  ‘I’d poach all Madame Nerys’ clients.’

  ‘You wouldn’t!’ Lily gasped.

  ‘What’s wrong with that? She’s got more than enough rich women buying from her.’ Hattie turned round, her face animated. ‘I’ve got me own designs that I want to create. And you could do all their furnishings. Just think what we could achieve between us.’

  Lily laughed. ‘We could take over the world.’

  ‘I mean it,’ said Hattie, pouting. ‘But I don’t suppose you want to leave Charles.’

  ‘I don’t know what the future will bring.’

  ‘Neither of us do.’

  ‘I thought you wanted to move to Brighton.’

  Hattie giggled. ‘That’s right, I did. Me head is always full of plans.’

  ‘Come on, I’ll show you your very own room.’

  Hattie gasped again as they entered the guest room. ‘It’s like a posh hotel.’

  From the window they could see lights twinkling from the houses and streets below. Hattie bounced lightly on the big double bed that Mrs Brewer had furnished with a cream silk cover and pillows to match. ‘Now, all I want is a bloke in it, waiting for me.’

  Lily chuckled. ‘You’ve got one already. Don’t be greedy.’

  Hattie opened the door of the bird’s eye maple wardrobe that was part of the luxurious set of three pieces. ‘I could get used to all this luxury very quickly.’

  ‘I’m glad you like it.’

  ‘The last time I came here you had the decorators in. I couldn’t see much. It was all so dark and gloomy before.’ Hattie turned suddenly. ‘Does Charles know I’m staying?’

  ‘Of course he does.’

  ‘How long is he away for?’

  ‘It could be another week.’

  ‘Don’t you know when he’s coming back?’

  Lily shook her head. ‘That’s part of me job. I have to be prepared for anything. It’s all part of his business, you see.’

  Hattie looked around her again. ‘Do you know how old this house is?’

  ‘Yes, I’ve studied its history. It was built in 1840, in a Georgian style, but the Victorian influence was what made it so dark and overpowering. When Charles and Delia took it over, they began to improve it, but then Delia got ill.’

  ‘How sad. What else has Charles told you about her?’

  ‘He doesn’t talk about her much. He never has a lot of time to discuss personal things as he’s such a busy man.’

  ‘So all the organizing is left to you.’

  ‘Luckily I’ve got Mrs Brewer to help me. She worked in service to an aristocratic family when she was young and has given me a lot of tips. And she is a wonderful cook and can knock something up at a moment’s notice. She knows all the best butchers and greengrocers in Poplar and gets them to deliver here.’

  Hattie rubbed he
r rumbling tummy. ‘Talking of which, Lil, I’m famished. I didn’t stop at twelve for something to eat as Madame Nerys kept me on my toes today. I had to oversee a new customer, who is so bloody fussy I felt like stitching up her mouth.’

  Laughing together, the two girls left the bedroom and went downstairs. The thick red carpeting was still spread over them, but Lily had bought a fine, Georgian styled desk to enhance the hall and an exotic Turkish rug to make a stunning entrance. In the back parlour which was now used as a dining room, Mrs Brewer had set the big oval mahogany table with the best silver and china.

  Hattie gasped. ‘Is this all in aid of us?’

  Lily smiled. ‘I thought you deserved a treat. Now sit down, whilst I bring in the trolley.’

  As Lily served the food she had prepared, Hattie looked round her. ‘Lil, this is kept like a palace.’

  ‘Thanks to Mrs Brewer.’

  ‘Do you eat your meals in here?’ Hattie asked.

  ‘No, I eat with Mrs Brewer in the kitchen. We keep this for the guests.’

  ‘Listen to the “we”!’ Hattie exclaimed as she made quick work of the meal set before her.

  Lily blushed as she sat on the carver chair, one of eight placed round the table. ‘I mean Charles, of course, as this room is where he entertains his guests.’

  ‘Who are they, do you know?’

  Lily shook her head. ‘Some of them are foreign. Charles travels abroad, you see.’

  ‘So you can’t understand what they say?’

  ‘I don’t have time to listen what with taking their hats and coats and serving up the food.’

  ‘Are they all men?’ Hattie asked, intrigued.

  Lily hesitated. ‘There is one lady, a Mrs Covas.’

  ‘Is she foreign too?’

  ‘Don’t know. She don’t say much. But Charles once told me she’s a widow. He said she has a house in the country that he has furnished for her.’

  ‘Is she young and attractive?’ Hattie was swift to ask.

  Lily frowned. ‘In her thirties I would say. She has black hair and flashing black eyes.’

  Lily didn’t add that she didn’t much like Mrs Covas who always looked round critically, her dark eyes ignoring Lily. Although Lily had studied the illustrated magazines and read lots of books on housekeeping, she felt that Mrs Covas disapproved of what she had done to the house.