The Foyles Bookshop Girls

by Elaine Roberts

  ‘Erm, yes, well pretty much.’

  Luke's stare didn't waiver. ‘Pretty much, what does that mean?’

  Alice stared back at him. Her mind frantically searched its archives. Had she done something wrong? ‘I didn't go straight to work. I went to St Thomas', to deliver some books for the patients.’

  ‘That's right.’ Sarah tried to sound jovial, but it didn't work. ‘I remember you said you were going to do that.’

  Luke didn't take his eyes off Alice. He ran his fingers through his thick mop of salt and pepper hair that just curled over his collar. ‘So, you must have walked over Westminster Bridge.’

  Lily feigned a cough and shook her head at the same time.

  ‘Do you have something to say?’ Luke arched his eyebrows at his youngest daughter.

  Lily swallowed hard. She thrust her shoulders back as she took a deep breath. ‘I don't understand why you are asking Alice where she’s been; after all, it’s me that’s in trouble, not her.’

  ‘Yes, that is true.’ Luke smiled at both of their troubled faces. They didn't smile back. ‘The thing is, I think Alice was probably there and did nothing to put a stop to it.’

  ‘What? Put a stop to what?’

  Luke turned to pick up his glass.

  ‘You don't think Alice could’ve stopped me, do you? What you feel now would be much worse if she’d tried.’ Lily laughed. ‘Bloomsbury Street would’ve been beside itself with gossip.’

  He slammed his empty hand down hard on the sideboard. The thud made the three women jump simultaneously. ‘I will not put up with your disrespect, do you understand me?’

  Fear ran through Alice as she stood up, not noticing the leaflet fall from her skirt pocket as she took the couple of steps towards her sister. She placed a protective arm around her. ‘I'm sure she didn't mean to be disrespectful, Father. Lily is just passionate in what she believes in. I’m sure one day she’ll be running the country and you’ll be so proud of her then.’

  Luke sneered at his eldest daughter, before bending down to pick up the folded paper. ‘That won't happen in my life time. Women are only good for one thing.’

  Nausea swept over Alice. Anxiety tied her stomach in knots. She had forgotten about the leaflet that had been thrust into her hand that morning.

  Luke played with the paper before lifting his glass and emptying the contents, grimacing as the whisky's strong flavour warmed his throat. He placed the glass down on the sideboard.

  Lily opened her mouth to speak, but Alice quickly jabbed her elbow into her sister's side.

  ‘So, you didn't see Lily at the demonstration?’ Luke didn't look at Alice. His eyes stayed focussed on his hands as he slowly unfolded the paper. It wasn't long before the large bold print became visible.

  Alice closed her eyes and took a deep breath, waiting for the repercussions of not speaking to Lily at the demonstration.

  Chapter 3

  Alice turned and stared out of Lily's large bedroom window. Being on the top floor gave a good view of Bedford Avenue. It was bright and sunny outside, a stark contrast to inside. She unlocked the metal catch and pushed up the sash window; the beautiful gardens in Bedford Square were just visible when she leant forward slightly. She stood there for a moment and closed her eyes, enjoying the early morning air dancing on her skin.

  Lily grappled with her white cotton sheets and red woven bedspread, smoothing them out before pulling them close under her chin. Her nightdress was hidden from view. Her arms wrapped around her knees, hugging them to her.

  How Alice wished she were going to work. It wasn't the first time she'd yearned to work more than three days a week at Foyles. Her father couldn't understand why she wanted to work at all; after all, there was no financial need to, and if he had his way, she wouldn't. She had begged and pleaded with him. With her mother's help, and the suggestion that he could stop the equivalent of her wages out of her allowance, he had compromised, albeit reluctantly. Alice had grabbed it with both hands. He hadn't understood it wasn't about the money; she would’ve worked for free. It was about the freedom that working in Foyles gave her. Alice sighed and straightened the red curtains, before turning to face her sister again. She walked over, sat on the edge of the bed and glared at Lily. ‘I don't know what you were thinking about.’

  ‘What do you mean?’ Lily sighed. ‘Isn't it obvious?’

  Without thinking, Alice straightened the three books lying haphazardly on the bedside table, before pushing herself up off the bed. ‘Don't be obtuse, you know what I mean.’ She paced, barefoot, around her sister's bedroom, the exposed wooden floorboards creaking under her feet. There was no opulence in this bedroom, or in hers. When the girls had asked to have pictures on the whitewashed walls, the answer had come back as a resounding no from their father. The only rooms furnished to a high standard were those visitors would sit or sleep in. The thick woollen pile carpet in her parents' bedroom was missing in their children's rooms. She stopped pacing to alter the position of the French antique freestanding mirror, which stood next to the heavy oak wardrobe. Both Alice and Lily had received one from their grandparents a few Christmases ago after it had come to light that neither of them had mirrors in their bedrooms. Their father had disapproved of the gift. Vanity was a profound sin. He had made it clear they were only allowed to remain in their rooms because they were antiques. Alice shook her head; clearly money or greed wasn't such a sin. She continued around the foot of the bed towards the chest of drawers.

  Lily squeezed her hands tight over her knees. ‘Alice, is everything all right?’

  Alice stopped pacing and raised her hands, wrapping them around the china jug that stood centre stage, inside a large bowl on the chest of drawers. ‘Apart from the obvious, you mean?’ Her arms dropped by her sides and the tepid water stood unmoving, waiting for her sister to rise and wash herself.

  Lily nodded. ‘Yes, apart from the obvious.’ She paused, watching Alice, noticing for the first time that her shoulders were hunched over. ‘You shook your head after you straightened the mirror. I just wondered…’ Lily paused. ‘I’m sorry about yesterday. I just didn't think about you getting into trouble.’

  Sighing, Alice continued to walk around the small room. ‘No, and there lies the problem. If you’d thought about your actions, you would’ve known father would be angry, especially getting yourself arrested.’ Alice stopped pacing and glared at her. ‘What are you trying to prove?’

  Lily held her gaze but stayed silent. She closed her eyes and lowered her head.

  Alice immediately felt sorry she had berated her sister. ‘There has to be another way. I’m not saying I have the answers, but life’s going to be unbearable in this house if you don't work it out.’

  Lily looked up and across at the window, the blue cloudless sky just visible. ‘It's unbearable anyway.’ She closed her eyes again for a moment before shaking her head. ‘I don't know what is going on but mother looks like a scared cat most of the time.’ Lily frowned before staring at Alice. ‘What’s happened to the spirit she always had? I remember her being great fun when we were children. Always laughing and playing, I don't understand what’s happened.’

  ‘I don't know. Father isn't his normal self either; maybe they’re worried about the general strike I keep hearing about.’

  ‘Hmm, I don't know, maybe.’ Lily moved the bedcovers and lowered her legs. She wrapped her hand around her long brown hair and formed a ponytail before releasing it down her back. ‘I don't understand why everything I do gets you into trouble.’ She frowned. ‘Nothing seems to make sense anymore.’ Lily reached out and picked up the cup, leaving the matching saucer on her bedside table. Her hands clasped around the bowl of it, the warmth seeping through her fingers and steam spiralling into the air.

  ‘Are you cold?’

  Lily took a sip of the tea that Alice had gifted her. ‘No, I just like the warmth.’ She sucked in her breath as she replaced the cup onto the saucer. ‘It needs to cool a little.’

  Al
ice walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, taking Lily's hand in hers; the tingling warmth spread into her fingers. ‘It's because I’m the eldest, so I should be protecting you, keeping you out of trouble.’

  ‘I'm not ten. I'm twenty years old for goodness sake and you can't be with me twenty-four hours a day.’

  Alice laughed. ‘You and I know that, but I’m not sure father does.’ She paused for a moment. ‘I think he's old fashioned in his thoughts and probably believes we shouldn't be out without a chaperone, at any time, day or night.’

  Lily scoffed. ‘That is old fashioned. When do you think I'll be allowed to start taking responsibility for my own actions?’ A tear trickled down Lily's cheek; she quickly wiped it away. ‘When do you think he’ll start seeing me as the adult I am?’

  Alice sat silent for a moment stroking Lily's hand. ‘Be careful what you wish for, because the moment he does he’ll try and marry you off to someone influential, especially if he sees you as a problem to him.’

  Lily stared hard at Alice. ‘He hasn't you, but then I suppose you’re not a problem child.’ She paused, trying to glean information from her expression. ‘He hasn't, has he?’

  Alice laughed, but it wasn't a jovial sound. ‘I’ve had some near misses and that's only because mother and grandpa stepped in for me.’ She sighed.

  Lily rubbed her hands over her eyes, trying to hide the tears that were forming. ‘Yes, and I suppose he didn't really want to part with any money either.’ She frowned and mumbled almost to herself. ‘He has old fashioned values, but only when it suits him.’

  ‘Look, Lily, you have to find another way to make your mark on the world and try to keep father happy, for your own sake and mine.’

  Lily tipped her head backwards to peer up at the ceiling. She looked back at Alice. Her chin trembled a little as she gave a half-hearted shrug. ‘I'm not trying to prove anything. I'm just standing up for what I believe in, but that appears to be a crime.’

  A smile crept across Alice's face. ‘If I'm honest, I don't disagree with what you are doing, but if you tell anyone I shall deny it.’

  Lily gave her a weak smile. ‘Coward.’

  Alice licked her dry lips and splayed a hand across her chest. Her heart was pounding with increasing volume. ‘Through and through, but I prefer to think I'm more conservative, with a small ‘c’, in my actions.’

  Lily smiled at her before taking a deep breath. ‘I’m truly sorry you were dragged into it last night, Alice, but women should be able to vote on how our country is run. My only regret is him blaming you for what I’d done.’

  ‘I know you are, don't worry about it.’ Alice laughed, standing up and walking over to the dressing table. ‘The leaflet that woman gave me didn't help matters. To be honest, I shoved it in my pocket and forgot about it.’

  Lily scowled. ‘Yes, and now he thinks you are a problem child too.’ She chuckled. ‘I can't imagine you as a problem child.’

  Alice couldn't stop the smile from forming, but then she didn't want to. ‘You do need to think about how it affects us all. Mother looked terrified when I came in.’

  Lily frowned as she rubbed her arm. ‘Do you think he hits her?’

  Alice leant back slightly, wrapping her arms around her waist. ‘I know father has a short temper, but I don't think he’d do that.’

  ‘I'm not so sure.’ Lily's lips closed into a thin pencil line.

  Alice raised her eyebrows, surprised her sister was having similar thoughts to her own. She shook her head, deciding it might be best to change the subject, but nothing came to mind. ‘I know you are in hiding but he's gone to work, so it's safe to get up.’

  Lily laughed. ‘I'm not hiding, just having a lie in.’ Her eyes scanned the walls of her room. ‘After all, it’s so tastefully decorated, why would I want to leave?’ The smile disappeared from her voice. ‘And that’s something else I don’t understand.’

  ‘What’s that?’ Alice turned away from her sister, sensing a rant was on its way.

  ‘Why are our rooms a small whitewashed cell when we live in such a large house. Prisoners probably have better rooms than us. I bet they’re allowed to put pictures up. Daisy’s room is bigger than ours, and nicely decorated. I’m not saying she’s lucky, because I clearly wouldn’t want to be in her position, but she does have carpet. No splinters in her feet, I can tell you.’

  Alice chuckled at her sister. ‘The boys have the larger rooms upstairs.’ She picked up the bottle of Narcisse Caron perfume that stood on the dressing table, amongst several other bottles. Her fingers gently rolled over the indentations of the white glass that were shaped into petals at the top of the bottle. She pulled off the flower-shaped lid and held it under her nose. The floral, fruity fragrance immediately assaulted her senses. She pushed the lid away and wrinkled her nose at it.

  Lily laughed at her sister's face. ‘Put some on your wrist and give it a few minutes to settle down.’

  Alice pulled it back towards her for a second attempt. There was orange, with maybe a mix of jasmine and rose. ‘No, I don't think I will, thanks.’ She replaced the lid and stood it back on the dressing table.

  ‘Aunt Emily bought that for me at Christmas. It's quite nice but when you put it on, it needs time to settle.’

  Alice nodded.

  ‘Didn't she buy you perfume as well?’

  ‘Yes, I got Champs-Élysées.’ Alice smiled. ‘I think she buys them for the lovely bottles as much as the perfume.’

  Lily took another sip of tea. She peered over the top of her cup at Alice, whose dark hair was hanging in loose waves down her back. She drained her cup before replacing it on the saucer. Lily sighed. ‘I don't know if I should tell you this but Daisy was there yesterday.’

  Alice's jaw dropped open for a moment before she gathered herself. ‘What?’

  Lily nodded.

  ‘Oh my goodness, I should go round there. Victoria has so much to deal with already, looking after a younger brother and sister. Did she get arrested as well?’

  ‘I know it’s hard for you.’ Lily frowned as she stared at her sister. ‘But I don’t think you should get involved. Leave them to work it out on their own.’ She took a deep breath. ‘They won’t thank you for interfering.’

  *

  Victoria sat alone in the small sitting room of her home in Percy Street. The evening was warm and the air was still. The flame of the candle barely flickered. It cast shadows around the room, distorting the shapes and the colour of the furniture. The lack of money meant she had given up on gas lighting and returned to using candles. She stared at the flame, wanting to touch it, wanting to feel the warmth. It reminded her of the winter evenings spent with her mother and father in front of the open fire. They were bittersweet memories that hugged her, but also stabbed at her heart. Tears gently rolled down her cheeks. She wiped her damp face as laughter seeped into the shadows of the house, from outside. The pendulum clock chimed; she glanced at it sitting in the centre of the mantelpiece. Ten o’clock. Was that Daisy or Stephen?

  Loneliness engulfed Victoria as the laughter drifted further down the street. Ted Marsden leapt to the front of her thoughts. She shook her head. It was too painful to think about him, even though he stood tall and strong in her mind. She could almost feel the soft curls of his black hair. What was he doing now? She wondered why she hadn’t bumped into him around London. Perhaps he was avoiding her. Four years ago her future was with him and, although he was five years older than her, the love she felt for him at sixteen was as strong as ever.

  Her brother and sister had taken her life, just as the rail crash had taken her parents.

  *

  It was five-thirty and the Foyles shop assistants were gathered around the machine in the staff room, waiting to clock out, each trying to reach the card with their name on it. The chatter and laughter amongst them filled the room. Alice took out her time card, pushed it into the correct position and when the mechanism dinged, she pulled it out and put it back in its slot. She mov
ed aside and glanced across at Victoria, who was now following the same procedure. Molly had long gone, rushing to meet Tony. Alice knew she worried about keeping him waiting.

  Victoria and Alice strode through the shop, eerily quiet with no customers. Mr Leadbetter stood at the now bolted door.

  ‘Goodnight, Mr Leadbetter,’ the girls said in unison, above the rattle of the bolt being pulled across.

  Mr Leadbetter smiled as he opened the door wide. ‘Goodnight, ladies, see you tomorrow. No doubt it will be another busy day, but that’s what keeps us employed.’

  They both nodded. ‘See you tomorrow.’

  The door closed behind them and the noise of the bolt being drawn momentarily followed them down Charing Cross Road.

  The door to the George Tavern, on the corner of George Yard, was wide open. The maltiness of the ale, mingling with cigarette smoke, seeped out into the street, inviting passers-by to enter. Men’s laughter and jeering coming from inside the small pub caught Alice’s attention. ‘Don't you just love the summer evenings when you’ve finished work and can just amble along without worrying about getting out of the cold, or being somewhere by a certain time?’ Alice swung her brown handbag by her side, her free arm tucked inside Victoria's. ‘Everyone is so much happier when the sun is shining, don't you think?’ Her salmon pink and cream column dress hung neatly over her slim figure. The toes of her brown-buttoned ankle boots peeked out from under her skirt when they stopped to cross Sutton Street before continuing along Charing Cross Road. ‘Shall we be little devils and walk along to Regent Street and have some coffee and cake in Monico?’

  ‘Hmm, that does sound tempting but…’

  Alice laughed and tightened her grip on the white silk blouse covering her friend's arm. ‘If you are tempted, I am not taking no for an answer. My treat.’

  Victoria glanced across at her friend's smiling face. ‘I’ve known you nearly all my life and I don't think I’ve ever known you to be miserable.’