The Foyles Bookshop Girls

by Elaine Roberts

  Tony grabbed Molly's hand. ‘Come on, let's go to the pier; someone told me you can get a train that runs the full length of it.’

  Molly raised her eyebrows as excitement took hold. ‘I wonder if there is a Punch and Judy show on there. I love watching them.’ Her laughter bubbled over. ‘How does it go? “That's the way to do it.”’

  The four of them giggled at Molly's impression of the puppets.

  Alice caught her breath. ‘You can't come to the seaside and not have an ice cream, so that's what I’d like to do before we go home.’

  They walked along, each with a spring in their step, until the pier came into view. Alice and Freddie joined others leaning against the wrought iron railings, soaking in the view.

  Molly pushed herself back off the railings. ‘We are going to move on. Shall we catch up with you later?’

  ‘If we miss each other, I think there is a train around four o'clock.’ Alice sighed; she could look at this view all day.

  Molly nodded and pulled Tony away.

  Alice returned her attention to the intimidating brick-built archway that led onto the pier and to the pavilion. She watched the small sailing boats bobbing up and down on the waves. Children screamed with delight as the sea lapped around their feet. Dads were helping to build sandcastles, while the mums unpacked the picnics. Alice smiled. ‘Isn't it beautiful? I could stay here forever.’

  Freddie straightened his back. ‘It is certainly idyllic. You could forget there were any problems in the world, standing here.’

  ‘Not today, Freddie. Let's just enjoy what we have.’

  He put his arm around her waist and kissed the top of her head. He forced a smile. ‘Let's go find an ice cream, shall we?’

  *

  Alice laughed as she placed her dessertspoon in the dish in front of her. ‘So Grandpa, which cricket match won today, was it Canterbury or the Oval?’

  ‘I followed tradition and watched Surrey take on Nottinghamshire at the Oval.’ Edward gave Jane a sideways glance before continuing. ‘I thought, as it's Canterbury Cricket Week, I might be able to sneak down there in a few days, but don't tell Jane.’ He smiled before winking at Alice.

  Jane laughed. ‘I can hear you, you know.’

  Edward laughed. ‘I always used to go to the cricket with your great grandfather; I could tell you some stories. He thought he was a regular ladies’ man.’

  ‘Grandpa, you’re always telling us funny stories about your father. I’m sure they can't all be true.’ Alice picked up her glass of dessert wine and sipped it, shuddering as the sweetness wrapped itself around her mouth. She glanced around the rectangular mahogany table, hoping no one had noticed.

  The dark wood of the table was barely visible underneath the crockery and glassware. It was a contrast to the dove-grey on the walls, which had white mouldings at the top, hiding where they met the ceiling. Artwork and photographs were hung around the room to break up the colour. The fireplace was surrounded by blue brickwork-style enamel tiles, which were protected by a wooden mantel. A black marble hearth twinkled in the candlelight, casting shadows around the room. The heavy winter curtains at the large sash windows had recently been replaced with lighter, red floral ones.

  ‘Poppy was a fine man, wasn't he, Sarah?’ Edward smiled at his daughter sitting next to him at the end of the dining room table. ‘Although he wouldn't understand why you’ve never employed more people to help with the cooking and cleaning.’

  ‘No, and I don't think you do either, although I do have help come in every day and Mrs Headley is a wonder.’ Sarah laughed. ‘When I think about it, he put up with quite a lot from me.’ Her smile faded and her eyes looked sad for a moment. ‘When mama died and you went away, he worried about me so much. Poppy was concerned about cousin Emily too; that dreadful, although extremely handsome, man she was about to marry, but thankfully didn't.’

  Alice leant forward and clasped her hand over her mother's. ‘It must’ve been awful for you.’

  ‘It was a terrible time, but Emily was very good to me; she and my mother were very good friends.’ Sarah's face lit up as she looked across at Jane. ‘As much as I hated losing my wonderful mother when I was so young, I’ve been fortunate to have Jane step into the breach.’

  Luke raised his eyebrows and sighed at the other end of the table.

  Jane laughed. ‘I think at the time, we all needed each other. I'd say we’ve all been very lucky.’

  Luke picked up his wine glass and gulped down the contents. ‘So, Edward, all this sentimentality is fine, but forgive me, I have heard these stories a hundred times before.’ He peered into his empty glass. ‘I feel a more important discussion right now is whether you think we will be at war tomorrow? Now that's a burning question we all want to know the answer to.’

  The room fell silent. Alice's stomach churned. Her eyes darted to Lily, who was biting her bottom lip and fiddling with the pendant around her neck. Charles opened his mouth to speak but flinched when Alice kicked him under the table.

  Edward's eyes widened as he lifted his chin. ‘It might be a burning question, Luke, but I don't think it is appropriate to ask it now, especially not in front of the children.’

  Alice frantically searched her mind for a safe subject to discuss, as she noticed her father swilling back the wine.

  ‘They are not children anymore. They are fully grown; even young Charles is sixteen…’

  ‘Seventeen,’ Charles whispered.

  Luke glared across at Charles. ‘That's what I said, seventeen. If there is going to be a war, then they are very much a part of it.’

  ‘Charles is too young,’ Sarah cut in, blinking rapidly, trying to stop her eyes from welling up. ‘Isn't it enough we have one son that couldn't wait?’

  Edward clasped her hand in his.

  Luke picked up the carafe. ‘I've heard it said there were crowds outside Parliament, trying to find out what was going on, and the Foreign Secretary, Edward Grey, sent the Germans an ultimatum. Nearly everyone seems to be in favour of going to war, well everyone except this household that is.’ Luke poured himself another glass of red wine.

  ‘That’s not true, Father.’ Lily took a deep breath. Her eyes held his. ‘There’s been a peace rally in Trafalgar Square. Those people don’t want war. They don’t want senseless killing, because some politician or other has decided their sons, brothers, and fathers should fight.’

  There was a sharp intake of breath from around the table, but Lily didn’t flinch.

  Luke drained his wine glass before placing it back on the table. ‘I suppose you were participating, ready to bring more problems to our door?’

  Lily lifted her chin. ‘Actually, I didn’t.’

  Luke stared at her for a few moments before he took in the rest of the occupants around the table. ‘Robert did the right thing. You should be proud that we have a patriotic son who wants to fight for his king and country.’

  Edward's nostrils flared as he tightened his grip on his daughter.

  Sarah pulled her clammy hand away from her father's and rested it on her lap. ‘He’s my baby, so I struggle to be proud.’ She looked down; under the table, her fingers were busy twisting a napkin.

  Luke shook his head. ‘Well, he’s not your baby, he is twenty-eight years old. I had moved away from home, across country, and was working for your father before I was his age.’

  ‘Yes, I know, but that is not the same as going off to war.’

  The room fell silent.

  ‘Maybe it’s time we left.’ Jane picked up her napkin and started to fold it neatly into a square, before placing it on to the table.

  ‘Nonsense, Jane, you haven't had coffee yet.’ Sarah forced a smile to her lips, but she glared at her husband. ‘I'm sure everything will be all right. I’ll just go and make the coffee, then we can move away from such talk.’ Sarah stood up. Alice and Lily followed her lead and started to clear the dessert dishes from the table.

  ‘It was a delicious meal.’ Jane smiled at
Sarah.

  ‘Indeed it was; the beef was most succulent and that suet pudding and custard means I can't possibly move for at least six months.’ Edward laughed, keeping his focus on his daughter.

  Sarah forced a smile. ‘Thank you both. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Now for coffee.’

  Alice frowned and her lips thinned as her father poured another glass of wine. She frantically searched her mind for a safe subject to talk about. ‘Oh, I forgot to tell you, Freddie took me to see Pygmalion at His Majesty's Theatre.’ Alice smiled as she remembered Freddie holding her hand under the darkness of the show. ‘It's about Professor Higgins trying to educate a flower girl, to pass her off as a duchess. It was wonderful, Grandpa; you should take Grandma to see it.’

  ‘I’ve read the reviews on it and they’re all very good, but I think it’s ending its run soon.’ Jane frowned. ‘Perhaps we should try and get tickets for it.’

  Edward smiled at his wife. He never had the intense love for Jane in the way he had for his first wife, Alexandra, but she knew that when they married. They were happy together and had produced two more wonderful children, Aimee and James, who in turn had given them grandchildren. ‘I’ll try to buy some tomorrow.’

  ‘Grandpa, I haven't told you about our day in Southend.’ Alice beckoned Lily to join in. ‘You should’ve seen the children queuing up to jump off the pier.’

  ‘It was a warm day, so I expect they all wanted to cool off.’ Jane smiled.

  Lily raised her eyebrows in disbelief. ‘And believe it or not, Alice told me they were charging the boys a tanner each for the privilege.’

  ‘Sixpence, shocking, there’s always someone ready to take advantage of the situation.’ Jane shook her head. ‘It’s all about making money.’

  Lily nodded. ‘I’ve heard said it’s a sign of the times.’

  ‘Did you go as well, Lily?’ Jane looked down the table. She admired Lily, but hoped her modern outspoken views wouldn’t mean she would end up a lonely spinster.

  Lily’s laughter filled the room. ‘What, and act as a chaperone for the love birds? No thanks.’

  ‘You could have come, we weren’t on our own, Molly and Tony were with us.’ Alice forced a smile, aware her father was sitting at the table and, thanks to Lily, it was no longer a safe subject.

  ‘Is she still with that womaniser?’ Lily frowned, unable to hide her disgust.

  Alice glared at her sister, before shrugging her shoulders. ‘They seem happy enough.’

  Lily nodded. ‘Well, that’s all that matters.’

  ‘It’s a lovely pier though; we had great fun.’ Alice smiled at her grandparents. ‘We got on the train that took us the full length of it; it's very long. I read somewhere, it's over a mile.’

  Edward's silver spoon clanged against the blue and gold-rimmed porcelain dish as he placed it inside. He leant back in his chair and took a deep breath, before placing both hands on his stomach. ‘I don't think I should’ve had seconds.’ He pulled himself upright. ‘Southend is popular and I understand the pier gets a lot of use.’

  ‘It was certainly busy. I wish I could’ve persuaded Victoria to come along with us.’

  ‘How is she? I do feel for her, carrying such a heavy load on her own.’ Jane frowned. ‘It's a shame we can't help in some way.’

  ‘She struggles to make ends meet, not earning enough to pay the rent and buy food. I don't think she wants to move to a smaller place because it’s full of childhood memories, although she may have to.’ Alice sighed as sadness engulfed her. ‘She won't accept any help from me; she's too proud.’

  Jane nodded. Glancing at Edward, she remembered how difficult it had been to tell him her family had money problems. ‘Is that why she didn't go to Southend with you?’

  Alice lowered her eyes for a moment. ‘That, and going on a train would’ve probably reminded her of the crash that killed her parents.’ She sighed. ‘The problem is, I didn't think of that when I asked her to come with us and she did get upset. I felt dreadful.’

  Jane reached across the table and rested her hand on Alice's. ‘It's not your fault. That derailment at Stoats Nest was a tragic accident.’

  Alice shook her head. ‘I couldn't disagree more. I’m meant to be her friend, so I should think of these things. The trouble is, I don't know what to do to help.’

  Chapter 6

  ‘I'm pleased you and Grandma decided to stay last night. I think Mother was too.’ Alice pulled the curtain across, to shut out the sun that was blinding her when she sat at the dining table. ‘Is the sun in your eyes, Grandpa? I can pull the other one.’

  ‘No, I'm fine.’

  Alice made sure the curtain was hanging correctly before walking over to him and resting her hand on his arm. ‘It’s a shame to shut it out, but at this time of day it gets too much.’

  Edward nodded. ‘I’d have taken you all out for lunch, but I don't think your mother is up to it today.’ He frowned, biting down on his lip.

  Alice nodded. ‘She has taken all this talk of war hard. She hasn't said as much, but I believe she is worried sick about Robert, never mind what Charles might try to do.’

  ‘All we can do is hope sense will prevail.’

  Sarah walked in, carrying a tray of cold meats, followed by Lily, with a basket of bread and a large gravy boat.

  Edward jumped up. ‘Allow me.’ He grasped both sides of the silver platter and placed it at the centre of the dining table. ‘It looks and smells delicious.’

  Sarah smiled at her father. ‘It’s only cold meats. Jane is bringing in the vegetables and Charles is hopefully following her with the potatoes.’

  Edward's eyes twinkled. ‘It doesn't matter. It's a feast fit for a king.’

  When the table was finally covered with plates of food, they all sat down. Sarah looked across at the empty seat that would have been Robert's and sniffed, before taking a deep breath. Edward pulled her chair out and beckoned her to sit down. Sarah hesitated, but caught Luke's glare. She sat herself down and Edward patted his daughter on the shoulder, before taking up his own seat next to her. One by one, they passed the dishes around and loaded their plates. For a few moments, the only sound in the room was cutlery hitting the crockery as they all ate their fill.

  Alice's head jerked up. ‘Can you hear that? It sounds like a whistle, and someone shouting.’

  Chairs scuffed back from the dining table, over the red and blue floral carpet, the lunch things forgotten. Charles rushed to the window and pulled the curtain away from the edge, to get a better look. ‘I don't know what's going on, but everyone is out on the street and a police officer is just getting off his bicycle. He's the one blowing the whistle, obviously trying to get everyone's attention.’ The curtain dropped back into position as he ran to the front door. Edward and Luke reached him as he pulled it open.

  Edward looked up and down Bloomsbury Street. The uniform black front doors were wide open and it was awash with people murmuring to each other. The policeman had propped his bicycle up against the house railings and removed his helmet, hanging it over the handlebars. He stood poised, in his navy blue uniform, with his whistle between his lips.

  Luke turned to the well-dressed elderly man, who had his hand clasped around a whisky glass. ‘What's all the commotion?’

  ‘Be blowed if I know.’ He lifted his glass and gulped at his drink, pursing his lips as he swallowed the strong amber liquid. ‘Probably something to do with that daft peace demonstration on Sunday. Mind you, it was so wet, I'd be surprised if anybody turned up for it.’

  Luke looked around, waving to his neighbours as he did so, before turning to Lily. ‘Were you at Trafalgar Square on Sunday?’ His eyes were razor sharp as they stared at her. ‘If you have brought the police to my front door again, I will not be responsible for my actions.’

  Lily paled. ‘I… I haven't, Pa, honest.’

  Luke didn't take his eyes off her. ‘If they arrest you, I won't be bailing you out. You'll be finished as far as this family is concerned, do
you understand?’

  Lily nodded.

  ‘Do you understand?’ He spoke through gritted teeth. His voice was low and menacing.

  ‘Yes,’ Lily whispered.

  ‘It must be important, to keep blowing that damn whistle and shouting.’ The older man emptied the contents of his glass.

  ‘What's going on?’

  Luke turned around at the sound of Sarah's anxious voice. The whole family had followed him outside. ‘I don't know.’

  The policeman blew hard on his whistle, causing those nearest him to cover their ears. ‘Ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention please.’ He waited for the talking to stop. ‘The Germans invaded Belgium and Great Britain has declared war on Germany.’

  Everyone remained silent for a moment.

  ‘It's about time the Empire started flexing its muscles; we can't let the Huns walk all over everyone,’ the old man shouted. ‘I'd shoot the lot of them.’

  The silence was broken and everyone in the street appeared to start talking at once.

  ‘It's wrong to go to war; killing is a terrible thing.’

  ‘I wonder if there’ll be a food shortage?’

  ‘Do you think the Germans will make it to London?’

  ‘Of course not; we are perfectly safe.’

  The police officer blew hard and long on his whistle. He held up his hands. ‘Well, I can't answer your questions, but they do say it’ll be over by Christmas.’

  Luke turned to Sarah, his face lit up like a Christmas tree. ‘Robert was right. As a regular soldier, he will be one of the first to go.’

  ‘I want to enlist too, Father.’ Charles peered up at Luke. He grinned as his excitement began to take hold. ‘I want to fight for my king and country. I might even get to see France and meet a French girl.’

  Luke beamed. ‘I bet not everyone's sons are as patriotic as ours, Sarah.’

  Jane put her arm around Sarah.

  Alice glared at her father; anger rose inside at his insensitivity.