Alice stared hard at the smiling face of the old lady, as she cheered and clapped the soldiers. Her words echoed Lily’s, earlier that morning. ‘Do you think it's right, the war I mean?’
The old lady's toothless smile immediately disappeared as she went silent, before looking Alice straight on. ‘It doesn't matter what I think. As my late husband used to say, it's a done deal, and you can't let these lads go off without the country's support behind them. They’re all someone's sons, brothers and husbands.’
Alice nodded and gave her a faint smile. She looked across at Lily joining in with the crowd’s enthusiasm, to give the boys a good send off. Alice smiled at her. She may have been younger, but she was probably wiser. She lifted her hands up and started cheering and clapping. Sarah followed suit.
The old lady gave a toothless smile at Alice. ‘That's it, lovey, let them know we care. Hopefully, it’ll be over soon. You know, even the young Princess Mary has made an appeal for money, so the troops can have a Christmas gift each. Now that’s sweet, don't you think?’
Alice stopped clapping and slowly lowered her hands. ‘But I thought they were hoping it would all be over by Christmas.’ Her heart plummeted – would she ever see the boys again?
*
Molly fastened her coat as another busy day at Foyles came to an end. ‘I'm dreading going outside; the temperature has really dropped.’ She looked across at Alice, who was pulling a scarf around her neck. ‘I haven't seen Freddie in here for a while. Has something happened? Are you two not together anymore?’ Molly asked, as Victoria joined them.
Alice pulled on her soft woollen gloves and took a deep breath. ‘He has enlisted.’ Her shoulders hunched over. ‘He went a couple of months ago.’
Molly grabbed her hand. ‘Why didn't you say something?’
Alice pulled her hand away and folded her arms across her stomach. ‘What was there to tell?’ She shrugged her shoulders. ‘He felt, like thousands of others, he wouldn't be doing his duty if he didn't enlist.’
Victoria remained silent as she studied Alice.
Molly raised her eyebrows. ‘I can't pretend I'm not shocked. I thought, as a policeman, he’d stay here and do the things policemen do.’
Alice gave a wry smile. The usual sparkle in her eyes was gone. ‘Yes, me too, but his sense of duty to his country took hold.’
The two younger girls glanced sideways at each other, each nodding encouragement to the other.
Molly lifted her chin and pulled her shoulders back. ‘But I suppose he must have already had that sense of duty, to do the job he did.’
Victoria stepped forward and rested her arm around Alice's slumped shoulders. ‘Silly question I know, but are you all right?’
Alice nodded. ‘You know, this is happening to every family, all around the country. I’ve just got to get a grip and keep myself busy.’
Molly shook her head. ‘I'm sorry, Alice. I truly thought you and Freddie would set a date to be married in the next year, but I suppose…’
Alice closed her eyes for a moment, before opening them wide to stare at her friends' expectant faces. ‘We’ve set a date, but the trouble is, I don't know when it is.’
‘What?’ they asked in unison.
Alice's eyes clouded as she remembered the happiness his proposal had given her, then the cold water he had quickly drowned her excitement with. ‘He proposed the evening before he went away.’ Alice couldn't bring herself to tell them that he had followed it with news of his going away for army training. ‘He said he wanted to get married at the earliest opportunity, so it’ll happen as soon as he returns. The problem is, he doesn't know when that will be.’
Victoria grabbed Alice's arm. ‘Let's go for tea and cake. This is a crisis and a celebration all in one.’
Alice could feel her eyes becoming blurry. ‘I need to go…’
Molly grabbed her other arm. ‘That sounds like a good idea, Victoria; let's go to that delightful tea room in Oxford Street. I forget what it's called, but it's my treat.’
Victoria tugged a little on Alice's arm. ‘Come on, allow us to be your friends.’
Alice gave her a watery smile and nodded.
The three of them walked arm-in-arm, along Charing Cross Road towards Oxford Street. The shoppers and the many people trying to get home made it a busy thoroughfare. Molly turned the handle on the street door of the tearoom and a bell chimed; a waitress immediately walked over to them.
‘A table for three please.’ Molly began unbuttoning her coat. ‘We’ll have three teas and the best chocolate cake you have.’
The girls all laughed as Molly took control of the situation. ‘In times of crisis, it’s always good to eat chocolate in any form and my mother, of course, swears by drinking tea at such a time.’
The waitress showed them to a white-clothed table, near the window. They all removed their coats before sitting down. By the time they were all comfortably seated, the waitress had returned with pots of tea and plates loaded with large pieces of chocolate cake.
Alice stared down at her plate. ‘Oh my.’
Molly laughed. ‘Doesn't it look delicious?’
‘It certainly does.’ Victoria scanned her plate. ‘Although I have a feeling I won't need to eat for a week when I’ve eaten this.’
The girls laughed and picked up their dessert forks.
Molly stabbed at her cake, separating a small piece. ‘So come on, let's discuss your wedding.’
Alice didn't touch the feast in front of her. She placed the fork onto her plate. ‘There is nothing to discuss. I can't plan something that may not happen; after all—’
‘No.’ Victoria raised her voice and looked sternly at Alice. ‘We’ll not have that sort of talk, thank you very much. None of us know what is going to happen, but I for one cannot think about Stephen not coming home again, so we should carry on as if they’re visiting family or something.’
Alice's jaw dropped a little. ‘I wondered how you were managing to deal with it so well.’
Victoria nodded. ‘It's the only way I can.’ She paused and looked down at the chocolate cake. ‘I’ve even wondered if Ted enlisted. Of course, he could be married with children by now.’
Molly and Alice gave each other a quick look, before turning to stare at her.
Molly coughed and returned her attention to the cake that was calling out to her. ‘So Alice, we need to find out how you get married without knowing when it will take place.’
Alice tilted her head at Molly before returning her attention to Victoria. ‘You can talk to us about Ted. I know we haven't mentioned him, but that was because we didn't want to upset you. At the time, you had enough to deal with. In fact, it certainly puts my self-pity into perspective.’
Victoria's lips lifted at the corners. ‘There is not a day when I don't think about Ted, but don't feel that what you’re going through is less important. You’ve been a good friend and now it's my turn to return the favour.’
Molly nodded, but Alice didn't take her eyes off Victoria. ‘You’ve been through so much; I wish I had your strength.’ Alice shook her head.
Victoria laughed. ‘Oh Alice, I didn't choose this. We all have strength, but we just don't know it until we are tested. Now this is meant to be a crisis and celebration tea and cake for you, remember.’
They all laughed, before picking up their forks again and tucking into the light, sweet sponge.
Victoria closed her eyes. ‘Hmm, this is quite decadent.’
Alice and Molly laughed and they both mimicked her.
‘Well you must admit, it is.’
‘So Alice, about your wedding.’ Molly returned to the question in hand. ‘Do you know what you want to wear?’
Alice shrugged. ‘I can't allow myself to think about it, because it may not be for years, if at all.’
Victoria poured the tea into each of their cups. ‘Look, it will happen. As my mother used to say, I can feel it in my water.’ She placed the china teapot back onto the metal stand
. ‘If you don't want to buy a wedding dress, what about your mother's?’
‘I don't know if it would fit, or actually, if she still has it.’
Molly laughed. ‘I expect she does; my mother still has hers. I think she hopes I’ll wear it one day.’
Alice tilted her head again. ‘Ahh, I'll have to pop round to see your mother and father; they are so lovely.’
Molly laughed. ‘All families are lovely, when they’re not your own.’ She looked sideways at Victoria. ‘Sorry.’
‘It's all right.’ Victoria paused. ‘Stop worrying. It’s about time I moved on and Alice’s wedding could be just the antidote I need.’ She gave her best smile, chasing away the jealous thoughts that immediately invaded her mind. She felt sure there would be no wedding for her. With no Ted, and no father to walk her down the aisle to the man she loved, fate had dealt her a mean blow. She took a deep breath and concentrated on the cake in front of her. ‘Anyway, back to the dress; you should ask your mother, and I don't mind doing any alterations that might be needed.’
Alice shook her head. ‘Thanks, Victoria, but I don't even know whether my mother still has one.’
Molly picked up her cup and took a sip of the hot liquid. ‘Well then, that is your first step.’
Confusion swept across Alice's face. ‘What is?’
Molly tutted. She put her cup back on its saucer. ‘To ask your mother if she still has her wedding dress, and then try it on, if she’s happy for you to wear it.’
Alice gave a strange laugh. ‘I haven't told her that Freddie has proposed.’
‘What?’ they answered in unison.
Alice's lips thinned. ‘I don't expect you to understand, but Freddie went away the following day and I just thought…’
Molly shook her head. Her eyes sparked with impatience. ‘Did he say he wanted to wait until the end of the war?’
‘No, actually he said he didn't want to wait and when he gets leave, he wants us to marry.’
‘There you go then, we’ve work to do.’ Victoria rested her hand on Alice's arm. ‘This is so exciting. I can't wait; you'll be the first of the three of us to get married.’
Alice laughed at her friend's excitement. ‘Well, we don't know that yet. It could be years away.’
‘Or weeks,’ Victoria corrected.
‘Or days.’ Molly laughed.
Alice shook her head as she joined in their laughter. ‘You two are incorrigible.’
Molly held her fork, laden with cake, in mid-air over her plate. ‘Well, I certainly won't be getting married before either of you.’
‘You don't know that,’ Alice whispered.
‘I think I do.’ Molly laughed again, but it was a hollow sound. ‘Tony and I are finished.’
Alice's mouth dropped. ‘Finished?’
Molly let out a big sigh. ‘Yes, to cut a long story short, I called him a coward because he hadn't enlisted.’
Victoria rested her hand on Molly's. ‘Why did you do that? Surely you’d be grateful that the man you loved was safe.’
A grating sound filled the space between them. ‘Yes, I know that now. I’ve since heard he’s enlisted, but he didn't tell me. I haven't seen him to say goodbye.’
Alice placed her hand on Molly's and the three sat in silence, holding on to each other, deep in their own thoughts.
Chapter 9
December 1914
Luke walked into the library of the Gentlemen's Club and scanned the room. It was busier than usual; cigar smoke hung in the air and the room was buzzing with whispered conversation. The walls were stacked with shelves from floor to ceiling, each packed with leather-bound books. On each wall, a ladder stood to one side, attached to a runner. The grandeur of the room was lost on him; only the newspaper headlines filled his thoughts. He noticed Edward and another man, sitting with their backs to him, at a small round table by one of the large sash windows. Heavy dark green curtains hung in tight folds to the floor. The window was open a fraction at the bottom; the cold wintry breeze caused the curtains to flap and papers to rustle.
Luke weaved his way through the many tables and chairs, nodding at the occupants as he passed. ‘Morning, Edward.’
Edward looked up from his newspaper and placed his empty cup back on its matching saucer. ‘Morning, Luke, pull up a chair.’
Luke nodded and glanced at the other man. ‘Sorry, George, I didn't realise it was you.’ Luke paused as he sat down. ‘How's Emily?’
George gave a wry smile. ‘Probably the same as most grandmothers, mothers and sisters at this time. Christmas is just two weeks away and they’re worried sick about their menfolk. Emily is fixated on the fact they said it should be over by then.’
Luke shook his head. ‘I have to say, that's not how it's looking.’ He raised his hand and beckoned to the steward. ‘Anyone for coffee or something stronger?’
Edward looked at his watch. ‘No thanks, it's a bit early for something stronger and we’ve just ordered a pot of tea.’ He closed and folded the newspaper, laying it on the table.
‘Very civilised,’ Luke mumbled, glancing at the steward. ‘Just a coffee.’ He turned back to Edward. ‘This place is busy today.’
Edward gave a hollow laugh. ‘Yes, I think the war is good for business.’
Luke smiled at his father-in-law. ‘Well I suppose it's somewhere to talk about it, without having women crying all over you.’
George's eyes widened and his mouth dropped slightly.
Edward shook his head. ‘The headlines make for worrying reading, that's for sure.’
Luke's shoulders went back and his chest puffed out. ‘It has to be done though.’
The steward returned with a porcelain pot of coffee. A couple of Lincoln biscuits had been placed on the saucer carrying his cup.
‘So they say.’ George sighed. ‘You know our grandson wrote to Lord Kitchener.’
Luke nodded as the steward placed the drink and crockery on the table in front of him. ‘Thank you.’
Edward frowned at George and leant forward in his chair. ‘Why?’
‘Was he objecting to the war?’ Luke laughed. ‘These youngsters don't understand the importance of it.’
George stared hard at Luke, momentarily watching him pour his coffee into the cup. The steam spiralled upwards while the strong aroma escaped into the air around them. ‘I'm not sure I agree with that, Luke. However, he wasn't objecting about the war.’ He paused as he held Luke's gaze. ‘He wanted to enlist.’
Luke's laughter brought a chorus of shush from the occupants of the room. ‘Well good for him. You should be proud.’ He placed the pot back onto the table.
George's eyebrows furrowed together. ‘He's eleven.’
‘I think it's brilliant.’ Luke carried on chuckling as he picked up one of the biscuits, his fingers running over the dots patterned all over it. ‘What did he think he could do?’ Luke bit into the hard, crunchy biscuit and crumbs immediately fell onto the table.
‘He wanted to be a runner, you know, carry messages.’ George glanced down at the newspaper headlines and sighed. ‘Apparently, David told Kitchener he was the fastest runner around here and he could ride a bike as well. Thankfully, Kitchener sent him a lovely letter, saying that he couldn't enlist, but they’d bear him in mind as and when other duties come up.’
Luke wrapped his hand around his cup, ignoring the handle. He sipped at the hot, strong black liquid. ‘Don't you think it’s wonderful, Edward? You should be very proud of him, George.’ He held the cup for a few seconds, until his fingers became too hot and then, without a word, he placed it back on the saucer.
George stiffened in his seat as he sucked in his breath. ‘Proud? I don't know how you can say that, Luke. This is an eleven-year-old boy that war has been glamourised for.’
Luke shook his head. He lifted his hands chest high, with his palms facing George. ‘Oh please, tell me you are not one of those conscientious objectors, are you?’
George frowned and his lip curled as he stare
d at Luke. ‘No, I’m not.’
Edward's gaze flitted between the two men. ‘Luke, we all know you’re passionate about the war, but not everybody feels the same as you and you need to learn to respect that.’
A smile crept across Luke's face. ‘Quite the contrary, Edward, I believe everyone needs to get behind our boys and support them. I make no apology for that.’ His chin lifted as he nodded towards the newspapers sitting on the table between them. ‘From what the headlines are saying this morning, several people, including women and children, have died on the east coast from yesterday's bombings.’
Edward shook his head. ‘Yes, I just read about it here in the Daily Mirror. Apparently, Scarborough was badly hit; they say fifty shells fell on it.’
George sighed. ‘It must have been terrifying for them. I assumed only London would be hit, which I know sounds stupid, but I thought it's the seat of power and royalty, so in my head it made the most sense.’
Luke nodded. ‘I'm inclined to agree with you, but it wasn't just Scarborough that was hit, so was Hartlepool.’
Edward picked up the newspaper. ‘Hartlepool isn't that surprising really, because it's a shipbuilding area.’ He opened the paper on page four. ‘It says three east coast towns were bombed.’
George and Luke leant forward to peer over the edge of the newspaper, both trying to read it upside down.
Edward shook his head. ‘It says here that even a church was hit, during a service of communion.’
George leant back in his chair and shook his head. ‘It will be hospitals next, you mark my words.’
*
Victoria patted the bun at the nape of her neck, before pulling a woollen scarf around her. ‘I am dreading leaving the shop; the weather has turned bitterly cold.’ She paused as she tied the scarf in a loose knot under her chin. ‘I worry more and more each day about Stephen and Charles. I do hope they’re all right.’
Alice frowned while straightening the books on the shelf, preparing for when Foyles opened in the morning. ‘I know what you mean. We don't talk about the war at home because it starts Father off on one of his patriotic speeches about the empire, and Mother always looks like tears aren't very far away.’ She pulled an old rag from her skirt pocket and ran it along the layer of dust that had sat unnoticed on the shelf. ‘I had hoped getting some Christmas cards might lift her spirits. You know, give her something else to think about, but I've come to the conclusion it’s making things worse.’ Some of the dust particles ran free, rising in the air, not unlike a fog, as they escaped the cloth. Alice folded it in half and moved on to the next shelf. She took a deep breath and the mustiness filled her lungs. Her fingers rose to her mouth, running along it, trying to remove the stale unpalatable taste. She licked her lips. ‘I just try to keep myself busy. To be honest, I don't know what else to do.’
The Foyles Bookshop Girls Page 10