The Foyles Bookshop Girls

by Elaine Roberts

  The old lady gave a laugh. ‘Yeah, ’e would’ve been. ’E’s been going there every night since ’e was a kid. Me ma always said no good would come of it, and she was right.’ She paused for a moment. ‘I’ve been there today and did try to move the rubble, but I’m just an old woman who can’t do what she used to.’ The tears fell again. ‘I was more of an ’indrance, so I left and came ’ere instead. You should see it; so much rubble. People’s ’omes ’ave been destroyed.’ She shook her head. ‘I ’ate to fink ’ow many people were injured, or worse still died. Some bloke said the Germans ’ad been successful, because there’d been no moon, so it was right dark.’ The tears stopped and her eyes sparked. ‘Them blooming ’uns. If I was twenty years younger, I’d be shooting them out the sky, I would. Robbing us of our families.’

  Alice found herself blinking quickly. ‘I could try and find out about your brother,’ she whispered.

  The old lady shook her head. ‘Nah, don’t worry, lovey. That bloke I were chatting to said ’e’d let me know, but I know ’e’s gone. I can feel it.’ She chuckled. ‘’E’s ’ad a good innings. I’m sure ’e’s ’appy playing billiards in the sky, wiv me ma telling ’im off for wasting ’is life.’ She grabbed Alice’s arm and pulled herself up off the chair. She slowly straightened herself, but wasn’t able to get fully upright. ‘You do a grand job, miss. Look after yourself, and that baby of yours. Life’s precious, yer know.’

  Alice watched the lady hobble away. She should have broken the rules and offered her a cup of tea and a piece of cake. That’s what Lily would have done, but she wasn’t Lily. She shook her head and lowered her eyes, while resting her hand across her bump, slowly rubbing it to and fro. She couldn’t help wondering what kind of world she was bringing her child into.

  Chapter 18

  September 1915

  Alice sat on the edge of her unmade bed. She took a deep breath as she looked around her dreary bedroom; she had to tackle it before her mother and Mrs Headley did. She had to try and make space for the baby's things. That meant removing the many books that were stacked in every corner and gradually creeping further into the room. The piles appeared to have grown, since Freddie had been away. Perhaps working in a bookshop wasn't a good idea, but she was saving her money, in the hope they could buy a house when he returned. She stared at the books. She had seen the union jack poster several times on her way to work, telling the public to do their bit by giving old or new books and magazines for the sick, the serving soldiers and the sailors at sea. All she had to do was sort them out and take them to the Post Office; they didn't even want them wrapped. She frowned at her books. ‘Easy’.

  Standing up, she placed her hands on her hips, stretching her back, trying to alleviate the ache that she had woken up with. Alice caught her reflection in the mirror and smiled. She never did gain the rosy glow that women were meant to have when they were pregnant. ‘Right,’ she spoke to her reflection. ‘Books.’ Alice turned away and frowned at one of the piles. She waddled over to the nearest stack and stooped to pick up the top book. ‘Ah, Pride and Prejudice. Jane Austen wouldn't be happy for me to give away Miss Bennet and Mr Darcy.’ Smiling, she placed the book on her bed before bending to pick up the next. ‘Jane Eyre and Mr Rochester, another great story’. The Charlotte Bronte novel was placed on the bed, next to Jane Austen's. Next was Jules Verne's Around the World in Eighty Days. Alice sighed. This was going to be difficult. She hated parting with her books, no matter how good the cause.

  A minute later, the bedroom door creaked as it flew open and Lily rushed in. ‘Alice.’

  Colour drained from Alice's face. ‘What's the matter? Is everything all right?’

  Lily smiled. ‘Of course. Why wouldn't it be?’

  ‘Well,’ Alice raised her eyebrows, ‘for one thing, you rushed in as if the house was on fire.’

  ‘Sorry.’ Lily gave a sheepish grin. ‘I didn't mean to frighten you, but you don't have the monopoly on worrying about people, you know.’ She flopped on the bed and picked up the three books, neatly stacking them on the bedside table. ‘Anyway, I thought I'd come and see what you are up to. We don't see much of each other these days.’

  Alice gingerly lowered herself onto the bed, next to her sister. ‘That's true. I’ve missed our little chats.’ She sighed. ‘I thought I'd be good and try to make room in here for the baby.’

  Lily glanced around the room. It was bigger than hers, but not by much.

  ‘I know it's going to be tight, so I thought I'd start by sorting out the hundreds of books I have…’

  Lily nodded. ‘But you’re finding it difficult.’

  Alice laughed. ‘Well, I thought I'd put my ‘keep’ pile on the bed.’

  ‘That's good, there are only three.’

  ‘I don't know how to tell you this.’ A frown creased Alice's forehead. ‘They’re the first and only ones I’ve looked at.’

  Lily doubled up with laughter, gulping for air as she hugged her sister. ‘That tells me it's not a job you can do by yourself.’

  ‘Maybe, but I thought I’d do what those posters are saying. You know, pass them on to our soldiers and sailors.’ Alice's chin trembled a little.

  ‘Don't get upset.’ Lily reached out and patted her sister's arm. ‘I'll help you, but you mustn't argue with me, all right?’

  ‘All right.’

  Lily stood up and purposefully strode over to a pile of books, picking up as many as her arms would allow. ‘Right, out of this pile of, what…’ She paused looking down the stack she was holding, ‘… ten or twelve books, you can keep one.’

  ‘One?’ Alice shouted.

  Lily smiled. ‘No arguing, remember?’

  ‘What about negotiating? You didn't say anything about that.’ Alice stared at Lily. She pushed out her bottom lip in a bid to win her sister over. ‘Can't I keep three?’

  Lily dropped the books on the bed. ‘No, look around you.’ She waved her arms around the room.

  Alice did as she was bid. ‘All right, you win, but it's hard to choose.’

  ‘If you want my help, don't keep giving me those sad little girl looks, because they won't work.’ Lily laughed at her sister. ‘Right, you can keep two out of these books.’

  A smile spread across Alice's face as she clapped her hands together. ‘Thank you.’ She glanced at the three books that were already on the bedside table. ‘But that doesn't include the three I’ve already chosen.’

  Lily laughed again. ‘You’re a nightmare.’ She shook her head. ‘Yes, you can keep those three as well.’ She smiled as she looked at the books stacked around the room. ‘I can see this is going to be a long job.’

  ‘I promise to be good. I just hate parting with them.’ Alice smiled up at her sister. ‘When Freddie and I have our own house, I'm going to have a library, where I can sit and read for hours on end.’

  ‘Hark at you, lady of the manor.’

  They both laughed, before stopping and staring at each other. ‘It seems a long time since laughter was heard in this house,’ Alice remarked.

  ‘Yes, I'm not sure how mother will cope when you do move out. She is so excited about the baby.’ Lily frowned. ‘Why do you think we haven't heard from Robert?’

  Alice shook her head. ‘I don't know. I miss him in a funny sort of way, but it's strange he hasn't written to us.’ She sighed. ‘It's like we can't even mention his name, but we haven't had any bad news, so hopefully he’s safe.’

  Lily nodded. ‘I suppose they’d soon tell us if he wasn't.’ She gave her sister a sideways glance. ‘I take it Charles hasn't been found yet?’

  Tears stung the back of Alice's eyelids. ‘I didn't know you knew he was missing.’

  ‘I overheard the end of the conversation. What did Father say, “Charles gets lost in the house”?’ Lily paused as colour rose up her neck. ‘I couldn't go into the sitting room because I was so angry with him, so I went out again.’

  Alice reached out and stroked Lily's arm. ‘I’m so sorry. I should’ve tol
d you, but I was trying to protect you.’

  The corners of Lily's lips lifted slightly. ‘I know, but I’m a grown up now. I'll have you know, I uphold the law in this town.’

  Alice laughed. ‘You are funny.’ She ran her hand across the small of her back. ‘But I do understand the point you’re making.’

  Lily frowned. ‘It can get quite scary out there sometimes. I haven’t said anything to Mother, because I don’t want to worry her.’ She paused, looking down at the stack of books on her lap. ‘Daisy and I had to break up some trouble a couple of days ago. The pair of us make a good team.’

  Alice raised her eyebrows. ‘What sort of trouble?’

  ‘People were refusing to buy their groceries from a corner shop that was owned by an old couple. It seems everyone thought they were German and accused them of being spies.’ Lily shook her head. ‘It got totally out of hand and the language and abuse that was being hurled at them was something else.’ She gave a little laugh. ‘I learnt some new words, I can tell you.’

  Sadness crept across Alice’s face. ‘Those poor people. Were they German?’

  ‘No.’ Lily smiled. ‘People are stupid; they hear an accent so assume the worst.’

  Alice frowned as she reached out and rested her hand on her sister’s arm. ‘Don’t worry, I won’t say anything, but please be careful out there. This war is causing so much misery. I think fear is making people act out of character and Mother certainly can’t take much more worry. Thank goodness for the distraction of a grandchild.’

  Lily nodded. ‘Do you think Charles is still alive?’

  Alice rubbed her lower back again. ‘As blunt as ever.’ She sucked in her breath. ‘I have to believe he’s still alive. It's too dreadful to think otherwise. I check every soldier that comes into Victoria Station, hoping one day he’ll be amongst them, but…’

  ‘He’ll turn up. Freddie would have looked after him.’ Lily looked across at Alice's troubled expression. ‘Are you in pain?’

  ‘Not really, I just have a severe backache.’

  ‘Right, enough of this maudlin conversation, let's get on with our negotiations about these books.’

  *

  Alice winced as she gingerly lowered herself into the armchair, her face etched with pain. She closed her eyes and took a couple of deep breaths, hoping the support of the upright chair would ease the increasing ache across her back.

  Lily watched Alice closely. ‘Is it still playing up?’

  ‘Yes, I've probably overdone it with those books.’ Alice gave a feeble laugh. ‘That, or else the baby must have changed position and is lying awkwardly.’ She sighed. ‘If that’s the case, I wish it would move back again.’

  ‘I'll ask Mrs Headley for some tea or something.’ Lily turned to leave the room, but looked back again. The honeycomb glow of the mid-afternoon sun radiated into the room, its shafts of light bouncing off the glassware. Alice had her eyes closed, but the beads of perspiration were visible as her head rested back on the chair. Her hands were gripping the wooden arms. She looked washed out. Lily frowned. Surely, it was too early for her to give birth. Lily tried to do a quick calculation from the wedding day; eight months at best. Fear took hold. She turned away and took a couple of deep breaths. ‘Stop panicking, everything will be all right.’ She whispered the mantra a couple of times, on her way to the kitchen. What do you know about these things? a voice in her head countered.

  Mrs Headley nodded as she approached her in the hall. ‘I was just coming to see if you wanted afternoon tea, miss?’

  ‘Afternoon tea?’ Lily's eyes widened. ‘Oh, er, yes, I suppose.’ Lily paused. ‘Thank you.’

  Mrs Headley nodded and turned to walk away.

  ‘Mrs Headley?’

  The housekeeper turned back. ‘Yes, miss.’

  ‘What do you know about pregnancy and childbirth?’ Lily's words fell over themselves in a rush to be heard.

  ‘Is everything all right?’

  Lily gave a tight-lipped smile. ‘Possibly.’ She paused, wringing her hands together. ‘Alice woke up with backache this morning and it appears to be getting a whole lot worse. I'm probably just panicking. In fact I know I’m panicking, but the baby isn't due yet, and of course it might be nothing…’

  Mrs Headley held up her hand, a gesture she knew would ordinarily get her the sack, but she had to stem the rising panic in Lily's voice. ‘I'm sure Mrs Leybourne will be fine. It's quite a natural process, you know.’

  Lily stopped wringing her hands and took a deep breath. She gave the housekeeper a faint smile. ‘Yes, yes, it is, isn't it?’ She took another deep breath. ‘I must try and stay calm.’

  Mrs Headley smiled. ‘Would you like me to get hold of the midwife or doctor?’

  Lily's eyes darted from side to side. Her hands each sought comfort from the other as they clenched together in front of her. ‘I don't know. I wish Mother was back from her hospital visits. She’d know what to do.’ She gave Mrs Headley a pleading look. ‘Would you come and see what you think?’

  The housekeeper nodded. ‘I’m not sure what use I’ll be. I’ve never had children, although I’ve helped deliver a couple.’

  Without thinking, Lily threw her arms around Mrs Headley. ‘Thank goodness, that’s good to know.’

  Mrs Headley laughed and enjoyed the warmth of the hug. It had been a long time since anyone had held her in that way. She didn't rush to pull back, as her grey curls rested against Lily's soft skin. Her arms crept round the young woman.

  Lily pulled back a little, but left her hands on the housekeeper's shoulders. ‘Sorry, Mrs Headley, I didn't mean to embarrass you by overstepping the invisible line.’ She gave a chuckle. ‘My father would’ve had a fit if he’d walked in then.’

  Mrs Headley arched her eyebrows. ‘Yes, miss, I’m quite sure I’d have been sent packing, but there’s no need for you to be sorry.’

  Lily laughed. ‘Oh I'm not sorry for hugging you, and if he’d walked in, I’d have taken full responsibility for it.’ She paused. ‘I was apologising for embarrassing you.’

  The housekeeper shook her head. ‘I can assure you it was nothing of the sort. It was very nice. Now, let's go and check on Mrs Leybourne, then I’ll get your tea.’

  Lily nodded.

  Mrs Headley followed Lily into the sitting room.

  ‘Ah, Lily, I wondered where you’d gone.’ Alice groaned. ‘I might go upstairs and lie on the bed for a little while. It’s definitely getting worse.’

  ‘I’ve brought Mrs Headley to look at you.’ Lily's voice rose with each word. ‘I don't know whether to fetch the doctor.’

  Alice tried to smile at her sister. ‘I’m sure I’ll be all right, but the pain in my back is becoming unbearable.’

  Mrs Headley walked over to Alice. ‘Do you mind if I touch your forehead?’ She paused as Alice squeezed her eyes shut. ‘I just want to see if you have a temperature.’

  Alice shook her head.

  Mrs Headley laid her flat palm over the area. ‘I think you’re right to suggest lying down. Your skin is quite damp; you definitely have a temperature.’ The housekeeper turned to Lily. ‘Can you help Mrs Leybourne upstairs and I'll get hold of the doctor.’

  ‘You aren't going out.’ Lily's eyes glistened. ‘I can't do this by myself.’

  ‘Stop fretting. I’m not going anywhere.’ She touched the young girl's arm. ‘I’ll come upstairs as soon as I’ve found someone to fetch the doctor.’

  Lily nodded. ‘Right.’ She took a deep breath, before reaching out to grip Alice's arm. ‘Right, come on Alice, I'll help you up the stairs.’

  Alice groaned. ‘I don't know now. I'm not sure I can walk, never mind climb the stairs.’

  Mrs Headley moved to the other side of the chair. ‘Now I’m sorry, but you definitely need to be upstairs.’ She looked across at Lily. ‘Miss Taylor…’

  ‘Oh God, please just call me Lily.’

  Mrs Headley nodded. She had to keep them both calm until help arrived. ‘Lily, hook your
arm under your sister's and I'll do the same this side, then we can support her while we lift her up together.’

  Lily did as instructed. ‘Say when.’

  Mrs Headley looked into the frightened eyes of the young girl. ‘On the count of three. One, two, three.’ They both lifted as one.

  Lily smiled, her fear momentarily forgotten. ‘There, we can do this, Mrs Headley.’

  The housekeeper nodded. ‘Now we need to get her upstairs, and we can't do it three wide. If I help as far as the stairs, can you manage, while I sort out the doctor?’

  Lily nodded, but the fear was back for all to see. ‘I'll try.’

  Alice looked from one to the other. ‘I'm sure I can manage. I just feel a little weak, but I'll have the banister to hold on to.’

  Lily's face relaxed a little as she stared at her sister. ‘If you hold the rail, I’ll be right behind you, in case you slip.’

  Mrs Headley nodded before giving Lily a smile. ‘Let's go then, before her waters break.’

  ‘What? You think she’s about to give birth?’ Lily burst out.

  Mrs Headley shrugged her shoulders. ‘Who knows? Babies come when they are ready, and I think this little one is at least making preparations to pay us a visit.’

  Lily beamed. ‘Do you hear that, Alice? You might be a mother by the end of the day.’ Her grin faded with the excitement. ‘I'll get her upstairs, if you can sort out the doctor.’

  The housekeeper nodded and sped out of the room. ‘I'll boil some water and find some towels as well.’

  Alice bit down on her lip and blood oozed into her mouth, leaving a metallic taste in its wake. She leant heavily on Lily, stopping every minute or so. ‘Come on Alice, you can do it. It won't be long before you can hold on to the banister.’

  A cry burst from Alice.

  Fear wrapped itself around Lily's chest. ‘What is it? Alice, what is it?’

  Alice looked down at the floor. ‘I don't think there’s going to be time for the doctor.’