by June Tate
‘When I’ve finished showing you the ropes, yes!’
There was a sudden look of anxiety in her eyes. ‘What are you going to be doing?’
‘I’m opening a new business. I’m going to rent a shop in the High Street and set up a finance company. It will all be legal, don’t worry.’
Lily looked sceptical. ‘Oh, really?’
Chuckling, he added, ‘We will be separate. My business affairs will not have anything to do with you.’
‘But what about account books for the club? I don’t know anything about keeping books.’
‘I will still be doing them. They won’t be your concern.’
Lily was both excited and afraid. ‘What happens if it’s not a success? I might lose your money for you.’
‘I can assure you, I won’t let you. I’ll be keeping a close eye on everything. Go away and think about it. We’ll talk again this evening.’
She hesitated. ‘Where will you live?’
He looked at her with his dark-brown eyes shining with amusement. ‘I will still live here, of course. The only difference is that I won’t be downstairs in the club. However, I’ll have a small window put in the wall of my office. Then I can keep a watchful eye on the proceedings.’
Getting up from his chair he walked around the desk and, taking her into his arms, he held her to him. Brushing her ear with his lips, he said softly, ‘You are still my woman, Lily, and I’m certainly not going to miss my more intimate moments with you.’ He covered her lips with his and kissed her until she could hardly catch her breath.
Pushing him away, she gasped for air. ‘Vittorio!’ she cried. ‘For goodness sake! You’ll smother me.’
‘Later darling. Now go away and think over my idea.’
Later that day, Lily made her way to Sandy’s home in Bond Street, praying she would find him there. To her relief, in response to her knocking, he opened the door almost immediately.
Sandy looked at her in surprise. ‘Good God, Lily. What the ’ell are you doing here?’
She stepped into the living room and planted herself on his settee. ‘I’ve got a proposition to put to you.’
He sashayed over to her and sat down. ‘Darling, how wonderful. I’ve not been propositioned all week!’
‘Behave yourself, you old queen. I’m being serious,’ she protested. ‘How would you like a job, playing the piano every lunch-time at the club?’
His eyes widened. ‘At the Club Valletta?’
‘Of course at the Valletta. Where else?’
‘But I don’t have decent-enough clothes, darling. I mean, I could hardly wear my frocks now, could I?’
Lily chuckled. ‘I don’t think Vittorio would approve of that. You’d quickly be out on your ear.’ She opened her handbag and took out two five-pound notes. ‘I seem to remember this happening before – the other way round! Here, take this.’ She thrust the money into his hand. ‘Buy yourself a nice velvet smoking jacket, a pair of smart trousers, and a decent shirt.’
He looked at the money and then at her. There was such an expression of affection in his eyes, that Lily felt choked with emotion. ‘You will do it, won’t you, Sandy?’ she pleaded.
He put his arm around her shoulder and gave her a smacking kiss on the cheek. ‘I certainly will. I can do with the money as you well know. How can I ever thank you?’
She gave him a playful nudge. ‘Listen to me, you old tart. Where would I be if it hadn’t been for you? We’ve always looked out for one another.’ She stood up. ‘I’ll see you on Monday, about eleven-thirty. By the way, you’ll be pleased to know, the piano has a wonderful tone.’ She kissed him on the cheek and left.
Lily made her way to The Ditches to tell Rachel all the latest news.
The two friends sat together in the back of the shop mulling over the details.
‘Mazel tov!’ cried Rachel as Lily told her of Vittorio’s plans. ‘That Maltese. What a clever bastard. He knows you can do it where he can’t.’
‘What do you mean?’ asked Lily.
Rachel clasped Lily’s hands in hers. ‘Don’t you see, you silly girl? The police wouldn’t let it succeed with him still there. With you, it’s different. Sure, you’re his mistress, but you’re not on their lists.’
Lily’s eyes widened. ‘Does Vittorio have a criminal record?’
With a snort Rachel said, ‘Him? Never in a month of Sundays, even though the police have been after him for as long as I can remember. But, he is a villain all right. Everyone knows that. There was just never the proof. But you …’ she held out her arms ‘… pure as the driven snow!’
‘Hardly that,’ said Lily, doubling up with laughter.
Shrugging Rachel said, ‘OK, but you know what I mean.’ She looked pensive. ‘Much better if he wasn’t involved at all.’
‘Oh, Rachel, of course he has to be involved. He has the money.’
Her friend looked thoughtful. ‘Yes – a shame that. But never mind. You do it, my dear. Here is your chance at respectability. Remember that was your dream?’
With a bitter laugh Lily retorted, ‘A bloody lot of good it did me.’
‘No, darling. Don’t you see? If you run a successful business then no one can touch you. You will have earned respectability, maybe by a roundabout route, but so what?’
Lily left the shop and walked towards the Pier, needing to be alone. The June sun was beating down and she sat in one of the deckchairs and watched the swirling water beneath the wooden slats. Then, leaning back, she closed her eyes, letting her mind wander. It seemed a very long time ago since she had walked here and met Tom. She recalled the day he took her for a meal in the cafe. The beginnings of her first love … what pain and joy it had brought. Surely love wasn’t meant to be like that?
Getting up from the chair, she walked restlessly around the Pier and stood at the rails staring out over the Solent River. Across the water lay the Isle of Wight, and beyond that yet another world. She watched the paddle-steamer making its way to Ryde, fascinated by the sounds of the swish of the water as the massive wheel turned, and remembered a day trip she and Tom had taken to Cherbourg. How strange and different it had seemed to them. The foreign food. The language. It had been such an adventure.
Walking back towards the club, she wondered if one day she would be able to move away from here, away from the filth and the bustle of the docks. She waited as a freight-train passed by into the dockyard, looked at the lime-washed walls of the buildings in Canute Road. This, and the shopping area of the town were the only places she really knew well. She realised that, apart from the occasional jaunt to the Common as a child, she knew nothing else. She suddenly wanted much more. She wanted to be her own person, not reliant on anyone. If she made a success of the club, then maybe one day she could leave. Go on to other things. Other places.
When first she’d gone to Vittorio, all she had wanted was to be cared for. Now she felt secure. Her independence had grown as she had. The world had to be bigger and better than this small part of it. Now she was curious about it. Wanting to know what was out there. One day, she vowed, she would find out.
Later that evening, a well-dressed woman was shown into Vittorio’s office. He smiled at her and politely offered her a seat. He gazed with appreciation at her stylish and expensive attire. ‘You are looking particularly elegant this evening.’
Rachel Cohen smiled back at him. ‘Better than when you see me working in my shop in The Ditches, eh, Vittorio?’ She looked around the richly appointed room. ‘You do well for yourself! Yes,’ she said, ‘when I think of the snotty-nosed kid that used to run wild in The Ditches, when first you came from Malta, it’s hard to believe he turned out to be the feared Maltese.’
He chuckled with amusement. ‘But not feared by you, Rachel.’
‘So what’s to be scared of, when I’ve seen your bare bottom hanging out of your trousers. Your father had such a time with you.’
‘You, of course, knew my father well.’ His deep-brown eyes hid a look
of amusement, but his mouth twitched at the corners.
Rachel smiled to herself. ‘Yes, I knew him. Liked the women too much, he did, but it was your uncle I knew better. Such a man. What a physique! I should have met him before my Hymie. But then I would have had to marry out. Oy veh! What a scandal that would have caused!’
‘Especially as he already had a wife,’ added Vittorio with a wry smile.
Rachel shrugged. ‘Wife, yes. Such a pity that. My, when your family first arrived in Southampton from Malta, all the female hearts were aflutter. Your papa, he wasn’t such a good man. I used to wonder if you were like him.’ She saw the sudden anger in his eyes. ‘But after you met Lily, I knew you were different.’
‘Really? How?’
‘She told me you treated her well, so I thought you couldn’t be so bad after all.’
Vittorio burst out laughing. ‘I’m happy to hear it.’
‘But shall I get to the point of my visit?’
He nodded in agreement. ‘Indeed. What can I do for you? I assume that this is not a social call.’
She looked at him, her gaze steady. ‘It’s what I can do for you would be more to the point.’
He was surprised. ‘And what might that be?’
‘Lily tells me you have offered her a business proposition and I’ve come to offer you another.’
His interest was aroused. ‘Carry on.’
‘First I must ask you a question, and don’t give me any old bull!’
He raised his eyebrows at her directness. ‘And what is that?’
‘Are you concerned about Lily’s future?’
He took out his cigarette case and lighting a cigarette, drew on it deeply before replying. ‘Of course I am.’
Rachel let out a sigh of relief. Leaning back in her chair, she began: ‘You have a big problem with the police, and they want to close you down. You think putting the place in Lily’s name will get you off the hook.’ She shrugged. ‘Well, maybe it will and maybe it won’t. But if you sell me half of the club and put the other half in her name, then it certainly will work. The police couldn’t touch you.’
He looked at her, his slow smile touching the corners of his mouth. ‘You don’t honestly believe I would do such a thing, do you?’
‘Why not? You want the police off your back. How long before they realise that it’s all a con? But with me as a partner …’ Seeing his hesitation she continued: ‘I want to secure a future for Lily. It’s as simple as that. I have the cash, so finance isn’t a problem. I’m selling the shop, but I want an interest. With my years of experience, I can help her. And if anything should happen to you, she has no worries.’
His eyes narrowed. There was a look of calculation in his expression. ‘You think this place will go as a legitimate concern?’
‘Not if you are within a mile of it.’
He thought for a moment then said, ‘I believe you have a point. But tell me, why is Lily so important to you, Rachel?’
She answered without hesitation. ‘Because I love that child and I won’t see anyone else cause her unhappiness. She’s been through enough already. And in some ways, I blame myself. I’m trying to right a wrong.’
He chuckled softly. ‘Yes, she has a way of working beneath your skin, doesn’t she?’
‘What do you think of my idea, then?’
Vittorio rose from his chair. ‘In principle, it has its merits, but I’m not about to sell out. A small share, perhaps – just to put the police off the scent. But I will never relinquish my control, not completely. Give me some more time to think it over. I’ll get some figures together and we’ll talk further. Now it would give me great pleasure to take you downstairs and buy you dinner.’
Getting up from her seat, Rachel gave a wicked grin and retorted, ‘I would insist on it. I want to see what I might be investing in.’
As they reached the door, it opened and Lily entered. Her look of shocked surprise made Rachel laugh. ‘Hello, darling!’ Smoothing the expensive cloth of her coat, she asked, ‘Like the schmatte?’
Chapter Twenty
Lily was flabbergasted to see Rachel all dressed up to the nines, closeted in with Vittorio. But she was even more surprised when the two of them told her of the possibility of Rachel becoming involved in the club.
‘Nothing is definite yet,’ said Rachel. ‘If this villain tries to charge me too high a price, I’ll tell him what to do with his business! And it depends on the quality of the meal and the wine that I am served with tonight.’
Vittorio was highly amused by her banter.
Looking at her dear friend Lily asked, ‘Why are you doing this?’
‘To make a lot of money, my dear. Why does anyone, especially a Jew, invest? I told you I was looking for a business – well, maybe I found one.’
Lily turned to her lover. ‘Is this what you want?’
‘It’ll get the police off my back, darling.’
‘But does it mean you’ll move out?’
‘I’m not moving anywhere.’ He saw Rachel purse her lips. ‘I may sell you a share of the business, but Lily is still an important part of my life. You understand that, don’t you?’
‘Of course.’ She held his gaze. ‘But once everything is settled, you don’t step foot over the door, do you understand that?’
‘Not over the front door, Rachel. But I will most certainly be using the back door. I’ll be keeping a close watch on my investment. When it comes to money, I trust no one.’
Rachel flushed, knowing she’d been put in her place. ‘Just as long as the punters don’t see you.’
With a grin Vittorio said to Lily, ‘She drives a harder bargain than you do. But you too must understand, Lily, that although I’ll only be watching from upstairs, you are still mine. Your independence is only on the club front. Nothing else changes. With me not around, some men might try it on. I wouldn’t put up with that.’
Lily looked from one to the other. Rachel’s expression gave nothing away but Vittorio was staring hard at her, looking for any trace of betrayal. He hadn’t forgotten when Tom McCann had visited the club. He remembered his gut feeling about the two of them. It still filled him with unease.
Lily softly touched his face with her hand. ‘Why would I want to be with another man when you’ve done so much for me?’
Kissing her palm he said, ‘I can’t imagine.’
Early the following evening, Lily put on her coat. She didn’t sing in the club during the early part of the week and tonight she’d made plans.
‘Where do you think you’re going?’ asked Vittorio.
‘I’m going out. There’s nothing to do here and I’m bored. I’m meeting Amy.’
‘Where?’
‘At The Sailor’s Return. I haven’t been back there since I came to work for you. It’s the only place Amy can face going. You know, being among friends. You don’t mind, do you?’
Shaking his head he said, ‘No. You go ahead. I’ve lots of bookwork to see to. But take care, Lily.’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘Keep out of trouble is what it means. Remember our conversation over dinner last night?’
‘I don’t know why you persist with this, Vittorio. After all, everybody knows I’m your mistress.’ Her cheeks flushed with irritation. ‘No man is going to come near me. He’d be too bloody scared.’
He laughed aloud. ‘This is true.’ The laughter faded and his tone became more serious. ‘I don’t like you wandering around at night without me, that’s all.’
‘I can take care of myself.’
He hesitated. ‘Another thing, Lily. Please don’t tell anyone about our plans with Rachel Cohen. Nothing is yet settled and I don’t want the police to find out until it’s official and too late for them to try and intervene.’
‘What could they do?’ she asked with a worried frown.
‘Legally probably nothing, but I don’t trust those bastards.’
‘Well, they won’t hear it from me, rest assured.
’
‘I know you’ll be tempted to tell your friend Amy, but once one person knows …’
Nodding her understanding she said, ‘Please don’t worry. I’ll see you later.’
‘Don’t be late!’
She turned at the doorway, her eyes flashing. ‘Christ, Vittorio! You sound like a father.’
‘I don’t care who I sound like. You get home in good time.’ He stared hard at her. ‘I wouldn’t like to have to send George out to find you.’
She knew better than to argue and left, bristling with indignation.
Earlier the same day, on hearing that Burt Haines, his ex-foreman, had retired through ill-health, Tom McCann had made his way to the office in the docks to try and get his old job back. After much discussion and many promises to curb his temper, he was once more employed as a caulker. It had been common knowledge to the powers that be that there were faults on both sides and, such was Tom’s skill, the office was pleased to have him back with assurances that there would be no further trouble.
After leaving the office, Tom walked to the dock-gates and just stood watching the hustle and bustle of the life within the area. He loved the docks and was completely at home in the atmosphere … the smell of salt in the air, the sounds of the ships’ funnels, the cry of the tugs’ whistles and the clanking of chains as anchors were lowered. He watched as a huge crane, stark against the skyline, lifted a large cargo and swung it effortlessly into a ship’s hold. He observed the dockers and stevedores rushing about. He’d missed the camaraderie.
His pride in his profession had been sadly dented. Working for Knocker had been enjoyable in its way, but he was happiest working on ships; being part of a team. And soon he would be back among his mates.
He was jubilant as he eventually made his way home after spending time with Knocker, passing on his good news. At last he’d made a start towards solving his marital problems. Now Mary would have reason to be happy, and he hoped that would put paid to her constant carping about money – or the lack of it.
Mary, looking pale and tired, was sitting down when he burst in the door with his news.