by Joan Jonker
Her hopes riding high, Victoria did as she was bid. ‘It is so good to have you here, my darling. It was a lovely surprise to hear your voice on the telephone. I felt a tingle run right down my spine. That’s the effect you have on me, my love.’
‘You are having that same effect on me right now, my sweet. I came because I felt I had to see you.’ He pulled her close and put his arms around her. ‘I need you and want you so much, you’re driving me mad with desire.’
‘Charles, restrain yourself.’ Victoria wasn’t embarrassed, though, she saw his ardour as a sign that he was coming round to realising he wanted her for his wife. And to fan the flames of his ardour, she lifted her long skirt before crossing her shapely legs. She knew she had a good figure and she intended to use it for her own ends. Hence the very low neckline on the dress she’d changed into after his telephone call.
‘How can I when you look so ravishing?’ Charles ran a hand up to her thigh. ‘I want to make passionate love to you, right now.’
‘Really, Charles, what would Mother say if she walked back into the room? I would die of embarrassment.’
‘Don’t worry, my sweet, I do have some control over my emotions. At least I do when I know that very soon I’ll be rewarded for my patience.’ He smiled when he saw her look of puzzlement. ‘Remember, darling, a room in the best hotel and a bottle of champagne? You’re surely not going back on your word?’
‘I thought we were going to discuss that after the dinner party? I really do have a lot on my mind as everything must be perfect for your parents. I want them to see that your girlfriend is a very capable hostess.’
‘I’m sure they know that, my sweet.’ Charles had come with a very definite plan in mind and he was a man used to getting his own way. ‘And knowing you would be too busy to discuss our arrangement, I went ahead and booked a room in the Adelphi Hotel for Wednesday night.’
‘But I couldn’t – that’s the night before the dinner party! You should have consulted me first, Charles, then I could have told you to leave it until the following week.’
‘I couldn’t wait until the following week, my sweet. You have tantalised and teased me for too long, and my desire is overwhelming me.’
‘But you still haven’t made a commitment to me, Charles, and this places me in a very awkward situation. You really are asking a lot of me.’
‘My darling Victoria, you really don’t expect me to buy the goods without seeing them first, do you? If you buy a new hat, I’m sure you always try it on before making a purchase.’
‘Am I to be compared with buying a new hat? Really, Charles, such talk does you no credit, and humiliates me.’
‘It was spoken in jest, my sweet. I didn’t think for one moment that you would take me seriously.’ Charles ran his finger down her neck to the swell of breasts so lavishly on display. ‘I wouldn’t upset you for the world. And after all, if my memory serves me right, the room in a first-class hotel, and a bottle of champagne were your idea. Which of course I was more than willing to agree to. But it now seems that you were leading me on, with no thought of fulfilling your promise.’
‘I was not leading you on, and I never go back on a promise.’ This wasn’t going the way Victoria had hoped. She had to be very careful how she handled the matter or she could lose him altogether. She was under no illusion about his motives, never had been, but if that’s what it took to snare him, then she would do whatever he wanted. ‘I’ll agree to do as you ask, my darling, because I want to please you. But I need a little back in return. And that is the assurance that I am truly your only girlfriend and your intentions are honourable.’
Charles didn’t care what he promised her, he was always making promises to women and hardly ever kept them. But he had to appear sincere, and that was something he was also good at. So he managed a hurt look on his handsome face. ‘Honourable! Are you questioning my honour, Victoria?’
‘No, of course not. It was the wrong word to use and I apologise. But a lady does like to be petted and pampered, Charles, and have sweet nothings whispered in her ears.’ He was winning hands down, Victoria told herself, and she had to come out of this meeting with something. So she held the side of her face close to his, and said, ‘There is my ear, my darling, now tell me what you know I am longing to hear.’
It was all getting very tedious for a man who could bed as many women as he had time for. But he’d done a lot of bragging to his friends about being the first man to take Victoria, and he wasn’t about to lose face. Several bets had been laid on his success or failure. He had no intention of failing. So, pulling on the lobe of her ear, he whispered huskily, ‘You are my one and only girlfriend and I think you are adorable.’
Victoria kept her sigh of relief silent. ‘We’ll have a good talk about the future after the dinner party. I do want things to go off well because I need your parents’ approval. Do you know if they like me, Charles?’
But he wasn’t going to go down that path. So he veered smilingly away from the question. ‘You clever little minx, you! Not so shy and innocent as you would have me believe, are you?’
Victoria was perplexed, but pleased that he looked so happy. ‘What have I said that is so clever, my darling?’
He put a finger under her chin and raised her face so their eyes were meeting. ‘By saying we will talk after the dinner party, you insinuated that there will be little talking going on in the hotel bedroom on Wednesday. And you are quite right, my sweet, because we will have far more exciting things to do. I intend to make you very happy, and I know you will please and satisfy me.’ He kissed the tip of her nose. ‘You are going to please me, aren’t you, Victoria?’
How could she refuse when she had him, as she thought, in the palm of her hand. ‘It is my intention to both please and satisfy you. But as you know, I have never been to bed with a man before so I have had no experience. You must help me, Charles.’
He was gloating inside. It was her inexperience that was the attraction. Most of the women he went with had had dozens of lovers and the thrill was missing. Victoria was a virgin, and it would all be new to her. How he would enjoy teaching her how to pander to his insatiable appetite for sexual acts that were different from the normal. ‘You need have no fear, my sweet. I will make sure that a couple of glasses of champagne are drunk to help you relax, and I can promise you you will enjoy the experience.’ He took out his gold fobwatch and gave a sigh. ‘Now, I really must get back to the office. And although I hate to disappoint you, there is a strong possibility I won’t be able to make it tonight. It depends upon what time my father gets back. He receives many business calls at home in the evenings, and in his absence I’m expected to take over. It’s bad luck, and jolly boring, but business comes first I’m afraid. If I’m not here by eight o’clock, you’ll know I can’t make it. I’ll be thinking of you, though, and counting the minutes until I pick you up at seven-thirty on Wednesday night. Don’t have dinner here, we’ll have it in the Adelphi before retiring to our room, where a bottle of champagne will be waiting for us.’
‘You aren’t expecting me to stay the night, are you? I mean, what would I tell Mother?’
Charles shook his head, anxious to be off now he’d successfully accomplished his mission. ‘I’ll have you home before midnight, so tell her I’m taking you to a party at a friend’s house.’ He kissed her hand, then her cheek. ‘Goodbye, my sweet, and keep me in your thoughts. If I can’t make it tonight, I’ll see you Wednesday.’
‘Shall I ring you tonight, to see if you’re free?’
‘No, don’t do that, my father likes the line left open in case he needs to call.’ That was the last thing Charles wanted. If she rang, his father would probably answer the telephone because he wasn’t away on business at all. And if she asked for him, he wouldn’t be there. He had an appointment with a very rich widow who was very free with her favours. And in gratitude for his services, she showered him with expensive presents. ‘Make my excuses to your mother for not saying goodbye,
but I really must be on my way. Don’t bother to come to the door with me, I’ll see myself out.’
‘Mother will be furious that you haven’t had any refreshment.’
‘Who needs food and drink, my sweet, when I can feast my eyes on you?’
As Charles made his way to where his car was parked, a little nagging voice in his head was telling him he’d have trouble shaking Victoria off when the time came. But he answered the voice by saying he’d never had any trouble ditching girls before. He lived dangerously, he knew that, but he loved the excitement of it. He’d only been in real trouble once, and that was when he was seventeen. The junior maid he’d made pregnant was only fourteen, and his father had paid the girl’s father handsomely for his silence. It had taught Charles a lesson, though, and that was to stick to married women, or girls who slept around.
When Bobby opened the door to Nigel, he had his dance shoes tucked under his arm, his hair was slicked back and he was grinning from ear to ear. ‘Are yer coming in to say hello to me mam, Nige, or are yer eager to be off?’
‘Bring him in for a minute,’ Rose called. ‘Because you’re dance mad, doesn’t mean yer can forget about being polite.’
‘Hello, Mrs Neary.’ Nigel had a bag under his arm which he passed over to her with a smile. ‘I’ve brought you a few chocolates. I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I chose Cadbury’s because they are my favourites.’
‘I thought they were yer dance shoes,’ Bobby said, scratching his head but taking care not to dislodge any hairs. ‘Yer can’t go to a dance without proper shoes.’
Nigel couldn’t answer right away because Rose was hugging and kissing him. ‘Ta, lad, that’s real kind of yer. It’s years since anyone bought me a box of chocolates. In fact I’ve never had one as big as this – it must have cost yer a bleedin’ fortune.’
‘Mam, will yer let Nige speak, please? Where’s yer dancing shoes?’
‘Your mother first, Bobby, so be patient.’ Nigel kissed the cheek of the woman who brought back many happy memories. Memories of being young and rebellious as boys often are, and clips around the ear for answering back. But also memories of always being welcome in this house, and the warmth, the sharing and friendship. ‘They didn’t cost me a bleedin’ fortune, Mrs Neary, but even if they had, you would be worth every penny. But don’t expect a box every week, my wages don’t run to that with having the car to fork out for.’
‘Ye’re a good lad, Nigel, and yer always have been. Even when yer were giving cheek yer always did it in a nice way.’
‘Ah, but what about when we used to knock on your door and then run like the devil? You never did catch us with the sweeping brush, did you?’
‘Oh, I could have done, lad. The trouble was, by the time I caught up with yer, I’d have had no bleedin’ breath left to wallop yer one.’
‘I hate to interrupt this very interesting conversation, but I thought yer came down to go to Balfour Hall, Nige. The way things are going, we’ll just be in time for the interval waltz.’ Bobby wasn’t one for giving compliments, he always felt uncomfortable. But he was made-up about the box of chocolates, ’cos he loved his mam and would give her the world if he could. ‘And about these dancing shoes, haven’t yer got none?’
‘Abbie has them. I said we’d call for her and Milly.’ Then Nigel, as arranged with his sister, said casually, ‘And you’ll be happy to know we won’t disgrace you because we’ve been to a dancing class a couple of times since we last saw you. Not that we’ll be up to your high standard, that’ll take years, but at least we won’t be raw beginners.’
‘I’ll pass judgement after I’ve seen yer on the dance-floor. I’m not taking any chances with your Abbie until I’ve seen her perform. After all, I’ve got me reputation to consider.’
‘You big-headed bugger!’ Rose said, head shaking, but love in her eyes for the son who had given her a reason for living. ‘I hope when yer finally decide she’s good enough for yer, she tells yer to go and jump off the Pier Head.’
‘Don’t wait up for me then, Mam, ’cos if I have to swim home, it’s a long way from the Pier Head to Seaforth. Especially for someone who can’t swim.’
‘Can’t swim!’ Nigel’s voice was high with surprise. ‘Of course you can swim, we used to go to Waterloo Sands when we were younger.’
Bobby looked shame-faced. ‘Yeah, but yer never saw me swimming, did yer? Oh, I used to splash about and get me cossie wet, but me feet never left the ground. To tell yer the truth, Nige, I’m terrified of water.’
Rose chuckled. ‘Even when it comes out of the bleedin’ tap! Haven’t yer ever noticed he’s got a permanent tide-mark round his neck?’
There came a loud banging on the door, and Nigel pulled a face. ‘This will be Abbie and Milly. They must have got fed up waiting.’
Bobby hurried along the hall, shouting, ‘We haven’t got cloth ears, there’s no need to knock the flippin’ door down.’
‘Well, what’s keeping yer?’ Milly asked. ‘We’ve wasted two dances waiting for you two. I wanted to go on, but Abbie wouldn’t go without her brother.’
‘It’s his fault we’re late. I’m beginning to think it’s me mam he’s come to see, not me.’
Nigel’s head appeared over Bobby’s shoulder. ‘What’s all the fuss about? I’ve only been here five minutes. It isn’t polite to rush in and out of someone’s house. But I’m ready now, so shall we make a move?’
Bobby was pulling the door closed behind him when his mother shouted, ‘Have yer got yer swimming costume with yer?’
He grinned. ‘No, I’ve decided me best bet is not to ask Abbie for a dance. I’ll see yer, Mam, ta-ra!’
‘Oh, aye,’ Abbie said. ‘What was all that in aid of ?’
‘It was me mam’s idea of a joke.’ Bobby fell into step with Nigel, behind the two girls. ‘She said if I asked yer to dance, she hoped yer’d tell me to jump off the Pier Head.’
‘Why would I do that?’
‘That’s a daft question,’ Milly laughed, squeezing her friend’s arm. ‘That’s what most people would like him to do.’ She began to walk faster. ‘Come on, it’ll be time to come home before we get there. All the best-looking fellers will have been taken by now.’
‘They won’t, yer know, because we’re not there yet,’ Bobby called after them. ‘Watch the girls make a dive when me and Nige walk in.’
Milly, her face aglow with laughter, shouted back, ‘Yeah, a dive for the cloakroom!’
Nigel grabbed his friend’s arm and practically lifted him off his feet. ‘Come on, we can’t let them pay for themselves!’
‘Of course we can.’ Bobby shook his head. ‘Yer’ve got a lot to learn, Nige. Yer don’t pay for a girl unless ye’re going out with her. Otherwise they start getting ideas.’
‘They’re not just any girls, Bobby, it’s my sister and her friend. I’d feel terrible if we let them pay for themselves.’
‘OK, yer talked me into it.’ Bobby took to his heels, calling over his shoulder, ‘Hurry up, mate, ye’re not half slow.’
They caught up with the two girls just before they reached Balfour Hall, and were inside the building before Abbie and Milly knew what was happening. ‘I’m paying for meself,’ Milly said, standing in the lobby with her tuppence entrance money in her hand. ‘Don’t take the money off them, George.’
‘Too late, Milly, I’ve already taken it, and given them the tickets.’ The doorman shrugged his shoulders. ‘You pay next time, that’s fair.’
The girl reluctantly agreed. ‘But that doesn’t mean I have to dance every dance with yer, Bobby Neary.’
‘Chance would be a fine thing, Milly Jamieson. Yer don’t think me fans would let me spend the whole night with one girl? There’d be a mutiny.’
‘I won’t have any worries about who I dance with,’ Abbie said, butterflies in her tummy. ‘I’ll be sticking like glue to Nigel.’
Bobby and Milly spoke as one. ‘Oh, no you won’t!’ Then they looked at each other and burst out lau
ghing. ‘That’s the first time we’ve ever agreed on anything,’ Milly said. ‘We must be getting old, Bobby.’
‘Speak for yerself, I have no intention of ever growing old. Me body might, like, ’cos I can’t do nothing about that. But I’m going to stay young at heart.’
‘Can I suggest we venture into the dance hall?’ Nigel asked. ‘Because all we’re doing here is growing old.’
They all trooped into the hall where couples were dancing to the tune of a foxtrot, and found two empty chairs where they changed into their dancing shoes. ‘Will our things be all right if we leave them under the chairs?’ Abbie asked. ‘Not that there’s much in my handbag to pinch, anyway.’
‘Yeah, no one will touch them.’ Bobby held out his hand to Milly. ‘Come on, we may as well finish this dance off.’
Nigel looked at his sister. ‘Are you game?’
She nodded. ‘I’d rather make a fool of myself with you, than Bobby. I’m dreading him asking me to dance. I think I’d faint.’
But once on the floor, she relaxed and found herself going through the steps Mr Ross had taught her. And when the dance was over, both she and her brother were pleased with their performance. ‘I think we did very well, don’t you, Nigel?’
‘Remarkably well! But we have to remember we’ve only ever danced with each other; we might not do so well with a stranger.’
Coming up behind them, Bobby said, ‘I heard that, Nige, and I don’t think yer’ve got anything to worry about. Yer did fine considering ye’re only just learning. I noticed ye’re a bit stiff on the spins, but yer can practise those in our house.’
Nigel chortled. ‘Abbie as well? You see, she’s the only one I can dance with.’
‘She’s no need to come to our house, I’ll teach her here.’ He held out his hand. ‘Come on, Abbie, it’s a waltz.’ Although the girl looked terrified, there was no way she was going to let Bobby Neary get the better of her, so she allowed herself to be led away. And Milly roared with laughter when she heard him saying, ‘I don’t mind if yer stand on me feet, Abbie, but would yer try and keep off the little toe on me left foot, ’cos I’ve got a corn and it doesn’t half give me gyp.’