by Joan Jonker
Bobby grinned and put his arm around her waist. ‘Oh, I say, is that right, Miss Dennison? Then I mustn’t let the side down, eh?’
Abbie was partnering her brother for the next dance, and her eyes happened to light on Eric dancing with a very pretty girl with auburn hair. They seemed to know each other very well, too, as they were laughing and chattering away. ‘I think Eric is a bit of a flirt, don’t you?’
‘What makes you say that?’ Nigel asked. ‘He doesn’t strike me as being a flirt.’
‘Well, he’s asked me again for a date, but look at the way he’s chatting that girl up. He seems to fancy his chances.’
When Nigel’s roving eye picked out Eric and his partner, he burst out laughing. ‘Don’t you notice anything unusual about them?’
Abbie shook her head. ‘Only that they’re very friendly.’
‘I should hope they would be. They’re brother and sister! I’m surprised you didn’t notice the resemblance.’
Abbie felt foolish. She must have sounded as though she cared about Eric dancing and chatting with another girl. ‘I can see they look alike, now. She’s very pretty.’
‘Yes, she is. If I remember correctly, her name is Doreen. There’s only about a year difference in their ages, so she would have been in a higher class at school than you. I’m surprised to see her here, I would have thought she’d be courting by now. She’s certainly very attractive so it can’t be for want of opportunities.’
Abbie pulled slightly away from him so she could look into his face. ‘Why don’t you ask her for a dance? I dare you to, Nigel.’
He surprised her by saying, ‘I might just do that. The next time Eric asks you to dance, as long as Bobby’s with Milly, so she won’t be left in the lurch, I think I’ll take the plunge. I can’t keep on just dancing with my sister and her friend, lovely and all as they are.’
‘What d’you think I should say when he asks me about going out with him? I put him off by saying I had to wait until you were coming down here so you could give me a lift. But I did say I would ask you what nights you were coming next week. I didn’t know what else to say because I didn’t like turning him down flat. I quite like him, but then I don’t know much about him and I’d be tongue-tied for something to talk about. What should I do, Nigel?’
‘That’s entirely up to you, Abbie. No one can make up your mind for you, especially Bobby, because he’s pulling your leg. Him and Eric get on quite well, actually. So it’s up to you. If you like Eric, then make a date with him. If you’re not that keen, then don’t. You can’t go out with someone just because you’re too soft-hearted to refuse.’
Abbie had faltered in her steps and had to concentrate on getting back into line with her brother. Then she asked, ‘Are you telling me that Bobby Neary is quite friendly with Eric, and is just putting on an act? And the same with Eric?’ When Nigel nodded, her lips pursed. ‘Right, I think they both need to be taken down a peg or two, and I’ll think of a way to do it.’
‘That’s easy.’ Her brother smiled. ‘Make a date with Eric! That would dent Bobby’s ego. And if you didn’t want to go out with Eric again, that would take him down a peg or two.’
‘But why should Bobby worry about who I go out with? Except for breaking up the foursome. But it’s bound to break up sometime, isn’t it? It can’t go on for ever. You could meet a girl you like, or Milly could meet a boy. It needn’t stop us coming here on the nights we weren’t dating. I wouldn’t want to drift away from Milly now I’ve found her again, I want her to be my friend for life. But we both need other friends, and so do you and Bobby.’
‘You just talked me into it, Abbie. I’ll definitely ask Doreen to dance at the first opportunity.’
‘This doesn’t mean I’m not going to find some way of getting my own back on Bobby and Eric, though. They’ve both had a laugh at my expense and I intend to teach them a lesson. I don’t know how, but I will do so by the end of the night. But I do need a bit of help from you, Nigel, because I need to know what nights you will be coming down next week. I can’t get here without you.’
‘As long as you don’t involve me in your nefarious plans, Abbie. I couldn’t knowingly help you make a fool of Bobby, or Eric for that matter. So apart from driving you down here, which I’ll be doing anyway, I beg you not to tell me what you are up to.’
Abbie grinned. ‘We’ll be coming here next Monday, so that’s out. But how about Tuesday, when you take Bobby for his lesson? Would you drop me off at Grandma’s then?’
‘I’ll drop you off before I pick Bobby up, but more than that I do not want to know, Abbie, so please don’t involve me.’
‘I wouldn’t dream of it, dear brother.’ Her mind was working overtime. She’d find some way of putting both Bobby and Eric on the spot. They weren’t going to have a laugh at her expense and get away with it. Mind you, she had to admit they had fooled her, and it was funny. Still, she’d show them they weren’t the only ones who could play pranks.
The next dance was a foxtrot, and a ‘gentleman’s excuse me’, and turned out to be hilarious. Bobby was dancing with Abbie, and Nigel with Milly. And when Bobby first felt a tap on his shoulder he turned with a scowl on his face thinking it would be Eric. However, his scowl turned to a look of surprise when he saw a lad with ginger hair and a face covered in freckles, smiling at him and holding his hand out to Abbie. There was little he could do but give in gracefully until the pair had circled the floor twice, when he claimed her back. They’d hardly got into step before Eric appeared and again Abbie was taken from him. She was dizzy by this time, trying to keep up with different styles of dancing, so she didn’t notice Bobby standing on the edge of the dance-floor with a look of grim determination on his face. And next to him stood Nigel, who had been parted from Milly.
‘It’s a conspiracy, this is, Nige. They’re ganging up on us.’
‘Hardly a conspiracy, Bobby, it is an excuse me. And both girls are very pretty so we can expect competition.’
‘They’re not getting away with it. I started the dance with her, and I’ll finish it.’ With that, Bobby weaved his way through the dancing couples and his tap on Eric’s arm was more of a prod. ‘I’ll take my partner back now, if yer don’t mind.’
Eric grinned. ‘I’ll see yer later, Abbie.’
‘He will if I’ve got any feet left,’ Abbie groaned. ‘I’m only a learner, I can’t keep up with all the different steps. Every one of my toes has been trodden on.’
‘Not by me they haven’t. I’m very careful with yer.’
‘Well, I think I’ll be sitting out the next dance, thanks, Bobby, to give my toes a rest.’
‘It’s the interval waltz next, yer can’t sit that out. But yer will have fifteen minutes after that to rest yer feet.’
‘They’re talking to me, Bobby, and they’re not too happy with me. In fact, my two big toes are asking me what I’m playing at.’
‘Tell them I’ll massage them in the interval, that should cheer them up.’
When Bobby grinned into her face, his eyes shining, Abbie’s tummy did a flip. Just like it had one night last week. That’s funny, she thought, I wonder what caused that?
Milly came off the dance-floor looking radiant. She’d danced with three good dancers and was in very high spirits. ‘We did well there, Abbie. And two of my blokes asked me for a date.’
‘Don’t you be at it, Milly Jamieson,’ Bobby said. ‘We’re having enough trouble trying to keep Abbie on the straight and narrow, without you starting.’
‘Pardon me, but I can look after myself, thank you.’
‘So can I!’ Abbie was sitting down with her legs stretched out. Her toes really were sore, and she wouldn’t be surprised if they were black and blue. ‘I don’t need a nanny.’
Bobby held out his hands and shrugged his shoulders. ‘Did yer hear that, Nige? We’re doing our level best to protect them and they’re as good as telling us to get lost. D’yer know, I’ve even offered to get down on me knees and massag
e yer sister’s feet for her. And all I get is a kick in the teeth.’
‘You touch my feet, Bobby Neary, and a kick in the teeth is exactly what you will get. The very idea, indeed!’
‘You couldn’t have said a worse thing, Bobby,’ Nigel said with a grin. ‘She’s very ticklish is my sister. Can’t bear anyone to touch her feet.’
‘Nor can I bear anyone to stand on them.’ The strains of a waltz filled the air, and Abbie shook her head before anyone had a chance to ask. ‘I’d have to be a sucker for punishment to get up for this, so you three go and enjoy yourselves while I suffer in silence.’
Bobby and Milly were off like a shot, while Nigel looked down at his sister. ‘Are you sure you don’t mind being left on your own? I’ll stay with you if you like.’
‘I’ll be fine. You go and ask Eric’s sister for a dance while you’ve got the chance.’ When he hesitated, she said, ‘Go on, Nigel, be daring.’
Abbie was still watching her brother’s retreating back when Eric came and plonked himself in the chair next to her. ‘You wouldn’t be hiding from me, would yer?’
‘It’s my poor feet, they simply refuse to let me stand on them. They’re not used to being trodden on, so I’m resting them until after the interval. But you don’t have to sit with me, you go and find yourself a partner.’
‘No, I’ll sit with yer and we can arrange our date. Have yer asked Nigel what nights he’ll be fetching yer down?’
Abbie didn’t know she was going to say it until the words were out of her mouth. ‘Tuesday night, and you can call to my Grandma’s for me about eight o’clock.’
Eric’s face lit up. ‘That’s smashing! I thought I was going to get the run-around again. Have yer thought about where yer’d like to go?’
She shook her head. ‘Can we decide when you call for me? We’ll know what’s on at the flicks then, and if it’s a film we want to see. Come a bit early, so yer can get to know me grandparents, they’d like that.’
‘Right, that’s settled then. But yer’ll be here on Monday, won’t yer?’
‘I imagine so, but in case anything turns up to stop me, I’ll definitely be in my Grandma’s on Tuesday about a quarter to eight.’
Eric let out a cry of surprise and pointed a finger. ‘Ay, look! Your Nigel is dancing with me sister Doreen.’
‘What’s wrong with that? You don’t mind, do you?’
‘Of course not. I’m just surprised he remembers her.’
‘Yes, he pointed her out to me before. Does she come here often?’
‘Only when she’s had a falling-out with her boyfriend, which is every couple of weeks. They fight like cat and dog, and spend more time not speaking, than speaking. I’ve told our Doreen I don’t know why she bothers, he’s not worth it.’
‘Ah well, you see, no one can control their heart. Their head may tell them all the sensible things to do, but the pull of the heart is stronger.’
‘You sound as though ye’re speaking from experience. Have yer had many boyfriends?’
Abbie told herself there was no point in telling lies. ‘Have I heck! I’ve had no boyfriends and no experience. Green as a cabbage, really.’
Eric grinned. ‘Ye’re honest anyway, which makes a pleasant change. Most girls would never have admitted to that. I’m really looking forward to getting to know you, Abbie. Starting Tuesday, eh?’
Edwina looked at the clock for the umpteenth time. ‘It’s nine o’clock, it doesn’t look as though Charles is going to telephone.’
Victoria was grinding her teeth together. She was on tenterhooks herself without having to watch her mother looking at the clock every ten seconds and telling her the time. ‘Mother, I can see the clock, I do not need you to be constantly reminding me. Something must have cropped up to prevent Charles from ringing. Does it honestly matter so much?’
‘But he promised faithfully, didn’t he?’ Edwina really didn’t know when to draw the line. She couldn’t see that her daughter was upset because she was too busy thinking only of herself. ‘One would have thought he’d ring out of common courtesy, if nothing else, to say how much he and his parents had enjoyed the evening.’
‘Mother, will you please not harp on it. I’m sure there’s a perfectly simple reason why Charles has not been able to ring, and he’ll tell me when he gets the opportunity.’
Edwina’s eyes narrowed to slits. ‘Why don’t you ring him? What harm would there be in saying you were concerned about his well-being, as he hasn’t contacted you as promised.’
‘That would be going too far, Mother. I would not wish his parents to think I was throwing myself at him. They thanked me last night for the very enjoyable evening, one can’t expect them, or Charles, to offer further praise. Things are moving more slowly than I would have wished, but they are moving. I feel quite confident our relationship is on a firm footing and I would not want to jeopardise that by appearing too pushy. If he doesn’t telephone tonight, I’m quite sure he’ll call tomorrow. So can we now change the subject, Mother, because I find it tiresome.’
Edwina picked up a fashion magazine and idly turned the pages. Her daughter could be very stubborn at times. She didn’t seem to realise that her fishing line would have to be well baited to hook Charles Chisholm. She couldn’t afford to miss chances, as she had tonight by not making what would be seen as a completely innocent telephone call from a young woman to a man who had been her close companion for months. But then, Victoria would never listen to advice, she would always follow her own instinct. It was to be hoped that in this instance her instinct was taking her down the right road.
Chapter Twenty-Two
It was Sunday when Charles finally telephoned, full of apologies that were insincere but which were music to Victoria’s ears. Friday had been a long day as she’d waited within earshot of the telephone, longing to hear the familiar tinkle. And the day hadn’t been helped by her mother’s constant whining about how inconsiderate it was of Charles not to keep his promise. But if Friday had her a bag of nerves, Saturday was a nightmare. The day seemed to be endless, and as it wore on, so her nerves became more ragged as she saw all her hopes of marriage to one of the richest men in Liverpool, being dashed against the rocks. So on Sunday, when Agnes opened the drawing-room door to tell her Mr Charles was on the phone, although she rose slowly from her chair and walked with poise so as not to appear eager, her heart was racing and her hopes awakening. And she was prepared to believe any excuse he made about his two-day silence.
What Victoria didn’t know, as she placed the telephone receiver to her ear, was that the telephone call was only being made because Charles feared she would ring his home and get him into hot water with his parents. They had told him in no uncertain terms, after the dinner party on Thursday, that they hoped he wasn’t serious about the Dennison girl, as they thought her totally unsuitable as a wife and would not welcome her in their family. Knowing his lavish lifestyle was at risk if he displeased them, he chose to play along and insisted there was no prospect of him ever marrying Victoria. She was just a friend he took out for company. And he told himself it would be best to cut all ties with Victoria. But he knew her well enough to know if he tried to make a clean break now, she wouldn’t take it quietly. Better to do it gradually so there was a minimum of fuss.
‘When am I going to see you?’ Victoria asked. ‘You really are very naughty not to have telephoned before now when you knew how much I would be missing you.’
‘It will have to be tomorrow, my sweet. Mother has a social engagement tonight and insists upon dragging me with her. And as I’ve told you, I am completely dependent on my parents for cash, so I have to do as I’m told and toddle along like a good little boy. I know it’s a bind, but I’ll make it up to you tomorrow, I promise. I’ll pick you up about seven, we’ll go for a meal, then a nice long run in the country. You’d enjoy that, my sweet, wouldn’t you?’
Yes, thought Victoria, it would be better than nothing. But she had an idea in her head that would move ma
tters a little faster. ‘Why not suggest to your mother that it would please you if I could accompany you this evening? After all, I am your girlfriend.’
‘Out of the question, my sweet. These events are planned several weeks ahead, and they will have catered for the number of guests who have been invited and accepted. An extra one would play havoc with the seating arrangements. But if it’s any consolation to you, I won’t enjoy it, they’re such stuffy affairs. I would much rather be with you.’ And so the lies went on and on. Except Charles didn’t see them as lies. They were getting him out of an awkward situation, therefore they were a godsend. ‘I will be thinking of you all the time, my sweet, and Monday can’t come quick enough.’
‘I suppose I’ll have to be satisfied with that.’ Victoria sighed. ‘But it seems such a long way off, and I’m missing you so much.’ Then she said something that sounded like a veiled threat and sent a shiver down his spine. ‘Don’t forget I gave in to your wishes regarding the Adelphi on Wednesday. I did something I would never have dreamed of doing for anyone else. I only did it because you had confirmed I was truly your girlfriend, and I did so want to please you. I showed how deeply I care for you, and I would expect you to be now more open in your regard for me.’
Oh God, Charles groaned inwardly, she’s almost threatening blackmail. And because he knew she was capable of walking through anything that got in her way, he believed that is what she would do if pushed too far. ‘Of course, my sweet, I intend to be very loving towards you. Both my lips and eyes will tell you how much I adore you. But as this can’t be done over the telephone, it will have to wait until tomorrow. So be patient, my love, the hours may seem long but they will pass. And until we meet, you will never be out of my thoughts.’ When he replaced the receiver on the cradle at the side of the telephone, Charles felt weak at the knees. He would have to tread carefully here. He’d been in many tough situations before, but none of the women involved had been as strong-willed as Victoria Dennison. Ending their association could take months, instead of weeks.