The Glowing Hours

by Marina Oliver

  'I'll arrange it. When can you all come?'

  'As soon as possible, and every time the studio is free. Is that all right with you, Kitty?'

  Kitty forced herself to smile. She didn't want to leave the stage troupe, it would give Maisie such pleasure. She knew she was as good as the others if only she had time.

  'Thanks, Gwyneth!' she said. 'You're a real friend, not like some people I know! We'll show them!'

  *

  The tables were all crowded. Discreet advertisements of the new venture at Endersby's Hotel had ensured a flood of bookings from the wealthy residents of Edgbaston, and many more from the suburbs. Paul Mandeville was there with his mother. He had, somewhat reluctantly, agreed to join her because his uncle and cousin Felicity were also staying with him for a couple of nights.

  'I'd rather not,' he protested when his mother booked the table. 'There's so much illness about at this time of year I prefer to spend my spare time relaxing at home.'

  'You spend too much time at the free clinic,' she chided gently. 'I know you're needed there, but your private work is growing fast. If you overwork and become ill, what will happen to folk then?'

  'I'm not ill, just tired.'

  'And you could do with a change. Besides, what would Felicity think if you didn't come?'

  'Why can't her fiancé come? I thought they were all travelling up to Yorkshire together.'

  'Apparently he's gone ahead, and William and Felicity decided to visit us on the way.'

  Fortunately his cousin was a good dancer, and Paul began to enjoy himself. He'd always liked Felicity, who was only a year younger. As children they had fallen into many scrapes together, and he was pleased she had finally decided to settle down. Her doting widowed father had despaired of her during the past few years as she flitted from one boyfriend to another, refusing to take any of them seriously.

  She confided during their dances that Freddie was quite different, charming, handsome and intelligent, and that he adored her. Paul was amused, hoping the unknown Freddie could live up to his reputation, and as they watched the entertainment Richard Endersby had devised he could hear Felicity whispering eagerly to his mother, no doubt telling her the same thing.

  The band played a medley of popular songs from musical shows, many of which, like the recent hit Stop Flirting, with the new sensational dancers Fred and Adele Astaire, had been seen at Birmingham theatres. Then Andrew Denver had his solo, and Paul sat up and concentrated. He'd known Andrew years ago. They'd been in the same regiment, and after the war had gone around with the same girls, been to the same parties. He was aware that Andrew played the saxophone, but imagined he was merely amusing himself, since he was already rich and had no need to work. From the first few soaring, glorious notes he knew this interpretation had been wildly inaccurate. Andrew now was a complete professional, dedicated, intense, and talented way above the average.

  'Oh, boy! he's fantastic!' Felicity whispered as a storm of applause erupted. 'I wouldn't like to have to follow that!'

  'They don't look too eager,' Paul agreed, watching the somewhat straggling line of girls waiting just beyond the small platform where the band sat.

  There were half a dozen of them, shuffling their feet and coughing nervously, a shimmering rainbow of colours.

  'Marigold Endersby tells me it's their first time dancing in public,' Mrs Mandeville said softly. 'They are pupils of that rather smooth little man, the dancing master who rents the ballroom for classes.'

  Andrew had returned to his place, and the band played a fanfare. Paul watched as the girls straightened up, smiled nervously, and holding on to the shoulders of the girl in front, moved in a swaying waltz time onto the ballroom floor.

  Frank had taken Edwina's advice, something he didn't often do, but in this aspect of their work she was growing very confident and he respected her views. She had an instinctive flair for devising routines, and strongly resisted his original notions, saying they were far too complicated and difficult for inexperienced dancers. She also rejected his suggestions for costumes.

  'These girls aren't used to being half naked. If they have to worry about showing their legs and whether ostrich feathers will fall out of their hair they won't concentrate on the steps,' she pointed out. 'It can be just as effective if the dresses are pretty and the routine simple. Besides, it's for a classy audience, men and women, and we don't want any Edgbaston worthies being offended or embarrassed. They aren't dirty old men looking for high kicking lovelies and sexy thrills.'

  As she led the line of girls Gwyneth, who had been involved in some of the planning, was heartily thankful for Edwina's firmness. All dark-haired girls, they looked wholesome and pretty in knee-length white satin dresses. Gauzy, multi-coloured squares of material floated cornerwise from the shoulders and more were sewn to the loose, dropped waists.

  They all wore white satin headbands, and their short bobbed hair gleamed. White silk stockings and white satin shoes completed the attractive picture, and as a ripple of applause came from the audience Gwyneth knew it would be a success.

  They used basic ballroom steps, first linked as a line, then twirling free, coming together in a bewildering pattern of twos and threes as they wove their intricate maze. The coloured material floated around them and added to the kaleidoscopic effect, and when they ended by forming a line, hands linked behind one another's waists, and high-kicked their way off the ballroom floor they were followed by a storm of applause.

  'We've done it! We're proper dancers!' Kitty gasped. 'Nell, who could have imagined it? We are dancing in the same troupe!'

  'And only six months ago I was sneaking into your stable to find a bed for the night!' Nell laughed. 'I can hardly believe it!'

  'Hush, girls! Mr Denver is playing again,' Frank hissed, and herded the excited girls into the small room where they had changed. He shut the door.

  'Well done, girls. You were very good indeed. Now please listen carefully. Mr Endersby has agreed that you may accept invitations to dance if you wish. We would not permit it with every troupe, but I have assured him you are all sensible young ladies. He knows you won't abuse the permission, but he agrees with me that it would help to promote both the ballroom and the dancing school if you talk about them to his guests.'

  Not all the girls relished this prospect, and between them Kitty and Gwyneth had to persuade Nell and one of the others that they would be able to manage. When Andrew's second solo was finished, and the band struck up once more for ordinary dancing, Frank led the girls back into the ballroom.

  Kitty, who had not been too nervous to look about her and note which of her friends were present, seized Gwyneth and Nell by the hand and made straight for Paul Mandeville's table.

  'Mrs Mandeville, Paul, how lovely to see you! Don't you think Andrew is clever? Did you enjoy the dancing? I've brought my special friends Nell and Gwyneth to be introduced.'

  'I had no idea you wished to be a stage dancer, Kitty,' Mrs Mandeville replied, rather disapprovingly, and introduced her brother and niece. By the time Kitty turned round to her friends she found only Gwyneth, looking pale and bereft. She glanced further, to see Nell, clasped in Paul's arms, being whirled about the room.

  ***

  Chapter 9

  'Do you want to go?' Gwyneth asked. They were sitting in Gwyneth's room eating their evening meal.

  'It's rather a cheek, isn't it, mixing with her rich friends?'

  'She has invited us.'

  'I know. I suppose it might be fun. It's a lovely house.'

  'How do you know? You didn't tell me Kitty had invited you to her home before. I know she's very friendly, not at all snobbish, but we haven't known her for more than a few weeks.'

  'She didn't.' Nell shook her head and laughed, rather shamefaced. 'It seems such a long time ago, and I've left that life behind me now, thanks to you, and earlier, thanks to Kitty.'

  'Tell me. It sounds intriguing.'

  Nell explained how she used to climb out of the bedroom window
to escape from her father's beatings, and about that momentous night which had changed her life when she'd hidden in the stable behind Kitty's house.

  'When I went back for the shawl Andrew caught me. They were so kind and helpful. They didn't care a bit about me being a ragamuffin from Ladywood. They fed me, and Kitty gave me that good blouse and skirt, and the hat and coat. It was only because of them I got the job in the shop and met you.'

  'That was kind of her! But she didn't say anything at class.'

  'She is kind. I suppose she didn't want to embarrass me. But while you had your classes we talked and she asked what had happened, how I met you and managed to pay for lessons.'

  'So you met Andrew too,' Gwyneth said slowly. 'He'll be at the party, he's Kitty's cousin. So will that good-looking doctor who whisked you away from us at Endersby's. I met him once before. He came into the shop and persuaded his mother to buy lots of new gowns.'

  Nell flushed slightly. 'I didn't realise you knew him. He's known Kitty for years, he said.'

  'He was certainly attracted to you. Did you like him?' Gwyneth demanded, rather tense. Paul Mandeville had danced with her, but only out of politeness, she was sure. He'd been abstracted and spoken hardly at all.

  'He was very pleasant, but we only danced together twice. I didn't have a lot of time to get to know him,' Nell protested.

  She had in fact been so bemused at finding herself dancing with such a handsome, distinguished looking man in one of Birmingham's most prestigious hotels she'd scarcely noticed what he'd talked about, and couldn't recall a single one of her own remarks. She hoped he hadn't thought her a complete fool.

  'So we'll go to Kitty's party on Saturday. She said something about an old friend coming back from abroad. Timothy, I think she said his name was. That's the reason for it.'

  'I thought it was to celebrate our first public performance. I know the rest of the troupe have been invited.'

  'It will do that too, but from what she says Kitty doesn't need an excuse for a party. We'll think about dresses later. First we ought to practise that new set of steps. Mr Bliss is hoping to get us an engagement at one of the local theatres next week, they've been let down by another act.'

  Gwyneth wound up the old gramophone they had bought with the money from their performance at Endersby's, and they began to practise the routine Edwina had devised especially for them. Mr Bliss had been pleased with their performance, saying Nell had become so good she and Gwyneth were to perform a few more elaborate steps during the routine, with the less skilled girls in the background. It was a great help that they could practise every evening when they came home from their daytime jobs.

  Five minutes later there was a heavy knocking on the door. 'Miss Davis! Miss Davis! Am yow theer?'

  Gwyneth grinned across at Nell as she stopped the gramophone. 'Another complaint! Coming, Mrs Price,' she said, raising her voice.

  She opened the door and a large, red-faced woman, arms akimbo, marched into the room.

  'It ain't good enuff, yow gals, kickin' up yer legs an' upsettin' dacent folk wot wants ter sleep!'

  'It's only nine o'clock, Mrs Price,' Gwyneth said placatingly, glancing across at the small alarm clock beside her bed. 'No one can be asleep yet, and you know we have to practise, but we'll be done soon, I promise.'

  'Yer'll be dun roight now! Oi'm a'tellin' yow, no more bangin' an' thumpin'. Oi runs a dacent 'ouse, an' Oi'm not 'avin' yow lot in it no more! Out yer goos, next wik, sharpish. An' that's me last werd!'

  She left, banging the door, and the two girls stared at each other, suddenly frightened. Nell sank down onto the bed.

  'What on earth shall we do?' she asked, a note of panic in her voice.

  Gwyneth sat beside her. 'We'll look for somewhere else.'

  Nell gulped. She'd never had to find herself a room, Gwyneth had suggested this one, and she had no idea how to set about it. Suddenly she realised how ignorant she was still about the world.

  'How do we start?' she asked, feeling helpless and inadequate.

  'There are advertisements in newspapers, and shop windows, even in the houses where there are vacancies. Don't worry,' Gwyneth tried to reassure her. 'Maybe we can find somewhere on the ground floor, where we won't disturb anybody underneath. Cheer up, Nell, we've got two days and all next week to do it. It may not be so cheap, but we could share. There are plenty of rooms. We won't be homeless, and soon we'll be travelling all over the country, dancing at lots of different theatres. We'll be looking for places to live in lots of new towns. This is a sort of rehearsal.'

  *

  'Fleur! It's been ages! How are you? I haven't seen Maisie at the classes recently.'

  Fleur turned slowly away from the counter where she had been looking at some gloves.

  'Kitty?' she replied coolly. 'Maisie has enrolled in a good, respectable dancing school.'

  Kitty laughed. 'Is she still holding a grudge about my being put into the stage class? Come on, Fleur, forget it! Maisie won't ever be good enough for the stage. You said as much to me that night we went to the Tower. I'm having a party tomorrow, and you haven't said whether you're coming. Do come! Andrew will be there. He's back in Birmingham for some time now.'

  'No, thank you, Kitty. We have better – I mean other plans for tomorrow.'

  Kitty frowned, but before she could reply Fleur swept away, her head held high and her eyes averted. The salesgirl, who had been an interested audience to the short exchange, sighed and began to replace the gloves in the drawer, avoiding Kitty's eye.

  Kitty stared after Fleur in angry amazement. She hadn't thought the girl had enough spirit to snub anyone. Well, that would be the last time she spoke to either of the Carpenter sisters! They were jealous cats! But then, she supposed sisters would always support each other in the end. There were plenty of other people who were glad to be friends with her, who appreciated her! Nell Baxter, for instance, made it obvious she admired her looks, and was almost embarrassingly grateful for those clothes. Nell was, she suddenly thought, a sort of protégée, and even though she came from a dreadful background that wasn't her fault. She behaved and sounded like everyone else, and she was much friendlier than the Carpenter sisters or her other girlfriends. So was Gwyneth, and she'd been enormously helpful about extra practice. Kitty knew it was necessary to prevent the indignity of being told she was not good enough, which would have allowed Maisie to crow. She was good enough, but she'd started much later than the others. To her surprise it had been fun, too, just the three of them together. They laughed at the silliest things, and had even begun planning speciality dances for three. Kitty smiled to herself. Perhaps friendships amongst the bohemian theatre people would be more satisfying than with people she had known until now.

  *

  'Nell? Nell, wait fer me!'

  Nell swung round, startled, then held out her arms as Amy came rushing across the Hagley Road, dodging the trams and causing a horse pulling a coal wagon to shy nervously.

  'Amy! You nearly got run over!'

  'I thought it was you! I've missed yer so much! Oh, Nell, Nell!'

  She didn't seem able to go on, and instead burst into tears. Nell drew her towards a low wall surrounding one of the big houses and made her sit down, then she took out a handkerchief and mopped up Amy's tears.

  'Ma thought yer'd been killed, went ter the hospitals. Then 'er said yer'd been sold by summat called white traders. What's them, Nell?'

  Nell closed her eyes. How thoughtless she'd been! She just hadn't imagined the agony Ma would have felt at her sudden disappearance. And she knew that in spite of it all Ma loved them. It wasn't her fault she couldn't stand up to Pa and protect them from him. 'I – I didn't mean to make you worry,' she said after a pause.

  'Why didn't you tell us where yer was?' Amy asked.

  'I was ill at first, and I couldn't say goodbye,' Nell explained. 'A friend helped me. Afterwards I didn't dare to, in case Pa came after me. I wanted to see you, Amy, and Ma, truly I did, but I won't come back, an
d I don't want him to know where I am. Nor Danny and Sam.' She shivered at the recollection. 'Have they been home since?'

  Amy shook her head. ' Pa's bin madder'n ever since yer went. Danny an' Sam never came back. It sent 'im up wall. 'E chucked 'em out, but 'e still wants their money.'

  'I wouldn't have thought it paid for more than their food,' Nell said slowly.

  'Pa said we'll 'av ter go and find a cheaper 'ouse. I don't want ter leave me friends at school, nor Suky in next yard.' Amy was miserable. School and her few friends must be the only pleasure she had in life, Nell thought, feeling guilty that her own life was now so enjoyable.

  'I don't suppose he will. There can't be many houses in Ladywood let for less rent,' Nell tried to reassure her.

  'You're speakin' all posh,' Amy commented, her tears having dried up.

  Nell laughed, a little self-consciously. 'I'm used to talking like this now. You know I always could imitate anyone else. My new friends all talk like this, so I do as well.'

  'It's smashin'. I'd like ter do it an' all.' Amy smiled shyly at her sister. 'What are yer doin', Nell? 'Ave yer got a job? Yer must 'ave, ter buy nice clothes. An' where d'yer live? Can I see yer sometimes?'

  'Don't worry about me, I'm earning plenty and I've got a nice room,' Nell said quickly, wondering whether she would still have a room by the following week. 'Tell Ma not to worry, I'm fine.' She reached into her pocket. 'Here's half a crown. Take it straight to Ma. I'd send more if I could afford it. Don't let Pa know. I don't want him finding out and coming after me.'

  'I won't! Nell, ta ever so! Shall I wait 'ere an' see yer again?'

  'You'd better not,' Nell said cautiously. 'He might wonder why you were here. But look, he's usually dead to the world Sunday mornings. Come to Perrott's Folly and if I can I'll be there. But promise you won't let anyone else, not even Ma, know? If it stops being a secret he'll beat all of us.'

  Amy shuddered. 'Pa beats us lots more now. 'E said 'e'd kill yer if 'e found out where yer was. I wish I could run away too, an' I will when I'm older!'