Fur Coat, No Knickers

by Anna King

  Aggie snorted, all thoughts of Nobby temporarily forgotten.

  ‘Yeah, they’ve gone out, thank goodness. If I had to spend any more time in that woman’s company I wouldn’t be responsible for me actions.’

  Grace and Polly raised their eyebrows at each other over Aggie’s grey head. They had no need to ask who their grandmother was talking about.

  ‘God! That woman makes my blood boil,’ Aggie stormed. ‘For two pins I’d land her one right in the mouth. Whatever possessed Danny to take up with an old trollop like that…!’

  Stroking the grey hair tenderly, Grace said softly, ‘I don’t know why you keep on getting at her, Nan. It won’t do a blind bit of good. You’re not going to drive someone like her out with words; she’s too hard-faced for that.’

  Shifting round in the armchair that barely contained her girth, Aggie wagged a finger under Grace’s nose.

  ‘I can’t help it. Just looking at her gets me back up. Aw… what’s the use.’ She gave a heavy sigh and heaved herself up from the sagging chair. ‘I’m gonna make some tea, d’yer want some?’

  ‘No thanks, Nan.’

  ‘What about you, love?’ she asked Polly, who kept looking at the clock. They didn’t go down to the cellar now until ten o’clock or until the siren went, whichever came first, and they had a good couple of hours before thinking about bedding down for the night. Yet Polly was showing no signs of anxiety; in fact she looked bored.

  Polly declined her grandmother’s offer of tea and when Aggie had left the room, Grace slid down on the sofa beside her sister, her mind racing furiously. What Polly needed to fully restore her confidence was a good night up West in a proper nightclub, instead of the drabness of the church’s social club.

  Oh, who are you trying to kid, Grace Donnelly? she rebuked herself silently. The fact is, you’re bored and lonely and could do with a good night out, so don’t go fooling yourself that it’s Polly you’re thinking about.

  Even so, she cleared her throat and asked hesitantly, ‘Why don’t me and you go out, Poll? Vi and Beryl are always having all the fun, so why don’t we do the same? After all, it is Saturday night, so we don’t have to worry about getting up in the morning. And it’s not that late, is it? It’s only just gone eight. What do you say, Poll?’

  Polly’s eyes widened in amazement, and Grace was quick to note the element of fear that had suddenly crept into them and the nervous plucking of the black skirt that covered Polly’s knees.

  ‘Oh, I don’t know, Grace… I mean, I don’t mind going out any more, you know that, but at night I… I still get a bit frightened. Sorry, Grace, I…’

  Immediately ashamed for putting her sister into an awkward position, especially after the way she had progressed during the past months, Grace lowered her head in embarrassment. It had taken courage for Polly to leave the safety of the basement to go out and find a job, even with the ebullient Linda by her side. And she had started a social life again, albeit a small one. But both Aggie and Grace always noted the relief in Polly’s eyes when she was back home and settled in for the night. Now here she was, trying to push Polly that one step further, instead of leaving her to build up her confidence in her own good time.

  Patting Polly’s knees, Grace rose, and, forcing a light note into her voice, said, ‘It doesn’t matter, Poll. It is a bit late to think of going out, after all. Maybe some other time, eh?’

  Deep in her own thoughts, Polly nodded, her mind conjuring up images of the nightclubs Vi and Beryl were always raving about. It was a completely different life to her own, and even before Grace had brought up the subject, Polly had often lain awake at night wondering what it would be like to get really dressed up, put on a bit of make-up and wear the few pieces of jewellery she had accumulated on her birthdays over the years. Oh, it would be wonderful, if only she could muster the courage to actually do it. It would be different if they were going out in the company of a man, she wouldn’t be so frightened then.

  Shrugging her shoulders with regret she whispered to the empty room, ‘I will do it; I will… But… but not just yet. Maybe next weekend…’

  Out in the kitchen, Grace’s thoughts were running along the same lines – Polly was always more relaxed when in the company of men. The germ of an idea that had crept into her head earlier now gathered momentum, and, once again berating herself for being a hypocrite, she slipped out into the hall, took a deep breath, then, with trembling fingers, dialled a well-known number.

  * * *

  It was half an hour later when there was a knock on the door, bringing a note of annoyance from Aggie’s lips as she had just settled herself down to listen to the nine o’clock news.

  ‘Who the bleeding hell’s that at this time of night?’

  She looked hopefully at Polly, who was curled up on the sofa, her mind still dwelling on what Grace had asked earlier, and Aggie sighed gratefully as the young girl unfolded her legs and made for the front door.

  Grace, upstairs keeping out of Polly’s way, also heard the door, her face falling in disappointment as she heard Polly say listlessly, ‘Oh, it’s you. You weren’t out very long. Did you forget something?’

  Beryl’s strident voice carried through the house as she pushed past the young girl.

  ‘Yeah, as a matter of fact. Not that it’s any business of yours.’ Hurrying up the stairs, she met Grace on the hall landing. ‘I suppose you want to know all me business an’ all?’

  Grace shrugged disdainfully. ‘Don’t flatter yourself, Beryl. I couldn’t care less what you do.’

  Yet when Beryl emerged seconds later, stuffing a small packet into her handbag, Grace couldn’t resist asking slyly, ‘Forget your weekend supply, Beryl? I must say it comes to something when a woman’s got to buy her own protection. I was under the impression men took care of those details. Not that I’d know, of course, not having had the benefit of your experience.’

  Beryl’s face twisted into a snarl of rage, but before she could make a suitable rejoinder there was another knock on the door, and both women heard Polly’s happy voice crying, ‘Oh, Nobby. Oh, how wonderful to see you. Have you come for a visit? Oh, Nan will be pleased.’

  Her sister-in-law forgotten, Grace’s face broke into a smile of pure happiness, a smile that faltered into a look of astonishment at Beryl’s reaction to Nobby’s arrival. The painted face had turned white under the heavy make-up, and the open bag she was holding slipped nervously from her fingers, scattering its contents all over the hall carpet.

  ‘Whatever’s the matter with you, Beryl? It’s only Nobby Clark, a friend of the family. What are you getting so agitated about? You’ve hardly ever said two words to the man.’

  But Beryl was making herself busy collecting up the spilt contents of her handbag, a procedure that took considerably longer than the action required. It was only when she heard Nobby go into the sitting room that she moved. And move she did. With quick bounds, as if the very devil was after her, Beryl was down the stairs and out of the door before Grace could catch her breath.

  Grace, her face thoughtful, descended the stairs slowly. It wasn’t like Beryl to avoid a good-looking man, yet ever since the day she had been first briefly introduced to Nobby she had made it her business to stay well out of his way.

  As she entered the sitting room the smile returned to her face at the sight of Nobby sitting beside Polly on the settee, chatting together like old friends. Conscious of her rapidly beating heart, Grace played her part to perfection.

  ‘Why, Nobby, this is a nice surprise. We didn’t expect to see you tonight. Was there something special you wanted, or is this just a flying visit?’

  Nobby looked up, his deep grey eyes holding hers for a fraction of a second, before laughing gaily, ‘Actually, I wouldn’t say no to a cup of tea. And before you say you haven’t any to spare, I’ve brought me own.’ Leaning forward, he tapped Aggie’s knee, saying playfully, ‘There’s a good pound there, Aggie, better than that measly two ounces a week you get on your rations.
’

  Aggie’s face split into a huge grin. For if there was one thing she liked more than a drop of brandy, it was a good strong cup of tea. Reaching out a grateful hand, Aggie took the brown paper bag, then asked slyly, ‘’Ere, yer ain’t dabbling in the black market, are yer, son? Not that it bothers me, but Gracie here’s got strong moral principles about that sort of thing, ain’t yer, love?’

  But for once Grace wasn’t interested in where Nobby or Vi’s unwanted boyfriend Chris got their dubious supplies from. Tonight she had more important things on her mind.

  Taking the tea from Aggie, she said quickly, ‘I’ll make it, Nan. You listen to the news. I won’t be long.’

  Before she left the room she gave Nobby a conspiratorial look, and he answered her unspoken question with an imperceptible nod of his dark head.

  The door had no sooner closed after Grace when Nobby, his face bearing a serious expression, took hold of Polly’s hands and said quietly, ‘Actually, it’s you I wanted to see, Poll. I need a favour, and you’re the only one I can ask.’

  Polly squirmed on the sofa, her eyes wide in astonishment.

  ‘Me!’ she squealed. Nobody had ever needed her help before – well, not for anything important. Her face alight with excitement, she asked breathlessly, ‘What is it, Nobby? You know I’d do anything to help you if I can.’

  Nobby shifted on the comfortable cushions, his eyes momentarily dropping from Polly’s eager gaze. Lord! He hated deception of any kind, but as Grace had explained over the phone, something had to be done to free Polly of her fear of going out at night. Casting his mind back to the brief phone call, Nobby frowned as a thought crossed his mind. To his mind, Polly had come along in leaps and bounds since Grace had been in hospital, and certainly bore little resemblance to the cowed, terrified girl she had been during the first terrible months of the Blitz. So, she still didn’t like the thought of going out at night, but she would get over that particular fear in her own good time. Why then had Grace asked him to…? A surge of hope swept through his lean body. Could it be… could it possibly be that Grace was using Polly as an excuse to be with him? A broad smile crept on to his face, a smile that prompted Polly to say, ‘You look happy, Nobby. I thought you came round to ask me a favour of some kind. You don’t look to me as if you’ve got any problems.’

  Startled, Nobby immediately assumed what he hoped was a solemn expression, and answered, ‘It’s like this, Poll. I’ve asked Grace to come out with me a dozen times or more – just as friends, of course,’ he added hastily, knowing how fond Polly was of Stanley, and how deeply worried she was about him being held in a POW camp. If she had any inkling of the strong feelings he had for Grace, then the young girl would have no part in the scheme he and Grace had planned – or should he say the scheme he had in mind. Maybe Grace had been truthful in her desire to help Polly, yet…

  Clearing his throat, he sat forward until he was sitting on the edge of the sofa, then, dropping his hands between his knees in what he hoped was a gesture of uncertainty, he continued in a soft voice, aware Aggie was sitting only a few feet away, her attention seemingly held by the voice on the wireless. ‘The thing is, Poll, she won’t agree to a night out with me. She feels she’d be being disloyal going out and having a good time while poor Stan’s being held prisoner. And to tell the truth, I don’t think she trusts me motives,’ he laughed softly. ‘But if you were to come with us, sort of pretend a night out was for your benefit, then she wouldn’t have any excuse. Would you, Poll? It’d mean a lot to me, and Grace could do with a bit of pampering after what she’s gone through. What d’yer say, Poll? Will you help me out?’

  Polly’s body stiffened slightly, the old fear returning as she contemplated leaving the safety of the house at night. And yet – this was Nobby asking. Nobby, her friend, who had never asked a favour of her in all the time she had known him. How could she refuse those penetrating, kindly eyes? Plus she had promised herself that she would lose her fear of the night, and what better way than to have Nobby by her side? Nothing bad would happen to her or Grace while Nobby was with them, and, oh, wouldn’t it be lovely to have a night out up West…!

  Quickly now, before she changed her mind, Polly jutted out her chin and, in a determined voice, said breathlessly, ‘All right, Nobby, you’re on.’

  Surprised and delighted that Polly had agreed, Nobby nevertheless detected a tiny tremor of fear and uncertainly in Polly’s voice, and because he was genuinely fond of the red-haired, freckled young girl, he said with authority and confidence, ‘If you’re worried about a raid tonight, Poll, then don’t be. They won’t be over tonight, there’s no bombers’ moon to guide them. Trust me on this, I know what I’m talking about.’

  Polly looked into Nobby’s kindly, solemn eyes and immediately relaxed. Trust me, he had said. Of course she trusted him, trusted him with her life, so great was her confidence in this man.

  Jumping to her feet, she cried merrily, ‘Tell Grace to get a move on, then, Nobby. I’m going upstairs to change into something a bit glamorous.’ Grinning, she leant down and added, ‘I’ll have to pinch something from Vi’s wardrobe, or borrow something from Grace, because I certainly don’t have anything in my wardrobe suitable for a West End club, and I wouldn’t want to embarrass you.’

  Gazing up into the flushed, excited face, Nobby felt a lump come to his throat.

  ‘You’d never embarrass me, love. Not if you was dressed in rags.’

  Polly’s flush deepened, then she almost ran from the room.

  Nobby heard her calling to Grace, then the sound of both young women running up the stairs. All at once he felt drained and guilt-ridden. The look of absolute trust in Polly’s eyes had momentarily stunned him. Oh, he knew he had a gift with words, especially with women, but never before had he witnessed such unwavering faith in him, and the memory left him feeling humble.

  He’d almost forgotten Aggie’s presence until she cut into his thoughts, saying artfully, ‘Yer should’ve taken up acting, lad. You’d have given all those film stars a run for their money after that performance.’

  Nobby stared guiltily, then grinned.

  ‘Where you listening the whole time?’

  ‘Course I was, it was a lot more interesting than all that doom an’ gloom on the wireless.’ Her demeanour suddenly altering, she leant forward and, staring him directly in the eyes, said, ‘You’re a good bloke, Nobby Clark, an’ if things were different, there’s nothing I’d like better than to see you and my Gracie make a go of it. And don’t pretend you’re not interested. I ain’t that old that I can’t spot a man in love when I see one. And if it’s any consolation, Grace feels the same about you. But don’t ever tell her I said so, else me life won’t be worth living.’

  A rush of happiness raced through Nobby’s mind and body. So Grace did love him. He hadn’t read the signs wrong, she really loved him. But the sudden euphoria vanished as quickly as it had come. Whether she loved him or not, nothing could ever come of it until Stanley was safely home, or…!

  ‘Here, Nan, how do I look?’ Polly came waltzing into the room wearing a smart black dress that belonged to Grace. Her hair, for once, was hanging loose around her shoulders, and although she would never be termed a beauty, she looked in this minute a very attractive young lady. Close behind her followed Grace, who was wearing a red dress that reached to her mid-calves, a dress her nan had made for her before the war, and she’d never had the chance to wear until now.

  ‘Well, will we do?’ Grace asked gaily.

  Nobby got to his feet, his eyes shining in admiration.

  ‘I’ll have to keep all the other fellows away with a stick. Have you got one I can borrow, Aggie?’

  Happier than she’d felt in a long time, Aggie waved her hand at Nobby, laughing, ‘Get away with yer, yer daft bugger. And don’t keep me girls out too late, or you’ll have me ter answer to.’

  Nobby bowed at the waist to the grey-haired woman, then, offering an arm to each girl, he escorted them grandl
y from the room.

  Chapter Eighteen

  When the two young women walked into the Top Hat nightclub, their eyes widened in childish excitement and delight. Up until now, their nights out had consisted of an evening down the local pub or at the social club with their family. But this place… well! It was like something you saw in the films. As their feet sank into the deep, plush red carpet, their eyes swept the large, luxurious room. Overhead hung revolving, crystal globe-shaped chandeliers, and on the bandstand three men in tuxedos were belting out a perfect rendition of ‘Ain’t Misbehaving’, while smartly dressed couples danced and jiggled along to the catchy tune on the small dance floor.

  Glancing first at Grace, and then at Polly, Nobby grinned in delight at the sparkle in their eyes; their faces seemed to have had years taken off them. Then he looked down at their feet and almost laughed aloud as he saw their feet tapping in time to the music.

  A well-groomed man came towards them, his weathered face lighting up at the sight of his customer.

  ‘Well! As I live and breath, if it ain’t me old mate, Nobby Clark. Good to see you again, mate. It must be years since we last met up.’ His shrewd eyes flickering to Grace and Polly, the man gave a soft chuckle. ‘See you ain’t changed much, Nobby, only it used to be one at a time. Seems you’re getting greedy in your old age.’

  The smile slipped slightly from Nobby’s face. He didn’t want the man getting the wrong idea about Grace and Polly. His voice a shade terse, he said tightly, ‘These two young ladies are very good friends of mine, Pete. In fact you could say they’re like family.’

  Immediately realising his mistake, and anxious to make amends, the man called Pete ushered them like royalty to a front side table near the band. Then, clicking his fingers at a nearby waiter, he ordered a bottle of champagne ‘on the house’.

  ‘Thanks, Pete, but there’s no need to go overboard,’ Nobby responded drily.