The Silver Ladies of London

by Eames, Lesley

  ‘I’ve already drawn a line,’ Lydia said, but the smile he sent her was even more annoying than usual. Why did this man think he knew her better than she knew herself?

  ‘Where did you see her?’ he asked.

  Lydia rolled her eyes.

  ‘Why be secretive about something that doesn’t matter?’

  ‘I happened to be in Selfridges one day and there she was, taking tea with friends.’

  ‘It’s strange how you happened to be in Selfridges at the exact moment your mother happened to be there.’

  ‘It’s called coincidence,’ she retorted.

  ‘Sure.’

  His tone made her fingers itch to slap him. Instead she chose a different tactic to shut him up. A blow to his vanity. ‘What a wonderful teacher Hux is. A great driver too. I like him.’

  The blow struck and Harry looked back at the road.

  She was being unfair because Harry was just as good a teacher and driver. But he hadn’t played fair by interfering in her private concerns.

  Hopefully he’d learned his lesson because she didn’t want there to be any awkwardness between them when she practised and especially not when she raced. Or rather if she raced.

  She needed Stockton Groves’ approval first. She also needed to know where things stood with Grace for how could Lydia let Sam, Hux and Harry invest their time and hopes in her if she couldn’t commit to being a member of the team? Lydia would keep a close eye on Grace and if Grace said nothing about her plans soon, then Lydia would have to ask her about them.

  Thirty-nine

  Grace had good reason for keeping her decision to leave to herself for the time being. She wanted her friends to be confident about managing her side of the business before she told them her plans, in case they worried about how they might cope. She’d also had an idea about getting them some extra help but wanted to know if it were possible before she mentioned it.

  But Lydia had been keeping rather a close eye on her over the last couple of weeks and Grace wondered if she’d grown suspicious. Lydia might even be building up to ask Grace directly if she were planning to leave because there’d been an air of determination about her when she’d got up this morning.

  It wasn’t fair to keep Lydia in suspense, but if Grace could have only a little more time to explore the possibility of that extra help it might benefit Lydia enormously.

  Hearing Lydia’s footsteps on the garage stairs, Grace got up from the desk, readying herself to flee from questions before Lydia had a chance to ask them. ‘Would you listen for the telephone while I go to the Post Office?’ she asked.

  ‘Can’t you go later?’ Lydia was exasperated. She’d probably been waiting all morning to catch Grace alone. Ruth was at work, but Jenny had only just left to deliver business cards to a new florist that had opened nearby.

  ‘I need to get these letters in the post and buy bread,’ she explained before hurrying out.

  The worst of the winter was behind them now. Spring wasn’t quite here but it was on its way and the days were growing longer. There were buds on the trees and daffodils in the garden squares. People were beginning to put away their drab winter clothes too. There was more colour to be seen in skirts and dresses. People even walked differently, their strides more relaxed now they were no longer scurrying to escape the cold.

  Grace took far longer to shop than necessary. By the time she returned to Shepherds Mews, Jenny had thankfully returned too and it was time for lunch. Afterwards Jenny washed their dishes and Grace went into the office to answer a phone call. Lydia pounced the moment the call finished.

  ‘Grace, I need to know what’s—’

  A knock on the outside door made Lydia growl in frustration. But Grace rushed to open the door to Owen and Bryn, and felt a stab of pleasure mixed with pain. She also felt relief because she wanted to talk to Owen today.

  ‘Bryn’s here to do penance again,’ Owen said, ‘if it’s convenient?’

  ‘Come up,’ Grace smiled.

  This was the third time Owen had brought Bryn to carry out some chores for Silver Ladies, though the visits were more enjoyable to Bryn than burdensome. Grace was glad of it. He was a nice boy who’d learned his lesson.

  Lydia mastered her irritation well, as Bryn was a kindred spirit. ‘I’ve been saving jobs for you,’ she told him now, nodding towards the garage. ‘Down you go, squirt.’

  Bryn bounded downstairs and Lydia followed.

  ‘Bryn loves coming here,’ Owen remarked, alone with Grace now.

  ‘Will you take him into the business when he’s older?’ she asked.

  ‘If he’s still of the same mind when the time comes. I believe people should choose their own destinies.’

  So did Grace, but it wasn’t always a straightforward choice. She was even more eager to be gone from London since meeting Owen’s wife, Bethan, while out shopping. Bryn had introduced her to his mother and then to his elder sister, Gwyneth, his younger sister, Arwen, and his baby brother, Huw. Grace had smiled at each of them in turn. Had she seen any of them out and about before? Possibly, but without Bryn’s presence she wouldn’t have connected them to Owen.

  ‘I hope Bryn isn’t getting under your feet,’ Bethan had said.

  ‘No, he’s helpful.’

  ‘Mad about motors, he is. Just like his da.’

  It was hard to be fair-minded when jealous, but Grace had taken away an impression of a pleasant but not quick-witted woman. Owen might admire Grace’s intelligence, but doubtless it was Bethan’s cosy domesticity that he preferred in his home. Just for a moment Grace wondered why he’d never mentioned that Bryn wasn’t his only child but why would he mention it? Grace was just a neighbour and business acquaintance to him and hardly a close family friend. The warmer feelings were only on her side.

  It was with a view to getting away from London that Grace wanted to speak to Owen now. Thinking it might help to keep things informal, she moved towards the living quarters. ‘I’ll make some tea,’ she suggested.

  There was plenty of milk, so she poured a glass for Bryn. The office was empty when Grace walked through to take it to him. Owen was on the passage but he couldn’t have heard her approach because he stepped back suddenly and Grace had to spring sideways to avoid a collision.

  ‘Sorry,’ he said, when he saw that milk had slopped over her sleeve.

  ‘It’s nothing.’

  Returning to the office, she put the glass on the desk to search for a handkerchief, but Owen followed and pulled one from his pocket. ‘Let me.’

  He took hold of her hand to steady her arm as he dabbed at her sleeve. He was close enough for Grace to feel warmth radiating from his body. She could see the movement of his chest as he breathed, and the beginnings of dark hair where the top buttons of his shirt were unfastened. She could even smell him – a clean, hot, masculine smell.

  But he was someone else’s husband… Grace pulled her arm away. ‘Mr Tedris, please!’

  Surprise flickered in his eyes. But then his expression hardened and he stepped away. Clearly he thought she was accusing him of making improper advances and he was insulted. He returned to the passage. ‘Bryn, I’ve just remembered there’s something I need to do at home.’

  ‘Can I stay?’ he pleaded.

  Owen’s reply was brusque. ‘Not today.’

  Bryn came upstairs reluctantly.

  ‘Mr Tedris,’ Grace began, as Owen steered Bryn past her.

  He paused to raise an ironic eyebrow, but how could she explain that it was she who’d felt the inappropriate attraction?

  ‘Thank you for giving Bryn the chance to make up for his foolish venture into vandalism,’ he said. ‘I hope we can agree that the debt is paid?’

  ‘Of course. There was really no need to—’

  ‘Good. We won’t trouble you further. I wish you good day, Miss Lavenham, and every success with your business.’

  With that he was gone.

  Grace sat at the desk and put her head on her arms.
r />   What on earth had she been thinking, responding to a perfectly innocent gesture like that? The shame was scalding. Grace couldn’t even comfort herself with the thought that her idiotic behaviour affected only herself for her idea for getting help for Silver Ladies had walked out of the door with Owen. But she could delay her return to Ruston no longer. Tonight she’d gather her friends together and tell them her plans.

  Forty

  Johnnie kissed Jenny’s lips lightly, then smiled at her. ‘All right?’

  ‘Nice.’

  ‘I thought so.’ With a final stroke of her cheek, he released her.

  ‘I’ll let myself out.’ Jenny opened the door of Johnnie’s shabby Ford and stepped into Shepherds Mews, watching from the office door as he turned the car around.

  How wonderful he was. How gentle. Far from judging her over Jonas, he was entirely on her side.

  ‘Not all men are like your stepfather,’ he’d said. ‘I love you and that means respecting you too. I’ll admit I’d begun to wonder if your feelings for me were quite… But now I understand. That man tainted your views, but I’m going to help you to see that love is healthy and clean. Beautiful.’

  It was such a relief to have everything out in the open. Already the fear she felt when Johnnie touched her was receding because there was no need to panic anymore. Johnnie had assured her she could have as much time as she needed to put Jonas behind her and Jenny trusted him.

  More than ever she wanted to be a good wife to him and it was Jenny who’d first suggested he kiss her as long as he stopped if it became too much for her.

  The first kiss had been hesitant, but, wonderfully, she’d been able to fight the horrible image of Jonas until it ebbed away again. The second kiss had been easier. The third, easier still. Not pleasurable exactly, but safe. And having made so much progress already, it could only be a matter of time before her passion grew.

  She blew him another kiss and, after pretending to catch it, Johnnie grinned and drove off.

  Smiling, Jenny jogged upstairs to the office, then came to a sudden halt as she walked into an atmosphere that was taut enough to snap.

  ‘Grace is leaving us,’ Lydia said tersely, getting up from a visitor’s chair.

  Jenny’s gaze flew to Grace’s face.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Grace said. ‘I was planning to talk to you altogether but…’ She shrugged.

  Obviously Lydia had blundered in and asked her outright. Jenny couldn’t blame her for that. Lydia needed to know where she stood. But what about Grace?

  Jenny sat in the chair Lydia had vacated. ‘I know it’s been difficult for you to be away from your gran.’

  ‘It was always going to be difficult, but I’d hoped it would be worth some short-term sacrifice to make Gran’s life better in the longer term. Silver Ladies is doing well. In another year or so we might well be earning enough to find somewhere decent to live. Somewhere I could bring Gran. But I can’t wait another year. She’s getting frailer and frailer, and I’ll never forgive myself if something happens to her when I’m not there.’

  ‘Do you know when you’re leaving?’

  ‘Soon, though I’d like to make sure all’s well with Silver Ladies first.’

  Jenny wanted Grace to stay for as long as possible but it wasn’t fair to keep her a day longer than necessary when she was obviously worried about her gran. ‘Don’t delay for our sakes if you’re desperate to go.’

  ‘In many ways I’ll be sorry. Running Silver Ladies has been hard, but I’ve never felt more alive. Running a business was my dream and I’m grateful to all of you for making that possible.’

  ‘We couldn’t have done it without you,’ Jenny reminded her. Even now Jenny was nervous about how they’d cope when Grace left. Judging from her brooding expression, so was Lydia.

  ‘We did it together,’ Grace insisted.

  ‘What will you do in Ruston?’ Jenny asked.

  ‘Find work. Probably not in Ruston itself – we never did clear our names – but I’ll try Northampton again.’

  Jenny doubted Grace would find work to match her abilities, but she’d always been the sort of person who put other people’s needs above her own.

  ‘Silver Ladies is going from strength to strength and that needn’t change just because I’m not here,’ Grace said. ‘It was always Ruth’s plan to work in the business when it could pay her a wage and now I’m going it can. Not a big wage yet, it’s true, but hopefully Ruth will think it’s enough. And even if I can’t be a partner anymore, I’ll keep in touch and help as much as I can.’

  Lydia leaned against the wall, silent still.

  Jenny turned to her. ‘If you’re worried I’m leaving too, please don’t. I won’t be getting married for ages yet.’

  ‘I’d hate to think my plans are stopping you from getting married sooner,’ Grace worried.

  ‘It just wouldn’t be right for us to marry quickly,’ Jenny said. ‘Not when Johnnie’s grandmother died so recently. Besides, if we wait for a while, Johnnie’s parents will see he’s marrying me of his own free will and not in the grip of an infatuation.’

  It was the truth but not the whole truth. Jenny wanted to wait until she was completely comfortable with Johnnie’s kisses before they married, but she hadn’t told her friends about that particular problem. It would have felt disloyal to Johnnie to discuss his kisses.

  ‘I suppose that makes sense,’ Grace conceded.

  ‘Johnnie isn’t the sort of stuffy man who expects his wife to stop working anyway.’

  ‘You might have babies,’ Lydia pointed out.

  Jenny’s face grew even warmer. ‘That won’t happen for at least a year or two.’

  ‘By which time Silver Ladies may be doing well enough to justify taking on a new person,’ Grace finished. ‘Someone like us, who’ll come in as a working partner. Or someone who’ll invest in the business so we can employ another driver.’

  ‘Actually, that man down the mews might be interested,’ Lydia suggested, livening up a little.

  ‘Mr Tedris! That’s a wonderful idea,’ Jenny agreed.

  ‘As long as he understands he’ll be an investor and not the boss,’ Lydia added.

  ‘I think he’s busy enough,’ Grace said.

  She looked awkward, and Jenny wondered if they’d discussed it already and he’d turned her down. Grace might feel she’d been wrong to discuss Silver Ladies without their permission, so Jenny decided not to ask.

  ‘It’ll strengthen your bargaining position if you build Silver Ladies up a bit more before getting someone else involved,’ Grace continued. ‘You’ll manage perfectly well with Ruth taking my place. She’s a capable girl. And don’t worry about taking time off for racing, Lydia. I’m sure you’ll be able to work out free time for all of you.’

  ‘It’ll be lovely to have Ruth working with us, but I’m going to miss you so much, Grace,’ Jenny said, feeling her eyes fill and her throat tighten.

  ‘So am I,’ Lydia admitted. Coming from someone who hated to appear vulnerable that was heartfelt indeed.

  ‘I’ll miss all of you too.’ Grace managed a smile but Jenny could see she was feeling bleak inside.

  ‘Perhaps you’ll be able to come back to us one day,’ she suggested.

  ‘Perhaps,’ Grace agreed. ‘For once, I’m glad we’ve nothing booked tonight. We can sit down with Ruth and plan the future.’

  *

  Ruth’s face turned pale when she returned from work to find them all waiting. ‘What’s this?’

  ‘Nothing to worry about,’ Grace assured her. She helped Ruth off with her coat and hat. ‘Sit down, darling.’

  Ruth sat but warily.

  ‘I’m returning to Ruston,’ Grace said, sitting down beside her.

  ‘Your gran—’ Ruth began, alarmed.

  ‘Nothing’s happened. But I need to be with her.’

  Grace explained their plans for Silver Ladies. Ruth heard her in silence but jumped up when Grace finished talking. Jenny assumed she m
eant to give Grace a hug, but with growing amazement she realised Ruth was furious.

  ‘So the three of you have been sitting here plotting behind my back,’ Ruth said.

  ‘Plotting?’ Grace was all amazement too. ‘It wasn’t like that, Ruth. I only told Jenny and Lydia about my plans earlier because—’

  ‘I asked her,’ Lydia admitted.

  ‘Grace would have preferred to tell us altogether,’ Jenny soothed.

  ‘We thought you wanted to work in the business, but if you’ve changed your mind we’ll think again. We certainly didn’t intend to impose our plans on you,’ Grace explained.

  ‘Good. Because I don’t like your plans. I like working in the shoe shop, so you’ll have to make other arrangements.’

  With that Ruth rushed into the living quarters and slammed the door.

  Forty-one

  Ruth came to a sudden halt. Had she really spoken to her friends so aggressively? What on earth had possessed her?

  Ruth knew exactly what had possessed her, but she could never explain about the new demands Victor Rabley had begun making on her. About how trapped she felt. How frightened and alone. She was barely sleeping or eating with the strain of it all.

  A minute passed. Two minutes. Three. Ruth heard murmurs in the office. Her friends must be talking about her, and no wonder.

  Even if she couldn’t explain her selfish behaviour, she owed them an apology, especially Grace, who’d done so much for Ruth over the years.

  Their conversation ceased the moment Ruth opened the door.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘You caught me by surprise and—’

  ‘Hush, love.’ Grace steered Ruth to a chair. ‘I’m the one who should apologise. It was wrong of me to keep my plans secret.’

  A lump formed in Ruth’s throat. Hot and spiky. Grace’s secrets were nothing compared to hers.

  ‘It was especially unfair to spring my news on you when you’d just got home from work,’ Grace added. ‘You’ve every right to be cross and every right to have changed your mind about working in the business.’