Wartime at Liberty's

by Fiona Ford

  Recognising that there was nothing more to say, Flo got to her feet and walked out of the office without a backwards glance. Not for the first time that morning she found herself wishing she had never come back to Liberty’s; everything around her was changing and Flo hated it.

  Chapter Four

  It had taken Flo a good few seconds to remember that she wasn’t going back to her home in Islington that night and was instead, albeit temporarily, returning to Bell Street.

  Since Henry had dropped his bombshell earlier that day, she could think about little else. Flo was faced with an impossible choice and she was no closer to making it. As she veered between the pros and cons of firing each girl, Flo felt wretched.

  She couldn’t fire Alice. Not only was the girl her deputy department manager but had a son she was raising all alone since her husband, Luke, had left her for a French Resistance fighter earlier that year. Since then Alice had found new love with handsome GI Jack Capewell, but Flo knew her friend’s first priority was her son, Arthur, and putting clothes on his back and food in his belly. What sort of a boss – or friend come to that – would Flo be if she sacked her?

  Then there was Mary. She had only been with the department a year after being dishonourably discharged from the women’s army, but had fast become a close friend and firm favourite with the customers. With her wealthy upbringing and double-barrelled name, Mary had barely known one end of a needle from the other when she arrived in the fabric department and Flo hadn’t been sure she was right for the job as sales assistant. However, she had quickly proved her worth, and when the truth behind her discharge was revealed Flo was proud of the way every one of the Liberty girls raced to her side and rallied round. Now she was not only a vital part of the department but she also carer to Rose and her father Malcolm, with Rose partially blind and Malcolm’s injuries from the last war. The two of them hated to admit it but they relied on Mary and the rent money she brought in.

  Dot was a possibility, Flo mused. But Dot was also courting store manager Edwin Button. The two had been childhood sweethearts and had reunited a year or so ago after becoming reacquainted through the store. Mr Button might be one of the fairest men she had ever known, but even he might be against her sacking his sweetheart.

  Lastly of course there was Jean. She was the newest girl to join the group and together with her sister Bess, who worked in a munitions factory over in Hayes, had moved into Flo’s house after Aggie’s death. Bess usually stayed in alternative lodgings nearer the factory during the week, but at the weekend returned to London and shared Flo’s old room with Jean. Flo had taken Aggie’s room, which was smaller but looked out onto the allotments at the back. The girls were like chalk and cheese; Bess was overbearing and loud while Jean was timid and polite. Bess was small and round with a flat nose and eyes as brown as berries. Jean was tall, thin and striking with her cat-like green eyes and wide open smile. The only thing that made them look like sisters was the jet-black hair that fell to the small of their backs. Yet despite the girls’ differences, in the three months they had been living together the arrangement was working out well.

  Flo chewed her lip. On the face of it, Jean was the right one to give the push to: last in, first out. But on the other hand, she was such a sweetheart, Flo wasn’t sure she could do it to her.

  Now, as she stepped off the Tube at the Elephant and Castle and made her way through the dark streets towards Bell Street, Flo resolved to push it all from her mind. She needed a night away from it and the idea of spending a quiet evening with Alice, Dot and Arthur was just what the doctor ordered.

  Flo had barely rapped on the heavy wooden door before it swung open. There on the doorstep, grinning for all she was worth, was Dot.

  ‘Well, come on in then, don’t stand there letting all the light out on to the street. We’ll get fined,’ she said, practically pulling Flo inside.

  ‘I’m just coming,’ Flo mumbled as Dot shut the door gently behind her.

  ‘Arthur’s asleep upstairs,’ Dot said.

  ‘What is all this?’ Flo asked. ‘You don’t usually roll out the red carpet when I visit.’

  ‘I want you to feel at home,’ Dot said, her grey eyes flashing with impatience. ‘That’s why I thought we’d have a little get-together this evening. I’ve invited everyone over for something to eat.’

  Flo groaned inwardly as she walked down the dark narrow hallway towards the brightly lit kitchen. The last thing she needed was a set of visitors, and today was no exception. She had only just seen everyone at the funeral yesterday. Surely Dot could see that?

  But then she remembered the excitement on the older woman’s face as she had swung open the door, and knew that this was Dot’s way of showing her affection. Flo shouldn’t be so ungrateful.

  Walking into the kitchen, she saw all her friends gathered around the large scrubbed wooden table beneath the window.

  ‘Surprise!’ Mary’s green eyes were filled with warmth as she held a teapot aloft. ‘You timed that well.’

  ‘And I made mock duck,’ Alice added proudly, gesturing to the large plate of food on the table.

  ‘Here, you must be exhausted,’ Jean said from her position next to Rose as she pulled out a chair for Flo to sit on.

  ‘Thanks,’ Flo replied, sinking her weight on to the chair.

  She looked around the beaming faces. There was Rose, sitting opposite, her long auburn hair hanging like a shimmering curtain around her shoulders. And there was Bess, Jean’s sister, sitting quietly in between Mary and Mr Button. She smiled gratefully at the older girl. The two barely knew each other, but it was nice of her to take the time to come all this way after her busy week in Hayes.

  ‘How was your first day back, dear?’ Mr Button asked, his copper eyes crinkling with kindness. ‘I imagine it was something of a shock.’

  Flo arched an eyebrow. ’There were definitely a few challenges I couldn’t have predicted.’

  Mr Button smiled. ‘As is so often the way.’

  ‘You’re a dark horse though. Why didn’t you tell us about the Board of Trade position?’ she replied.

  At the mention of those illustrious three words, the girls babbled excitedly amongst themselves. ‘I only found out about it last week,’ Mr Button said above the noise. ‘And I promised I wouldn’t tell a soul.’

  ‘He told nobody but me, and as you know I am the soul of discretion,’ Dot said solemnly.

  As she handed out the plates to everyone, Flo stifled a giggle. Dot was discreet when she wanted to be; otherwise she had a tendency to tell anyone and everyone anything she pleased.

  ‘So when do you start, Mr B.?’ Mary called across the table.

  ‘Already have,’ Mr Button smiled. ‘Last Monday.’

  ‘And what can you tell us?’ Rose asked.

  ‘Absolutely nothing.’ Mr Button chuckled. ‘Sworn to secrecy. I can tell you I’ll be working in consultation with a few others, and lending my expertise to various projects regarding the utility idea.’

  ‘Sounds exciting,’ said Alice.

  ‘It is.’ Mr Button beamed. ‘As is Flo’s return to work today.’

  At that, Flo smiled and helped herself to some of the mock duck Alice had prepared.

  There was silence for a few mouthfuls as everyone tucked into the food, and Flo was grateful. She needed a chance to gather her thoughts together and food was the perfect excuse.

  ‘So, Bess, will we be seeing you at the departmental dinner tomorrow evening?’ Mr Button enquired. ‘You would be welcome to join Jean as her guest.’

  Bess frowned. ‘You sure I’m allowed to come to this dinner?’

  Flo nodded. ‘We’re all allowed to bring a guest. Alice will be bringing her friend Jack—’

  ‘Ooh, that handsome GI you’ve been knocking about with,’ Bess interrupted, her eyes alive with mischief.

  ‘His name is Jack,’ Alice said sullenly.

  ‘And I will be bringing Rose as my guest,’ Flo said as she narrowed her eyes at
Bess, making it clear she wasn’t going to stand for any smutty remarks.

  Bess shrugged, the gesture clearly lost on her, before wrapping a loving arm around her sister. ‘’Course I’ll be there. You can count me in for a free meal any day of the week.’

  Flo gritted her teeth. There were times she found Bess’s blatant honesty a little too much to bear.

  ‘And I’ve got something I want to talk about as well,’ Rose put in. ‘Mr Button and I have been meeting over the last few weeks.’

  ‘Careful now!’ Bess sniggered. ‘People will talk.’

  ‘And we have been talking about the idea of a Liberty’s fundraising evening,’ Rose went on proudly. ‘You know, raising money for the war effort. The staff at Smart and Williams raised enough for a Spitfire last year.’

  A fresh wave of excitement rippled across the room.

  ‘When were you thinking of, darlin’?’ Dot asked.

  ‘December. Around then anyway, when everyone’s in a good mood.’

  ‘And what sort of show did you have in mind?’ Alice asked.

  ‘We were thinking about a variety show, lots of different acts from all the departments.’

  ‘Ooh, what a wonderful idea.’ Mary grinned. ‘I can do my impressions.’

  Flo hid a smirk as she caught the expressions of horror on the girls’ faces. Mary’s impressions were at best hit and miss.

  ‘Actually, we were rather hoping you might be our star turn, Flo,’ Rose put in.

  ‘Me?’ Flo frowned. ‘What could I possibly do?’

  ‘Sing!’ Mr Button beamed. ‘You’ve a beautiful voice, Flo. We would be honoured if you would sing for us.’

  At the mere suggestion Flo felt a wave of horror crash over her.

  ‘I’m sorry, but no,’ she said firmly, indicating the subject was closed.

  Ignoring the looks of surprise on her friends’ faces, Flo returned to her plate of mock duck. The idea of singing again, of doing something so rich in pleasure, was unthinkable. She would go through life doing what was strictly necessary – pleasure wasn’t something she deserved after what she had done.

  Chapter Five

  As usual the store was filled with shoppers that Saturday. Flo thought the girls looked like a fully choreographed dance troupe as she watched Mary step into line behind Alice to serve a regular.

  The hierarchical system of each sales assistant serving on the basis of seniority was a long-established tradition at Liberty’s and one Flo enjoyed preserving when so much was changing. Gone were the liveried commissionaires who would hold the doors open for customers and gone were the beautifully decadent tearooms in the crypt. Instead the brown and white tiled basement was now home to the ARP canteen that fed hungry wardens and fire-watchers after long cold nights spent guarding the roof of Liberty’s.

  ‘Mrs Canning, what are you doing about this queue?’ a voice hissed in her ear, breaking her train of thought. ‘It’s almost out of the door.’

  Whipping her head round Flo was alarmed to come face-to-face with Henry, standing with his arms folded. Flo was surprised to find she felt a pulse of alarm.

  ‘It’s all under control. The girls know precisely what they’re doing,’ she said evenly, doing her best to keep her nerves hidden.

  ‘And where’s Miss Rushmore?’ he barked, lifting his wrist to check his watch. ‘It’s half past two. She can’t be at lunch.’

  ‘No, she’s on a half-day. It was arranged earlier in the week before I had a chance to let the girls know that there is to be no more time off on Saturdays,’ Flo said hurriedly.

  ‘And where is Mrs Hanson?’ he asked coolly.

  ‘She only works part-time; as you know she job-shares with Mrs Milwood.’

  There was a pause then as Flo watched Henry survey the shop floor with a practiced eye. Flo shifted uncomfortably. She knew that the department looked busy, but that was the way it was sometimes. Everything was under control – the girls were old hands.

  Proving her point, as Mary said goodbye to her customer, she moved seamlessly on to the next lady, who was busy stroking a micro-floral-printed Tana Lawn. Within seconds Mary had greeted the customer, made her smile, offered to measure up and was leading her to the long wooden cutting table.

  ‘As you can see we have a well-organised system,’ Flo said, unable to keep a hint of smugness from her voice.

  ‘It might be well organised, Mrs Canning, but you’ve still got customers waiting,’ Henry replied, gesturing towards a group of women waiting by the department’s entrance. ‘This is not the standard Liberty’s expects.’

  Flo felt a flash of fury. ‘So what do you think will happen when we lose a valued staff member? I know you want to make cutbacks but this is a very real example of what the department will look like on a Saturday afternoon when we lose a girl.’

  If Henry looked surprised at Flo’s outburst he didn’t show it. ‘Mrs Canning, I was merely—’

  But Flo had heard enough. ‘I’m sorry, Mr Masters, but since our meeting all I’ve thought about is who I have to sack, and now you’re down here telling me that my department is failing. Much as I would love to stand here and debate this issue with you, I must get back to work.’

  Without so much as a backward glance, Flo approached the group of women who were clustered around the utility prints and smoothly enquired as to how she could help.

  For the next couple of hours, Flo threw herself into her work and did her best to forget all about Henry and the terrible predicament she found herself in. Instead she served, answered questions, dealt with paperwork, cuddled a regular customer’s baby and offered valuable sewing tips to a group of women who had popped into Liberty’s by chance. They were so enchanted by the fabrics on offer they wanted to try making their own clothing for the first time.

  Despite the altercation with her superior that afternoon Flo found she enjoyed herself, loving nothing more than getting involved with the cut and thrust of the store. Dot had been right: it was what she had been missing. Yet she couldn’t help fretting over the exchange with Henry. Insolence was not tolerated at Liberty’s and Flo knew that she shouldn’t have spoken to her superior in the way that she had, no matter how much she thought it deserved.

  At around four o’clock, there was a lull in trade, and Flo decided now was as good a time as any to go upstairs and apologise.

  ‘Just popping up to the office. Can you run the floor for a few moments?’ she asked Alice.

  Alice put down the packet of needles she was sorting and gave Flo a quizzical look. ‘Yes, of course. Everything all right? Only I couldn’t help overhearing you tearing strips off Mr Masters.’

  Flo’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. ‘Oh my days! I was hoping nobody heard.’

  ‘It’s all right,’ Alice soothed, taking Flo’s arm and steering her over to the stained-glass window to talk. ‘None of the other girls heard a thing; it was just me. But, Flo, you never talk to anyone like that, especially not someone in charge. What’s happened?’

  More than anything Flo longed to confide in someone, but she also knew that she had been sworn to secrecy. ‘Let’s just say that Mr Masters wants to make some changes, and I lost control, letting him know that I’m not very happy about them.’

  ‘Like?’ Alice demanded.

  There was a pause as Flo gathered her thoughts. She didn’t want to lie to Alice but nor could she tell her everything. She didn’t want to burden Alice with the worry of whom she would let go from the department. ‘Like he doesn’t want me going around giving anyone time off on Saturdays any more,’ Flo said with a sigh. ‘He was upset Jean wasn’t here this afternoon, that’s all.’

  Alice raised an eyebrow. ‘And that was what you tore strips off him about?’

  ‘Well, I think he was letting me know that we were busy and I should have followed his instructions.’

  Alice nodded and Flo couldn’t miss the movement in her left cheek that told her that her deputy manager was angry. ‘Why didn’t you tell me about t
his new Saturday arrangement, Flo? I’m supposed to be your second in command.’

  ‘I’m sorry. Mr Masters asked me not to say anything to anyone until the other departments had been given the same orders.’

  ‘Even so, you should have spoken to me. I could have helped you. Not only that, but I need time to be with Arthur on Saturdays.’

  ‘This is why I didn’t want to say anything until things are sorted out,’ Flo wailed, the collar of her dress feeling suddenly tight. ‘But I am sorry I didn’t discuss things with you first, that was wrong of me.’

  The grey light that poured in through the window gave Alice’s face a slightly haunted quality. With a start, Flo realised this would hit her oldest friend hard. She had been through so much in the last few months, with the loss of her sister, Joy, her husband deserting her and his country and of course her new relationship with Jack, though blissful, was also a source of worry. She was still a married woman and despite the end of her marriage being far from her fault, complete strangers weren’t shy about passing judgement.

  ‘I’ll make sure everything’s all right for you, Alice – you know that, don’t you?’ she found herself saying urgently.

  Alice gave her a genuine smile, her blue eyes filled with a sudden warmth. ‘Flo, don’t make promises you can’t keep. I don’t want that and I would never hold you to them. You’re under a lot of pressure by the sounds of things. I won’t say a word to the other girls but you’d better find Mr Masters now and try to apologise.’

  ‘Thanks.’ Flo broke into a grateful smile.

  ‘But before you go anywhere, I want you to know you can always talk to me, about anything. It won’t go anywhere, I promise.’

  ‘I know,’ Flo said.

  Alice gripped her wrist, her blue eyes shining with sincerity. ‘Do you know, Flo? Because it feels as if you don’t. There’s so much you’re keeping from me. Not just what’s going on at the store, but you. Why don’t you want to sing any more? It was what got you through Aggie’s death – why have you given up on it now?’