Wartime at Liberty's

by Fiona Ford

  Flo stood back to watch Mary’s delighted face and couldn’t stop smiling as she saw her friend drinking it all in. Following her gaze, she had to admit she, Jean and Bess had done well. On the table stood two bottles of bright red fizzy pop, and a yellow blancmange, wobbling dangerously next to a tray of paste sandwiches.

  Yet the real star of the show, arranged on a homemade doily cut from newspaper, was a bright pink cake filled with mock cream and decorated with pink and white icing, complete with matching candle in the centre.

  ‘Ta da!’ Flo cried, gesturing to the cake with one hand, and stroking Emma’s cheek with the other.

  ‘It looks beautiful, Flo,’ Mary said, tears of joy filling her eyes. ‘However did you get the rations for all this?’

  Flo smiled. ‘I didn’t, Dot did.’

  Dot tapped the side of her nose as Mary looked enquiringly at her.

  Rose giggled. ‘I think we all know it’s best not to ask.’

  ‘Cheek!’ Dot laughed.

  Just then, Arthur, who had been sleeping in Alice’s arms, woke up. He blinked his eyes open, and Flo laughed as she saw him and Emma reach for each other.

  ‘Perhaps we should let them have a play before the party gets really started,’ Alice suggested.

  ‘Good idea,’ Mary exclaimed. ‘Shall we take them through to the front room?’

  ‘Let me,’ said Jean, who was desperate for a rest after hurrying back from visiting Bess in the convalescent home to make it in time for the party.

  ‘Go on, love.’ Dot smiled. ‘Careful though, darlin’, don’t want you getting broody.’

  Jean said nothing as she scuttled out of the kitchen clutching Emma and Arthur, leaving Flo feeling uncomfortable.

  ‘So how long do you have Emma for?’ Flo asked Mary, keen to change the subject.

  ‘Until six tonight.’ Mary sighed. ‘Then I have to take her back to the orphanage.’

  ‘That’s a shame.’ Alice frowned. ‘It would be much easier for you to have her overnight.’

  Mary shrugged. ‘What can I do? I’m just grateful Mrs Matravers has agreed to let us adopt Emma. I’m hardly going to rock the boat now.’

  ‘Fair enough,’ Alice replied, taking a sip of her own drink. ‘But it was a lovely idea to have a first birthday party for her.’

  ‘I know. And I know she’s not quite one yet, but I thought that as we’re going to be family, we should mark these important occasions and I’m so grateful to you Flo for organising it,’ Mary said, her face a picture of delight.

  ‘It was my pleasure. Has Mrs Matravers sent Emma anything yet?’

  Mary shook her head. ‘I don’t expect her to, if I’m honest.’

  ‘It must be hard for her being inside and knowing that her daughter is being adopted,’ Flo put in, reaching for a paste sandwich.

  ‘I know,’ Mary sighed, taking a seat at the table next to Dot. ‘I remember when we were almost bombed in Whitstable that time and she was so terrified of losing her baby. All she ever wanted was to be a mother.’

  ‘But that’s in the past,’ Alice offered. ‘What we have to think about now is the future, yours and Emma’s.’

  ‘Seriously, you can’t think like that, Mary,’ Jack chimed in through a mouth full of sandwich. ‘I miss Jack Junior every day of my life, and I know that when me and Alice have kids they’ll get under my skin in just the same way. But you’ll always want what’s best for them, and this Mrs Matravers will want that too.’

  There was a small pause before Alice turned to Jack and squealed with delight. ‘We’re having kids, are we?’

  Jack wrapped an arm around Alice and pulled her to him. ‘We’re having dozens, lots of brothers and sisters for Arthur and Jack Junior, so you’d best get used to being a truly great mom.’

  ‘Mum,’ Dot scolded Jack affectionately. ‘You bloody Yanks don’t know the King’s English!’

  Jack rolled his eyes; he had become more than used to Dot’s gentle teasing by now.

  ‘Well, I think we deserve a toast.’ Dot grinned, getting to her feet and refilling everyone’s glasses. ‘To celebrating the small victories in life, like Emma’s first birthday.’

  ‘I’ll drink to that.’ Mary smiled, raising her glass.

  As the girls clinked their glasses against each other the sound of the door knocker echoed through the kitchen.

  ‘I’ll get that,’ Dot said, rising to her feet. ‘It’s probably Edwin. He said he’d pop round.’

  Sure enough, Mr Button followed Dot into the kitchen.

  ‘Hello, everyone,’ he said, a smile on his face as he took in the table full of food. ‘Sorry I’m late. Board of Trade business.’

  ‘It never stops, does it,’ Jack marvelled, standing up to shake Mr Button’s hand. ‘Even working on a Sunday.’

  Dot rolled her eyes. ‘There’ll come a time when I’m top of your list of priorities, Edwin Button. But I’ve a feeling hell will freeze over first.’

  As Mr Button opened his mouth to protest, Flo laid a hand on his arm. ‘She’s teasing,’

  ‘I know,’ Mr Button replied, taking a seat by the door. Loosening the navy tie that complemented his Liberty pinstripe suit he gulped gratefully at the beer Jack offered him. ‘Must say, I needed that.’

  ‘Long day then?’ Flo asked.

  ‘You could say that.’ He sighed. ‘I am sorry I was so late. I didn’t mean to be the last.’

  ‘Stop apologising, Mr B.,’ Alice soothed. ‘We’re all here, that’s what matters.’

  Mr Button looked around. ‘Oh good. Only I wasn’t sure if the chap outside was one of your guests.’

  Flo frowned. ‘What chap?’

  ‘Some chap with dark hair. Short. Looked a little surly, if I’m honest. He was leaning against the lamppost, staring directly into the house.’

  ‘Well, who the hell’s that?’ Dot thundered. ‘It better not be a burglar. I’ll be ready for him with one of your Aggie’s good saucepans, Flo. One crack to the back of his head and he’ll be down before he’s even had a chance to peek at your silver.’

  Despite the situation, everyone chuckled at Dot’s dramatics.

  ‘I’m sure it’s just a misunderstanding but I’ll ask Jean if she knows anyone that looks like that,’ Flo said, getting to her feet. ‘Might be a friend of Bess’s or something, hoping to wish her well.’

  With that Flo crept down the corridor and peered into the front room. There was Jean, sitting on the settee, a baby under each arm and a book on her lap. She was reading to them. All three looked so peaceful.

  ‘Everything all right?’ she asked softly.

  Jean looked up from the story book and smiled. ‘Yes, fine.’

  Flo took a seat beside her friend and saw that she looked tired. ‘You seem worried about something.’

  Jean shrugged. The babies were pointing at the book now, seemingly clamouring for Jean to keep reading. ‘Nothing’s wrong apart from the usual.’

  ‘I see.’ Flo smoothed back a kink in Arthur’s hair before asking, ‘Mr Button says there’s a young lad hanging about outside. Dark hair, short, bit surly. Sound like anyone you know?’

  There was a pause as Jean pursed her lips, then bent down to give Emma and Arthur a kiss each on the forehead.

  ‘It sounds like my brother, Fred,’ she admitted. ‘I think he’s found us.’

  Flo nodded; she’d had a feeling that might be the case. ‘Have you seen him before?’

  ‘Bess thought she saw him loitering outside the other day,’ Jean said in hushed tones. ‘I told Bess we should run but she won’t have it.’

  ‘Quite right,’ Flo agreed. ‘Bess is still recuperating, and your Fred’s a bully. There must be a way to deal with him.’

  ‘Well, if there is, I don’t know what it would be.’

  The sound of laughter could be heard from the kitchen as Flo reached out and squeezed Jean’s hand.

  ‘There you both are! We thought we’d cut the cake now everyone’s here. Mr B. has to rush off soon and ta
ke care of his neighbour’s leaking pipe apparently,’ Mary interrupted, her head appearing around the door.

  ‘That man is too good to be true,’ Flo sighed, getting to her feet.

  Mary made a face. ‘I know. Much as I adore Mr B., this quality he has of always being helpful gets right on my pip sometimes.’

  Flo laughed. ‘I think Dot feels the same. It’s just the way he is, I suppose. He can’t help himself.’

  ‘It isn’t half annoying. I mean, I don’t think I’ve ever heard him say a bad word about anyone. He always gives people a chance.’

  ‘Even when they don’t deserve it,’ Jean said morosely. ‘But then, I suppose that’s a lovely quality, isn’t it, to always think the best of someone?’

  ‘I wish I could be half the man he is,’ Mary mused, and then chuckled, realising what she’d said as she bent down to scoop Emma into her arms. ‘You know what I mean.’

  Flo nodded. ‘I do. You want to show Emma that you can also be a good person, someone who always tries to see the good in everyone no matter what.’

  ‘Oh, and to always be there to soothe troubled waters,’ Mary added. ‘He only ever raises his voice when provoked.’

  Flo thought for a moment. It was little wonder she had asked him to give her away at her wedding. He was the father she had always wanted, the man she had always trusted for advice and instinctively she knew he was the man to help her with this Evie Allingham situation. There had to be a way to get Mr Button to see what was going on without breaking anyone’s trust. Not for the first time she found herself wishing that Aggie were here. The mother she now knew her to be would have the answer, of that she was sure.

  But that was the problem, Flo thought sadly: all her family were gone. All she had left now were her Liberty girls, and though she couldn’t confide in them, they could help her see the way. As she looked at Mary, she felt a flutter of relief and gratitude in her heart that one of her Liberty sisters had stepped in to show her what had to be done.

  Chapter Fifty-Three

  It had been over a fortnight since Emma’s birthday party and although Flo had got a little closer to a plan that would help her friends, she hadn’t been able to put anything into action yet. She had thought that after chatting to Mary she would come up with a way of casually letting Mr Button know that there was a problem with Evie. Then she would explain, with just enough detail, that the woman was bad news without betraying the secrets entrusted to her.

  Yet despite her best efforts she had barely seen the store manager. As usual he had been busy with the Board of Trade, the only upside to that being that Evie had also been with him and therefore out of their hair.

  Still, with every day that passed, the sales figures seemed to get worse and worse. Flo had been diligent with her paperwork each day, looking for signs progress was being made within the department, but she could see how sales were slipping. With more of the new prints due any day now, Flo needed to resolve this situation before Evie could cause any further damage.

  But before that she had to turn her attentions to the second fundraising evening, which was due to take place at the end of the week. Flo and Rose now found themselves tucked away in the pleating room for one final check.

  Unlike the first fundraising evening, they were unable to host it anywhere as grand as the Palladium. After much cajoling, the board had agreed to let a smaller, but just as glamorous, event be held in the Liberty crypt and afterwards Mr Button would make the presentation. Thankfully ticket sales had been high, with almost all the staff purchasing at least two, and many of the store’s customers had been only too delighted to help fund a second evening.

  ‘So shall we open with the girls from carpets doing their poetry recital, and then move on to your songs?’ Rose asked as she chewed the end of her pen.

  ‘Good idea,’ Flo said in approval. ‘Hopefully I’ll cheer them up after all that reading.’

  Rose shot her a sideways glance. ‘Come on, we have to try to make the evening a bit different to the last one. Are we still going to have Max close the show?’

  ‘I think so.’ Flo nodded as she checked her watch. It was almost two in the afternoon. ‘Look, I’m sorry, Rose, I’m going to have to get back to the floor so that Mary can get off for lunch. Alice is over in Merton overseeing the new print samples, Jean’s off with Bess, and Dot’s looking after Arthur so I’m short on the floor with Evie out as well.’

  Rose frowned. ‘But Evie’s here. She came in to see the latest designs.’

  Alarm pulsed through Flo. ‘She’s done what?’

  ‘I thought you knew,’ Rose said, tucking her pen behind her ear. ‘Something to do with needing to show the Board of Trade how they’re keeping the public happy or something. I didn’t quite understand if I’m honest.’

  Flo didn’t hang around to hear anything else Rose had to say; instead she raced up to the shop floor. As she crossed the parquet, weaving her way through customers delighting in the wares on offer in jewellery and gifts, her mind was in overdrive. This woman seemed hell-bent on destruction and Flo was damned if she was going to let it happen any more.

  Reaching the entrance to fabrics, Flo paused for a moment and took a deep breath. She knew it wouldn’t do her any good to arrive angry. A few seconds later, once she had composed herself, she walked across the floor. Yet the sight of Evie and Alice poring over the new pattern samples was almost too much to bear.

  ‘Evie, what a pleasure. I didn’t realise you were with us today,’ Flo said through gritted teeth.

  Evie looked up and smiled pleasantly at Flo. ‘Yes. I knew Alice was coming back from Merton and I thought it would be wonderful to take a look at the new spring samples. They are marvellous. I’ve made a few notes so I know just how to tempt our customers.’

  ‘I bet you have,’ Flo muttered under her breath before turning to Alice. ‘I know Mary’s going to lunch now, but could you mind the floor for a few minutes while Mrs Allingham and I have a word in Mr Masters’ office?’

  ‘Mr Masters’ office?’ Evie chuckled. ‘Not for much longer.’

  Ignoring Evie, Flo looked at Alice, who nodded her assent. ‘One of the boys got me a sandwich at Merton so I’ve eaten. Take as long as you need.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Flo said quietly, before glancing at Evie. ‘Shall we?’

  Without waiting for an answer Flo made her way back across the shop floor and up the stairs towards the deputy store manager’s office, Evie’s heels clattering loudly behind her.

  Pushing open the door, Flo steeled herself as she sat behind Henry’s desk and gestured for Evie to sit opposite.

  Without bothering to shut the door, Evie waltzed straight in and sat down, an amused expression on her face.

  ‘What is all this, Mrs Canning? Playing at being the boss while Mr Button’s away? I do hope you don’t have designs on his chair as well as Mr Masters.’

  Flo ignored Evie’s petty claims and looked at the woman with contempt. ‘I wanted to ask why you’re here at Liberty’s.’

  ‘Because dear Edwin invited me to help the department,’ she said mockingly. ‘And I believe I have done a sterling job.’

  ‘Indeed you have,’ Flo agreed. ‘But I think the sterling job has been for Botheringtons, not us.’

  Evie’s smile slipped. ‘I don’t know what you mean.’

  ‘I think you know exactly what I mean,’ Flo said, a hint of grit to her voice as she leaned forward and locked eyes with Evie. ‘You know perfectly well that I’m on to you.’

  ‘What rot.’ Evie laughed, shaking her head in disbelief. ‘On to me about what? About the fact I’m more knowledgeable about your own department than you are?’

  Flo didn’t miss a beat. ‘No, about the fact you’re still working for Botheringtons and sitting on their board. About the fact you’re stealing Liberty’s print lines so Botheringtons can make cheap knock-offs; about the fact that Botheringtons is so broke you gifted them a donation to boost their coffers, courtesy of our fundraising night; an
d finally about the fact you’re a member of the Public Morality Council and want to ruin Liberty’s because you believe it’s a place of impropriety. In short, Evie Allingham, you’re nothing but a thief and a liar and I shall be letting the Public Morality Council know what you’ve been up to immediately.’

  For a split second Evie looked panicked; then she composed herself. ‘How dare you! After all I’ve done for you, for this company, for my country even, this is how you talk to me. Who do you think you are? You’re a jumped-up little trollop who, rather than respectfully mourning her dead husband the way any decent wife should, is in the throes of passion with another man already. That’s what all this is about. You’re in love with Henry Masters, a no-good criminal. You should be ashamed of yourself. Where are your morals?’

  ‘I see you don’t bother to deny it though,’ Flo said, ignoring Evie’s insults. ‘You’re too busy hurling accusations at everyone else to refute what’s being laid at your own door.’

  ‘I don’t need to deny it. Anyone worth their salt would see that isn’t true,’ Evie fired.

  Flo said nothing. Getting up from her chair, she walked around the desk and leaned against it, arms folded as she gazed down at Evie, who sat ramrod straight.

  ‘Let me tell you what I know, shall I?’ she said in a low voice. ‘I know that you’re a vile little individual who has been blackmailing some of my most trusted members of staff. I know you have been getting Jean and Bess to do your dirty work for you because you think you’ve got something on them. I also know that you’ve been blackmailing Mr Masters to take the fall for stealing the money so you could give it to Botheringtons.’

  Evie laughed. ‘Stuff and nonsense.’

  ‘But we both know that it’s not,’ Flo said, doing her best to keep her voice even. ‘We both know that you told Jean and Bess you would reveal them to be lesbians to the entire world and make their lives a misery if they didn’t do what you said. And we both know you told Mr Masters that, unless he took the blame for the missing money, you would go to the authorities and have his brother taken away from him because of his police record.’