Love and Marriage at Harpers, page 14
Mr Marco came to her office on Monday morning. He presented her with a large box of chocolates tied with a ribbon bow.
‘These are from Julien,’ he told her. ‘I said it was not necessary but he really wanted to thank you, because had the police been called it might have meant trouble for him…’
‘I’m sorry for what those men said to you…’ She smiled at him, because she liked him and had enjoyed her lunch with them. ‘It was nasty and uncalled for…’
‘It is to be expected,’ Mr Marco replied sadly. ‘We are different and society says that a love like ours is wrong…’
His honesty struck her to the heart and she felt tears sting.
‘Society is wrong and unfair,’ Sally said. ‘It must be hard for you both…’
‘Julien was saying goodbye,’ Mr Marco replied, his voice shaking. ‘His father is sending him on what you might call the Grand Tour in a few weeks and when he returns, he is to be married…’
Sally saw how distressed he was and her heart went out to him instantly. No wonder he’d seemed so sad about the whole thing. ‘I’m sorry…’ she said, but Mr Marco shrugged.
‘It hurts to love,’ he said, ‘but we move on. I have work to do, Miss Sally Ross…’
In a moment he was gone. Sally sat staring at the door he’d closed. He was right. It did hurt to love, especially when that love wasn’t returned or was snatched away…
19
Sally looked at the evening paper and frowned. The whole of the spring and into early summer there had been reports of trouble stirred up by the suffragettes and now a young woman had died for the cause. Emily Davison had thrown herself at the King’s horse, Anmer, intending to bring His Majesty’s attention to her cause at the Epsom Derby, but the horse was startled and, when it fell, crushed her and she had later died of her injuries. Several times previously, Miss Davison had been arrested for protesting violently, and force-fed in prison, before being released under the Cat and Mouse Act. Now, she had paid the ultimate price for her defiance.
It was a brave but shocking and perhaps foolish action. And many people would be questioning the reasoning behind it – had she meant to throw her life away or was it merely a thoughtless act that resulted in tragedy?
Sally thought that surely now the men who sat in parliament must understand that the women they seemed to despise as useless creatures, undeserving of a vote, were not going away? They were intelligent, thoughtful women who felt passionately about their cause and these protests would go on and on until the women won what they considered their right to vote. A tiny notice that a Miss Emily Dawson had become a magistrate caught her eye and she smiled. Perhaps some women were beginning to be recognised as sensible, capable beings.
Folding the paper, Sally walked briskly home. Beth’s aunt was coming that week to fit the bridesmaids’ dresses and she didn’t want to be late back. Beth herself had found a pretty white lace dress for her wedding in August and she had the veil which had belonged to her mother, which she intended to wear with a new headdress of wax flowers.
‘I think the veil is gorgeous,’ Sally had said when Beth showed it to her just before her aunt arrived. ‘Your mother kept this for you – what happened to her wedding gown?’
‘I think she had it adapted to wear in the evenings,’ Beth said. ‘I believe a lot of women used to do that, years ago. It was probably the only time they ever had a dress as good as the one they married in.’
Sally nodded. ‘I never had any family life, Beth, so I assumed mothers passed things on to their daughters on their wedding day.’
‘The veil was preserved,’ Beth said, ‘but I never saw the dress. My father said she looked beautiful and I think that the dress may have been worn and then eventually cut down to make a christening gown for me. Unfortunately, that was used to bury my younger brother… he was just nine months old, so Dad told me once. My mother never spoke of him, but I do not think she ever got over his death. I’ve often thought that was the beginning of her being an invalid. We had a maid until my father died and then we couldn’t afford it…’
‘So you weren’t really much better off than me.’ Sally nodded. ‘I envied girls who had known their mothers, Beth, but you didn’t have much fun either.’
‘It was better than being brought up by nuns in a church orphanage,’ Beth smiled. They heard the doorbell ring. ‘That will be my aunt. I’d better let her in…’
She went to the door, welcomed her aunt and embraced her. She’d lost a little weight but otherwise looked much the same.
‘Are you all right, dearest?’ Beth asked, looking her over anxiously, though outwardly she seemed fine. ‘I’m so glad you came…’
‘I’m happy to be here, Beth…’ Was there a flicker of something in her eyes? If it was fear it was soon concealed. ‘And don’t look so worried. Gerald is away and I’m fine…’
Beth smiled at her. Perhaps she’d made more of her aunt’s distress that day than was warranted. Jack had said it might just be a tiff between husband and wife.
Aunt Helen had cut out and tacked together dresses for each of the bridesmaids. It was the first stage and she made several adjustments for each, exclaiming over how tiny Maggie’s waist was and at Sally’s slender hips.
‘You have the perfect hourglass figure,’ she told Maggie. ‘You’ve bloomed since I last made something for you… and Sally is thinner than I remember, though this is the first dress I’ve made for her…’
‘Are you sure this isn’t too much for you,’ Rachel said when it was her turn for a fitting. ‘Three dresses is quite a lot, Helen. I could do mine if you liked…’
‘Oh, no, I really don’t have much to do some days,’ Aunt Helen told her. ‘Gerald has been away on business for the last ten days and I do not expect him back for another week. When I’m alone, I live very simply and so I enjoy my sewing…’
‘Yes, well, as long as it isn’t too much work for you…’ Rachel smiled at her. ‘I don’t think I’ve put on weight, have I – though William has taken me out for lunch the past three Sundays and in the evening to dinner twice.’
‘Is he your gentleman friend?’ Aunt Helen asked, seeming interested.
‘Well, we are friends,’ Rachel said. ‘Mr William Bailey – and he’s a solicitor. We’ve lunched together a few times and on Sunday we went for a walk in Regent’s Park after tea… William is very good company.’
‘Oh, what a coincidence…’ Aunt Helen said. ‘Gerald brought a friend home two weeks ago for dinner. His name was William Bailey and he was a solicitor – but he was also a parliamentary candidate hoping to stand in the next election. I overheard him say that he intended to make a series of speeches against the Suffragette Movement…’
‘Oh, dear me,’ Rachel said and frowned. ‘That is odd… although I suppose the name is common enough…’
‘Yes, I imagine it must be,’ Aunt Helen said and smiled as she fastened a last pin. ‘Yes, that should fit you nicely, Rachel. I am looking forward to seeing you all dressed for the wedding. Have you set the date yet, Beth?’
‘Jack has,’ Beth replied. ‘He starts his new job next month and he says he asked his boss for the week of the tenth of August as a week off for us – the ninth is the Saturday so that will be the day of our wedding. We’re going to see the Vicar of St Martin’s this Sunday after morning service…’
‘Then I shall make sure I’m at the wedding,’ Aunt Helen smiled. ‘I’m not sure Gerald will come – though you will ask him, Beth?’
‘Of course I shall.’ Beth looked at her anxiously. ‘I wouldn’t dream of insulting him by leaving him out.’
‘Is it to be a big wedding?’ Sally asked. She had dressed after her fitting and made tea for all of them, bringing it with a tin of biscuits into their parlour. The tin was from Huntley and Palmer and had a fancy design on the lid.
‘We’re inviting twenty guests apart from family,’ Beth told her. ‘Jack has several friends he wants to ask and three cousins and their wives and children. I only have you three and Aunt Helen and Uncle Gerald – I don’t mind each of you bringing a friend if you wish. Maggie, you could invite Ralf…’
‘Oh no, Tim will be there and I’ll spend any spare time with him,’ she replied and smiled brightly.
Rachel said, ‘I might ask William – but not if he has been giving talks against our movement…’
‘Oh dear, I shouldn’t have told you.’ Aunt Helen looked upset. ‘I’m sure it can’t be the same man. He wouldn’t be your friend and do such a thing behind your back – would he?’
‘I don’t know…’ Rachel frowned. ‘I thought he was honest and trustworthy, but if he has deceived me…’ She went to her bedroom to take off the bridesmaid gown and Aunt Helen looked at the others.
‘I didn’t mean to cause trouble. It was just such a coincidence. You see, Gerald thinks the Women’s Movement is ridiculous. He says women don’t have the brains to decide who should govern and he is very much against them ever being given a vote – and this man, William Bailey – he said much the same thing. He thought it a good theme to gather popularity in order to be elected in the next election.’
‘Well, it isn’t your fault,’ Sally said. ‘You can’t blame yourself for mentioning it, Helen. If he is a despicable cheat, it is as well that Rachel knows about it now…’
‘Oh yes,’ Aunt Helen said, even more upset. ‘Much better to discover the truth now…’ It was obvious to Beth that she was thinking of her own marriage and perhaps wishing she’d thought more before accepting Gerald’s proposal.
It was getting quite late when Beth went down and asked the porter to ring for a taxicab for her aunt. Sally was with them and she insisted on paying the fare.
‘You came to us and we’re all grateful,’ she said when Aunt Helen protested. ‘I know the dresses will be perfect. Have a safe journey home, Helen.’
‘Take care, Aunt. It was lovely to see you,’ Beth said. ‘When would you like to visit again for another fitting?’
‘Probably the week after next,’ her aunt suggested. ‘I’ll write and let you know, Beth…’
‘Yes. Take care, dearest…’ Beth kissed her cheek. She felt Aunt Helen tremble and looked into her eyes. ‘Is something wrong?’
‘No, nothing is wrong, my dear. Goodnight, Beth – and you too, Sally. Thank you both for being so good to me…’
Sally looked at Beth as they returned to their flat. ‘Your aunt has changed a lot, hasn’t she?’
‘Yes – I think she isn’t very happy in her marriage…’
‘That’s unfortunate…’ Sally said. ‘Why doesn’t she just leave him?’
‘Women of her generation don’t,’ Beth replied. ‘I think you’d have to be brave to face a divorce, Sally.’
‘Well, you won’t have to because you found a good one.’ Sally smiled and squeezed her waist. ‘You’ll be deliriously happy and have lots of beautiful children…’
‘Not too soon I hope,’ Beth said. ‘I don’t want to give up work just yet, Sally. I love Jack, but I don’t want to have babies too soon. I had years of staying at home caring for my mother…’
Sally nodded thoughtfully. ‘I can see what you mean, and I love my job, but I want a family and I envy you, Beth. I’ve never known love…’
Her thoughts went to Mick and the way he’d looked at her the last time he’d driven her home; she’d thought then he cared for her, but she hadn’t seen him since that rainy night when he’d kissed her and wondered if that kiss had simply been an impulse and then there was Ben. It was clear that he saw her as nothing more than an employee. Why was it that she never found love?
‘Are you going to have a holiday this year?’ Beth asked her as they went into the kitchen to wash the cups. ‘Last year you said you couldn’t manage time off because you were too busy. I took mine then, but I didn’t go anywhere…’
‘It would be nice to go to the seaside if only for a few days,’ Sally said. ‘Perhaps if we could rearrange the staff a bit, we could go together – perhaps leave early on Friday evening and return on Monday evening…’ She shook her head. ‘Of course, you’re having time off when you marry…’
‘It would only mean two days of my annual leave,’ Beth said. ‘Yes, why don’t we do that? Jack is away this weekend and next, but then he’ll be home for good to start his new job. There’s nothing to stop us going off to the sea for a few days, is there?’
‘I’ll speak to Mr Stockbridge about cover for your department,’ Sally told her. ‘We’ve just taken on a new girl. She has some experience in clothes, so I could request her to take your place – and Mr Harper can see any reps while I’m away…’
Beth looked at her curiously. ‘How are things between you two now?’
‘We make a good team for Harper’s,’ Sally replied and sighed. ‘He hasn’t asked me to supper since I refused – and I think he is seeing someone…’ she made a face. ‘Last year he was with a different woman every week, but I’ve seen him with a pretty young woman several times recently…’
‘No?’ Beth gasped.
Sally was rueful. ‘A woman rang the office yesterday when we were talking and she asked for him and I heard him say they were meeting for lunch. I suppose it is my own fault that he doesn’t ask me out…’
‘Why did you refuse if you want to go out with him?’ Beth looked at her oddly.
‘I was annoyed.’ Sally shrugged. ‘Oh, Beth, I don’t know what to do – sometimes I think he’s going to say something important and then he walks away again. If he cares for me, he should say something, shouldn’t he?’
‘Yes, it is up to him,’ Beth agreed. ‘But you might encourage him a little, Sally.’
‘I think it is too late…’ Sally shook her head. ‘Take no notice of me, Beth. I wouldn’t know love if it got up and bit me.’ But, of course, she did and it had and now she was suffering.
Their holiday was arranged swiftly. Sally scheduled a replacement for Beth for two days and informed Ben Harper that she was taking a few days off the next morning.
‘Oh – going somewhere nice?’ he asked.
‘Beth and I fancied a trip to the sea,’ Sally said. ‘It’s just a long weekend really. I booked in at a small hotel in Southend…’
‘You’re entitled to a longer vacation…’
‘Yes, but Beth is getting married in August and she wants most of her holiday then…’
‘Ah, I see…’ His dark eyes narrowed as he looked at her. ‘Just a little break for the two of you then…’
‘Yes…’ She raised her eyes to his. ‘You can cancel my appointments if you have other arrangements?’
‘No, nothing that matters,’ he replied, not looking at her. ‘I might take a trip to Paris next month. I thought we might stock some French gowns… what do you think?’
‘A few evening gowns might sell,’ Sally said. ‘You could visit some perfumeries too and consider stocking perfumes and colognes.’
‘I was thinking you might like to come along,’ he said casually. ‘They must have their autumn and winter collections ready by now…’
‘Yes…’ Sally fought for breath because his suggestion had taken it right out of her. ‘Yes, I should enjoy that. Jenni said once that I ought to see Paris and I would like to view the new winter collections before I buy too much stock…’
‘I’ll book two cabins then and the hotel,’ Ben said. ‘I’ll give you the dates – so you can let anyone you need to know you’ll be working…’
‘I’m free to do as I please. I don’t have to tell anyone anything.’ Sally’s head went up. ‘Talking about time off, Maggie, Beth, Rachel and I will all be away for the Saturday afternoon of Beth’s wedding, but we shan’t leave until one, because the wedding is not until three in the afternoon…’
‘Sally, if you wanted the day off you could take it…’ Ben said and the warmth in his eyes made her heart jump. ‘Surely you know that I appreciate all you do here?’
‘Yes, thank you.’ She smiled at him. ‘Miss Hart was most indignant when I told her that we needed cover for the whole department that Saturday, but Mr Stockbridge was kind enough to say that he would bring in other staff for a few hours. After all, a wedding is something special, isn’t it?’
‘Yes, it is, very special,’ Ben said and she saw a flicker of pain in his eyes. ‘Have a good weekend with your friend – and now I must leave, because I have a luncheon appointment with a friend of a friend…’
Sally watched him go and wondered. Paris in July would be wonderful. Never in her life would she have expected to be taken to that marvellous city to view the new autumn/winter collections of beautiful clothes – but she’d never thought she would be able to afford a few days at the sea either. Struggling to pay for a room at the hostel, Sally had never hoped for a job that paid her as much as she earned now. Perhaps she should be grateful for what she had and not yearn for more?
The weekend came quickly and a surge of excitement overtook the two girls as they took their packed suitcases to work that Friday morning and left them with Fred while they worked.
‘I’m glad you’re having a little holiday,’ Fred smiled at them. ‘This weather is lovely, but it won’t last. Have a paddle for me while you’re there, girls…’
‘Yes, we shall, and we’ll bring you a stick of rock back,’ Sally said, teasing him.
‘I’d rather have a box of fudge,’ Fred joked. ‘I’ll break my teeth on that other stuff and it would cost a fortune to have them mended.’
Beth giggled and kissed his cheek. She knew that Fred had a part denture at the bottom of his mouth and it always gave him problems if he ate anything hard or gritty.
‘We’ll bring you some lovely soft fudge,’ she promised. ‘It’s years since I went to the sea, Fred. The last time was when my father was alive…’
‘Well, you have a good time,’ he said. ‘I wish I was comin’ with you…’
Rachel and Maggie said the same when Sally came to collect Beth from the department that afternoon. ‘You should take a few days off next week,’ Beth said. ‘Sally can arrange cover for you both. After all, you’re both entitled to a holiday…’
