Love and Marriage at Harpers, page 15
‘I should like that,’ Maggie said wistfully and looked at Rachel, who smiled.
‘Well, why not?’ she said. ‘I know Miss Hart will not like it very much, but we should be able to go together if we wish…’
It was usually agreed to stagger staff holidays, but Beth knew that there were some of the other departments that could manage with less staff for a few days. Once, when Rachel was away for a while, they’d had a man from the fine china department and he’d sold several bags and a few pieces of jewellery while he was serving on her counter, which seemed to suggest that the female customers did not mind being served by a man.
Sally had arranged a taxicab to take them to the station. She’d popped in the previous day and bought their train tickets in advance, so they went straight to the relevant platform and caught the next train, which was already waiting.
‘I’ll give you my share of the tickets and the taxi,’ Beth said when they were settled on the train. ‘Don’t you dare refuse, Sally, because I’m not sponging off you all weekend.’
‘As if you would,’ Sally said and laughed. ‘I’ll keep count and we’ll square up when we’re ready. I’m really looking forward to this, Beth. I doubt I would have thought of taking time off if you hadn’t said you’d like a few days at the sea…’
‘It looks as if it will keep nice…’
‘Yes, let’s hope so…’ Sally smiled at her and passed her a magazine. ‘I hope the hotel is all right. I just picked it out of the paper, but it had a good reputation…’
‘I’m sure it will be lovely.’
20
Beth was correct and the hotel, which was right on the seafront, was comfortable and clean, though not as modern as Sally had hoped.
‘I don’t mind it being a bit old-fashioned,’ Beth told her as they settled into their room. It had twin beds and was cheaper than having two single rooms, and it also had the advantage of an adjoining bathroom. ‘That’s a real luxury – saves us going down the hall…’
‘Yes, I made sure we had our own bathroom,’ Sally replied.’ I had enough of queuing for the bath when I lived in the hostel.’
At home in the flat they were more civilised and asked each other when they wanted to use the bath. Fortunately, there was an extra public toilet in the reception area downstairs so if anyone couldn’t wait for the toilet, they were able to nip down and use that. Because there were four of them sharing the flat it happened now and then, but they were all considerate and having a separate bathroom and toilet was fortunate.
‘We’ve got a lovely view of the sea and the pier,’ Beth said, looking out of the window. ‘What shall we do this evening? Have dinner in the hotel – or go out and find somewhere to eat?’
‘I think there are several shows on in the theatres,’ Sally said. ‘Why don’t we have a leisurely meal and then go for a walk along the front and see what is on?’
It was decided that was what they would do and they ate a well-cooked but plain dinner of roast chicken, potatoes, two veg and stuffing. Afterwards, they took their jackets and went for a walk on the promenade. The pier was lit up and they could see that a variety show was playing there Beth didn’t recognise any of the artists, though one woman was a Marie Lloyd impersonator and the poster said she had her ‘to the life’.
‘We could book there for tomorrow,’ Sally said and linked arms with Beth. ‘Smell that aroma – there’s nothing like it, is there?’
It was the smell of food cooking mixed with the tang of the sea. A little breeze had stolen the heat of the day and it was lovely just walking past the pier and all the pubs, restaurants and amusements that made Southend the popular resort it was.
‘It isn’t quite as busy as I thought it might be,’ Sally said.
‘I expect more people come when the children are out of school,’ Beth replied. ‘I think that’s why you managed to get our room so easily – the end of next month may be busier, because the school holidays start at the end of July…’
Just ahead of them, the door of a public house was suddenly thrust open and a group of rowdy young men erupted into the street. They were all wearing Army uniforms and had obviously been drinking heavily. One of them barged into Beth and trod on her foot and she was jostled by two of the drunken but good-natured soldiers. She gave a yelp of distress and then found herself being pulled back out of the way.
‘Are you all right?’ a male voice asked and she turned, startled to find herself looking into the anxious face of Mark Stewart – the man she’d once thought she was in love with; the man who had broken her heart. ‘Did he hurt you?’ Mark said, looking at her in concern.
‘It was just the shock…’ Beth said. ‘Sally, this gentleman is an old friend of mine…’
‘We were more than that, Beth.’ Mark’s soft eyes chided her. He moved towards her as if he meant to touch her, but she stepped back out of reach.
‘Thank you for rescuing me, but I think you know what I meant,’ Beth said politely. ‘We are certainly no more than friends now. Excuse me, please. Sally and I have to be somewhere…’
Mark hesitated, a look of annoyance on his face, but he inclined his head and walked off.
Sally glanced at Beth, noticing her colour and touched her arm. ‘You don’t like him much – why?’
‘That was Mark; I told you, he broke my heart when my mother was an invalid.’
‘Ah yes, I remember now,’ Sally agreed. ‘He went off because your mother wouldn’t agree to the marriage…’
‘I always thought he would come back after she died,’ Beth said, ‘but when he did, he was married. Unfortunately, his wife died soon after we met again, I think in childbirth, he seemed to imagine I would go back to him when he wrote and told me. I didn’t answer him.’
Sally nodded. ‘A bit odd, him being there when that soldier barged into you, wasn’t it?’
‘Do you think he was following us?’ Beth asked, after a moment. ‘It is a bit strange…’
‘Would he do that – if he saw us?’ Sally looked at her and Beth nodded.
‘He might. Mark can be a bit intense at times. He didn’t much like it when I told him I wasn’t interested last year…’
‘Maybe it was just a coincidence,’ Sally said and hugged her arm. ‘He couldn’t have known we were coming down here, could he?’
‘No,’ Beth replied and breathed deeply. ‘Of course he couldn’t – but it was just a shock seeing him come from behind me like that…’
‘Yes, I suppose it must be – but after all, he only tried to help you, Beth. Perhaps you were a little bit short with him.’
Beth looked at her for a long moment and then nodded. ‘Yes, perhaps I was. I should have thanked him properly, but he makes me uncomfortable.’
The next morning, when they went down to the hotel dining room for breakfast, to her surprise, the first thing Beth noticed was Mark, sitting at a table with an older woman. He saw her and his eyes narrowed and then he seemed to catch sight of her engagement ring and smiled in an odd way. What a coincidence that they’d chosen the same hotel, but, of course, it was one of the best available.
She and Sally ordered a luxurious breakfast of egg, bacon, tomatoes, mushrooms and a slice of fried bread, followed by toast and marmalade and coffee or tea. They both chose the coffee because the smell was so nice and it tasted good too.
Mark and his companion went from the dining room before Sally and Beth, but when they eventually left, it was to discover him standing by the table in the hall upon which all the daily papers had been placed for the convenience of the guests.
‘Good morning, Beth – and I believe you must be Sally Ross,’ Mark said. ‘Did you enjoy your breakfast? They provide a decent one here – my aunt certainly enjoyed hers. She has been staying here for years…’
‘Oh,’ Sally said, ‘is your aunt a permanent guest – or do you mean she visits once a year?’
‘She resides here all the year,’ he replied with a faint smirk. ‘Aunt Jane was left a fortune by her late husband and, having been let down by a series of live-in maids, she decided to take a suite here and liked it so much that she has never left.’
‘I see,’ Sally remarked. ‘Well, it was nice to meet you, Mr Stewart. I’m going up to our room, Beth – are you coming?’
‘Yes, I am. I want to put on a jacket before we go out…’ She hesitated and then nodded to Mark. ‘It was kind of you to help me last night. I’m sorry if I was rude – it was the shock…’
‘I quite understood,’ he replied. ‘Have you booked for the shows yet? You should do so, because all the best seats go first…’
‘Yes, thank you – we intend to,’ Beth said and moved on, following Sally into the lift.
‘So that explains why he’s at the hotel,’ Sally said. ‘But do you think he saw us at dinner yesterday and followed us?’
‘Perhaps – it is quite plausible,’ Beth said. ‘I’m not sure why he would but…’ She shrugged her shoulders.
‘Did you know he had a rich aunt?’
‘He certainly never mentioned her to me.’ Beth made a wry face. ‘What kind of person lives in a hotel?’
‘Perhaps a lonely one,’ Sally said. ‘At least she has company and people to look after her and call the doctor if she is ill.’
‘Yes, I suppose so…’
Beth put thoughts of Mark and his aunt out of her mind. She and Sally went out to explore the busy town of Southend in daylight. There was so much more than the piers and the gardens, boarding houses, restaurants and pleasure booths, though they were fascinating enough, but there were also many fashionable shops, a cinema showing a silent movie and several theatres. They booked seats for that night, though could only get them right at the back of the upper circle.
‘I should have liked to see another show on Monday, but we’ll need to travel back in the afternoon,’ Sally said, looking at the bill advertising another variety show in the town.
‘We could go to a matinée,’ Beth suggested, ‘and then catch the late train home on Monday evening.’
‘Yes, let’s do that,’ Sally said and laughed. ‘Why don’t we go to see that film with Mary Pickford?’
It had come out the previous year and was titled The Mender of Nets and was a love story about a young girl who mended nets on the seashore and fell in love, but the man of her dreams was still entangled with a previous girlfriend.
‘Yes, all right,’ Beth agreed. ‘Shall we go shopping now or have lunch?’
They decided to shop for a while and Beth bought some new shoes, which were just right for her wedding. She’d been looking for a leather pair in the pale cream she wanted but hadn’t found any until now. The ones she bought were cream suede and had a smart bow.
‘I like those,’ Sally said. She’d tried on several pairs herself but hadn’t purchased any. ‘Harper’s doesn’t have a good shoe department…’
Beth gave her a nudge. ‘You’re on holiday, Sally. Forget Harper’s for a few days.’
‘Yes, you’re right,’ Sally agreed. ‘I’m hungry – shall we have something to eat now?’
They found a small café on the promenade and had toasted teacakes and coffee and then went on the pier, walking right to the end, where they bought iced drinks and sat in the sun, watching people go by. The sun was warm and they sat for some time and saw Mark walking with his aunt on his arm. She was laughing at something he said and though he definitely saw Beth and Sally, he did not speak or nod as he passed.
‘Something fishy there,’ Sally said as they walked back to the hotel in time for cream scones and tea. ‘Are you sure she’s his aunt – I think she might be a rich lady friend…’
‘I really don’t mind who she is,’ Beth replied. ‘I’m not interested in Mark.’
‘I should hope not,’ Sally said and glanced at her left hand. ‘Jack would have something to say if you were…’
On Sunday, both girls went to church after breakfast. Sally said she saw Mark’s aunt, but Beth didn’t notice her. Afterwards, they bought a batch of Sunday papers and sat reading them in the hotel lounge over a pot of delicious coffee and some crisp almond biscuits.
The papers seemed full of dire news. In the Balkans, there had been several deaths as Bulgarian and Serbian troops clashed and Russia had warned of its displeasure but no war had been declared. Beth recalled Fred saying that war in Europe might make it difficult for Britain to avoid helping an ally, but even though the troubles rumbled on in various countries, so far nothing had been said of a war that would make Englishmen fight. However, it was a little disturbing that Germany had decided to boost its troops. The Kaiser was still visiting various heads of Europe and spoke of undying friendship towards his cousins in England.
As they went into lunch, Sally saw Mark with his aunt once more. He hadn’t been in church, but he was at lunch and they were celebrating something with wine. After lunch, several guests went out for a bracing walk along the front, bracing because the wind was chilly that afternoon.
‘Should we brave it?’ Sally asked, glancing out of the lounge window. ‘I don’t think it will rain…’
‘Yes, let’s go on the pier again,’ Beth said. ‘I really enjoyed the show last night and it makes me wish we had longer here.’
‘Yes, it is so relaxing…’ Sally agreed.
As they went out into the hall, they saw that Mark had just come from the lift with his suitcase. He stopped and then came towards them, offering his hand.
‘Off home then?’ Sally asked.
‘Yes, I just came down for a few days and I have appointments in London tomorrow. It was nice meeting you, Miss Ross – and you, Beth…’
Beth nodded, but she didn’t answer nor did she smile.
Sally watched as he picked up his case and left.
‘I can understand why you thought you loved him,’ she said to Beth as they went out, shivering a little in the cool breeze. The sky was overcast and the sea was grey, crested with yellowish foam. ‘But I wouldn’t trust him an inch – you’re much better off with Jack…’
‘I know.’ Beth smiled. ‘I don’t think I should have liked being his wife…’
‘Too controlling,’ Sally said. ‘He reminds me of your aunt’s husband…’
‘Yes…’ Beth frowned. ‘Shall we buy some postcards from that booth on the end of the pier? I’ll send one to Fred, even though I’ll be back at work when he gets it – and one to my aunt…’
‘Good idea,’ Sally said. ‘I want to buy some small presents for Rachel and Maggie. They are the only ones I have to take anything back for…’
‘What about your other friends?’
‘Oh, Mick wouldn’t want a box of fudge and I doubt Marlene would either,’ Sally said lightly. ‘I don’t have any other real friends, apart from you and Jenni…’
Beth hugged her arm. ‘Let’s choose something together. I saw some pretty earrings I thought Maggie might like – they cost more than a box of fudge, but if we bought them together…’
‘Good idea,’ Sally said. ‘I saw a shell brooch I thought Rachel would appreciate. Let’s get that for her. After all, we aren’t likely to do this again… but we’ll get some fudge for Fred and maybe I’ll take Mr Harper a stick of rock…’
‘Go on, I dare you,’ Beth said and they both laughed.
In the event, they decided not to bother with the matinée on Monday afternoon. Instead, they went for a walk in the morning, had fish and chips on the beach and then afternoon tea in the hotel before catching their train back to London.
‘It would have been too much of a rush,’ they agreed, ‘and we can always see the film in London when it comes round again…’
The seaside break had done them both the world of good. Beth was feeling refreshed and yet pleased to be back at home, and as she told Fred the next day when she visited them, ‘I’ve got all the excitement of my wedding coming up…’
‘You can bring whatever you need over to mine when you’re ready,’ Fred told her, because they hadn’t been able to find a home yet that they could afford. ‘Even if you just want to store it until you find what you want…’
‘Thank you,’ Beth said and gave him a peck on the cheek. ‘But we’ve got nearly a month until the wedding and when Jack is settled at home he will have plenty of time to look round…’
‘Not once he starts that job of his…’ Fred said and looked at his paper. ‘I told you there was going to be a war out there, didn’t I?’
‘I read there was conflict, but it doesn’t affect us, does it?’
‘Not yet,’ Fred agreed. ‘It’s the Balkans, Greece and Serbia against Bulgaria – let’s hope that’s where it stops…’
Beth nodded. She was vaguely anxious about the troubles abroad, but it all seemed so far away and she personally had so much to look forward to.
The papers said it was a mystery. Sylvia Pankhurst, the daughter of Emmeline, hadn’t been seen in public for a while and no one knew where she was until she made a dramatic appearance at a public rally and the police tried to arrest her. Women fought them off with umbrellas and hatpins and both sides suffered quite a few injuries in the fracas. Sylvia was spirited away and although the police went to her home and arrested someone, it wasn’t her. For a week, it was a game of hide-and-seek and then, on the following Monday, the police found and re-arrested her and she was returned to Holloway prison, where she immediately began a hunger strike once more. It was a cruel policy the way the authorities let the women go before they could starve themselves but then re-arrested them once they’d recovered so they had to go through it all again.
‘They’re gloating now,’ Sally said furiously when she read the report in the paper – ‘and just look at this!’ Directly under the report of Sylvia Pankhurst’s arrest was an advert for a new game called Suffragettes In and Out of Prison. ‘They’re mocking us with this wretched game! Whoever invented it should be locked away in a dark cell and the key thrown in the river!’
