Freda left her motorbike at the fire station and, after reporting to the officer in charge, set off to walk across town to Ruby’s house in Alexandra Road. It was late and she was more than tired. So much had happened since she woke that morning. Although Betty had given her a key to her little house in Cross Street, Freda did not feel right staying there alone while Betty was away. She wanted nothing more than to have a wash and a meal and sleep in her own bed tonight. If only she’d been able to get to David Carlisle before he left Erith and reassure him that all was well with Maisie.
The front door opened before Freda had placed her key in the lock and she was swept into Maureen’s arms and hugged tightly until she could hardly breathe. ‘Oh, my love. I’ve never been so pleased as to see someone and that’s a fact.’ She pulled her into the front room, where Gwyneth sat with Mike Jackson. They all looked extremely worried. ‘We’ve been that concerned since we heard what’s been going on in Canterbury and then to read this.’ She held out the postcard sent by Maisie and Betty that informed the women they were enjoying their holiday in Margate and how they intended to visit the Canterbury branch of Woolworths the next day.
Freda all but collapsed into the armchair that Mike had vacated. ‘It’s been a long day and I never want to experience again what I saw in that city. I do have good news. Knowing Maisie and Betty were planning to be at Woolworths, I tried to find them, only to be told they’d been taken to a hospital in Margate due to so many people being injured.’
‘Isn’t that where they are staying?’ Gwyneth asked, as she poured tea into a cup and handed it to Freda.
Freda nodded and in between sipping the hot liquid explained what had happened since she’d left Erith many hours earlier.
‘So they should be back at the guesthouse by now?’ Maureen asked.
‘And the baby is fine?’ Gwyneth wanted to know.
‘Yes, they will be and the nurse told me that although Maisie was distressed there should not have been any damage to her child. Both have a few cuts and bruises, but they were extremely lucky considering what has happened to some poor souls. I do wish I could have brought them home, but at least they will be comfortable in their digs. I stopped at Maisie’s place to let David know but he wasn’t home. He’d left a note with his neighbour in case any of us were worried. I’m surprised he never came here.’
Mike looked sheepish. ‘David knocked on my door. Knowing Ruby was away, he didn’t want to worry Gwyneth and Maureen. I did offer to go to Margate with him but as I’m on night duty later it would have been too much of a rush to get back. Besides . . .’
‘Besides what?’ Freda asked with a frown.
‘I was worried that you’d not yet returned and I asked if you’d checked in at the fire station.’
‘Cheers, Mike, I’m capable of doing a job without people checking up on me,’ she said indignantly. ‘They knew where I was as they’d sent me there.’
‘I know but I was still worried. You’re only a kid and doing a man’s job,’ he said quietly.
Freda glared at the policeman. ‘They wouldn’t have taken me on if they didn’t think I was up to it. Next you’ll be saying I can’t do my job because I’m a woman. Honestly, Mike, you’re so Victorian at times. Why, I’ll be twenty-one in a few months.’
‘That’s almost ancient,’ Maureen joined in, trying to lighten the atmosphere in the room. ‘Now,’ she said, getting to her feet and walking towards the kitchen, ‘I’ll find you something to eat and then you should get off to bed. We all have work in the morning and I need to find out what’s going on with my house. I can’t expect Ruby to put me up forever. We are bulging at the seams as things stand.’
Freda followed Maureen to the kitchen. ‘There’s something else that’s worrying me,’ she confided in the older woman.
‘I’m a good listener,’ Maureen said as she cut two slices of bread from a loaf and reached for the butter knife.
‘It’s David’s note. It said he would never allow Maisie to be in danger again and if it meant taking her away somewhere, then so be it.’
Maureen stopped buttering the bread to think. ‘He is no doubt distraught to think he left her in a place where she could have been killed.’
‘But she went to Canterbury with Betty. David only found the guesthouse. It’s not as if he made her go to the city and on that day. Why, she could be in as much danger living here in Erith,’ Freda argued.
Maureen shrugged her shoulders. ‘Men react differently than we do. They have this idea they have to protect us, though usually it is the woman who is the stronger in a marriage. I do wonder . . .’
‘What?’ Freda asked as Maureen returned to making the sandwich.
‘Well, his mother lives out in the country somewhere, doesn’t she? Perhaps he means to take Maisie there. It will be safer . . . at least until the baby is born,’ she added quickly, seeing the distressed look on the young girl’s face.
‘No,’ Freda said, shaking her head in disbelief. ‘No, Maisie wouldn’t like that. Why, she’s a town girl through and through. I can’t see her agreeing to live on a farm out in Wiltshire, wherever that might be.’
‘It’s not a farm, Freda. From what David’s mother told me at the wedding it’s more of an estate.’
Freda wrinkled her nose as she thought about what Maureen had said. ‘So, it’s a posh house with lots of land and animals?’
‘That’s about it,’ Maureen said as she spread fish paste between the slices of bread and cut the sandwich into four neat squares, before handing the plate to Freda.
‘Then she won’t like that one little bit,’ Freda said with a sniff as she bit into her sandwich.
‘So yer see, I couldn’t argue with David as he’s right in a way. We’ve got ter think of our baby. I’m gonna hate living with his parents. They’re decent enough and bloody good to me but it ain’t home,’ Maisie explained to Sarah, who was helping her pack a suitcase.
‘There’s ages before the baby comes and they do say that in the early months we should be more careful. Perhaps once David can see you are fit and well he will let you come home to Erith,’ Sarah said, trying to comfort her chum.
Maisie sniffed and felt for a handkerchief in her pocket. ‘I doubt it. He’s angry with ’imself for letting me go and get into danger. I was having a bloody good time until Hitler and the Luftwaffe poked their noses in.’
Maisie sat on the side of her bed and started to weep. ‘I’m so scared, Sarah. It’s bad enough worrying if I’ll lose this baby after last time, but at least I knew I’d have you and everyone else to hold my hand and now I won’t even ’ave that. Whatever am I going ter do with meself?’
Sarah sat next to her friend and put her arm around Maisie’s shoulder. ‘Now, come on. Crying isn’t going to help things, is it? I’ve had an idea how you can pass the time.’ She reached down to where she’d left a large shopping bag and delved inside. ‘Look, I have this pattern for some smocked summer dresses and wondered if you’d run a couple up for Myfi and Georgie? They’ll be tickled pink to dress alike. I’ve unpicked an old dress I had from before the war. The fabric looks as good as new. What do you think?’
Maisie wiped her eyes and took the blue and cream material from Sarah. ‘It does look like new. You’ve never been much good at smocking.’
‘I’ve never been any good at sewing, let alone smocking. It’s such a lovely pattern, though. The girls would look so sweet, wouldn’t they?’ She waited, trying hard not to breathe as Maisie read the words on the pattern.
‘I was thinking of taking my Singer with me. David’s borrowed the car again so he can take all my sewing bits and bobs. The RAF might as well give it to him the amount of times he’s used it lately.’ A smile broke across her pretty face before vanishing and she gave Sarah a troubled look. ‘You’ve got to promise me a few things.’
‘Anything, Maisie, you know that. Whatever you want me to do, I promise to do my best to help.’
‘Blimey, you sound just like Freda with her Brownies,’ Maisie said, giving a weak smile.
Sarah took her hand and squeezed it hard. ‘What is it, Maisie?’
‘I want . . . I want . . . I want you to come and help me when I go into labour. You’ve been there and know what it’s all about. I’d rather it be you than any posh in-law or midwife. Will you do that for me?’
‘Why, of course I will, you silly thing, I intended to offer anyway. You were there when I had Georgie and I want to do the same for you. As long as it’s not in an Anderson shelter,’ she added with a grin. ‘Things were a bit tight down there.’
‘You can say that again. There are better places to ’ave a kiddie, but things didn’t turn out so bad in the end, did they? There’s something else. Will you write to me so I know what’s ’appening here while I’m gone? I’m gonna be worried sick about you all as well as everyone at Woolies.’
‘Of course I’ll write and I bet everyone else will, so don’t you worry yourself about that.’
Maisie gave a big sigh and went to the mantelpiece to take a sheet of paper from behind a small mirror. ‘Here’s the address.’
Sarah looked at the neat writing on the piece of paper. ‘Where is Chippenham?’
‘It’s in Wiltshire. David told me his parents’ place is close to a pretty village called Laycock that’s near Chippenham. It sounds like the back of beyond to me, but there’s not so much chance of bombing and he thinks I’ll be safer there. David’s only thinking of me, but I know I’m going to hate living there,’ Maisie said as a small sob caught in her throat and she hiccuped. ‘It’s going to be hell.’
Sarah went back to her bag and searched inside until she found an envelope. ‘This is for you.’
Maisie took the envelope and slowly opened it with a puzzled look on her face. She tipped out a pile of pennies. ‘What’s all this about? I’m not exactly short of money, you know. I did marry a bloke who has a few bob.’
Sarah laughed. It was typical of Maisie to state the obvious. ‘There’s something else in there.’
Maisie looked inside the envelope and a small sheet of paper fell out. ‘Phone numbers?’
‘Yes, I made a list of everyone in Erith who knows you, as well as Mum and Dad’s number. Look, there’s Woolies and that one is Misson’s ironmongers and this is the police station. If you need to get in touch with one of us, then these are the telephone numbers you need to use. Even if there’s been an air raid, chances are you can still get through to us with one of these numbers. I also had a word with Betty and we decided that if you can find a phone box, then you should use the pennies and we can chat in our lunch hour or tea breaks from Betty’s office.’
‘I wouldn’t like to bother Betty. Not at work,’ Maisie said dubiously. ‘I know she’s a friend but she’s also the manager of Woolworths. I don’t think we should bother her.’
‘For heaven’s sake, Maisie, Betty is beside herself with regret that she put you and your unborn child in danger by taking you to Canterbury. At least let her do this to make amends. Don’t you understand that we are her only friends, or were until Douglas came along? This is something that she can help with, so please don’t shrug away the chance to make her think she is doing something to help you. Please, Maisie?’
‘I must go and see her before I leave. I don’t want Betty thinking she played any part in us being in danger. That honour goes to Hitler alone. You’re right. We are her friends and she needs us right now as well.’
It was Sarah’s turn to be puzzled. ‘What do you mean?’
Maisie sat back on the bed. ‘What I mean is that Douglas isn’t on the scene anymore. She sent him packing. For some daft reason she feels that she’s too old to get attached to a man and take on his family. She’s turned away from him and faces the rest of her life as an old spinster. If David hadn’t been on at me to get packing and make my goodbyes, I’d have got around to telling you and Freda. Betty wasn’t her usual self after our little adventure and she told me about Douglas when I suggested that we contact him to say she wasn’t injured in Canterbury. That’s when she confessed that not only hadn’t she sent him a postcard, but that she had distanced herself from him at the Woolworths dance. She’s adamant she’s not changing her mind.’
‘Poor Betty, she’s so stubborn at times. Her and Douglas were made for each other. It’s as if her Charlie arranged for them to meet. It’s just a shame it took so long,’ Sarah said sadly. ‘She’s been a different woman since he appeared on the scene.’
‘You mean when we all but had him arrested,’ Maisie guffawed, more like her old self. ‘I think we should do something about Douglas and Betty before I leave Erith for goodness knows how long.’
Sarah walked to the window that looked out over the front of the house where Maisie and David rented their rooms. A few streets away were the busy shopping streets of Erith and beyond that the River Thames. She knew the town was as important to Maisie as it was to her. Even though Sarah had grown up in Devon, her heart belonged to Erith, where her nan and grandad had always lived. Her holidays as a child had been spent visiting her grandparents and she’d always thought of the riverside town as home. However was Maisie going to survive away from all that she held dear? If Maisie had decided to do something about Betty’s romance with Douglas before she disappeared for the rest of the year, then who was she to disagree with her decision? ‘How are we going to bring Douglas and Betty back together again?’
‘We should convince Betty that she is not too old to find love and marriage. Then we need to get them together so that they have time to talk.’
Sarah thought for a moment. ‘That’s not such a bad idea, but what about Douglas? We don’t know what was said when they parted. She may have hurt his feelings too much. You know how touchy men can be at times. Remember how Alan was before he went off to war? I couldn’t say or do anything right. It could have broken up our marriage.’
‘But Douglas isn’t going off to war and you was as much to blame for the way Alan acted, so we can’t compare your life to what Douglas and Betty are going through,’ Maisie pointed out stubbornly.
‘Ouch!’ Sarah said. ‘Don’t hold back, will you?’
‘I’m only telling you now as everything worked out fine.’
‘So, what do you suggest?’
Maisie got to her feet and reached for the short-sleeved jacket that matched her navy blue skirt. ‘I won’t be able to do this up for much longer,’ she said with a smile. ‘Are you coming?’
‘Where to?’ Sarah asked as she followed her friend.
‘We have to speak to Freda. She will most likely know where we can find Douglas. We need to convince him not to give up on Betty.’
Sarah smiled. ‘Then we speak to Betty like you suggested and convince her she isn’t on the shelf and has a romantic life ahead of her?’
‘Well, that sounds a bit soppy but you’re right. Let’s go and find the third musketeer, shall we? There’s no time to lose if I’m to head off to the wilds of Wiltshire tomorrow.’
Freda pushed open the staff door that led into the Woolworths store. Her eyelids felt heavy, as if she’d not slept in a week. The motorbike ride down to Canterbury and then the search for her friends had taken their toll, and now she didn’t know whether she was coming or going. If someone had offered her a holiday in Margate, she’d have bitten their hand off regardless of whether there was an air raid while she was there. Just to be able to relax and breathe in the sea air would be delightful. If only. She sighed to herself as she straightened the skirt of the wine-coloured uniform and checked her buttons were done up correctly. She was so late this morning she wasn’t even sure she’d dressed herself correctly.
Deep in thought, she didn’t notice there were people standing close to the door and the first she knew was when there was a loud yelp of pain as the door swung outwards and met with a body.
‘My goodness, I’m so sorry. Have I injured you?’ was all she could think to say as she saw a man dressed in an American army uniform rubbing his shoulder, while his friends stood nearby laughing at his discomfort.
‘It’s my fault, ma’am. I should be more careful where I stand,’ a familiar voice said politely.
‘Why, it’s Sergeant Hank Marshall,’ Freda exclaimed, unable to hide her delight at seeing the handsome American sergeant once more and wishing that she’d taken notice of Maisie, who was always reminding her that a dash of lipstick and brushed hair looked much more attractive than appearing in public as though she’d just been dragged through a hedge backwards. She ran her fingers through her short bobbed hairstyle, hoping to perform miracles with her appearance. ‘What brings you to this branch of Woolworths?’
‘I could ask the same of you,’ he said in a deep drawl that made Freda’s skin tingle in delight. ‘Is that where you keep your motorbike?’ he asked with a grin, nodding towards the staff door.
‘N . . . no, I keep the bike at the fire station just up the road. This is my other job. I’m a Woolworths girl most of the time. But you haven’t answered my question. Why are you here?’
One of Hank’s comrades stepped forward and held out a small booklet. ‘We are told that when we reach your shores there will always be a welcome found at any five-and-ten-cent store in good old England.’
‘Oh, I remember now, the first ever Woolworths stores were in America.’ She recalled Betty telling them about a famous building in America called the Woolworth Tower and showing them a photograph of it in the staff magazine The New Bond. Betty had enthused about it being the focal point of the company and about how she’d like to visit it one day. For Freda it had been a long enough journey to get to Erith from her home in the Midlands, so she wasn’t so sure about journeying to America. It was so far away. ‘I suppose your Woolworths stores are very different to ours, but you will find us just as welcoming,’ Freda smiled at the young soldier. ‘It must have been a big step to not only join up to fight in a war but to travel so far from home to a strange country.’
‘I didn’t expect to come over here and find the girl of my dreams inside a store,’ Hank said gently, not bothering who heard him speak to Freda. ‘There I was thinking you were a one-woman fighting team tearing around England defeating the enemy on your motorbike.’
Freda blushed. In the few times she’d met the American soldiers she’d found them loud and brash but quite harmless. ‘You will find most women are helping the war effort when they aren’t doing their day job,’ she replied primly.
Hank’s mates laughed loudly and one even whistled as they poked fun at him for being reprimanded by Freda. ‘Well, that told me, ma’am,’ he replied apologetically. ‘I mean no insult to you and the women of this lovely country.’
‘I’m sure you don’t,’ Freda smiled. Inside, her heart was giving another flip as he spoke with such sincerity. ‘If you’ll forgive me, I must get to my counter and work before I get into trouble with my boss.’ She was aware that Betty was on the shop floor somewhere checking on her staff. It was Betty’s first day back at work since returning from Margate and she didn’t appear to be in a good mood.
‘We wouldn’t wish to get you into trouble, ma’am,’ Hank said as he nodded to his comrades to move on. I wondered . . . and I hope this isn’t too forward of me . . . would you care to accompany me to the cinema this evening?’
Freda froze. The last time she’d gone to the Odeon to see a film it had been with Ginger and that didn’t turn out very well. She wasn’t keen to put herself in the same situation once more. ‘I don’t know. It’s not as if I know you very well, I . . .’ she was lost for words. Although Hank was extremely handsome and she had dreamt about him often since they first met, she was afraid. Not having much experience of stepping out with young men, she could only rely on what her friends told her and Maisie’s comments about some men she’d known having hands like octopuses came to mind. She was aware Hank was waiting for an answer with pleading eyes.
‘Look, I’m not sure of the protocol when asking an English girl to accompany me to see a movie but if you’d like to bring a friend, I can do the same and then you will feel safe. What do you say?’
Freda felt awful. What must he think of her, knowing she didn’t trust him? It must be written on her face. ‘I’d love to come to the pictures with you. There’s a film on at the Odeon that I’ve been longing to see.’
Hank beamed. ‘Why, that’s just fine. Where can we pick you both up?’
Oh my, Freda thought with a start. Even though Ruby was away visiting her Pat in Cornwall she most likely would not want men appearing on her doorstep, especially soldiers, even if she had met them. It wouldn’t be right. Besides, she needed to ask someone to accompany her and that could be a problem. ‘It may be best if we meet outside the cinema,’ she suggested. ‘Do you know where it is?’
‘I sure do, ma’am,’ he said, taking her hand and shaking it until she thought her arm would drop off. ‘Will seven suit you?’
‘Perfect,’ Freda said, retrieving her hand. ‘There is one other thing,’ she added seriously.
Hank’s face dropped. ‘You have a husband?’
Freda burst out laughing. ‘No, but please will you stop calling me ma’am. My name is Freda.’
It was Hank’s turn to laugh as he gave her a bow and then saluted her, making Freda’s cheeks turn red once more. ‘Until tonight, sweet Freda,’ he said with a wink before joining his comrades, who slapped him on the back as they walked from the store.
‘Friends of yours?’
Freda jumped almost out of her skin as she walked slowly towards the counter where she was covering for a colleague who had just heard her husband had been injured in North Africa. Turning round, she spotted Maisie and Sarah. ‘Hello, you two, can’t you keep away from Woolies?’ she laughed as she went behind her counter. ‘Can I interest you in in some darning wool or perhaps a knitting pattern?’
‘Don’t think you can put us off the scent,’ Maisie said as she sat down on a chair thoughtfully provided for older customers. ‘Who were those handsome guys? And what was that one saying to you to make you blush so charmingly?’
‘For your information that is Sergeant Hank Marshall, he’s part of the American army that’s come over here to save us from Hitler,’ Freda said proudly. ‘He’s invited me to go to the pictures with him this evening.’
Sarah was alarmed. She’d seen the state Freda was in after her disastrous evening out with Ginger. ‘But you don’t know this man, Freda love.’
‘But I do,’ Freda replied defiantly. ‘He’s the American serviceman who ran me off the road and damaged my motorbike.’
‘It’s the first time I’ve heard someone fancy a chap after he tried to kill ’em,’ Maisie sniggered.
Freda ignored the joke and added, ‘He’s nice. He organized for my bike to be fixed and returned to me before I got in trouble with the Fire Service. If he hadn’t helped me, I wouldn’t have been in Canterbury and been able to find you and Betty. Speaking of which, you’d best buy something as she’s heading in this direction and is in a foul mood today.’
‘I do need some darning wool as it happens,’ Sarah said as she started to hold up small skeins of wool to the light so she could check the colour. ‘Mum said that Dad has poked his toes through almost every sock he owns and she doesn’t like darning. I offered to do it for her even though I’m not that good at the job.’
‘Leave some with me and I’ll help out. Navy blue or grey?’ Freda asked as she helped choose the colours.
‘I’d better have some white sewing thread and embroidery silks if you have any, Freda. I’ve got a couple of orders to make summer dresses for Myfi and Georgie. I thought I could embroider their names on the pockets as I’ll be twiddling me thumbs with nothing to do once I get to the mother in-law’s place. Now we’ve bought something you can tell us about this Yank you’ve taken a shine to,’ Maisie said, taking out her purse to pay for her purchases.
‘Now, that’s a sight I like to see. My staff here on their day off and buying our stock,’ Betty said with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
‘Ex-staff, Betty. I’m not on the payroll anymore, remember?’ Maisie pointed out.
‘Oh, of course you aren’t. I’m so used to seeing you girls together that I forgot you have left our employ. I do hope it won’t be forever, Maisie? In fact, if you’d like a few hours each week helping out, I can find you something that isn’t too strenuous to do,’ Betty offered hopefully.
‘Can’t be done, I’m afraid,’ Maisie said sadly. She loved life at Woolworths and although over the moon to be expecting a baby, she did miss shop life. ‘David’s packing me off to live with his mum until after I’ve had the kid. He reckons he can’t trust me to take care of myself after our little adventure in Canterbury.’
‘Oh my dear, I’m so sorry. I feel as though I’m to blame. After all, it was my idea we should visit the city for the day. So foolhardy of me. What can I do to help change his mind?’
Maisie shrugged her shoulders. ‘It’s a done deal, Betty. I’m all packed and ready to head off tomorrow.’
‘I feel I’ve let you down, my dear. What can I do to make it up to you?’
‘There’s no need. Honest, Betty, it’s not you, it’s David. He’s trying to wrap me in cotton wool and I can’t win until he’s got this kiddie in his arms. I’ll be home by Christmas and we can make up fer lost time then. Besides, you can all visit me in Wiltshire.’
‘Where’s that?’ Freda asked.
‘A bloody long way away,’ Maisie sighed.
‘It’s a beautiful county, you will love living there, and we will all write to you and send parcels to relieve the boredom. I promise,’ Betty said generously.
‘As long as it’s gin and fags I’ll be ’appy,’ Maisie joked as Betty looked shocked.
‘Now, why don’t we all go out this evening to say goodbye to Maisie properly?’ their boss suggested.
Sarah and Maisie looked at Freda expectantly. ‘But I can’t go with you. I’ve been invited to go to the pictures with Hank Marshall and I’ve accepted. Sorry, Maisie, but I really want to go. He’s a sergeant in the American army,’ she added as Betty gave her a puzzled look.
‘Are you sure about this?’ Betty asked. ‘After last time . . .’
Freda sighed. ‘It’s very kind of you all to be concerned about me. I have to admit to being a little worried after last time but I won’t be alone. Hank is bringing a friend with him and I said I’d do the same. I do need to ask Gwyneth if she can come along with me.’
‘Oh dear,’ Betty exclaimed. ‘I’ve not long sent Gwyneth home. She is under the weather and I told her to get herself home and in bed until she is fighting fit. The last thing we need is to share germs with those doing important war work. Is there someone else you could invite?’
The girls looked at each other. There was only one other single woman in the group. Sarah raised her eyebrows at Maisie, encouraging her to speak.
‘It’s like this, Betty, it only leaves you as you’re still, er . . . still single. Even though we know you have Douglas,’ she added quickly.
Betty didn’t know what to say. The mention of Douglas had hurt her like a spear to her heart but she couldn’t blame her friends for that. It had been her decision to not see Douglas again even though she had regrets. ‘I’m flattered you should think I could join your outing to the cinema, Freda, but the poor men would think they were out with their mother. Had you not thought about the age difference? I must say I’m a little flattered,’ she chuckled. The girls could be such a tonic at times.
‘That just leaves you then, Sarah,’ Maisie said.
‘What? I have a husband and a daughter if you’ve forgotten. Why, I don’t think Alan would be too impressed to hear I’d been out with another man while he was away fighting for King and country.’
Freda held her breath. She wouldn’t have dared suggest anything that might cause a split between a man and his wife. Whatever was Maisie thinking – especially after what had happened in the past . . . ?
‘Look, I don’t see anything wrong in you accompanying your friend to the pictures. Make sure you tell the men straight off that you have an ’usband and then things will be all right. Then,’ she added quickly, ‘we could all meet for a cuppa at Mitchell’s tea room tomorrow before I ’ead off to gawd knows where. After all, yer won’t see me fer an age . . .’ She nudged Sarah, indicating she should go along with her idea.
‘All right, I’ll do it, but I’m going to show them a photo of Alan so they know I’m not a good-time girl,’ she said, glaring at Maisie and rubbing her arm where her friend’s elbow had made contact.
‘I don’t think anyone would ever think you were a good-time girl,’ Betty smiled at Sarah. ‘Now that is all sorted out I must get upstairs and catch up on my paperwork. Perhaps you would be a dear and pop into the tea rooms and book a table, Sarah? Let’s have lunch, it will be my treat. No, I insist,’ she added as the girls started to protest. ‘We won’t get to meet together until Christmas so we should celebrate our friendship before Maisie leaves Erith. Freda, it looks as though you have a customer,’ Betty added before heading off to do her work.
‘Thank you very much,’ Sarah hissed at Maisie. ‘You’ve really put me on the spot now, haven’t you? What were you thinking, shoving me in the arm like that?’
‘I needed you to agree,’ Maisie said, ‘before Freda changed her plans.’
‘You’ve lost me now.’
‘For ’eavens sake. You’d never make a good spy, would you? Now that Betty thinks we are all meeting tomorrow she’ll be looking forward ter her lunch and when Douglas arrives out of the blue, like he’s going ter do, she will fall into his arms and all will be right again.’
‘You’ve been watching too many soppy films. We still need to find Douglas and convince him to meet Betty.’
‘A piece of cake,’ Maisie grinned. ‘Freda can fill in the details and Bob’s yer uncle! There’ll be wedding bells before the year is out. You mark my words.’