There was no concern about the war in Great Earl Street, everything was carrying on as normal. The cars chugged past slowly, some coughing out clouds of black smoke into the air. Others hooted their horn occasionally, making people turn to find out why only to see nothing untoward. Annie sauntered towards the market; she loved the atmosphere. All the traders were calling out to the people passing by, each trying to sell their wares. There was laughter between the sellers as they all called out to get a sale. The aroma of hot soup mingled with fresh bread. She wasn’t hungry but the smells were very enticing, she could almost taste it. Annie swerved to avoid two young children giggling as they ran out of a shop, quickly followed by a young woman, who looked flushed as she chased after them. Annie bumped into a man. ‘Oh, I’m so sorry, please forgive––’
‘There’s no need.’ Peter’s smile brought colour to her cheeks. ‘It’s unusual to see yer on yer own.’ He looked around him. ‘Are they trailing behind yer somewhere?’
Annie looked away, wondering if he was disappointed Joyce wasn’t with her. ‘No, they are both at work so I thought I’d try and find Foyles Bookshop. Joyce has told us so much about it and I love a good book. I might even buy one for Margaret.’
‘Margaret?’
Annie smiled. ‘My sister.’
‘If you give me a minute to finish showing ’arry ’ow to stack apples so they don’t fall and get bruised, I’ll come with yer.’
Annie frowned. ‘What about your barrow?’
Peter’s smile widened. ‘It’ll be all right, ’arry knows what he’s doing, and I pay him extra when I’m not around. Anyway, Fred on the next barrow will keep an eye on him for me, it’s not like I’ll be gone all day.’ Peter paused for a moment. ‘Unless, that is, yer don’t want me to come wiv yer?’
Annie’s stomach lurched up into her chest, where her heart was racing.
‘Morning, Peter.’ An old man waved as he shuffled passed.
Smiling, Peter looked over and raised his hand. ‘Morning, Mr Thompson.’
Glad of the distraction, Annie took some deep breaths and hoped he wouldn’t notice her shortness of breath.
Not looking at her, Peter picked up a wooden box. ‘I don’t want to force myself on yer.’ He placed the box under the barrow. ‘That is, if yer’d rather go by yerself, then I won’t be offended like.’
Annie watched his every movement and took a few seconds to realise he had finished talking. Once again, she could feel the heat creeping up her neck. ‘No… that is I’m happy for you to come with me but I don’t want you to lose your livelihood for a trip to a bookshop.’
Peter laughed. ‘It’s not any old bookshop, it claims to be the best one around, probably in the world.’
Annie giggled. ‘That’s quite an accolade. It’s a good job I’m going to see this magnificent shop then.’
‘Give me a minute.’ Peter turned and quickly showed Harry how to stack the apples and talked about giving some of the old ladies extra.
Annie smiled as she listened. ‘You’re quite a softie, aren’t you? How are you going to build your empire if you give people “extras” as you put it?’
‘You sound like Joyce.’ He took her hand and gently placed it under his arm. ‘Oh sorry, I shouldn’t have done that, it’s a bit forward of me and I’m probably a bit dusty from unloading all the vegetables.’
He moved to release her hand but she held on tight, feeling the strength in his upper arm under the thin sleeve of his jacket. ‘Don’t worry, I grew up on a farm. My father and brother work the land, while my sister and I helped out with the chickens and picking the crops.’
Peter frowned. ‘That’s a bit of a difference to London with all these buildings, let alone the amount of people and cars. This must feel awful to yer.’ He chuckled. ‘I could be selling his homegrown produce, there’s nothing finer that’s for sure.’
Annie chuckled. ‘You sound just like him, but it took us a few hours to get here by train so I shouldn’t think you’ll ever be selling produce from our farm. Anyway, what we didn’t need he gave to the local greengrocer to sell on his behalf. Mind you I think they charged him too much for the privilege.’
‘Perhaps one day I’ll meet yer pa, he sounds like my kinda man, and we can talk about selling what yer grow.’ Peter guided her left on to Shaftesbury Avenue.
Sadness ran across Annie’s face.
‘Sorry, did I say something wrong? I know I can get carried away and speak without thinking at times.’
Annie gave him a tearful smile. ‘No, you haven’t said anything wrong. It’s just my pa has told me I’m not welcome back.’ She paused, while she pushed her hand inside her coat pocket and pulled out a small white handkerchief and dabbed at her nose. Annie screwed the thin piece of cotton material into a tight ball.
Peter gently stroked her hand.
Butterflies immediately fluttered around Annie’s stomach. She took a deep breath and slowly released it. ‘Don’t get the wrong idea, he’s a good man, the best.’ She hesitated for a moment. ‘I think he only said it because he didn’t want me to come to a big city like London where he couldn’t protect me. I think he thought I wouldn’t leave, but I did, and it’s upsetting to think I may not see him again.’
‘Your pa’s no different to most fathers, they all want to protect their daughters from the monsters of this world.’ Peter lifted his arm slightly but quickly lowered it again, fighting the urge to wrap his arms around her. She wasn’t Joyce and he was unsure how she would react. He had to be patient. ‘If he’s a good man like yer say ’e’ll come round, yer just have to give him time.’
Annie nodded. ‘I’m sorry, I’ve said too much. I don’t know what’s got into me.’
Peter shook his head. ‘Don’t keep saying yer sorry. Whatever yer tell me won’t go any further, I promise, and I don’t break promises.’
Annie looked up at his kind eyes and instinctively knew he was telling the truth. ‘I know but me almost crying isn’t a fun time is it? I blame you entirely.’
Peter chuckled. ‘Me? Why?’
Annie giggled as he jutted out his bottom lip. ‘Because you remind me of him.’
‘I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not.’ Peter guided Annie to one side to avoid a man carrying several baking trays of bread. ‘I get the impression yer think your father’s boring.’
Annie frowned. ‘Oh dear, I am a bad daughter because he’s far from it. He and my mother love each other to bits and he’s a wonderful father—’
‘But?’
‘I just don’t understand why he doesn’t want more from life. He works so hard all the time.’ Annie shook her head. ‘They’re both up so early every single day, without ever really taking a day off.’ She paused. ‘And, they never seem to go anywhere outside the village. How does he know there isn’t something better out there for them if he doesn’t look?’
Peter shook his head. ‘I expect he’s content, and if that’s true, why would he want to risk losing everything on a whim.’
Annie frowned. ‘Is that all men want, to be content?’
Peter stared down at the pavement for a moment before looking up at her. ‘I think most people would jump for joy at feeling content with their lot. The trouble is people don’t realise what they ’ave until it’s taken away from them.’
‘Is that what happened with you and Joyce?’ Annie’s hand shot up and covered her mouth. ‘I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have said that, it’s none of my business.’
Peter shook his head. ‘There’s never been anything going on with me and Joyce. We’re really good friends and ’ave been since the day she fell into my barrow, nearly tipping it over.’ He chuckled. ‘We just managed to stop everything from falling off it.’
Annie giggled. ‘Oh my, that’s one way to get someone’s attention! I’ll have to remember that one.’
Peter chuckled. ‘I’d rather you didn’t risk hurting yourself, and we don’t need anything that dramatic, thank you very much.’ He gave her a sideways glance. ‘Anyway, you’ve already got my attention so what more could you possibly need?’
Annie gave a little laugh. ‘You are funny.’
‘I’m glad you find it amusing, ma’am.’ Peter chuckled. ‘We need to turn right here.’ He placed his hand over hers as they waited at the edge of the pavement for a break in the cars. ‘Once we get across this road, we will be on Charing Cross Road, then it won’t be long before you’ll see the shop sign for Foyles, you can’t miss it.’
Annie grinned. ‘I’m actually quite excited, which is ridiculous really.’
Peter stepped forward off the pavement and Annie followed suit. ‘You wait until you see it and then tell me it’s ridiculous.’
It wasn’t long before the white painted sign for Foyles Bookshop was visible. Annie gasped with delight. ‘I can see it, I can see it.’ She giggled when she turned to see Peter grinning at her. ‘What?’ She smiled. ‘I told you I loved books.’
Peter chuckled. ‘I know but I ’ate to think what you’ll be like once you are in there.’
As they got nearer Annie saw the racks of books standing outside and the people milling around looking at them. She squeezed Peter’s arm. ‘You know you said you wouldn’t be out all day…’ She giggled.
Peter gazed down at her face, lit up with excitement. ‘I can spend all day with you in the bookshop, but I believe you’re the one that has to get to work this afternoon.’
Annie groaned. ‘That’s true.’
Peter waved his arm in front of him, gesturing for her to enter Foyles before him.
Annie stepped inside and her mouth dropped open. ‘Oh, Peter, I didn’t know so many books existed.’
Peter chuckled. ‘I told you, I’ve ’eard said that if you can’t buy it ’ere it doesn’t exist.’
‘That’s what we like to think.’
Both Annie and Peter looked to their left to see a tall, grey-haired man smiling at them.
He nodded at them both. ‘Mr Leadbetter, at your service. Welcome to Foyles Bookshop. If you can’t find what you are looking for then please do ask me, or one of our assistants.’ He lifted his arm. ‘Miss Taylor will assist you with any queries, or purchases, and the payment booth is just over the far side where Miss Appleton will be at your service.’
Annie stood open-mouthed as she gazed around her. ‘So many books.’ She turned to Peter. ‘Stay close or you may never see me again.’
Mr Leadbetter and Peter chuckled.
‘You wouldn’t be the first person to get lost in this shop.’ Mr Leadbetter smiled. ‘Please enjoy your time here and don’t forget: if you buy your books from here you get a refund of tuppence on all returns.’
Annie shook her head. ‘I think I’ve died and gone to heaven.’ She giggled. ‘Thank you, Mr Leadbetter.’
Mr Leadbetter nodded and moved away to talk to another customer.
Annie turned to Peter. ‘Never mind the theatre, this is where I want to work.’
Peter laughed. ‘I don’t think you mean that.’ But Annie was already moving towards one of the many racks stacked high with books.
*
Annie pushed the door open of the Meet and Feast Café. A bell chimed and Joyce looked up from behind the counter. She looked different with the white cap sitting neatly on her tied-back hair. She was wearing the traditional waitress uniform of a long black dress and white apron; its frilled straps sat neatly on her shoulders. The smell of bacon hung in the air along with the distinct aroma of coffee.
Joyce’s cheeks coloured slightly as she stepped forward to greet her friends. ‘Hello, this is a lovely surprise.’ She forced a smile. ‘Are you here to eat or did you just pop in as you were passing?’
Annie nodded. ‘It would be lovely to eat but if nothing else I could do with a drink of water. It may be September but it’s sweltering out there.’ She fanned her hand in front of her face.
Joyce immediately ran the cold tap for a couple of seconds before filling a glass and passing it over the counter.
Annie gratefully took the glass and gulped down the cold water, enjoying the chill as she swallowed.
Rose looked around her. There was a selection of wooden tables, a mixture of odd shapes and sizes, haphazardly placed around the small café. A large ornate dresser leant against the wall, stacked with crockery and glassware. Framed pictures of mealtimes hung from the picture rails. Laughter came from a large group of people over the other side of the room. ‘This looks a nice place. Maybe we’ll have some lunch before we go to work, if there’s a spare table.’
Joyce nodded. She’d known Rose would want to come and meet Simon and yet she was still unprepared for it. She studied her friends for a moment. They were beautiful, but Annie had an innocence that seemed to shine through. Joyce knew that no amount of perfume could hide the fact she always smelled like a fry up; she hated it and now she had spots popping up on her cheeks. She shook her head; it had been like this for some time so she didn’t understand why it was suddenly bothering her. Simon hadn’t been his usual chatty self that morning; there had been no ready smile for her when she arrived for work. The heat of the sun had already broken through so it wasn’t going to be a good day for working in a kitchen. With Annie following her dream, or at least trying to, Joyce had thought about asking Simon if she could make a few cakes to bring in and sell by the slice but he had been quite distant towards her, so she had kept quiet. Joyce had hoped they could talk about the war, had wanted his opinion about it, but decided against it and thrown herself into her work. The idea of Simon and Peter going off to fight worried her but she hadn’t said anything to her friends. She sighed, wishing she’d kept quiet about Simon. ‘Follow me, I’ll show you to a table. Luckily that one by the window has just become available, so you can watch what’s going on and enjoy the sunshine.’
The girls nodded and followed Joyce in single file, weaving in between tables.
Rose looked at the plates of food as they moved between each table, everything from the all-day breakfast to pies and sandwiches.
Annie was the first to sit down on the wooden chair. ‘It’s certainly warm out there. Joyce can I have a cup of tea please while I decide what I’m having to eat.’
‘Make that two please, three if you can join us.’ Rose pulled out the chair opposite.
‘I’m afraid that won’t be possible but I’ll fetch yours.’ Joyce turned and walked back to the counter.
‘I must say all the plates of food look quite delicious.’ Rose leant forward. ‘So do you think we’ll get to meet Simon?’
Annie frowned, while taking a menu from between the salt and pepper pots. ‘Leave Joyce alone, if she wants us to meet him, she’ll introduce us.’
Joyce looked across at them and took a deep breath; she had a feeling there was going to be an embarrassing moment for her. Why? She wasn’t sure. Was she ashamed of where she worked, especially as she had arrived in London with her own dreams? Was it Simon? She blushed, highly unlikely, they were just friends. Joyce picked up her tray and began threading her way through the tables with the tray of crockery, nodding to customers as she passed them.
The girls looked up and watched in silence as Joyce put the white and blue china tea things in front of them.
Annie smiled as she picked up a cup. ‘These are pretty.’
‘I think so; I managed to get them off a stall in Oxford Street. I brought three sets but unfortunately they don’t match.’
Annie placed the cup back on its matching saucer. ‘I think somehow that adds to it.’
Rose looked wide-eyed at Joyce. ‘So, will we get to meet Simon while we’re here?’
Annie’s face screwed up with anger. ‘Rose.’
‘That’s all right, Annie.’ Joyce took a deep breath and held her hands tight in front of her. ‘I knew that’s why you had come here today, I’m not daft.’
Rose chuckled. ‘Well, I don’t like to disappoint anyone. So, are we going to meet him or are you hiding him away?’
Annie shook her head. ‘This is nothing to do with me.’ She lifted the top of the teapot and began stirring the light brown tea with the spoon from her saucer.
Rose giggled. ‘You want to meet him as much as I do.’
‘As I’ve already said, it’s up to Joyce. He’s her friend.’ Annie picked up the tea strainer and rested it on her cup and began to pour the tea.
Joyce picked up the empty tray, while trying to ignore the heat that was starting to engulf her. ‘Rose, it’s a busy time so I’m afraid Simon will be too busy for idle chit chat.’ She moved to walk away just as Simon came out of the kitchen.
Rose grabbed Joyce’s arm. ‘Is that him?’ Not waiting for an answer, she continued. ‘He’s very handsome, no wonder you were keeping him a secret.’
Joyce pulled her arm away. ‘I wasn’t keeping him a secret, he’s my boss.’
Rose looked up at her, eyeing the redness in her cheeks. ‘There’s no need to get so cross, I’m only playing. Mind you if he’s single and you don’t want him then I might throw my hat at him.’
Joyce shook her head. She looked over at him and something stirred deep inside her. What was that? Jealousy or was she just plain envious of Rose’s confidence? ‘You’re terrible. Feel free, I’m just the hired help.’ She walked away from the table and was back at the counter before she realised she hadn’t taken their order. She didn’t know what had gotten into her today. These were her friends, shouldn’t she just be honest with them? She picked up her notepad and strode purposefully over to her friends’ table. ‘Sorry, I forgot to take your order, what would you like to eat?’
Annie looked up at Joyce’s pale features. ‘Are you all right? Don’t take any notice of Rose, you know what she’s like she just can’t help herself.’
Rose put down her menu. ‘You do know I’m sitting here, don’t you?’
Annie laughed at her friend’s indignant expression. ‘I’m sorry but you deserve all you get, it’s about time you learnt to think before you open your mouth. You clearly upset Joyce.’
Joyce fidgeted from one foot to the other. ‘I’m fine honest, I’m quite used to her.’
Annie glared at Rose. ‘That doesn’t make it right though.’
Rose closed her eyes for a second. ‘All right, I’m sorry, but you should all be used to me by now. I don’t say anything to upset anyone on purpose. Well,’ she giggled, ‘apart from old Blakey back home that is.’
Annie laughed. ‘Ain’t that the truth.’
A mischievous smile slowly spread across Rose’s face.
‘What?’ Annie frowned. ‘And don’t say nothing because I can see your mind’s jumping about all over the place. So, I know the next thing that’s going to come out of your mouth won’t be good.’
Rose’s mouth dropped open. ‘Charming! It’s lovely to have such good friends and to be thought of as a loving, caring person.’
Annie couldn’t resist smiling. ‘So, go on, spit it out. You know you want to.’
‘I was only thinking…’ Rose paused. ‘I was only thinking how you have an admirer and you aren’t even aware of it.’
Annie lifted her hand to her chest. ‘Me?’
The girls watched her surprise turn to shock as her eyes darted left and right trying to remember if she’d missed something.
‘I can’t wait any longer.’ Rose laughed. ‘I knew you were unaware of the looks he gave you.’
‘Who?’
Joyce giggled. ‘Peter.’
Rose slapped her hand down on her lap. ‘Ah, see, I wasn’t the only one to notice.’
Colour flooded Annie’s cheeks, while her stomach churned nervously. ‘Nonsense.’
Joyce smiled at her friends but had the urge to rescue Annie from the embarrassment she was clearly feeling. ‘Anyway, thank you for the apology; I’m just in a strange mood today. I think it’s all this talk of war, it’s all everyone’s talking about.’
Annie nodded gratefully. ‘You must hear a lot about it here. At the theatre we just keep hearing the show must go on. I should buy a paper every day so I know what’s happening; I did for a couple of days but it’s all so depressing.’
Joyce nodded. ‘That’s the trouble with a café. Someone came in early this morning and was telling us that Kitchener had made what he called a “Road Hogs of War” speech. I didn’t hear everything he said but I think the gist of it was the Germans have invaded Belgium and they’re slaughtering women and children. That’s why we have to go to war to stop it all.’
Rose and Annie paled as Joyce spoke.
‘That sounds awful.’ Annie paused. ‘Those poor people, they must be terrified.’ She shook her head. ‘Thank goodness there’s water between us and them, imagine if they came here.’ She shuddered. ‘It doesn’t bear thinking about.’ Picking up her cup, Annie sipped her tea. She gasped, pulling the cup away as the hot liquid burnt her mouth.
Joyce fidgeted from one foot to the other. ‘Maybe we should go to the pictures and watch the Pathé News for ourselves. That way at least we’ll know the truth about what’s going on.’
*
Rose sat on her bed with her knees up and her notebook resting against them. Her pencil glided lightly over the paper as she scribbled and ran her fingertip over the lines, smudging them in places. She started to write a small note at the bottom of the page when a rap at her door startled her. She snapped the book shut and pushed it under her pillow. ‘Come in.’
The door handle grated as it turned to open. Annie poked her head round the door. ‘Are you up for company?’ She smiled. ‘I’ve brought cups of tea.’
‘I’m always up for a cup of tea.’
‘Considering we live in the same house and work in the same place we never seem to have a chance to chat like we used to back home.’ Annie pushed the door open with her foot as she bent down to pick the tray up off the floor.
‘I know what you mean. Maybe we should make this a daily thing or even weekly.’
Annie nodded. ‘That’s a good idea, I miss our little chats.’ Annie placed the tray on top of the chest of drawers. ‘Joyce said if I’m not down in a few minutes she’d be up so I’ve brought three cups.’ She walked through the doorway and closed the door with a nudge of her arm. ‘She’s just talking to her uncle and I thought I should leave them to it.’
Rose raised her eyebrows. ‘Are they arguing?’
‘Not yet, but I’m always nervous her uncle’s temper isn’t very far away.’
‘I wonder why he drinks so much. He’s quite a pleasant man when he’s sober.’
Annie gave a wry smile. ‘Not that we see that very often, but you’re right, there must be a reason. Do you know what happened to his wife?’
Rose shook her head. ‘No, I thought she had died but now I’m not so sure if she didn’t just leave him.’
Annie frowned. ‘Why do you say that?’
Rose shrugged. ‘I don’t know it’s just a feeling I have.’ She watched Annie pour out two cups of tea. ‘They never talk about her, and I’m almost certain they had a son. So where is he, and why aren’t there any photographs?’
Annie walked towards the bed with the two cups and passed one to Rose. ‘Maybe that’s why he drinks so much, I mean it’s hard for a woman to bring up children by herself so she must have been pretty desperate to leave him. Let’s face it, he doesn’t seem to be short of money.’
Rose frowned. ‘He must be drinking most of it.’ She gazed down into her cup. ‘I seem to recall my ma saying he worked long hours on the docks, but knowing me I could have the wrong relative. I want to ask Joyce but I don’t want to pry if it’s a sensitive subject.’
Annie chuckled.
‘What?’ Rose raised her eyebrows. ‘What did I say that would warrant laughter? I was serious.’
Annie shook her head. ‘I know you were, that’s what was so funny. I’ve never known you to allow a sensitive subject to stop you from having your say before.’
Rose smiled for a moment. It gradually faded. ‘Well, this is different. We’re not in the village now and Joyce is our friend.’
Annie nodded. ‘You’re right. Anyway, how’s the seamstress life in the theatre?’
Rose grinned. ‘I love it. Miss Hetherington is a bit hard work. She doesn’t like me very much or my work. She’s always criticising and thinks she’s too important to talk to the likes of you and me. Having said that, Stan – or perhaps I should say Mr Tyler – popped his head in to see how I was getting on and he’s much more important than Miss Hetherington.’
Annie lifted her cup to sip the hot tea. ‘Do you give her lip like you did to the greengrocer back home?’
‘No.’ Rose looked indignant. ‘I wouldn’t dare, I love my job too––’ A light rap on the bedroom door, barely audible, interrupted their chatter. ‘Come in.’
Joyce opened the door and stepped into the bedroom. ‘Sorry, I was a bit longer than I intended to be. Is there any tea left?’
Annie frowned. ‘Of course. Is everything all right?’
Joyce nodded. ‘This is nice, a little girly chat.’
Annie poured the dark liquid from the pot into a tea strainer, which rested on top of a cup. ‘I hope it won’t be too strong, it’s been brewing for a while.’
‘I’m sure it will be fine.’ Joyce unpinned her light brown hair and let it fall to her shoulders. She shook her head and ran her long fingers through it.
‘You should wear your hair down more often.’ Rose studied Joyce for a moment, wondering whether to ask about her aspirations to cook for a living. Remembering the notebook under her pillow she decided against it; she didn’t want any attention to be aimed at her.
Annie handed Joyce her cup of tea. ‘We were just talking about Rose and her job as a seamstress at the theatre.’
Joyce sipped the tea and wrinkled her nose. ‘This is a bit strong.’ She glanced at Rose. ‘Are you not enjoying it?’
Rose laughed. ‘I love it. I was just telling Annie Miss Hetherington, who’s in charge of me, seems to dislike me for some unknown reason.’
Joyce shrugged. ‘As long as you know you are doing a good job and are respectful, I wouldn’t worry about it.’
‘Joyce is right.’ Annie paused. ‘Actually, you don’t know what she’s got going on in her life, I mean she shouldn’t take it out on you but that’s what people do isn’t it?’ She turned to Joyce. ‘Have you asked Simon, about your baking yet?’
Joyce shook her head. ‘I haven’t found the right time yet.’ Her face suddenly lit up. ‘Did I see a certain someone walking arm in arm along Shaftesbury Avenue with Peter?’
Heat immediately swamped Annie’s body and her face turned crimson. ‘Yes, he took me to Foyles Bookshop.’ She turned to Rose. ‘I’d just got back when I met you to go to Meet and Feast.’
Rose smiled. ‘You kept that quiet.’
Annie tilted her head slightly and grinned. ‘No, it wasn’t a secret, I was going to tell you so we could go there together. I swear I’ve never seen so many books and everyone who worked there seemed so lovely. I can quite safely say if I ever give up on my dream, that’s where I want to work.’
Joyce giggled. ‘You liked it then. And how was your time with Peter?’
‘He was a perfect gentleman.’ Annie laughed. ‘In all seriousness he was great company.’
Rose watched Annie’s eyes light up at Peter’s name. ‘Do I pick up there’s romance in the air?’
‘Nooo, we only went to the bookshop. I think he felt sorry for me because I was on my own.’
Joyce and Rose smiled at each other.
‘What?’
Joyce was the first to speak. ‘I’ve noticed when we’re all together Peter’s eyes never leave you for long.’
‘Likewise, you watch him when you think no one is looking.’ Rose reached over and patted Annie’s knee. ‘It’s all right, you’re allowed to be attracted to him, he’s not married or anything.’ Rose turned quickly to Joyce. ‘He’s not, is he?’
‘No, he’s a good, kind man. You could do a lot worse than him.’
Annie shook her head. ‘I think you two are getting ahead of yourselves, we only walked to Charing Cross Road together.’
‘Arm in arm.’ Joyce winked at Rose.
Annie chuckled. ‘Will you two behave yourselves?’
Rose glanced across at Joyce. ‘From what I hear Peter’s not the only one who has his eye on you.’
‘What?’ Annie frowned. ‘Now what are you talking about?’
Inside the bedroom, it was silent for a moment. People’s voices carried up from the street along with a car backfiring.
Rose wished she hadn’t said anything but she wanted Annie to know what people were saying about her. She took a deep breath. ‘Matthew Harris.’
Joyce looked confused. ‘Who’s Matthew Harris?’
Annie shook her head. ‘He’s no one, people just like to gossip.’
Rose raised her eyebrows and turned to Joyce. ‘He’s the musical director at the theatre and seems to have taken a shine to Annie.’
Annie sighed. ‘No, he hasn’t, that’s utter rubbish. He’s giving me singing lessons every morning before I start work. It’s to help me get on the stage, which I think is very kind of him.’
‘That must be costing you a pretty penny.’ Joyce frowned. ‘Especially if he’s the musical director, these things don’t come cheap. Have you mentioned him to Peter?’
‘Why do I need to mention it to Peter?’ Annie felt a surge of anger flow through her veins. ‘Anyway, he knows already – remember Sunday morning on Westminster Bridge. It’s just singing lessons and, let’s face it, it’s nobody else’s business.’
Joyce bent down and put her cup and saucer on the floor by her feet. ‘Yes, I do remember now. He didn’t look happy at just the mention of his name.’ She glanced up again. ‘How much is he charging you?’
Annie stared down at the floorboards. ‘He’s not at the moment. He thinks I have what it takes to make it on the stage and he wants to help me to do just that.’
‘Just be careful, I’m not saying he is but some people use their position to get what they want.’
Rose’s lips tightened. ‘This was never going to be an easy conversation for us to have but apparently he has a reputation for going after young girls, so you do need to be careful.’
‘That’s nonsense; he’s been an absolute gentleman so I won’t hear a bad word said about him.’ Annie frowned. ‘I don’t know why people have to be so mean.’ Bert’s words immediately jumped into her head – is that what he’d meant when he was talking about people not always being as nice as they seem?