People were gathering in Whitehall, patiently waiting and listening. The familiar skyline of the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey were visible in the distance. They were all there, waiting to watch and cheer the hundreds of men march along the wide road, in their full army uniforms, passing the statue of Prince George, Duke of Cambridge.
When Lily, Alice and Sarah arrived, the crowd was already six deep along both sides of the long road. Many were gaunt and serious as they waited, stretching their necks to peer down the road, looking for a sign that the soldiers were coming. The chill of the air disappeared as people moved forward, each pressing closer to the person next to them, so others could join the throng. If one person moved, so did everyone. They were as one, body odour fusing with soap and cologne.
Lily had nagged Alice and her mother about going.
‘Is that the men coming?’
‘I can't see any coming this way.’
In the distance, a faint sound of people cheering carried up the road towards the waiting crowd, preceding the soldiers.
A child's voice rang out. ‘I can see them, they are coming.’
As one, everyone stretched their necks to see. Some stood on tiptoes and children were pushed to the front. Women, children and older men clapped and cheered, drowning out the thud of army boots hitting the road as the soldiers passed them. There was almost a party atmosphere in the crowd as women threw children's shoes at the soldiers, for good luck.
‘You'll be back before you know it.’
‘See you at Christmas, boys.’
‘We’re proud of you.’
‘Give the Huns what for.’
‘For King and country boys, for King and country.’
Alice strained her neck, moving right then left, trying to see through the crowd. Was Charles one of them? If he was, then Stephen and Harry must be too. Her heart was pounding as she prayed for a last glimpse of her brother, before he went off to war. She stood on tiptoes, trying to see the soldiers' faces. The men in uniform stared straight ahead as they kept in formation. Alice frowned; they all looked the same from her position. A tear rolled down her cheek as it hit home they may not see Charles again. She had never told him how funny he was, or how proud she was of him, let alone how much he meant to her.
Sarah's voice cut into Alice's thoughts. ‘Do you think Charles is one of them?’
Alice ran her hand over her face, before turning to look at her mother. ‘I don't know, it's hard to tell.’ She paused, looking through the crowd again. ‘They all look the same in their uniforms.’ Alice wondered if her mother was having similar thoughts to her own. She gave her mother's arm a squeeze. ‘He'll be all right; he's too bright a star to be dulled by all this.’
Sarah gave a weak smile. ‘I hope you are right; he is so young.’
An old lady with a mop of grey hair, wearing an expensive tweed coat, stood next to Alice and cheered enthusiastically. She turned to Alice and shouted above the noise around them. ‘Come on, lovey, you've got to let them know they’ve got our support, otherwise they’re fighting for nothing.’
Alice stared hard at the smiling face of the old lady, as she cheered and clapped the soldiers. Her words echoed Lily’s, earlier that morning. ‘Do you think it's right, the war I mean?’
The old lady's toothless smile immediately disappeared as she went silent, before looking Alice straight on. ‘It doesn't matter what I think. As my late husband used to say, it's a done deal, and you can't let these lads go off without the country's support behind them. They’re all someone's sons, brothers and husbands.’
Alice nodded and gave her a faint smile. She looked across at Lily joining in with the crowd’s enthusiasm, to give the boys a good send off. Alice smiled at her. She may have been younger, but she was probably wiser. She lifted her hands up and started cheering and clapping. Sarah followed suit.
The old lady gave a toothless smile at Alice. ‘That's it, lovey, let them know we care. Hopefully, it’ll be over soon. You know, even the young Princess Mary has made an appeal for money, so the troops can have a Christmas gift each. Now that’s sweet, don't you think?’
Alice stopped clapping and slowly lowered her hands. ‘But I thought they were hoping it would all be over by Christmas.’ Her heart plummeted – would she ever see the boys again?
*
Molly fastened her coat as another busy day at Foyles came to an end. ‘I'm dreading going outside; the temperature has really dropped.’ She looked across at Alice, who was pulling a scarf around her neck. ‘I haven't seen Freddie in here for a while. Has something happened? Are you two not together anymore?’ Molly asked, as Victoria joined them.
Alice pulled on her soft woollen gloves and took a deep breath. ‘He has enlisted.’ Her shoulders hunched over. ‘He went a couple of months ago.’
Molly grabbed her hand. ‘Why didn't you say something?’
Alice pulled her hand away and folded her arms across her stomach. ‘What was there to tell?’ She shrugged her shoulders. ‘He felt, like thousands of others, he wouldn't be doing his duty if he didn't enlist.’
Victoria remained silent as she studied Alice.
Molly raised her eyebrows. ‘I can't pretend I'm not shocked. I thought, as a policeman, he’d stay here and do the things policemen do.’
Alice gave a wry smile. The usual sparkle in her eyes was gone. ‘Yes, me too, but his sense of duty to his country took hold.’
The two younger girls glanced sideways at each other, each nodding encouragement to the other.
Molly lifted her chin and pulled her shoulders back. ‘But I suppose he must have already had that sense of duty, to do the job he did.’
Victoria stepped forward and rested her arm around Alice's slumped shoulders. ‘Silly question I know, but are you all right?’
Alice nodded. ‘You know, this is happening to every family, all around the country. I’ve just got to get a grip and keep myself busy.’
Molly shook her head. ‘I'm sorry, Alice. I truly thought you and Freddie would set a date to be married in the next year, but I suppose…’
Alice closed her eyes for a moment, before opening them wide to stare at her friends' expectant faces. ‘We’ve set a date, but the trouble is, I don't know when it is.’
‘What?’ they asked in unison.
Alice's eyes clouded as she remembered the happiness his proposal had given her, then the cold water he had quickly drowned her excitement with. ‘He proposed the evening before he went away.’ Alice couldn't bring herself to tell them that he had followed it with news of his going away for army training. ‘He said he wanted to get married at the earliest opportunity, so it’ll happen as soon as he returns. The problem is, he doesn't know when that will be.’
Victoria grabbed Alice's arm. ‘Let's go for tea and cake. This is a crisis and a celebration all in one.’
Alice could feel her eyes becoming blurry. ‘I need to go…’
Molly grabbed her other arm. ‘That sounds like a good idea, Victoria; let's go to that delightful tea room in Oxford Street. I forget what it's called, but it's my treat.’
Victoria tugged a little on Alice's arm. ‘Come on, allow us to be your friends.’
Alice gave her a watery smile and nodded.
The three of them walked arm-in-arm, along Charing Cross Road towards Oxford Street. The shoppers and the many people trying to get home made it a busy thoroughfare. Molly turned the handle on the street door of the tearoom and a bell chimed; a waitress immediately walked over to them.
‘A table for three please.’ Molly began unbuttoning her coat. ‘We’ll have three teas and the best chocolate cake you have.’
The girls all laughed as Molly took control of the situation. ‘In times of crisis, it’s always good to eat chocolate in any form and my mother, of course, swears by drinking tea at such a time.’
The waitress showed them to a white-clothed table, near the window. They all removed their coats before sitting down. By the time they were all comfortably seated, the waitress had returned with pots of tea and plates loaded with large pieces of chocolate cake.
Alice stared down at her plate. ‘Oh my.’
Molly laughed. ‘Doesn't it look delicious?’
‘It certainly does.’ Victoria scanned her plate. ‘Although I have a feeling I won't need to eat for a week when I’ve eaten this.’
The girls laughed and picked up their dessert forks.
Molly stabbed at her cake, separating a small piece. ‘So come on, let's discuss your wedding.’
Alice didn't touch the feast in front of her. She placed the fork onto her plate. ‘There is nothing to discuss. I can't plan something that may not happen; after all—’
‘No.’ Victoria raised her voice and looked sternly at Alice. ‘We’ll not have that sort of talk, thank you very much. None of us know what is going to happen, but I for one cannot think about Stephen not coming home again, so we should carry on as if they’re visiting family or something.’
Alice's jaw dropped a little. ‘I wondered how you were managing to deal with it so well.’
Victoria nodded. ‘It's the only way I can.’ She paused and looked down at the chocolate cake. ‘I’ve even wondered if Ted enlisted. Of course, he could be married with children by now.’
Molly and Alice gave each other a quick look, before turning to stare at her.
Molly coughed and returned her attention to the cake that was calling out to her. ‘So Alice, we need to find out how you get married without knowing when it will take place.’
Alice tilted her head at Molly before returning her attention to Victoria. ‘You can talk to us about Ted. I know we haven't mentioned him, but that was because we didn't want to upset you. At the time, you had enough to deal with. In fact, it certainly puts my self-pity into perspective.’
Victoria's lips lifted at the corners. ‘There is not a day when I don't think about Ted, but don't feel that what you’re going through is less important. You’ve been a good friend and now it's my turn to return the favour.’
Molly nodded, but Alice didn't take her eyes off Victoria. ‘You’ve been through so much; I wish I had your strength.’ Alice shook her head.
Victoria laughed. ‘Oh Alice, I didn't choose this. We all have strength, but we just don't know it until we are tested. Now this is meant to be a crisis and celebration tea and cake for you, remember.’
They all laughed, before picking up their forks again and tucking into the light, sweet sponge.
Victoria closed her eyes. ‘Hmm, this is quite decadent.’
Alice and Molly laughed and they both mimicked her.
‘Well you must admit, it is.’
‘So Alice, about your wedding.’ Molly returned to the question in hand. ‘Do you know what you want to wear?’
Alice shrugged. ‘I can't allow myself to think about it, because it may not be for years, if at all.’
Victoria poured the tea into each of their cups. ‘Look, it will happen. As my mother used to say, I can feel it in my water.’ She placed the china teapot back onto the metal stand. ‘If you don't want to buy a wedding dress, what about your mother's?’
‘I don't know if it would fit, or actually, if she still has it.’
Molly laughed. ‘I expect she does; my mother still has hers. I think she hopes I’ll wear it one day.’
Alice tilted her head again. ‘Ahh, I'll have to pop round to see your mother and father; they are so lovely.’
Molly laughed. ‘All families are lovely, when they’re not your own.’ She looked sideways at Victoria. ‘Sorry.’
‘It's all right.’ Victoria paused. ‘Stop worrying. It’s about time I moved on and Alice’s wedding could be just the antidote I need.’ She gave her best smile, chasing away the jealous thoughts that immediately invaded her mind. She felt sure there would be no wedding for her. With no Ted, and no father to walk her down the aisle to the man she loved, fate had dealt her a mean blow. She took a deep breath and concentrated on the cake in front of her. ‘Anyway, back to the dress; you should ask your mother, and I don't mind doing any alterations that might be needed.’
Alice shook her head. ‘Thanks, Victoria, but I don't even know whether my mother still has one.’
Molly picked up her cup and took a sip of the hot liquid. ‘Well then, that is your first step.’
Confusion swept across Alice's face. ‘What is?’
Molly tutted. She put her cup back on its saucer. ‘To ask your mother if she still has her wedding dress, and then try it on, if she’s happy for you to wear it.’
Alice gave a strange laugh. ‘I haven't told her that Freddie has proposed.’
‘What?’ they answered in unison.
Alice's lips thinned. ‘I don't expect you to understand, but Freddie went away the following day and I just thought…’
Molly shook her head. Her eyes sparked with impatience. ‘Did he say he wanted to wait until the end of the war?’
‘No, actually he said he didn't want to wait and when he gets leave, he wants us to marry.’
‘There you go then, we’ve work to do.’ Victoria rested her hand on Alice's arm. ‘This is so exciting. I can't wait; you'll be the first of the three of us to get married.’
Alice laughed at her friend's excitement. ‘Well, we don't know that yet. It could be years away.’
‘Or weeks,’ Victoria corrected.
‘Or days.’ Molly laughed.
Alice shook her head as she joined in their laughter. ‘You two are incorrigible.’
Molly held her fork, laden with cake, in mid-air over her plate. ‘Well, I certainly won't be getting married before either of you.’
‘You don't know that,’ Alice whispered.
‘I think I do.’ Molly laughed again, but it was a hollow sound. ‘Tony and I are finished.’
Alice's mouth dropped. ‘Finished?’
Molly let out a big sigh. ‘Yes, to cut a long story short, I called him a coward because he hadn't enlisted.’
Victoria rested her hand on Molly's. ‘Why did you do that? Surely you’d be grateful that the man you loved was safe.’
A grating sound filled the space between them. ‘Yes, I know that now. I’ve since heard he’s enlisted, but he didn't tell me. I haven't seen him to say goodbye.’
Alice placed her hand on Molly's and the three sat in silence, holding on to each other, deep in their own thoughts.