‘Ruby! Come quick.’ One of the store’s lift attendants burst into the design department.
Ruby immediately leapt to her feet. ‘Henry? Whatever is wrong?’
Young Henry stood in the doorway, his eyes glowing with excitement and his cheeks flushed. ‘Mr Carter sent me to tell all the design staff to join him in the atrium. He’s gathering everyone right now. Customers, too.’
Ruby put her hands on her hips. ‘What on earth has happened—?’
‘It’s the Titanic. She’s sank!’
Ruby froze, unable to even react as chair legs scraped along the tiled floor, other design staff abruptly standing. ‘That’s impossible.’
‘It’s true. Hurry. Mr Carter and Miss Pennington are coming to the grand staircase. They’re going to tell the whole store what is happening. Quickly!’
He ran off leaving a pregnant silence lingering in his wake.
Slowly, Ruby turned, her eyes catching those of one of the young women working with her. ‘It can’t be true. What if… what if people are dead?’ She clamped her hand to her throat. ‘Amelia was on that ship. Mr Weir, too.’
‘Oh my God…’
‘We should go.’ Ruby made for the stairs, her heart pounding. Surely Amelia hadn’t been killed? Dread pulled deep in her stomach even contemplating that one of the few people who had shown her such kindness should have perished. Sometimes Ruby suspected that Amelia had guessed of her shameful inclination and accepted her anyway. Maybe now she would never have the chance to tell Amelia how much her discretion meant to her.
She reached the atrium and joined the crowds of customers and staff gathered in front of Mr Carter where he stood on the steps on the grand staircase. ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I can confirm the rumours and speculations of the press have been proven to be true. The Titanic has indeed sank…’
Ruby’s intake of breath joined those around her as she struggled to hear Mr Carter over the thudding of her pulse. How was it possible for such a mammoth ship to sink?
Mr Carter continued to speak, his words faltering, gathering strength and then faltering again. Even when he’d finished Ruby couldn’t quite believe what she’d heard.
Pennington’s staff and customers dispersed as Mr Carter slowly walked down the last few steps of the grand staircase, his expression dazed and his gait unusually hesitant.
Shocked and afraid, Ruby crossed her arms to hide her trembling. People everywhere mingled, their hands reaching for each other as they offered shared condolence and support. Pennington’s had never been so quiet, so static. Grief and sympathy for the many families who would be affected by the tragedy unfurled inside her as Ruby dropped her arms and turned to Victoria.
Tears shone in her eyes. ‘What is to be done, Ruby? All those people…’
‘I know.’ Ruby shook her head, her gaze once more drawn to the stunned crowd as many moved towards the exit, shopping forgotten. ‘But I’m sure Miss Pennington will gather us soon. There must be something we can do.’
Victoria nodded, her gaze burning into Ruby’s as she squeezed her arm.
Mr Carter’s speech once more resonated in Ruby’s mind. He had been sensitive but firm as he’d tried his best to reassure the families and loved ones affected by the Titanic’s sinking that they would have the store’s unwavering support. It just didn’t seem real that such a thing could happen.
Ruby stared towards Pennington’s main window. ‘Something will have to be done immediately about the Titanic display.’
Before Victoria could respond, Elizabeth Pennington hurried towards them, her face ashen and her green eyes shadowed with disbelief. ‘Ruby, we must dismantle the Titanic window as soon as possible. Come with me.’ She looked to her left. ‘Mrs Lark, would you please go to the ladies and men’s departments, also Homewares, and ask that two members of staff are spared from each department? They are to bring with them all the boxes for the merchandise used in the Titanic display.’
‘Of course, Miss Pennington.’ Victoria’s eyes were wide on Ruby’s. ‘I will speak to you later, Ruby.’
Elizabeth led the way to the main window and the small holding area behind it. Opening the concealed door, she entered the window and Ruby followed.
‘Close the curtains, Ruby. News of the sinking is being handed out by every paperboy, on every corner of the city. The last thing we want is people to think us insensitive at such a dreadful time.’ Elizabeth shook her head, her hand at her throat. ‘I have no idea what to do. Amelia and Mr Weir… my God, Ruby, how could this have happened? Mr Carter is trying to get in touch with the authorities to see what procedures are in place to locate missing passengers, but I’m not Amelia’s or Mr Weir’s family. I have no idea how much the people in charge will tell me or how I will possibly find out more.’
Seeing Elizabeth’s usually calm composure was cracking, Ruby moved to the curtain to give her employer a few moments to collect herself. Sympathy and understanding twisted inside her as she pulled on the curtain’s rope with trembling hands, Amelia’s face looming in her mind. Surely, such a shining light could not be extinguished when Amelia was barely twenty-three years old?
The curtain closed on the gawping passers-by outside and Ruby turned.
Elizabeth was busy gathering the nautical paraphernalia they had used to decorate the window and even though her face was etched with the staunch focus her staff expected of her, there was no hiding the stiffness in her shoulders and the pallor of her face. She was entirely shaken.
‘Why don’t you let me strip the window, Miss Pennington?’ Ruby asked gently. ‘I’m sure you have a hundred and one other things that need your attention. I will get everything taken down in no time.’
Elizabeth sat back on her haunches. ‘I can’t bear to think how many people who work here had family, friends or associates aboard that ship.’ Her eyes glinted with tears. ‘I must check on Mrs Culford.’
‘Esther? But she is at home with her baby and Mr Culford, isn’t she?’ Ruby felt sick. Surely Pennington’s previous head window dresser hadn’t been aboard the Titanic too? Was that why Amelia had been sent on the trip to America? On a special assignment with Esther? ‘Oh, Miss Pennington, surely Esther wasn’t—’
‘No, she is safely at home, thank goodness.’ Elizabeth shook her head, her gaze full of despair and sadness. ‘But her sister-in-law travelled on the Titanic and also Cornelia’s ex-husband and his new wife, too. I went to the jewellery department and informed Cornelia before I made the announcement and she has gone home. But how many more staff will be in shock and suffering such heartbreaking loss? How I am to help them, comfort them, when I don’t know all my staff as well as I’d like?’ She swiped at her cheek. ‘I try so hard to ensure my staff are happy, but what can I do to bolster them now?’
The door to the window opened and Victoria entered, carrying several boxes with other members of staff following behind, also armed with packaging. Her eyes immediately met Ruby’s and she raised her eyebrows, silently asking if she was all right.
Ruby nodded, her heart lifting just a little that Victoria’s concern should be for her at such an awful, universal time.
Elizabeth rose from the floor and Ruby touched her arm. ‘Go, Miss Pennington. I will oversee everything here. I won’t leave until everything is removed from the window and returned to the various departments. I promise.’
After instructing the staff to pack up the merchandise from their relevant departments, Ruby embraced the unexpected anger and disbelief that so many lives had been taken on a trip that, for many, was most likely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a better life.
This was the misfortune that rained down on people. They were given a chance, only to have it cruelly snatched away again. They were given freedom, only to be caged once more. All the loved ones left behind would not have the lives they had before; everything had changed. Fury burned inside her. Life was precious and she would not stand by one more day and let her mother destroy any more of the brief and happy moments her children might be blessed with.
Emboldened, she strode through the chaos towards Victoria only to be intercepted by Mr Evans who worked in the men’s department.
‘Ah, Miss Taylor. Might I ask how you came to be in charge of us? It seems to me you are taking this tragedy and turning it into an opportunity.’ He sneered at her, his cold, beady eyes boring into hers. ‘I wouldn’t even begin to get above your station. There is more than enough talk surrounding you as it is.’
Ruby drew her hands into fists, her heart pulsing in her ears. ‘Really?’
‘Yes, really.’ He sniffed and glanced towards the back door where she knew Victoria was working. ‘It seems you have a much closer relationship with Mrs Lark than most. People are talking of you being in love with her. Nobody can fail to miss how you look at her and take every opportunity to touch her.’
Sickness coated Ruby’s throat. ‘Is that so, Mr Evans?’
‘It is. Yes. Some might assume such abhorrent goings on are only among decidedly repulsive men, whereas I have it on good authority that there are just as many females guilty of the same behaviour.’
‘Well…’ Ruby’s pulse thumped in her ears, self-preservation and protection for Victoria rising as she stepped closer to Mr Evans and lowered her voice. ‘I would advise you to take your wisdom and stick it in your own thick ear before dishing it out to the rest of us. I’ve heard that you don’t take kindly to female rejection. It really wouldn’t do for Miss Pennington to hear of your over-interest in the shop girls, would it?’
His cheeks turned red and his eyes bulged. ‘Why, you—’
Ruby spun away and marched towards Victoria, her determination well and truly at its height. She clasped Victoria’s elbow and looked deep into her eyes. ‘Is tomorrow too soon for Tommy and me to move in with you?’ she whispered.
‘Tomorrow?’ Victoria glanced over Ruby’s shoulder. ‘Well, no, that’s fine. If you’re sure?’
Hating that Victoria felt the need to check for listening ears when all too soon Hazel Price would learn of their cohabiting and gossip and judgement would echo from every corner of the store. ‘I’m sure, but are you?’ Ruby’s heart beat fast with her need to escape her mother’s domination. ‘Because if you’ve changed your mind, I understand. Either way, Tommy and I will be leaving. Tomorrow.’
Victoria’s eyes flitted again from person to person before she looked at Ruby and lifted her chin. ‘I’m sure. Entirely sure. Tell your mother this evening, and I will have everything ready for you anytime.’ Her gaze grew intense on Ruby’s. ‘If things turn nasty when you go home, you grab whatever you can and come to me tonight. Anything else you need, we can collect another day.’
Ruby raised her eyebrows, inappropriate pride warming her. ‘We? You would really face my mother?’
Victoria gave a curt nod. ‘For you, yes. I’ll see you later.’
She hurried through the window’s back door and Ruby stared in stunned silence after her. For me? What did she mean? Could she dare to hope Victoria’s feelings might be straying past platonic?
‘Miss Taylor? We need your direction over here.’
Blinking from her stupor, Ruby strode towards the front of the window, her focus on work, even if Victoria’s words, and their meaning, continued to circle her mind.