By the time Alex turned up in his motor car, Olivia had altered the hem of one of her day dresses and was wearing it. Not her neatest sewing, but who would know? She’d started on the evening gown, simply to avoid wasting time, but that wasn’t as important because she wouldn’t need it till New Year’s Eve.
She felt she looked more like a modern woman now, and knew that was foolish and vain, but didn’t try to work out why it mattered so much.
After she opened the door to him, she couldn’t think what to say and stood staring like a fool. He stared back at her, not rushing into speech. His smile was warm and he didn’t seem impatient to move into the house.
‘Bring him in,’ Madame said from behind her. ‘You can stare at one another just as easily inside the house and we can all stay warm as you do it.’
Olivia felt herself flushing and saw his face grow rosier too. They both launched into speech at the same time.
‘How are you?’
‘Are you ready to leave?’
Both stopped again and Madame looked from one to the other, shaking her head. ‘Come into the sitting room, m’sieur. Do you want something to eat before you leave? Or I can make sandwiches to take with you.’
Alex glanced from her to Olivia. ‘I know a pub about an hour’s drive away. We can get a decent luncheon there and warm up a little. I’ve got a nice thick travel blanket, so you shouldn’t get too cold in the car. If you don’t mind eating in a public house, that is.’
‘I don’t mind at all. Charles and I used to drive into the country sometimes and stop at pubs for luncheon. It can be very pleasant.’ Olivia pulled her scattered wits together. ‘I’ll get my things. I’ve got two suitcases, but this time they don’t weigh a ton.’
‘I’ll help you with them.’
‘Thank you.’
When they set off, Olivia leant her head back against the car seat and sighed. ‘So. You managed to sort out your problem quickly?’ She saw his expression change. ‘You look as though it was rather serious.’
‘Yes. Very serious, in fact.’ He hesitated.
‘I won’t pester you, but if you want to talk about it, I’m a very good listener and I can keep a confidence.’
There was such a long silence she thought she’d overstepped some invisible mark in their budding friendship. ‘I would value your opinion, actually,’ he then said.
He told her what they’d discovered from his father’s papers.
‘You had no idea your brother had got married?’
‘None whatsoever. I can understand why he would keep it secret, though. Our father would have hated such a marriage and might even have tried to get it declared void.’
‘Even if your brother and this woman loved one another?’
‘Father believed in selecting a spouse primarily for business reasons. I don’t think he believed in romantic love at all. His only love was money. He’d have been furious if he’d known how foolish my mother would be with his hard-earned wealth after she inherited it.’
Alex sighed. ‘He predicted that I’d be back in Swindon begging his help before a year was up. He’d be very upset to think I succeeded in doing something other than carting. Or “delivering goods”, as he preferred to call it in the last few years, because he thought it sounded more modern and genteel.’
Olivia could hear the bitterness and pain in Alex’s voice. ‘You’d think he’d have been proud of your achievements. You and your brother can’t have had a happy family life, from the sounds of it.’
‘No. It was a very unhappy household. If Mildred’s mother hadn’t visited her in-laws regularly I’d have no happy memories. She was as kind to me as was allowed, taking me out to tea or inviting me round to play with Mildred occasionally.’
‘Not your brother?’
‘He was older, already out at work in my father’s business.’
She waited but Alex did not continue. ‘What are you going to do about these children, then?’ she prompted.
‘I intend to find them and make sure they want for nothing from now on. I’ll see that they receive a share of the inheritance and remedy any lack of education, if it’s not too late to do that. I don’t even know how old they are. But those things are only fair, don’t you think?’
‘Yes I do. But not many men would voluntarily give up their money.’
‘I’ve earned enough by my own efforts to be comfortable. I don’t need the inheritance nor do I wish to grab every halfpenny I can.’
‘You’re a very kind man, Alex Seaton. You were kind to Claude last night, too.’
She watched him flush and guessed he wasn’t used to compliments. She felt so comfortable with him, she hoped they would stay friends from now on. Charles would have liked him too, she was sure.
She found Alex’s shyness rather touching. She had no experience of a shy man. Charles had been a big man, confident and sunny-natured. He’d been so sure he’d survive the war.
Alex was very different, about the same height as she was, thin but dressed with quiet elegance.
She was sure Alex’s father had gone straight to hell for treating both his sons so badly! She must enlist Babs’s help in making Alex realise his own worth.
They stopped for an excellent luncheon, chatting like old friends about the changes the war had brought. It was late afternoon when they arrived in London, just starting to go dark.
Babs’s house was a four-storey building in an elegant Georgian terrace.
‘What a lovely street!’ Olivia exclaimed.
‘I always think so too. My house is rather different, a detached villa with a walled garden. Perhaps you and Babs could come to tea with me the day after the party, if you’re not too tired?’
‘I’d love to do that. I’ll have to check with Babs first, of course.’
‘I hope she’ll be free. It’d be better if you came to tea at the shop, because I’d like to show it to you. I have a small room upstairs where I entertain clients.’
‘I’d love to see your shop.’
‘And … I know you’re staying a few days, but I’d be happy to drive you home again. I shall have to return to Swindon anyway.’
She looked at him and was going to refuse, because she didn’t want to take advantage of his kindness. She had steadfastly refused invitations from other men in the past few months and though she liked Alex, she didn’t want to give him false hopes about his relationship with her.
But then she noticed that he was looking nervous and she guessed how much courage it had taken for him to ask her.
‘I’d like that,’ she said and saw him sag in relief.
By this time the front door was open. Babs hadn’t waited for them to knock and was standing beckoning to them impatiently.
Olivia let Alex open the car door for her and tried to walk sedately into the house.
But Babs spoilt this polite behaviour by giving her a big hug and then hugging Alex for good measure. He looked a bit startled by this and patted her back awkwardly.
‘Come in, come in! It’s all in terrible chaos because they’ve started getting ready for the party on New Year’s Eve – you are coming, aren’t you, Alex?’
‘Yes, of course I am. I’ve been looking forward to it. You always throw such splendid parties.’
‘Good. We’ll have so much fun and we’ll dance in the new year.’ She flapped one hand at a hallstand. ‘Take off your coat and hat, Olivia. Alex, would you like a cup of tea before you leave?’
‘No, I can see you two want to be alone to chat, and I have a business to run. I’ll look forward to seeing you at the party.’
‘Eight o’clock sharp,’ Babs said. ‘We’re having cocktails. I’ve got some delicious recipes from an American friend.’
He gave a wry smile. ‘I’m not very good with alcohol, as you know. I don’t think I’d dare drink a cocktail.’
‘Ah, but I have recipes for one or two without alcohol in them. I did remember that about you, Alex, and I have another friend who can’t drink. Anyway, who can go on drinking all evening and still stand upright?’
After he’d taken his leave, Olivia said, ‘I don’t know much about cocktails and I don’t have a good head for wine, so I think I’ll drink the ones without alcohol as well. Charles liked a glass of beer, or a whisky, and laughed at me for preferring ginger beer.’
‘Well, at my party we’re all going to pretend the war doesn’t exist and we’re going to have fun. Dancing and laughter are obligatory, cocktails are optional.’
‘That’s good.’
‘I’ve got such plans for you and me, and—’
Olivia interrupted. ‘Alex has invited us to take tea with him on the first of January at his shop. I said we’d go if you were free. Is that all right? I’d rather you came too, because I don’t want to give him ideas about … about …’ She broke off, flushing.
‘He’s rather taken with you,’ Babs said softly.
‘Do I sound conceited if I say yes, I suppose he is? Only it’s too soon. Charles has only been dead for a few months and I still feel married to him.’
Babs patted her hand. ‘But you might like Alex later?’
‘I don’t know him well. I … might like to get to know him better, though.’
‘Then I’ll come with you and play chaperone. You won’t know it, but very few people are invited to take tea at Alexander Seaton’s beautiful shop and they boast about the visit. It’s the most elegantly furnished place you ever saw.’
‘Oh, well, good. I’ll phone him to say we’d love to go to tea. Most people think he’s stand-offish, but in fact he’s rather shy.’
‘Very shy. I’ve known him a while and noticed that, but he’s all right with me now.’ She let out a gurgle of laughter. ‘Unless I say something outrageous, of course, then he doesn’t know what to say or do.’
‘You love teasing people.’
‘They don’t mind. I’m never nasty. So … what are you going to wear for the party, Olivia? If you have nothing suitable, we can go shopping in the morning.’
‘I have a suitable evening frock that I haven’t worn yet and it’s not too old-fashioned, or it won’t be once I’ve altered the hem.’
‘You must show it to me. Let’s go and unpack your things now. I want to talk to you about the Women’s Institute and I’ll get interrupted if we stay within sight of my housekeeper and people moving furniture about.’
She led the way up the stairs, moving with the bouncing energy of a young woman.
Olivia followed more slowly, feeling welcome, feeling as if Babs was an old and dear friend.
Why had she stayed at Donald’s house for so long? She should have pulled herself together sooner.
Only it took time to recover from losing a beloved husband. She smiled as it occurred to her that it was Donald’s irritating ways which had pulled her out of the ‘slough of despond’ and jolted her forward into a new life.
Where this path would lead, she didn’t know. It had to be somewhere different. You couldn’t recreate a life that had gone for ever and you shouldn’t even try.
She wondered how many people understood that. She’d seen some women virtually stop living after they were widowed. Charles wouldn’t want her to be like that. He’d say, ‘Go out and have fun, old girl, and think of me fondly sometimes.’
She blinked her eyes furiously. She could almost hear him saying it.
Babs was waiting for her patiently at the top of the stairs. ‘You were lost in thought.’
‘Sorry. I just … remembered something.’ She followed her hostess through a doorway. ‘Oh, what a lovely room!’
The bedroom was luxurious and spacious, like the house, but far more colourful than any bedroom Olivia had seen before. The counterpane was patchwork, in beautiful jewel colours and the curtains matched the main kingfisher blue. Olivia hesitated to put her suitcase on such a beautiful bedcover, but her hostess slung the other suitcase carelessly on the end of the bed. ‘Put your suitcase here and unpack quickly, then we’ll have a chat,’ she said. ‘I’ve got a proposition for you.’
Olivia unpacked, amused that her hostess made no attempt to look away or give her any sort of privacy.
‘You need some more modern clothes,’ Babs said abruptly. ‘And underclothes. Yours are all far too sensible. You can alter some of your frocks, but you need new ones with much fuller skirts, really, and far shorter even than the one you’re wearing today.’
She stood up and swept a curtsey to show how wide her own skirt was. It must have been four or five yards round the hem. Then she beamed down at it. ‘Fashionable skirts are so much easier to move about in than those dratted hobble skirts. I didn’t wear the things after one try. I’m too plump and too clumsy.’
Her frankness about her own faults took away the last of Olivia’s shyness. They seemed to be getting to know one another more quickly than she’d have thought possible. She had a suspicion Babs did most things quickly, even making friends. ‘I agree. But I mean to study what women are actually wearing and see if I can alter some of my clothes as well as buying new ones. I hate waste.’
‘Um … did your husband leave you all right for money?’
‘Yes. Not lavishly provided for, but comfortable if I’m reasonably careful.’ She held up the green gown. ‘I thought I’d wear this for the party. What do you think? I still have to finish shortening it.’
‘I like it. That dark green looks good with your hair. You can start altering it while we chat, if you like. Do you have some sewing things with you?’
‘Does any woman not take a needle and thread with her when she stays away from home?’
‘Most people wouldn’t take their sewing materials with them on a trip to London. And these days some women don’t dress-make at all. I don’t, actually. I’m not at all good at it and there are such excellent ready-made clothes these days. It’s not like it was in our mothers’ day.’
‘No, thank goodness. But I knew I’d have to alter this, so I brought everything I’d need.’
‘Well, you get started and we’ll talk about the Women’s Institute movement while you sew. I’m determined to involve you.’ She put one foot up on the bed, knee bent, and clasped her arms round it. ‘If you remember, I told you about the group of women who set one up in Wales in June. There are others looking into it, too.’
She pulled a wry face. ‘Would you believe it, though, the first national organising committee is composed of six men, with a lady secretary. Isn’t that ridiculous for dealing with a women-only organisation? That’ll have to change.’
‘Will it?’
‘Oh yes. Because women like you and me are going to help our poorer sisters to get things going and oh, you know, play a bigger part in public life.’
‘I’ve never heard you sound so serious, Babs.’
‘I’m very serious about this. But you catch more flies with honey, so it doesn’t do to appear too earnest and annoy the local lady of the manor or the vicar’s wife. Or the important men from each area, come to that. Softly, softly, catchee monkey.’
‘I’ve never heard that expression before.’
‘Haven’t you? It’s one of Baden-Powell’s. I like to imagine him chasing a monkey round the room, wearing that strange Boy Scouts costume of his.’ She chuckled. ‘But let’s get back to our plotting about getting the men on side for our Women’s Institutes.’
Men like Alex, Olivia thought, then felt her cheeks go warm.
‘Now, why did you blush suddenly?’ Babs asked.
‘Just thinking of something. Go on. Tell me how I can help.’
‘Well, I thought you and I could go and talk to the organisers of the first English WIs and get some hints from them. They’re in West Sussex and Dorset, so we’ll go to West Sussex first and we can go on to see a friend of mine in Wiltshire after we’ve been to Dorset.’
‘How will we get around? The train services sometimes get disrupted by troop movements, but isn’t it a bit far for you to drive?’
‘Not at all. I love driving. And I’ll teach you to drive while we’re at it. You’ll need to be able to if you’re going to go round giving talks.’
Olivia blinked in shock. ‘Me? Go round giving talks? Why would I do that?’
‘I told you: to help people get started.’
‘I’ve never given a public talk in my life. I’d be terrified.’
‘Then it will be good for you to work with me at first. It’ll build your confidence. What about driving? Does that frighten you too?’
‘Not as much. I have Charles’s car sitting doing nothing, though I thought I’d change it for one with a self-starter motor. Even my husband found it hard to get the car started manually sometimes.’
‘Good idea. I know a chap who can help you with that.’ Babs became very earnest again as she continued, ‘We can’t wait for the war to end before we do anything, you know. I’ve heard men talking. They expect to push women back into the kitchen again afterwards. In fact, to hear some of them talk, we can hardly find our way up a flight of stairs.’
‘Donald has that attitude.’
‘I could tell. Well, I intend to think ahead about how to prepare women for new times. It’s their world too, so why shouldn’t they have a say in how it’s run?’
Olivia thought about Cecily, always in the shadow of her dominating husband. So many women were subservient like that, whatever their social class. Charles had never expected her to echo his opinions and run round after him like a substitute mother. ‘I agree with you.’
‘I knew you would the moment I started talking to you. I’ll introduce you to a woman called Madge Watt. She’s a bit eccentric and dresses peculiarly, but she’s been involved in a similar organisation in Canada and she knows a lot about running women’s groups. And there’s a man called John Nugent Harris you have to meet, too. The poor chap’s lost the use of his legs, but he isn’t letting that stop him, drives round in a pony trap. He has an excellent brain. He’s trying to get people to found WIs too.’
‘Do the women themselves want it?’
Babs grinned. ‘Some do. The others will once they see the benefits. I’ve spoken to John about it a few times. He understands more about women than most men I’ve met, I can tell you.’ She chuckled. ‘He says the people we’ll be dealing with will be suspicious of us at first, and I think he’s right there. You can’t pull together a group of uneducated women who’ve been managing their egg money for years and growing their own food, and expect them to be good at running meetings or to have well-thought-out ideas about the future of womankind. They’re used to markets and selling their produce but ask them about their daughter’s future life and all they can think of is a husband who’s a “good provider”.’
She was flushed with enthusiasm, continuing without waiting for Olivia to comment. ‘I’ve discussed it with energetic women of all classes. Women have already been getting together to do war work, or to help hungry children, or to learn new crafts and ways of preserving food. They can go on doing similar sorts of things as an official group. And they’ll enjoy the social side of the meetings, too.’
She looked ruefully at Olivia. ‘I feel guilty sometimes at throwing expensive parties, when poor children are starving, but I know the officers on leave from the front will be heartened by a party … just as I know half of them will be dead by this time next year. So cheering them up is one of my personal contributions to the war. But once we’ve won it – as I have no doubt we will – I can work to help women.’
She waited a minute or two for it to sink in. ‘Sorry to beat your ears when you’ve only just arrived.’
‘I found it interesting. I’m amazed at your energy and the scope of your ideas.’
Babs shrugged. ‘There are a lot of hours to fill without my Humfy.’
They were both silent for a moment or two, remembering their dead husbands.
‘Anyway, are you in, Olivia? Will you join me in this important work?’
‘Yes, I will.’ She hadn’t realised that beneath Babs’s frivolous exterior was a woman who cared so deeply for others. ‘Like you, I’ll be glad to have something useful to do with my life. But Charles would tell me to have fun too.’
Babs clasped her hand for a moment. ‘So would Humfy. So we’ll enjoy our party. Who said war work ought to be solemn and worthy?’
They both laughed, then Olivia bent over her sewing again, while Babs chatted about the people who’d be coming to the party.