‘So, tell me about this drumhead service you’re so determined to see?’ Rosie asked Charlotte as they made their snail-like ascent up Tunstall Vale. It was impossible to move forward with any kind of speed as it seemed as though every man, woman and child in the town had descended on Ashbrooke for the parade.
‘Well, it’s going to be massive,’ Charlotte said.
‘You’re not joking,’ Rosie mumbled.
She tutted as she was jostled from behind.
‘Excuse me!’ She glared at the woman and her husband as they pushed past.
‘And it’s to celebrate,’ Charlotte continued, ‘the third anniversary of the formation of the anti-aircraft battery.’
‘Well, they’ve certainly had their work cut out of late,’ Rosie groused. ‘Come here,’ she said, grabbing her sister’s arm and tugging her onto the side of the road.
‘That’s better,’ she said as they managed to walk with only a minimal amount of pushing and shoving. Others had followed suit since there was barely any traffic, other than the occasional army truck. She looked up at the clear blue sky. At least they weren’t going to get wet.
‘Where are we meeting everyone?’ Rosie asked.
‘At the far end of West Lawn, near the entrance to the cricket ground. I think we’re all going to watch the parade and then go to the clubhouse afterwards to see the actual service.’
Rosie sighed. Charlotte was always so happy whenever she was going to meet up with Lily.
‘It’s going to be made up of hundreds of men from the DLI,’ Charlotte said. ‘That’s the Durham Light Infantry.’
Rosie exhaled. ‘I do know what DLI stands for, Charlie … I do know a little about life outside Thompson’s.’
‘There they are!’ Charlotte waved her hand in the air.
Rosie looked over a smattering of heads to spot Lily’s vibrant auburn hair, piled extravagantly high. Since Charlotte had blasted back into town, Rosie had never known Lily to leave the confines of the bordello as frequently as she did these days.
Next to Lily was George, who looked uncomfortable, but not as uncomfortable as if Lily had got her own way and had made him put on his regimental attire.
Standing next to Lily was Kate.
Next to her was Alfie. Rosie thought he looked very smart and very serious.
And, of course, there were Maisie and Vivian, pristine and incredibly glamorous, as always. She knew they wouldn’t watch the whole parade as Vivian was in sole charge of the bordello today, and Maisie the Gentlemen’s Club.
‘Mes chères!’ Lily’s voice sung out over the swarm of spectators, causing a few curious looks to be thrown her way.
Rosie and Charlotte only just managed to squeeze through the crowd to what must have been the prime position, judging by how reluctant people were to budge even an inch.
Lily had her hands outstretched in anticipation of a hug for Charlotte and a kiss on both cheeks for Rosie.
‘Hi everyone,’ Charlotte said, smiling down the line at George, Kate, Alfie, Maisie and Vivian.
‘Hi, doll.’ Vivian’s exaggerated American drawl caused a couple standing a few yards away to stare, which, in turn, caused Maisie to shoot her a warning look. Charlotte saw it. It added to her argument that there was more to the two of them than met the eye.
Suddenly there was the sound of drums in the distance, like the faint beginnings of thunder.
‘Sounds like it’s started!’ Charlotte looked from Lily to Rosie.
‘Try and get a good look at the actual drums.’ George craned his neck to speak to Charlotte. ‘The paintings on them are quite something.’
Charlotte nodded. She was going to do a project on the history of the Durham Light Infantry regiment, and George had agreed to help her.
Within minutes the air was filled not only with the sound of drums, but also trumpets, tubas, trombones and the occasional clashing of cymbals.
The crowds cheered.
Charlotte spotted a few small children on their father’s shoulders and had a brief memory of her father doing the same as they had trooped along the beach, heading out to the best winkle-picking spots.
She pushed the thought away.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Maisie and Vivian talking to two soldiers. She looked back at the parade, thinking about her school project and how she needed to remember the various uniforms, the instruments, how the men all marched perfectly in tune, arms swinging in synchronicity with the rest of their battalion.
But there was something about the way Maisie and Vivian had been conversing with the two soldiers that compelled her to drag her attention away from the parade.
Maisie looked friendly but also quite serious. As did Vivian, who was now pointing down the street, as though giving directions. Was she telling them where they lived? Or perhaps she was telling them where the Gentlemen’s Club was? Although, from what Charlotte gathered, the club was mainly for old fogeys, and didn’t open until later.
Charlotte looked back at the parade. The soldiers from the anti-aircraft battery were now passing.
She looked at Lily and George.
Lily was leaning into George and whispering something into his ear. She saw him laugh.
Alfie was also saying something to Kate, who smiled, but kept her eyes glued to the parade. Charlotte knew she would be getting ideas for new designs.
Charlotte looked back again.
Maisie and Vivian were leaving.
With the two soldiers.
Odd.
They clearly didn’t know them. And yet they were walking off with the pair.
Charlotte looked at Rosie, who seemed a million miles away.
When she turned her attention back to Maisie and Vivian, she was surprised to see them heading right, rather than back down West Lawn.
Seeing them turn left into Ashbrooke Crescent, Charlotte couldn’t contain her curiosity. Taking a step back, she turned round and started making her way through the crowd.
She quickly looked to see if anyone had noticed her sudden absence, but they hadn’t. A young girl around her height had stepped forward to get a better view and was now standing next to Rosie.
Charlotte argued to herself that she just wanted to see where Maisie and Vivian were going – then she’d get straight back. She’d only be a few minutes.
Hurrying around the corner, she was just in time to see Maisie and Vivian and the two soldiers turn left again and start walking down the back lane. She’d been right. They were clearly taking them to the Gentlemen’s Club and were going the back way, presumably to avoid the crowds.
Rosie’s right. You really are too nosy! Charlotte silently reprimanded herself.
She was about to return to the parade when she saw them walk past the Gentlemen’s Club and stop at the rear entrance to Lily’s.
Strange …
Why were they going to Lily’s?
Charlotte stepped back into the shadows so as not to be seen and watched as all four disappeared through the wooden gate.
She continued down the lane, walking quickly and quietly.
She could hear Vivian’s voice and laughter, followed by the jangle of keys.
Then she heard Maisie call out a girl’s name she had not heard before.
Was there someone else at Lily’s?
Charlotte inched nearer along the brick wall.
But why were they going in the back? It didn’t make sense.
She heard the sound of boots being wiped on a wire mat.
Charlotte heard a young woman’s voice that did not belong to either Vivian or Maisie.
Then the door closed.
Charlotte inched nearer to the gate and squinted through the wooden slats.
She couldn’t see much, only the yard and the back of the house.
She was about to turn away when she suddenly saw movement across one of the rear windows.
The curtains, which had been drawn closed, opened slightly.
She could just make out what looked like a lamp peeping out from the velvet drapes.
Charlotte gave a start when it was suddenly switched on.
And then she stared.
The light now shining out of the little back window was red.