A Sister's Shame (8 page)

‘What’s going on?’ he asked, looking from one to the other as he heard the last of Ada’s words.

‘Your daughters will tell you.’

Marie knew that, as far as Hector was concerned, they could do no wrong. Vesta knew this too, and immediately turned on the tears. ‘Mum’s being horrible.’

‘Now, now,’ Hector soothed, threading an arm around Vesta’s shoulders as she lifted a handkerchief to her eyes. ‘What’s this all about, Ada?’

‘A storm in a teacup,’ said Ada, waving her hand, ‘but no doubt your presence will make it worse.’

Hector looked under his bushy eyebrows. ‘Come along, Ada, this just needs a little discussion.’

‘My answer is no,’ Ada said firmly. ‘They want to go off to this club that we don’t know anything about. It could turn out to be a den of thieves, for all we
know.’

Hector frowned at his wife. ‘What club?’

Ada became flushed. ‘Somewhere called the Duke’s. Now don’t go on about it as you’ll only encourage them. They ain’t old enough to go gallivanting round
dives.’

Hector let out a long sigh. ‘Ada, our girls have been singing and dancing since they were old enough to walk.’

‘Not in clubs, they haven’t.’

‘This is our big chance, Dad,’ Vesta told him eagerly, the tears shining in her eyes. ‘We’ll never get another one like it. Teddy’s got an audition lined up for us
at the Duke’s. It’s a real posh club and the owners will only audition good acts.’

‘Is that so?’ His eyebrows lifted and he nodded to the shopping. ‘Well, give your mother a chance to think about it. I can see she’s only just come in and could do with a
nice cuppa.’

Marie knew her father was trying to smooth things over. With his walrus moustache and dark hair, only very slightly going grey, he looked very distinguished. He had an upright bearing and
booming voice that could be dramatic one minute and quite normal the next, a legacy of the years he had spent touring the country.

‘Tea won’t make the slightest bit of difference,’ said Ada, throwing him a stony look. ‘I won’t change my mind.’

‘Ada, love—’ Hector began, but quickly stopped as Ada’s warning gaze landed on him. He turned to Vesta and said meekly, ‘Your mother is the voice of reason
here.’

Ada seemed satisfied and nodded. ‘You already have a good job, Vesta. You don’t want another one.’

‘I hate the factory!’ exclaimed Vesta angrily. ‘Can’t you see how unhappy I am there? Every moment I’m at Ellisdon’s, I long to be away from it. And now I
could be. It’s my one chance. Well, it’s
our
chance,’ Vesta corrected, looking at Marie. ‘We have decent voices and can dance, and it would be no problem entertaining
people. After all, that’s what Dad is, an entertainer!’

Hector smiled at the compliment. He patted his daughter’s shoulder. ‘Yes, it does seem to run in the family, Ada. Just look at our daughters! They’re beautiful and talented.
They could have fine careers ahead of them if only we—’

‘Hector!’ Ada interrupted, her face now going red. ‘Just tell me this. Who are these Scoresby brothers? Why should they be interested in two young girls who have never done
anything professionally? Why don’t they employ experienced people if they want new acts? Oh, it’s no use – why can’t you see the dangers?’ She took in a sharp breath
and placed her hands over her mouth. Her eyes went to the faces around her and then, turning sharply, she ran from the room. Everyone heard the bedroom door slam.

Hector gave a deep sigh. ‘I’d better go after her.’

But Vesta caught his arm. ‘Why can’t Mum encourage us, Dad? What’s wrong with wanting to better ourselves?’

‘Nothing at all, love,’ Hector said mildly. ‘It’s just that she don’t want you to take risks or come to any harm.’

‘We wouldn’t, not with Teddy beside us,’ Vesta insisted.

‘He’s a nice enough lad,’ Hector agreed, rubbing his chin. ‘But I’m not sure your mother would understand.’

‘But we’re turned eighteen and can look after ourselves,’ Vesta cried as she, too, ran from the room.

When another door banged, Hector raised his eyes. ‘What is happening to this household, Marie?’

Marie sat down on the chair. ‘I don’t know, Dad.’

‘Do you want to go to this audition as much as your sister?’

Marie nodded. ‘Yes, I do.’

Hector smiled and patted her arm. ‘I’ll see what I can do.’

As she sat alone, Marie couldn’t help thinking that the answer to her father’s question about what was happening to the family had something to do with Teddy. The trouble had started
when Vesta had fallen under his spell. Perhaps their mother was frightened that Teddy would take Vesta away.

Elsie looked at Marie with fondness. She had come in to find the argument still in progress and Marie had told her what had happened.

‘Well, Marie, what do you think about all this? Is that young whippersnapper Teddy to be trusted?’

Marie wanted to say he was, for Vesta’s sake, but she held back. ‘He did keep his word to Vesta and spoke up for us, even though I thought he might just be boasting.’

Elsie reflected on this. ‘He seems nice enough, pays his rent and don’t cause no trouble. But there’s something I can’t put me finger on. And when I have that feeling
about someone, I’m usually right.’

As much as Marie wanted to go to the audition, she felt the same as Elsie about Teddy. At the back of Marie’s mind was Bing’s warning about the Duke’s not being the right sort
of club.

‘When he came to this house earlier this year,’ said Elsie, her face thoughtful, ‘I took him at face value. Well, he’s been no trouble and he looked clean and smart and
had a fortnight’s money up front. Not many like that these days. And you know I’ve got a soft spot for anyone connected with the boards. The room above was gathering dust, with no other
enquiries to rent it, so I took him on. But that’s as far as my knowledge stretches.’

Marie saw Elsie touch the many gold rings she had on her fingers. She was wearing a black dress, which made the gold look even brighter. In her ears were gold studs and her dark eyes were very
piercing. ‘Ah, well, it will all come out in the wash, as they say. Your mother will have the last say, even though you girls are nearly women now.’

‘Elsie, why is Mum so against us performing?’ Marie asked suddenly. ‘It always causes a row between her and Dad.’

Elsie straightened up slowly, not meeting Marie’s gaze. ‘I told you, she’s protective.’

‘But is it only that?’

Elsie walked to the door quickly. ‘Sorry, love, I’ve got to go. My friend from Bethnal Green is coming over and I’ve got to make tea. See you later.’

Marie noted Elsie hadn’t answered her. Did she know more than she was saying? Elsie always gave a straight answer to any question.

Marie watched Elsie walk across the hall and take her key from her pocket. She always kept the key to her own rooms on her, rather than leaving it to hang on a string. She had too many precious
things to risk losing.

Marie closed the door and wondered if her father had succeeded in changing her mother’s mind. All was quiet, which usually meant the calm before the storm. But if Mum had her way and
refused to let them go, who would be the one to tell Teddy?

Vesta refused to come out of the bedroom the next morning. After eating his breakfast, Hector decided to go out for a walk. ‘Just to get a breath of air,’ he told
Ada. ‘Would you like to come with me, dear?’

‘No, I’ve got things to do.’

After he’d gone Ada sat at the kitchen table and dropped her head in her hands.

‘What’s the matter, Mum?’ Marie sat beside her. ‘Are you tired?’

‘No more than usual.’ Ada looked up at Marie. ‘Your sister is being unreasonable. She makes me feel as though I’m a terrible mother. She hasn’t spoken to me or
eaten a thing.’

‘She’ll eat when she’s hungry.’

‘I want the best for you girls,’ insisted Ada. ‘But I’m afraid to let you go out into that world.’

‘Why?’

‘Sometimes the entertainment business can be dangerous.’

‘But we have to learn.’

Ada looked hard at her. ‘Your father sees only the good in everything.’

Marie smiled. ‘That’s why we love him. You can’t shield us from life for ever, Mum.’

‘You know so little about what life holds in store.’

‘Do you want us to stay at Ellisdon’s for ever?’ Marie asked. ‘Even though Vesta is unhappy there?’

‘I didn’t know she was. Are you unhappy too?’

Marie gave a brief shrug. ‘I don’t mind it, but I’d rather be singing and dancing.’

‘But that’s just a whim,’ Ada said gently. ‘One day you’ll get married and have a family like all girls do.’

‘Vesta and me want more in life.’

‘Is that why you’re not seeing Bing very often? I thought he was interested in you.’

Marie blushed. ‘He’s just a friend.’

‘I see,’ sighed Ada, looking dejected.

‘Going on the stage is all me and Vesta ever think of.’ Marie knew she had to tell the truth even if it was painful for Ada to accept. ‘Since we were little girls, it’s
been our dream. You know that.’

‘But you are still my two little girls,’ Ada said heavily, ‘and not grown-up.’

Marie gazed into her mother’s sad face. ‘But we are.’

Ada gave a little sob and wiped a tear from the corner of her eye with her handkerchief. ‘What would happen if you went away? You might forget your dad and me.’

Marie’s blue eyes filled with tenderness. ‘Mum, we love you and would never do that.’

Ada sniffed and sighed deeply. ‘I suppose I’ll have to give in or risk losing you anyway. You had better tell Vesta I’ve changed my mind.’ She added sharply, ‘On
the condition your father goes with you.’

‘Oh, thanks, Mum.’

‘I hope I won’t regret this.’

‘You won’t.’ Marie kissed her mother’s cheek. ‘Vesta will be very happy.’

Ada nodded. ‘She always is when she gets her own way. What songs were you rehearsing?’

‘ “Algy” and “When I Take My Morning Promenade”. It was you and Dad who gave us our names and set us off down the path to fame and fortune.’ Marie laughed at
her joke, but Ada only frowned.

‘We had no idea you’d be following in those famous footsteps.’

‘It’s early days yet,’ Marie pointed out. ‘It could all come to nothing. If the Scoresby brothers don’t like us, then you’ll have nothing to fret
about.’

Ada gave a sad smile. ‘Who could not like such beautiful girls?’

They hugged and Marie felt Ada’s small, wiry body tremble against her. She loved her mother very much and only wanted to make her proud, not add to all the worry in her life.

By the time Saturday came around, Marie was worried she would forget every word and Vesta was a bag of nerves. But from the moment Hector had agreed to go with them to the
audition, Ada had shown interest. She had loosened the buttons on their costumes so the bodices weren’t so tight and lengthened the hems half an inch.

‘Wear your ordinary shoes and coats to the audition, girls,’ Ada instructed them on the night they were to leave. ‘And I’ll pack your tap shoes in a bag. You may use a
little lipstick, but no other make-up.’

‘It’s too warm for our coats,’ complained Vesta. ‘And anyway, they’re old.’

‘You’ve got nothing else,’ replied Ada, bustling around them. ‘Now stop complaining.’

She kissed them both goodbye, hugging them as though it was the last time she would ever see them.

‘Please take care of them, Hector.’

‘Course I will, Ada.’ Hector was wearing his long black cape and big theatrical floppy hat. Marie knew he wanted to look the part in front of Mr Scoresby. ‘They won’t be
out of my sight for a moment. Now just you enjoy your chat with Elsie. We won’t be late home.’

At Teddy’s knock they all rushed into the hall.

‘Do you mind if Dad comes with us?’ Vesta said quickly, blushing as she looked into Teddy’s dark eyes.

‘Well, no, but Mr Scoresby doesn’t like—’

‘Just to give them a bit of moral support,’ interrupted Hector with a wink, pushing out his chest in a robust manner.

‘I’ve allowed them to go this time,’ Ada added sternly, ‘but only because Hector is with them.’

Marie saw Teddy’s surprised expression, but he said no more and led the way out to the car. Marie climbed in the back with Vesta whilst Hector sat at the front beside Teddy. Marie glanced
over her shoulder through the wide glass window and they waved to Ada.

When they were out of sight, Vesta whispered, ‘I was really embarrassed when Mum said Dad has to be with us.’

‘She let us go and that’s what counts.’

‘I had to starve for a whole morning before she agreed.’

Marie smiled. ‘You got your way in the end.’

‘Of course,’ whispered Vesta with a grin. ‘I always do. Even so, it’d be nicer if we was on our own without Dad tagging along.’

Unlike Vesta, Marie was glad Hector was with them. What harm was there in his being at their sides? In fact, if this new world was full of dangers, as Ada feared, Hector would soon put them
right.

Teddy parked the car in Duke Street, Poplar, a road full of light, hustle and bustle with the evening traffic going by and the usual crowds making their way to the
Queen’s for the evening performance.

‘The staff use the back entrance,’ Teddy told them, walking past the two big green doors over which there was a sign saying ‘The Duke’s’. ‘Follow
me.’

He led them round to a dark alley filled with the stench of the dustbins from the café close by. Halfway down, just visible beyond all the rubbish strewn across their path, was a badly
lit doorway. Teddy pushed the door open and one by one they filed down the flight of narrow steps. Marie heard the sound of a piano playing, together with the familiar tap of dancing feet.

As they entered the basement, they were met by a thick fog of cigarette smoke. Through this Marie could just about see a line of four girls dressed in shorts and blouses. They were dancing on a
small wooden floor in front of a raised dais, which she took to be the stage. Here stood an upright piano, and the man seated in front of it with a cigarette dangling from his mouth was playing the
popular melody ‘My Baby Just Cares For Me’.