All That Glitters (30 page)

‘You’ve no idea how good that “we” sounds. I’ve been worrying myself stupid since Sunday. I even went to see Beth this morning.’

‘And what did she say?’

‘Nothing, because I didn’t tell her about it. When I got there she looked ghastly. Andrew said she’s not been too well, so I thought better of laying my troubles at her feet.’

‘Do you want me to talk to Eddie?’

‘Do you think it would do any good?’

William exhaled twin streams of smoke from his nostrils. ‘Probably not,’ he mused. ‘Not if you’ve already tried and got nowhere.’

‘Let’s face it, she’s got us beaten before we even start. Eddie’ll never believe a word I say about Jenny because he hates me.’

‘No he doesn’t. As I said, he just feels second rate compared to you.’

‘So what do we do?’

‘Looks like as far as Eddie’s concerned, there’s nothing we can do except let it run its course. That leaves Jenny.’ William ground his cigarette to dust in the tin ashtray on the table. ‘I could try appealing to her better nature, always supposing she has one.’

‘Do you think she’ll listen?’

‘No harm in trying.’

‘There could be if you try to see her alone. And given what you want to say to her I don’t think there is another way.’

‘I’ll pick my time. When the shop’s empty. There’s not much she can accuse me of provided I keep the counter between us.’

‘Don’t you believe it. After what she tried with me there’s no telling what she’ll do to you.’

‘Is your father in?’

‘Hours ago. I hid behind the counter, and sneaked back to open the door again after he went upstairs. You’re later than I thought you’d be.’

‘Sorry, got talking. Lining up another fight.’

‘Close your eyes.’

‘Why?’

‘Just do it.’ She switched on the light and bolted both doors. ‘You can open them again now. I just wanted to see you, that’s all.’

He blinked against the harsh light of the single, bare light bulb. She was sitting on a box wrapped in a blue flowered eiderdown.

‘More comfortable than a blanket.’ She rose to her feet and opened it out. He looked at her and kept on looking. She was wearing nothing beneath it. ‘Thought it would save time,’ she murmured, spreading it out on the floor beneath her.

High on success and excitement, he was on her in an instant.

‘For once I wanted to see you in the light,’ she whispered, tangling her fingers in his curls as his mouth closed over her nipple.’

‘The sooner we’re married, the sooner we’ll be able to do this every night.’

‘You’re insatiable,’ she giggled as he stroked the inside of her thighs.

‘The purse for the next match could be as high as twenty pounds. If you meant what you said earlier, we could choose an engagement ring.’

‘I’ll ask my father to give us a party.’

‘This is the kind of party I like.’ He turned her over and kissed the length of her body as she lay spread-eagled, next to him.

‘There’s just one thing,’ she whispered as he eased his body on to hers.

‘What?’ he asked thickly, prepared at that moment to promise her anything.

‘I wouldn’t want to wait too long, before getting married. I’m afraid.’

‘Of what?’

‘Of having a baby. It would kill my mother.’

‘I’ll talk to your father. Tomorrow.’

Every time William walked up or down the Graig hill that week, he made a point of calling into Griffiths’ shop, but no matter how many times he went there in a day, he never found Jenny alone. In the mornings it was full of people rushing to buy their tobacco and cigarettes before work. In the evening it was packed with children running last-minute errands. If her father was there she avoided serving him; when she couldn’t, she was polite, cool and distant, not that he expected her to be anything else after the way he’d treated her during the boxing match. Any mention of Eddie or Haydn was met with a curt dismissal in favour of the next customer in line.

When the week passed and Saturday dawned without him making any headway, he went to Charlie and pleaded to be allowed to work in the shop instead of the market. By dint of persuasion, and the invention of a mysterious and fictitious new girlfriend, he managed to convince both Charlie and Eddie that he needed to finish early. Eddie took over the stall, which meant working until after the nine o’clock auction bell, when all the leftover meat on the stall was sold, whereas he’d be able to pack up at five when the last of the cooked meats had gone from the shop. Even after helping Alma scrub the food trays and clean the kitchen, he was outside Griffiths’ shop before seven, a whole two and a half or three hours before Eddie could possibly make it.

He pushed open the door and looked around. It was deserted, the wooden bread tray empty, the enamelled cooked meat tray clean and scrubbed; even the vegetable sacks were only a quarter full.

‘Coming …’ Jenny stepped out of the back room. She was wearing a blue dress, one he hadn’t seen before, made from a soft silky material that clung to her slim figure and showed off her full breasts. He smiled, and momentarily forgetting his behaviour during the boxing match she smiled back. Her whole face lit up, and for the first time he understood why both his cousins had lost their heads. Jenny wasn’t simply pretty, she was beautiful, with the kind of sensual beauty he could easily imagine naked. Then suddenly he remembered why he was there.

‘Eddie asked me to call in and tell you he’d be late.’

‘Late? But we were -’

‘Going out?’

‘As a matter of fact we were.’ The smile hardened into a frown. ‘What are you doing here so early? I thought you worked the market.’

‘Eddie swapped with me.’

‘Why?’

‘Because I asked him to. Eddie’s a reasonable man, provided he’s not lied to, or crossed.’

‘I know.’

‘Do you, Jenny? Do you really?’ he asked softly.

‘Do you want anything?’ she snapped, sensing what was coming.

‘Seeing as how we’re both at a loose end, I thought we could go to see
Robin Hood
in the Palladium.’

‘No thank you.’

‘It’s in colour and it has Errol Flynn. Now there’s a swashbuckler to match even Haydn.’

‘I’d rather wait until Eddie finishes work for the day.’

‘It could be a long wait, and you’re turning down not only Errol Flynn, but the chance to try out another Powell.’

‘If you want anything I’ll serve you, otherwise please go.’

He put his hands on the counter and leaned forward. ‘Take a warning when it’s being given. It’s not only Haydn who can see through the games you’re playing.’

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

‘Come on, you can’t remember Haydn calling in here last Sunday?’

‘I remember Haydn asking me to forget Eddie so we could pick up where we left off.’

He took a deep breath. If he hadn’t seen Haydn, heard his version of events for himself, he would have accepted what she was telling him without question. ‘You expect me to believe that?’

‘Eddie will if I tell him.’

‘You think so? You’re a cool liar, Jenny, but have you thought what’s going to happen when he does find out what you’re up to? He will, you know. Sooner or later someone will tell him and he’ll believe them, not you. How do you think he’s going to feel then? Knowing that he’s been taken for a fool by a girl who loves his brother.’

She turned her back and opened the storeroom door. ‘I’m going upstairs, Dad.’ When she looked around, the shop door was closing. She watched William walk past the window. As she climbed the stairs all she could think of was Eddie and the look on his face when he’d asked her to marry him. She might not love Eddie, but she made him happy. She knew she did. And by marrying Eddie, she’d prove to Haydn that she wasn’t one to make idle threats. He and William could say or do what they liked, they wouldn’t change Eddie’s mind about her. Not now. Not after Shoni’s and last night. And she’d show both of them, especially Haydn. In fact she’d show the whole of the Graig on the day she and Eddie got married. And for her, it couldn’t come soon enough.

‘Note for you, Haydn.’ Arthur pushed open Haydn’s dressing room door.

Haydn slit open the envelope and deciphered his brother-in-law’s unfamiliar handwriting.

Thanks for the tickets. Any chance of changing your mind about that quick drink in the New Inn afterwards? Andrew and Bethan.

‘Any reply?’

‘No. I’ll go and see them. I know which box they’re in.’

‘They look like crache.’

‘What do you expect my sister and her husband to look like?’

‘Get away, that’s your sister? But she’s so dark, and …’

‘Beautiful?’ Haydn pushed the note into his pocket, picked up his overcoat and hat and closed the door.

‘Going somewhere?’ Joe Evans asked as he stepped into the corridor.

‘Box.’

‘In costume?’

‘I’ve covered my suit, and then again I’m not one of the girls.’

‘You’d be locked up if you were. First call in ten minutes.’

‘I’ll be here to take it.’

‘Sure you don’t want me to send for your understudy?’

‘Very funny. He’s got next week, he can do without tonight.’

‘From what I hear the girls aren’t looking forward to losing you.’

‘They’ll get over it.’ Haydn walked down the corridor and opened the door in the auditorium that was closest to the boxes. Looking down over the stalls and up at the circle he could see that the house was jam packed.

‘Haydn! We didn’t expect you to come and see us.’ Bethan was smiling. She looked happier and healthier than when he had last seen her.

‘I came to tell you I won’t be able to make it to the New Inn for a drink. There’s a party here in the bar afterwards. Why don’t you stay?’

‘And let my husband loose amongst showgirls?’ Laura shook her head. ‘If they’re anything like the girls on the poster …’

‘They’re a lot prettier,’ Haydn said cheerfully. ‘But don’t worry, I’ll warn them you’ll scratch their eyes out if they go near Trevor.’

‘I’m not sure I’d thank you for that,’ Trevor retorted.

‘Won’t it be a closed party?’ Andrew asked.

‘No. There’ll be a lot of outsiders there. Practically everyone in the cast has invited someone. I’ve asked Will and Eddie.’

‘Are they coming?’

‘Will said he might, I’m not sure about Eddie,’ Haydn said evasively.

‘Well, if you’re sure we won’t be in the way,’ Andrew conceded, ‘we’ll see you later.’

Haydn looked down and watched Jane showing two men to the front row, programmes on her arm, torch in hand, every inch the experienced usherette. There was an air of quiet confidence about her that wasn’t part of her skinny orphan persona.

‘Problem?’

‘No. That’s Jane Jones.’

‘The new lodger?’ Bethan looked over the edge of the box. ‘Pretty little thing.’

‘I’ve never really noticed,’ he said slowly, looking at Jane’s face as though he were seeing it for the first time.

‘Your first week’s wages. What you going to do with them, Jane?’ Joe Evans asked as he handed over a small brown envelope after the curtain fell on the last house.

‘Buy a pair of leather shoes.’

‘That can wait a week or two if you’ve pressing bills to pay.’

‘If I can manage it, Mr Evans, I’ll get them.’ Jane pocketed the envelope.

‘Manager’s been watching you this week. I don’t mind telling you it’s not often he’s impressed, but you seem to have picked up the job quickly, and in acknowledgement he’s agreed to put you up to fifteen shillings and sixpence a week, as of next week. I can’t remember the last time an usherette rose to full pay so quickly.’

‘Thank you.’

‘Don’t forget, you’re expected to join the cast for a glass of sherry after you’ve finished clearing up.’

‘I won’t forget, Mr Evans.’

She couldn’t resist checking the contents of the envelope. She permitted herself a small glow of pride. She’d done well for herself in two weeks. She’d worked off most of her debt with Wilf Horton and bought a second lot of clothes. Her lodgings were paid to date, courtesy of her sewing earnings. She now had her wages, which would cover next week’s lodging, wherever it was going to be, and a deposit on a pair of leather shoes, and she had a few shillings in her pocket to spare. Without the ten pounds there’d be nothing in the bank, but she consoled herself with the thought that she wouldn’t have to keep buying clothes forever. Another few weeks before she could start saving in earnest. But all in all, she wasn’t doing too badly for someone who had walked out of the workhouse with one and elevenpence, two workhouse dresses and a pair of clogs.

Chapter Seventeen

By the time Haydn had changed out of his evening suit into a pair of cream trousers, cream silk shirt and a Turkish tapestry waistcoat that an assistant in a Brixton men’s outfitter’s had assured him was all the rage, the party was well under way. He made his way to the bar, only to find it half empty.

‘Everyone’s on stage,’ Joe Evans told him. ‘Manager had the sets moved to the back, and the tables and chairs from here carried down.’

Haydn raised his eyebrows.

‘I think half the Town Council wants to wave this show off.’ Joe said wryly. ‘Beer?’

‘And a large whisky chaser.’ Haydn remembered that Chuckles and the cast of next week’s Variety had been invited to the send-off by Norman. After the events of the past week, Babs, Rusty and Mandy in one room might prove to be a bit much.

Taking his drinks he went in search of Bethan, Andrew, Trevor and Laura. He found them sitting at a table on the edge of the stage, talking to the manager and a couple of councillors.

‘Our star,’ the manager beamed expansively, lifting his brandy glass.

‘That wasn’t what you called me last year when I worked here.’

‘That’s because you weren’t one then. And, at last, here come the girls.’ He approached the chattering group who appeared, each clutching a glass of champagne, compliments of the house. ‘I have some people over here who are dying to meet you.’

‘Very nice.’ Andrew winked at Trevor before turning his head to take a closer look.

‘Do you want this sherry in your eye, Andrew John?’ Laura enquired.

‘If you’re offering.’

‘Men, they’re little boys who never grow up. We’re a pair of fools, Bethan. Both of us are going to end up with two babies to look after.’

‘They’ll be playmates for one another.’

‘Are congratulations in order?’ Haydn asked Trevor.

‘Not for him,’ Laura snapped. ‘His was the easy part.’

‘Want to meet the comic?’ Haydn suggested, deciding he’d be on safer ground introducing Billy than any of the girls.

‘I can always do with a laugh.’

‘Billy, over here.’ Haydn called. The comic was still in full make-up and the evening suit he’d worn on stage.

‘Might have known you’d be with the most beautiful ladies in the room.’ He walked past Haydn and kissed Laura and Bethan’s hands.

‘My sister, her husband, Andrew. Dr and Mrs Trevor Lewis …’

As Haydn effected the introductions he saw the usherettes standing awkwardly in a tight cluster on the fringes of the party, each with a glass of sherry in her hand. ‘Jane?’ he motioned her to join them.

‘Someone’s lucky,’ Avril said. ‘That’s his sister and brother-in-law. He’s a doctor.’

‘Haydn probably only wants me to meet his sister.’

‘Be careful, my girl. Haydn’s not the sort to invite a girl to meet his family unless he’s got an ulterior motive.’

‘What was that supposed to mean?’ Myrtle asked as Jane straightened her cap and walked to where the Johns were sitting.

‘I’ve seen which way the knickers are falling there all week.’

‘Come on, the girl’s lodging with the family.’

‘He walks her home every night, doesn’t he? And he hasn’t had Rusty in his dressing room once this week.’

‘You can’t be serious,’ Ann laughed. ‘Not Jane. She’s such a little mouse.’

‘Those are the ones who need watching with tigers like Haydn Powell on the prowl.’

‘She’s right,’ Myrtle nodded agreement. ‘Don’t you remember that West End star last year?’

‘Falling star, you mean.’

‘Whatever. He was still a pretty star. His girl was the dresser and she looked like the back end of a cow.’

‘Men like Haydn are surrounded by beautiful women all day. He knows only too well what they get up to when their men are out of sight. It’s my guess he’ll take a leaf out of a lot of good-looking men’s books. When he settles down it will be with a real plain Jane, and they don’t come much plainer than that particular Jane.’

‘You really think he’d marry her?’ Ann watched as Haydn introduced Jane to an attractive dark-haired woman. There was an odd look on his face. One she hadn’t seen before, even when he’d been a callboy. Gentle, almost compassionate; the kind of look that told her Avril just might be right.

‘Dance, Rusty?’

The orchestra had returned to the pit by popular request, although they might not have been so eager to comply if it hadn’t been for the liberal oiling of whiskies and brandies that had come courtesy of the house.

‘Why should I?’

‘Old times’ sake?’

She gave Haydn a look that told him it would have been more prudent to have remained with Bethan and Andrew. ‘You’re an absolute rat, Haydn Powell.’

‘I know. But go on, admit it. It was fun to be with a rat for a while.’

She glowered at him, but not for long. She began to laugh: a deep throaty chuckle that attracted the attention of most of the men in the room. ‘Oh what the hell. I can hardly claim you’re the first, and with a husband like mine I don’t suppose you’ll be the last. Yes I’ll dance with you. But the next one, not this.’ She went to a side table, picked up two fresh glasses of champagne and handed him one. ‘Here’s to you, and mud in your eye. May you marry a woman who leads you a long and miserable life.’

‘I’d rather not drink to that.’

‘Why not? A wife won’t stand a chance of curbing the lifestyle of a rat like you. What’s the betting we’ll bump into each other thirty years from now, remember this night, have a good laugh, walk back to our respective theatrical digs and beds which are being warmed by our current loves, without giving one single thought to the poor souls sitting at home, or in my case another theatre, waiting for us to get in touch.’

‘I hope not.’

‘You hope you won’t be treading the boards in thirty years?’

‘No, I hope that I’ll regard my marriage more seriously.’ He chose his words carefully, deliberately omitting all mention of concepts like ‘love’ and ‘commitment’ lest she take them as a further reminder that she had been no more than a passing diversion. Now the passion between them was spent, he wondered what had prompted him to sleep with her in the first place. But since Christmas he could have asked himself that question a dozen times over at the conclusion of a dozen similar, and equally unsatisfactory affairs.

‘I don’t know of any bride or groom who gets married with the idea of playing around. It’s just something that happens. Like scratching yourself when you itch:

‘Then I’ll have to make sure I do all my scratching now, before I meet my wife.’

‘You can try, but have you ever tried sleeping in advance when you know you’re not going to get your full eight hours for a week or two? Like everyone else, you’ll mean well when you start out, but you’re no different to any other man whose looks and libido outweigh his brains. When the little woman is far away tucking babies into bed and you’re sharing a nightcap with a soubrette or the junior lead you’ll forget your good intentions.’

‘There’s no point in arguing with you, Rusty. Not when it can’t be proved one way or the other.’

‘Ah, but given time it will.’ She laughed again, only this time it was a harsher, more brittle sound.

The band struck the opening bars of ‘Begin the Beguine’. He led Rusty on to centre stage. On their left Andrew and Bethan were still seated at their table; behind them Trevor was attempting a foxtrot with Laura. Most of the Revue girls had been propositioned and claimed by the town notables.

‘Right, let’s show them how it’s done,’ Rusty said loudly. She began to dance, her exquisite body swaying, keeping time to the music. Haydn took his cue from her. They stepped side by side, commanding more and more space, relegating the other dancers to the wings as they swirled, turned and improvised new and showy steps.

‘There’s nothing like those two when they get going, not even Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.’ Judy reached for her fourth glass of champagne.

‘Oh I don’t know,’ Mandy said airily, confident that she could have done as well if she’d been partnering Haydn. ‘I think Rusty’s a bit past it, don’t you?’

‘No,’ Judy said flatly. ‘And neither does Norman. Word is he has both of them earmarked for the West End next winter. A revival of
The Garden of Allah
but if this war goes ahead …’

‘War, war, war!’ Babs complained, as she made her way to the table to refill her glass. ‘That’s all anyone ever talks about these days.’

‘If it does come, it’s got to be good for us,’ Judy the businesswoman pronounced authoritatively. ‘It’ll be just like last time. The whole country awash with servicemen in transit and on leave with money burning holes in their pockets. And we all know there’s nothing servicemen like better than a good time. If we’re good and clever girls and play our cards right, we’ll make sure we’ll be there to give it to them.’

‘You really think it will be like that?’ Babs perked up at the thought of men in uniform paying court to her. She looked at Haydn and imagined him in something dashing. A Captain’s uniform, perhaps.

‘Yes, and I also think that those two will be in the forefront of it all. Can’t you just see them doing that routine in army fatigues?’

‘That was quite a display.’

‘My dancing partner, Rusty. My sister and her husband.’

Rusty nodded, ‘Pleased to meet you,’ and moved on, but not before Andrew intercepted a glance between her and Haydn that confirmed his suspicions about the rumours concerning Haydn and chorus girls.

‘William and Eddie have arrived.’

Haydn looked up and saw Trevor and Laura locked in earnest conversation with his brother and cousin. To his dismay he also noticed Jenny standing beside Eddie.

‘I need a drink.’

‘So do I,’ Bethan said. ‘Something soft like orange juice.’

‘Women,’ Andrew smiled fondly. ‘Give them unlimited champagne and all they want is orange juice.’

Haydn walked around the flats at the back of the stage, but he and Andrew didn’t manage to pass unseen. William joined them as they reached the corridor.

‘Eddie insisted on bringing her with him,’ William apologised.

‘I couldn’t do anything about it.’

‘It doesn’t matter.’ Haydn buttonholed the barman. ‘Could you do us three beers, three large whiskies -’ he looked enquiringly at his companions, who both nodded agreement – ‘and an orange juice please, Des.’

‘Well, seeing as how it’s you, Haydn. Had enough of the party?’

‘Not really. It’s just getting a bit warm in there.’

‘Saw you and Rusty. Saw Babs and Mandy looking on too. Not surprising the temperature’s climbed a bit high for comfort.’

‘What’s all this?’ William probed.

‘Des likes a good gossip, don’t you, Des?’

‘No. I just stand back in awe, admiration and envy. I can’t keep one woman happy. And look at you, three of them on the go, and not one complaint that you’d notice. What’s your secret, boyo?’

‘No secret. Just making sure I steer well clear of the altar. Can we keep the bottle, Des ’ Haydn put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a pound note.

‘Anything to keep you out of my hair.’

Haydn parked himself on a stool, the only seating left in the bar, between Andrew and William.

‘Trevor won’t be too pleased if he thinks we’re getting drunk without him.’

‘This isn’t getting drunk, that’ll come later,’ William said earnestly.

‘This is just a simple family occasion.’ Haydn downed his whisky and topped up all three glasses.

Andrew looked at Haydn. ‘Problems?’

Haydn shook his head.

‘You can tell me to keep my nose out if you want to. I know what it was like when Bethan and I -’

‘It’s nothing as simple as a row with a girl.’

‘I thought that you and Jenny …’

‘I used to go out with her. There’s been nothing between us for a long time.’

William looked at Haydn. Haydn stared into his glass and nodded. What did it matter who knew? If William told Andrew and everyone else who would listen, it might even get back to Eddie and make the idiot see sense for the first time in his life.

‘Jenny stopped Haydn on the hill the other night and asked if they could pick up where they left off.’

‘When I said no, she threatened to make a beeline for Eddie. Looks like she’s done what she set out to do.’

‘Then she’s only going out with Eddie to get back at you?’

‘That’s what the lady said.’

‘Have you tried talking to him?’

‘Yes. But I didn’t even get as far as mentioning her name. If you think you can succeed where I failed, please, be my guest, go ahead.’

‘Not me.’ Andrew rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. ‘He knocked me out once, remember.’

‘I remember,’ Haydn smiled. ‘Just before you married Bethan. He made a good job of it too.’

‘I wasn’t right for months afterwards. When this bottle is finished, please allow me to get the next. If I can’t do anything constructive to help, I can at least engineer temporary oblivion.’

‘That won’t solve anything,’ William said.

‘No, but it’ll blur the edges and numb the pain if I do happen to find the courage to tackle Eddie and he does lash out,’ Haydn answered drily.

Music echoed from the auditorium, accompanied by the unrefined tones of Billy’s voice: ‘I can’t dance, don’t ask me. I can’t dance …’

‘Where you going?’ William asked, as Haydn refilled their glasses, picked up the bottle, and headed for the door.

‘Taking the doctor’s advice,’ he bowed to Andrew. ‘Getting drunk. Then I intend to dance with every girl who’s willing. I may even make love to a couple. And afterwards I intend to tell little brother that he’s walking out with the wrong woman.’

‘Haydn, just look at the way Jenny’s fawning all over him. It’s going to take a lot more than a grand gesture from you to change Eddie’s mind about her. Please, leave it to me.’

‘What makes you think he’s going to listen to you when he wouldn’t listen to me?’ Haydn looked from William to Andrew, then in the mirror behind the bar at himself. ‘I don’t know about you, but at the moment I think we’re about running neck and neck in the depths of Eddie’s estimation. The cousin who, on his own admission, couldn’t have made it plainer in the Palais that he hates Jenny; the brother who once lusted after her, and the rich brother-in-law he calls Cashmere Coat. Which one of us do you think he hates the most?’