Lily of Love Lane (8 page)

A
large ruby red car with a black shiny roof pulled into the curb. Charles Grey climbed out of it and came towards her. Lily’s breath caught.
He was so handsome! Although an older man, he dressed with such style. Today he wore a double-breasted navy blue blazer, despite the cold, his grey flannels were perfectly creased and his shiny
leather brogue shoes matched his driving gloves. His very dark hair looked shorter, was perfectly groomed and swept back from his head. As usual, the smile he gave her made her go weak at the
knees.

She smiled shyly, placing her hand on the rim of her hat to keep the breeze from taking it. Her blue eyes were wide with anticipation and her pulse was racing as he took her arm and escorted her
to the passenger door. ‘I hope I’m not late.’

‘No, not at all.’

‘You were given the time off?’

‘Yes.’

‘May I say how lovely you look, Lily?’ His eyes roved over her with undisguised admiration and Lily blushed deeply. She sat inside, inhaling the wonderful leathery smell; all the
seats were covered in real leather. The panel in front of her was a shiny walnut effect with two round dials inset by the big steering wheel. The windscreen was so clean that you could see
everything perfectly through it. Unlike Ben’s lorry where the dirt and dust had become a permanent feature.

‘Are you comfortable?’ he enquired as he began to drive.

‘Yes. Very, thank you.’

‘I have a rug and overcoats in the back should you want one.’

‘No, I’m quite warm. This is a beautiful motor car.’

‘I’m glad you like it. It’s not top of the range, but a good workhorse.’

‘You should see Ben’s lorry,’ she smiled. ‘I’d call that a workhorse, not this.’

‘Ah, the young man who escorted you to my house?’

‘Yes.’

‘I didn’t see him at the market on Friday.’

‘No, he was working. You remember, he delivers all over the country.’

‘Are the James brothers in business together?’

Lily nodded. ‘I suppose you could say that. Reube runs the stall and Ben’s going to buy one of them great big charabancs.’

‘Really?’ Charles Grey turned to glance at her. ‘What an enterprising pair they are. How long have you known them?’

‘All me life. They live opposite in Love Lane.’

‘So, you live in Love Lane – I’m afraid I don’t know it.’

Lily smiled. ‘It’s just an ordinary road on the island. But we all grew up together there. My best friend, Hattie Parks, lives next door. She sees a lot of Reube.’ She paused.
‘I wouldn’t be surprised if they get married.’

He nodded thoughtfully. ‘And what about young Ben? He seems to think a great deal of you.’

Lily shook her head. ‘He’s like me big brother. Sometimes we go dancing. He’s a very good dancer, actually.’

‘A man of many talents.’

Lily frowned. ‘Don’t tell him that. You’d never hear the end of it.’

After a while, she began to relax. She was amazed at the way Charles Grey drove. The car was smooth and didn’t have any clunks and bangs like the lorry. It made conversation much easier.
Lily couldn’t take her eyes from the scenery. She had gone up West by bus many times. But today was different. Or was it just that she felt different, she wondered? As she glanced at her
good-looking companion, she was more than curious to know his plans.

As he drove, Charles told her more about himself. He described how he had once lived up north and married, then brought his wife to London, where she had sadly died. He had
been alone for two years, and for a living, dealt in fine quality furniture.

‘Is that why you came to the market?’ Lily asked.

‘Yes, I keep an eye out for interesting pieces.’

‘We don’t have much that’s of great value,’ Lily confessed, ‘as it’s often broken or chipped, like the chamber pot.’

He smiled. ‘Yes, but often I can have a piece restored if it’s not badly damaged.’

‘Like the dealers that come from up West. They think we don’t know how valuable some things are. I often tell Reube we’re selling too cheaply but he likes to turn a
profit.’

‘Sensible man,’ he agreed.

‘I could always put a piece by for you. I mean . . .’ Lily felt she was presumptuous to suggest it, but added hesitantly, ‘that is, if you come our way again.’

He looked into her eyes. ‘I’m sure I will.’

He didn’t refer any more to his dead wife although Lily was hoping he might. She was even more certain now that he must have loved her very much.

When they arrived in Oxford Street, the traffic almost came to a standstill. From Shoe Lane to Ludgate Circus, taxis, buses and motorized vehicles had jammed the way. But Lily was content. There
was time to look out of the window at the busy shops. Marshall & Snelgrove’s in particular displayed eye-catching new fashions above which the advertising slogans were waving in the
breeze. ‘A full shingled head for twenty five shillings.’

‘Look!’ Lily gasped. ‘I’ve always wanted to sit in one of those places and have my hair waved!’

‘But that would be a sin,’ Charles replied as he gazed at her, his dark eyes intense. ‘I haven’t ever seen a more beautiful head of hair than yours, Lily.’

She laughed in embarrassment. ‘You haven’t seen what’s under my hat.’

‘I’ve seen enough.’

She blushed as she looked back through the window. Did he really think she had beautiful hair? She was always trying to straighten it, but it was easier to let it fall in its own way.

‘Shall we look around the stores first?’

Lily hadn’t expected to be taken to the big shops. But before she knew it, he had parked the car in the Brompton Road and escorted her to the grand terracotta building that was Harrods.
Lily was shocked to see the hundreds of items on sale there. Everything from pens and paper to jewellery to household goods, perfumes and fashions. She was so excited as they passed through the
glass and marble halls that she could hardly speak. All the women were fashionably dressed and the men all seemed to have handlebar moustaches. She would have been very self-conscious in her old
coat and hat, but she remembered how Charles’ eyes had gone over her when he had first seen her. He hadn’t been able to disguise his approval. Every so often she straightened her back
and copied the posture of the other young women who seemed to glide through the store.

After Harrods they went into the arcades. Here there were small salons with fashions from Paris and Italy. Lily couldn’t take her eyes off the beautiful designs and colours and every
jeweller seemed to have a more varied and sparkling display than its neighbour.

‘Before we look round the furniture shops, I suggest we go somewhere to eat,’ Charles said as Lily was trying to absorb every single detail. She had come up to the city before but
only with Hattie, Reube and Ben. They’d usually gone to one of the parks where they listened to the bands playing. The shops were for the wealthy and to visit them meant you had to spend
money.

‘Where would you like to go?’ he asked her.

Lily was shocked to be given a choice. ‘I’m not sure. But I’ve always wanted to go back to Lyons. Uncle Noah took me once when I was little.’

‘Then Lyons it shall be.’

Lily thought she must be dreaming as she was escorted into the gold fronted teashop, J. Lyons. The fascia was embellished with Victorian decoration and Lily noticed a discreet sign on the wall
announcing the first Lyons teashop had been opened in 1894.

Inside, Lily closed her eyes and inhaled the mouth-watering aroma of the bakery. ‘I’d like to tidy up first,’ Lily said, noting a sign on the wall indicating the cloakrooms.
She wanted to make sure she looked presentable before going in to the restaurant.

‘Certainly,’ he said quietly, smiling down at her. ‘But I assure you, that you look quite lovely.’

Lily blushed and hurried off. Charles had paid her so much attention, but she wasn’t used to compliments and wondered if he really meant what he said.

The cloakroom was a mixture of pretty colours, feminine and delicate. The ornate mirrors were decorated with bowls of small white roses. There were luxurious towels for customers to use and
little round bars of soap that smelt of flowers.

She waited for a space at one of the basins. How could her imagination have ever created a scene like this? It seemed she wasn’t expected to pay a penny for their food as Charles had told
her it was entirely his treat.

Lily gazed in the mirror. Tucking her hair tidily under her hat, she pinched her cheeks to bring out the colour. The other women were talking in high voices. Some of them balanced their
cigarette holders between their manicured fingers. She didn’t have their expensive clothes, nor did she smoke, although she almost wished she did. But the fur trim she had added to her collar
was just the right touch.

Lily smiled at the girl next to her. She was dark-haired and wore the most gorgeous black astrakhan coat. Although tall and slim, she was bereft of a smile and looked away.

This dented Lily’s confidence a little. If Hattie had been here she would have whispered in her ear ‘snobby cow’ and they would have had a giggle. It was always fun to be with
Hattie. Thanks to Madame Nerys’ training, Hattie could outshine anyone here.

But now Lily was on her own. Could she remember which knives and forks to use? Was it milk in the cup before the tea or the other way round?

Lily finished her repairs and made her way out. Charles had found them a table and proved the perfect host. He poured the tea and offered her the silver sugar bowl.

‘No, thank you. The tea is perfect.’

‘Like the lovely young woman sitting opposite me,’ he looked into her eyes.

Lily knew she was going scarlet. ‘I . . . I didn’t expect to find myself here,’ she stammered.

‘You deserve it. You are giving up your time to spend with me. And don’t think I’ve forgotten this is a business arrangement. I shall make certain you are
compensated.’

Lily was disappointed, she wanted him to say she was here because he liked her. One moment he made her feel special, the next he was reminding her that she would be paid.

‘What would you like to eat?’

Lily read from the menu. Speciality pastries, House Swiss Roll, fruit scones and sandwiches to order. Hams, cheeses, pickles and home-baked bread. The list went on and on.

Lily looked bewildered. ‘I like everything.’

He laughed. ‘You’re very easy to please.’

She hesitated. ‘But the pastries look lovely.’ They took sly glances at the cake stand on the next table. It was overflowing with delicious concoctions.

‘I’ll order a selection, shall I?’

‘That would be lovely.’

Whilst he was ordering, Lily looked around. Each table was covered with a pure white linen tablecloth, the cutlery and china were sparkling, and every napkin was folded into a cone.

As her gaze returned to Charles, she felt her heart race again. He was one of the most attractive men in the room. There were other well-dressed men, but he was exceptional with his dark looks
and beautiful dark eyes. She could see the other women looking in his direction.

The pastries and sandwiches arrived. She had never seen such a collection. Crustless white bread with dainty fillings and a creamy sauce. Pastries oozing cream, marzipan, currants, sultanas and
icing. Lily didn’t think they could eat them all, but they did.

‘Would you like something else?’ the waitress asked when she returned.

Lily shook her head. ‘I couldn’t eat a crumb more.’

‘Just the bill then, thank you,’ said Charles with a friendly grin.

The waitress went off. Lily remembered Uncle Noah telling her they were called Nippies. Each girl wore a black dress decorated with red buttons and trimmed with white collars, cuffs and
aprons.

‘It must be very tiring being on your feet all day,’ Lily remarked when the girl brought the bill folded on a small saucer.

‘Yes, it is.’

‘I hope they pay you well,’ said Charles.

‘Not terribly, and we have to work in shifts,’ the Nippy explained. ‘Our salaries don’t amount to much, but there’s a chance to earn commission of sixpence in every
pound at weekends and tuppence the rest of the week.’

‘Well, we can’t have that,’ said Charles, pressing a half crown in her hand. ‘At least, not this week.’

‘Oh – sir!’

‘Think nothing of it,’ he said, giving her another smile that had her blushing to the roots of her blonde hair.

‘That was very generous of you,’ Lily said when they were on their own. ‘She was very pleased.’

He looked into Lily’s eyes. ‘I’m lucky enough to be enjoying myself so much. Why shouldn’t I be generous?’

Lily blushed once more. She was keenly aware of the female interest around them. Charles began to tell her what kind of things he wanted to buy and seemed unconcerned by the attention. Lily felt
as though she was the only woman in the room. It proved very difficult, in fact almost impossible, to keep her mind on the conversation.

After leaving Lyons, Charles drove them to Shepherd Market in Mayfair. The tiny shops were a stark contrast to the grandeur of Piccadilly and Park Lane close by, but had
exactly what they were looking for. Even though the buildings were old and shabby, they possessed an old world charm and plenty of curios, foods, furniture and jewellery to choose from.

‘All this was built in the eighteenth century by a builder called Edward Shepherd,’ Charles told Lily as he guided her around the small lanes. ‘To me, this place has a timeless
quality. And as you’ll see, I’m sure we’ll find one or two bargains.’

As they scoured the tiny shops, they found brass pieces and silverware, pottery and ornaments and dozens of things that Lily had never even seen before. But when she came upon a pair of Georgian
figurines, she recognized their beauty immediately.

Charles purchased them at once and arranged for them to be delivered. In the next shop Lily chose larger furniture, a chair in watered pink silk for one of the bedrooms, a bookcase for the back
parlour and a thick, Indian rug for the drawing room.

With their task accomplished, they found the car again and Charles drove them to the Embankment. After parking they strolled slowly along, past manicured lawns and secret little gardens. Near
Hungerford Bridge, they paused to admire Cleopatra’s Needle and its guardian sphinx. Although of a different culture and brought many years before from Alexandria, Lily thought how the
monument didn’t look out of place. The pathways around it seemed to glow in its honour under the leafless trees. A smell of smoke and salty water rose in the air.