One Rainy Day (37 page)

Yes, Miss Charlotte, but he’s going out for lunch soon. Shall I tell him you’re here?’

‘No need, thank you, I’ll tell him myself.’ Charlotte gave
one sharp pull on Poppy’s arm, and before she could control her steps Poppy found herself looking into Andrew’s startled face as she stumbled towards him.

He was out of his chair like a shot, with papers floating all over the floor. ‘Here, let me help. Did you trip?’

‘No, I didn’t trip, I was pulled.’ Poppy wanted to be angry, but her sense of humour wouldn’t let her, and the picture in her head caused her laughter to fill the air. ‘Brother and sister, neither of you safe to be near. There’s a saying “Did she fall or was she pushed?” and I’ve had both treatments from you two. I must be allergic to you.’

Charlotte couldn’t help seeing the funny side, and had a hand over her mouth to keep herself from laughing outright, for Andrew’s face was a mixture of so many emotions. Disbelief that Poppy was standing next to him, laughing. Puzzled that she was there at all, and bliss that he was so near to her. ‘Charlotte, will you stop acting silly and bring a chair for Poppy? And what are you doing here anyway? You should have let me know you were coming.’

‘It’s not Charlotte’s fault I lost my footing, Andrew,’ Poppy said. ‘She has been trying to help a friend of mine, which I think was kind of her. My friend is downstairs being interviewed by your father. She is a fully qualified private secretary, none better. But she has a lousy boss who doesn’t appreciate her or respect her, and she deserves better. Apparently a secretary here will be leaving soon, and there will be a vacancy. Jean might not get the job, but I hope she does. And Charlotte deserves a pat on the back for helping a friend.’

‘Sit down, Poppy, and I’ll have some tea brought in.’

‘This is my dinner hour, and I should be on my way back to the office. Besides, your father kindly had sandwiches and tea ready for us.’ Poppy looked at her watch. ‘If Jean and I are
not back at our desks in fifteen minutes we’ll both be in very serious trouble. So I’ll have to dash. It’s been nice seeing you, Andrew. And if Charlotte thinks her actions are not appreciated, then she can think again, for she’s a kind and generous girl who somehow has become a friend. And now she can take me downstairs to pick up my colleague.’

‘What about the visit you promised?’ Andrew asked. ‘Will you let Charlotte know so I can be prepared?’

Poppy nodded as she headed for the door. ‘I will let her know.’ Then she moved fast, with Charlotte beside her. ‘We’ll be in trouble, and neither of us can afford to lose our jobs. So I’m going to have to drag Jean out, while you thank your father, and apologize at the same time.’

But Jean was already standing by the bottom steps. She quickly explained she’d been asked to go back after work to finish the interview and be introduced to the man whose secretary was leaving. And who, if Jean passed the test, would be her boss.

Poppy was so delighted she gave Jean a hug. ‘It sounds promising, from what you say. Oh I’m so happy for you, and I’ve got a feeling in my bones that you’ll get the job. Pity I won’t find out until tomorrow, ’cos I’ll be on pins wanting to know. I’d stay with you until after the interview, but I’ve made arrangements for tonight and it’s too late to change them.’

‘I’ll be fine,’ Jean told her. ‘Mr Wilkie-Brook is very nice, and he soon put me at my ease. And he said the man who will interview me is a Mr Robert Blakemore.’

Charlotte turned them round so she could walk in the middle and link their arms. ‘Mr Blakemore is a lovely man. Very friendly, and unlike your present boss he’s every inch a gentleman.’

Poppy squeezed her hand. ‘If Jean does get the job, Charlotte, it is all down to you. And like me, I’m sure Jean could kiss you right now. You are one very good friend, and I’m glad that your brother bumped into me that day. But don’t you dare tell him I said so.’

They came to a halt outside the office block, and Jean said, ‘We’ll have to be quick. We’re five minutes late now.’

‘For heaven’s sake stop worrying!’ Poppy said. ‘I’ll take the blame if Mr John is there. But he’s never back early from his lunch, so to hell with him. This time tomorrow you could be handing your notice in, please God. I’m dying to see the look on his face when you do. Anyway, fingers crossed. You’ll know later, while I’ll have to wait until tomorrow.’ At the top of the steps, Poppy turned to look down at Charlotte. ‘When will we see you again, love?’

‘Oh, I’ll be here tomorrow. I’ll know tonight what the news is, for Papa will tell me. But I want to be with you tomorrow, so I can see for myself how Jean feels, and what she intends to do, and when. I’ll be waiting here tomorrow, same time.’

That evening around the dinner table of the Wilkie-Brook family, not one word was spoken about the events of the day. It hadn’t been planned; it was pure coincidence that the three involved decided it would be better not to mention the matter to Harriet. It was far too complicated for three people to put forward three different versions of events.

However, when the meal was over, Andrew and Charlotte decided to go to their rooms. The decision was passed by several gentle kicks and rollings of eyes: messages sent by Charlotte, and understood by Andrew.

George and Harriet were left alone with their second
glass of wine. George lit a cigar to steady his nerves. If his wife knew their daughter was spending time in Liverpool city centre, making friends with people unknown to her parents, she would have a fit. Added to that, the appeal from Charlotte for one of those friends to be considered for employment, well, it wasn’t going to go down well. The very idea alone was sufficient to bring on a bout of indigestion. His best bet was to tone it down a little. Or maybe, on second thoughts, he’d better tone it down a lot. Otherwise he’d get the blame for aiding and abetting.

George cleared his throat. ‘Do you remember several weeks ago, my dear, Andrew told us he accidentally knocked a young lady over with his brolly?’

‘I vaguely remember the incident, but surely it’s more than a few weeks ago? I had completely forgotten. Why do you ask?’

Lies, lies, and more lies, George thought before answering. ‘Because I happened to make her acquaintance this afternoon, my love, and she is the most stunning girl I have ever seen. She has the most open face, with laughing eyes and perfect features. And one can sense she is a fun-loving young lady with a remarkable sense of humour.’ He patted his wife’s knee. ‘Of course, my darling, it goes without saying that she can’t hold a candle to you. Not in my eyes.’

‘How did you come to meet this young lady, who seems to have captivated you?’

‘Well, you know Andrew and Charlotte made her acquaintance in circumstances in which many people would actually have sued for damages, claiming they’d been injured, or their clothes ruined. This remarkable young lady did neither. Anyway, I was talking to Andrew outside the office when the young lady came by, and Andrew introduced us.’ George
turned his head to draw on his cigar, and remembered the saying about what a tangled web we weave, when first we practise to deceive. How true it was. For he was having to lie to his dear wife again. He couldn’t risk Charlotte or Andrew’s coming in and telling a different story. ‘It turned out that her friend was the woman being interviewed to take over from Robert Blakemore’s secretary. You remember, I told you she was leaving to get married? Robert interviewed the woman, whose name is Jean Slater, and he was more than satisfied she would fit in very well.’

‘The other girl, the one you said was stunning, what is her name and pedigree?’

George turned his head sharply. ‘We are not talking about animals, Harriet. That remark was uncalled for and does you no credit.’

‘I’m sorry, my love. You are quite right to chastise me. I really meant no harm. Your description of the girl intrigued me, and I wanted to hear more about her. She sounds very interesting.’

‘Her name is Poppy Meadows, and I can’t speak for her being interesting, for I hardly spent any time in her company. What I can say with certainty is that she would stand out in any crowd.’ George could feel a headache coming on, caused by his dislike of telling lies to his wife. He was going to have a good talk to his daughter about this helping hand of hers. He was pleased she was kind and caring, but he must insist she put him in the picture before plunging into her good deeds. ‘I need to have a word with Andrew about business, so I’ll go up to his room now, before it gets too late.’

When Peter called for her that night, only Poppy saw that his eyes looked a little puffy, as though he hadn’t slept well.
Nobody else noticed, for her mother chatted away to him while they were waiting for David to finish shaving. And when Sarah arrived just at the moment when David came downstairs, there was so much talking that no one noticed that Peter’s smile held no warmth.

After introducing Sarah to Peter, Poppy headed the foursome out of the door. David walked in front with Sarah, who had known him all her life, and was at ease with him. His presence helped steady the nerves she’d been suffering from all day at the prospect of going to her first big dance hall.

Poppy and Peter walked behind, and they were at the top of the street before either of them spoke. He had his arm round her waist, and he said softly, ‘You’re very quiet, babe.’

‘I didn’t think you’d feel like me jabbering away, Peter, for you look tired. Have you not slept well?’

‘On and off, that’s all. I’ve had a permanent headache for days now and it just won’t go away.’

‘I can’t say I know how you feel, Peter, only you know that. But my advice would be to take things as they come. You’re seeing Kate tonight. Perhaps you’ll feel differently after you’ve been with her for a while. Don’t push her out of your life until you are certain of your feelings.’

‘She won’t let me push her out of my life, babe. She’s been to see my parents twice and phoned several times.’

They reached the bus stop then, where David and Sarah were standing, and Poppy turned her head so her words couldn’t be heard by them. ‘She must love you very much, then, Peter, and unless you are very sure, don’t throw that love away. It only comes once in a lifetime to most people, so take heed.’

The bus came then, and David and Sarah opted for the top deck, while Poppy and Peter sat near the door.

‘What about you, babe?’

‘This is not about me, Peter, and I’d rather not get involved. I don’t want to settle down for a few years yet. I have told you that several times. But not wanting to get involved doesn’t mean I’m not interested in what happens to you, because I am. I want what is best for you. And I feel the best thing is for you to take your time, and not rush anything. You don’t have to decide right away, so take it slowly. A few dances with Kate tonight should help.’ But because she didn’t want Peter to think she was eager to get rid of him, and was pushing him into Kate’s arms, she added, ‘But not all the slow foxtrots, please, ’cos you and me do a very professional slow-fox.’

When they walked into the entrance hall of the Grafton, a playful argument started between David and Sarah over who should buy the tickets. ‘No girl ever pays for herself when she’s with me, even if she does live next door.’

Poppy had spotted Kate standing on her own, her eyes on the entrance, and thought the girl must really love Peter to run after him the way she was doing. She really was wearing her heart on her sleeve. ‘Peter, you get my ticket while I sort David and Sarah out. Our David can be as stubborn as a mule when he puts his mind to it. Oh, and will you see if Kate has a ticket? She’s standing on her own by the cloakroom.’

When the tickets had been sorted out, Poppy took Sarah along to the cloakroom. Passing Kate, Poppy said, ‘Are you coming in, Kate? We may as well stick together. This is a neighbour of mine, Sarah.’

Kate had begun to comb her hair in front of the mirror on the wall before she said, ‘It’s very kind of you to be so friendly, under the circumstances. Most girls would tell me to get lost.’

‘I have no intention of interfering, Kate. You and Peter have to sort your own affairs out. Now let’s get back to the men. My toes are itching to get on the dance floor.’

The band were playing a slow foxtrot when the girls pushed open the door of the dance hall, and Peter hurried to Poppy’s side. His hand out, he said, ‘Come on, babe, this is our dance.’

David hadn’t been introduced to Kate, so he didn’t think it rude to ask Sarah to dance. He thought she was a novice, and had made up his mind to be patient with her. But he certainly had his eye wiped for she was a fantastic dancer. She floated like a dream, and David was delighted. ‘I was under the impression you were a beginner, Sarah, with your mother saying you hadn’t been to a big dance hall.’

‘My mam always gets things wrong, David, you should know that by now. I’ve never been here before, but I go to loads of dances.’

Poppy had seen Jim on the dance floor with a girl she’d never seen before, and she had an idea. She waited until they were passing, then over Peter’s shoulder she mouthed the words, ‘Next dance with me.’

Jim grinned and nodded. He’d be delighted to dance with Poppy. She was a good dancer and fun to be with.

The next dance was a waltz, and Jim was over like a shot to claim Poppy, while David, unaware of the situation, led Sarah back on to the floor, leaving Peter and Kate standing awkwardly a few feet apart. Poppy kept her eyes on them, even while talking to Jim, and she saw Kate close the distance between herself and the man who had once loved her. ‘Are you going to ask me to dance, Peter?’

Without a word, Peter reached for the hand she was holding out, and led her on to the floor. And as Poppy watched, he danced as stiff as a board for the first two or three
circles of the floor, and then seemed to relax and dance as he always did, steps and rhythm perfect.

‘Who is the girl your boyfriend is dancing with?’ Jim asked. ‘It seems unusual for him to dance with anyone but you.’

‘Her name is Kate, and she’s an old friend of the family. That’s all I know about her, really, except she seems a nice friendly person. With regard to Peter, I’ve told you a few times, Jim, that we are not courting! Good friends who enjoy dancing and being in each other’s company, that’s all.’