The Reluctant Sinner (3 page)

When Daisy arrived at the club, Harry warned her they would be extra busy this Saturday evening as there was a private party as well as their usual customers.

‘Although the party is in a private room, some of the men will wander out to pay for a girl,’ he told her. ‘I’ve brought in a couple of extra cases of beer and there,’ he pointed to the shelf with the optics, ‘you’ll find extra bottles of spirits too.’

The bar started to fill quickly. Some of the men filtered off to the party, while the uninvited stayed in the bar. Flo had hired a couple of waiters to serve the partygoers and Daisy and Harry were run off their feet, keeping up with the orders from both places.

Midway through the evening, Daisy saw Bert Croucher enter the bar and walk through to the private room. Wandering over to Harry she asked whose party it was.

‘One of the wholesalers in the town. Why?’

‘I just saw the butcher go in there.’

‘He’s a friend of the birthday boy,’ Harry told her. ‘If you ask me, Ken Woods is as hard a case as Bert Croucher. They went to school together so I’m told. A right couple of tearaways they were too, by all accounts!’

For the next two hours, Daisy was so busy she didn’t give the men another thought until she bent down to pick up a bottle top off the floor and when she stood up, Croucher and another man were standing at the bar, in front of her. She quickly looked for Harry, but he was busy serving.

‘Good evening, gentlemen, what can I get for you?’

The stranger leered at her. ‘Hello, darlin’, I’d like two double scotches and ginger ale and one for yourself.’

‘Thank you, sir, but I don’t drink when I’m working.’ She didn’t want anything from this man, whom she disliked on sight.

‘Well that’s a first,’ he said, grinning at the butcher. ‘But it’s my birthday, girlie, and I insist that you join me in a drink.’ Although he was smiling at her, his eyes were steely cold and Daisy knew it wouldn’t be wise to cross him.

‘Very well, sir, if you insist. I’ll have a tonic water.’

‘Put a gin in it,’ he ordered defiantly.

Daisy straightened her back and stared at him and said, firmly, ‘You asked me to join you in a drink and I have, but now you must let me decide what it is that I want.’ And she turned away before he could argue. She poured two large scotches into glasses and opened two bottles of ginger ale, then poured a tonic water into a glass. She put these on a tray and turned back to the counter. She handed the glasses and bottles to the men, lifted her glass to her mouth and drank.

‘Happy birthday, sir,’ she said, trembling inside.

Harry walked over at that moment and said, ‘Gloria, will you serve the gentleman at the end of the bar?’ As she walked away he looked at Ken and Bert and asked, ‘Everything all right, gentlemen?’

‘Sparky little girl, that Gloria,’ said Woods.

‘A nice girl too,’ said Harry firmly. ‘I wouldn’t like to see her bothered.’

Woods laughed loudly. ‘You her guardian angel, Harry?’

‘Something like that,’ he said and turned away.

The two men walked to a table and sat down and before long were in deep conversation, returning to the party after a while, to Daisy’s great relief.

Towards the end of the night, several men came into the bar from the private gathering and took the woman of their choice upstairs in a steady stream. Having had a lot to drink, they were very loud and Daisy began to feel nervous, wondering if there was going to be any trouble. She was pleased when Flo entered the bar an hour before it closed accompanied by a tall man.

‘That’s Jim Grant, the landlord of the White Swan,’ Harry told Daisy. ‘He’s Flo’s boyfriend.’ Having seen Flo leave with one of the ship’s officers the previous night, Daisy was somewhat surprised.

Flo worked her way around the bar talking to everyone and managed to keep the noise down and those in their cups in order. Watching her go from one to another, Daisy realized what a clever woman her employer was. She also noticed Ken Woods head for the stairs with one of the girls. As he went to walk past Flo, she stopped the man and had a quick word with him. Daisy saw a flash of anger on his face and then he smiled at her, leaving Daisy
wondering what Flo had said to him. And when half an hour later the girl came back downstairs, she saw Flo look at the girl with a watchful glance. The girl just nodded unobtrusively and Flo walked away and joined her escort.

It was late when the bar closed and both Harry and Daisy were exhausted. Flo came over and introduced Daisy to Jim Grant.

‘You both worked well tonight,’ said Flo with a smile. ‘Let’s have a quiet drink together.’ As Daisy went to refuse, Flo said, ‘Listen, love, it will do you good. Sit down and take the weight off your feet before you go home.’

As they all sat together, Harry asked, ‘Did Woods behave himself?’

Flo laughed. ‘Bloody right. I told him as he went upstairs, I didn’t want any complaints from my girl after he’d done with her … or else! He didn’t like it but I have to protect my girls from the likes of him.’ Turning to Daisy she said, ‘He likes to be a bit rough with his women, and that’s fine with the girls on the street – but not mine.’

Daisy felt her blood run cold and she hoped that Woods wouldn’t be a regular customer. Bert Croucher frightened her enough without his mate. The two together would be too much. She’d have a nervous breakdown.

As they finished their drink, Flo said, ‘Jim will walk you home, Daisy. It’s late and on a Saturday night around here I’ll feel better knowing he was with you.’

‘Come on, love,’ said Jim, ‘it won’t take long.’ Turning to Flo he said, ‘I’ll see you later. Don’t start without me!’

She roared with laughter. ‘You cheeky bugger.’

As Jim walked her from Oxford Street to French Street, Daisy had a strange feeling that they were being followed. She turned round once or twice but in the dimness of the street lights she didn’t see anyone.

‘You’re a bit jumpy, girl,’ Jim remarked. ‘You are perfectly safe with me I can assure you.’

But she was more than pleased to get to her front door and to safety, and as she counted the large amount of the tips she’d made that night, she felt better.

After a long sleep-in and a good lunch, Daisy was looking forward to seeing Jack. She decided she’d like to walk through the park
and get some fresh air. Then perhaps stop for a cup of tea somewhere. This would give her and Jack time to catch up with each other’s news.

When he called for her and she suggested this, he agreed with her plan.

It was a chilly afternoon and now, in October, the trees were shedding their leaves as they walked through the park. Both of them kicked away at the piles of them on the ground, like a couple of children.

‘This reminds me of splashing through puddles as a youngster, filling your wellies through being over enthusiastic,’ Jack remarked. He caught hold of her hand and asked, ‘What have you been up to? I feel I haven’t seen you in ages.’

‘I’ve been busy doing extra work and I’ve got enough money now to send Dad away for a bit.’

‘Blimey! You must have been working your fingers to the bone to do that.’

Daisy knew she had to be careful not to give the game away as she spoke. ‘Fortunately there has been plenty of extra work to keep me going and I’m sorry, Jack, but I’ll be tied up on Saturday nights for quite a while.’

He did not look pleased at this. ‘I look forward to our Saturday nights,’ he complained. ‘Can’t you do this work some other time?’

She shook her head. ‘I can’t, no. I have to take all the work I can get, especially now I’ve got a bed for Dad. I want to let him have as much care as he can, so I must make as much money as possible as and when the work is there. And at the moment, I’ve plenty to keep me going.’

Jack felt a bit guilty over his displeasure at this news, especially as he knew just how poorly Fred Gilbert was and he did admire Daisy’s tenacity, but he felt neglected in the process.

‘So when
can
I see you?’

‘Only on Sundays for the next while, I’m afraid. But my time is all yours then. It’s just for a little while, Jack. It won’t be for ever.’

He saw the concern in her eyes and capitulated with a smile. ‘All right, Sundays it is. Come on, let’s go and find a cafe and have a hot cuppa. I’m getting cold out here.’

As they walked out of the park and down Above Bar, Daisy saw the young officer from the club who had invited her out to lunch, approaching. Before she could look away, he saw her.

‘Good afternoon, Gloria,’ he said as they passed each other.

Daisy gave a quick smile, lowered her gaze, and quickened her stride.

‘Gloria!’ Jack exclaimed. ‘That man called you Gloria.’

‘Well obviously he took me for someone else,’ Daisy swiftly replied. ‘Look, there’s a cafe open, come on.’ And she dragged Jack by the arm towards the place, thankful to find a refuge.

Jack ordered tea and toast for them and then sat back in his chair, staring thoughtfully at Daisy.

‘What?’ she asked.

‘You don’t look like a Gloria at all,’ he mused. ‘No, the name doesn’t suit you one bit!’

If you only knew, she thought.

They decided to go to the cinema and Daisy insisted on paying for them to go to the upper circle. ‘It’s my treat,’ she insisted, trying to make up to Jack for her absence. They settled in the back row, and as the film started, he put his arm around her.

‘Now this is more like it!’ he said.

The film,
The
Kidnapped
Bride,
was a comedy with young Oliver Hardy and soon had them chuckling loudly. The pianist playing in the pit was excellent; he matched the music to the movement in the silent film with flare which added greatly to their enjoyment, and as the credits rolled at the end of the programme, Jack kissed Daisy tenderly before the house lights came on.

As they walked home, Daisy felt guilty lying about working at the Solent Club, but she knew he would be furious if he knew the truth. But she did wonder how long she would be able to keep up this subterfuge.

Jack held her close to him as they arrived at her home. ‘I’ll see you next Sunday then,’ he said and kissed her goodnight.

Vera, her mother, was tidying up when she walked in to the room.

‘Dad in bed?’ asked Daisy.

‘Yes he went up early, but he’s asleep now.’ With a frown Vera said, ‘He’s worried about going away, but I’ve explained he’ll get good treatment there and he does realize this, of course.’

Daisy knelt by her mother. ‘We’ll miss him too, but you’ll be able to go every day and I’ll pop in some evenings when I’m not working.’

‘I worry about you working at that place,’ said Vera. ‘God knows what sort of men go there.’

‘You’d be surprised, Mum. They are mostly decent chaps. We had several ships’ officers there the other night. They are away from home and are lonely.’

‘Are they married?’

Daisy laughed. ‘I’ve no idea and I’m certainly not going to ask them!’

‘I hope they don’t think you’re on the game too,’ Vera stated, outraged at her own thoughts.

‘Believe me they know I’m there to serve drinks only. I’ve not had any worries in that respect – and besides, Harry the barman looks after me like a father.’

Vera rose from her chair. ‘Well come on, love, let’s get to bed or we’ll be too tired for anything in the morning.’

As she undressed in her own room, Daisy couldn’t help but think about Bert Croucher and his mate. Now they were not nice men and she hoped they wouldn’t be a problem if they used the club frequently. They made her nervous as soon as they walked in the bar. She climbed into bed knowing that she would be busy in the workroom in the morning but at least she had her evenings free until Thursday. Any private work she had could be done in the safety of her own home. But at least her father would be cared for. That was the most important thing right now.

The workroom was very busy as Madam had received a large order. One of her clients was sailing to India to join her husband who was in the army and recently stationed there. The wife needed a complete new wardrobe, made up with cotton and linen materials, to meet the tropical weather – and everyone was working flat out.

A new girl, Jessie Brown, had been hired to join the workforce to help cope with the work in hand. She was a good needlewoman but was loud and chatty.

‘If you could sew with your mouth, Jessie,’ snapped Madam, ‘our workload would increase a hundred per cent!’

The others sniggered. None of them liked the new girl and enjoyed seeing her put in her place.

‘Go on, ’ave a good laugh, why don’t you,’ she cried after Madam had left the room. ‘As if I give a shit what you lot think.’

‘Don’t you let Madam hear you swear,’ warned one of the girls, ‘she’s very particular about such things. She says we are serving ladies of quality and must behave accordingly.’

‘Ha! Ladies of quality? I saw Flo Cummings come out of here with a package and she certainly is no lady of quality!’

‘That’s not for you to say, Jessie!’ Madam stood in the doorway, glowering.

‘You know how she makes her money, don’t you, Madam?’

Madam straightened her back and stared imperiously at the girl. ‘I don’t consider that any of my business – or yours. Every client who uses this emporium will be treated with respect and will not be discussed behind their backs. Now get on with your work!’ She turned and left the room.

‘Well like it or not, that Flo Cummings makes her money from prostitution. I bet Mrs Posh Frocks doesn’t know that,’ Jessie declared. ‘And what the bloody ’ell is an emporium?’ No one knew.

Daisy sat listening nervously to Jessie gossip, but stayed out of the conversation. This girl knew far too much. Imagine if she found out about her working as a barmaid at Flo’s club, it would be all
round the workshop and she might lose her job! Then where would she be?

Her spirits were lifted when she was called into the waiting room to measure Grace Portman for a new dress. Daisy liked Mrs Portman, she was a real lady, but this morning she was looking sad.

‘Is something the matter?’ asked Daisy as she wrote down the measurements.

‘I had a letter from my husband this morning,’ she said.

‘Is he all right?’

‘Yes, thank God! But he’s not happy at all. Apparently the weather conditions at the Somme are bad. The trenches are filled with water and they are fighting to hold their positions. But apart from that, he’s fine.’

‘I’m sure the captain is well able to take care of himself.’

‘He is a good soldier, but he’s headstrong. I just hope he doesn’t do anything stupid, that’s all. And how are you, Daisy?’

Daisy found Mrs Portman easy to talk to and told her all about her father.

‘I am sorry,’ said Grace, ‘but once he’s settled in the home, he’ll feel better and then he’ll be a happier man.’

‘I do hope so,’ said Daisy.

Grace looked at Daisy and thought how brave she was under these circumstances. She assumed that the girl was the main wage earner in the family and the responsibility on her shoulders must be huge. How fortunate she was to live the life of privilege that she did, but that brought its own responsibilities, especially with her husband in France. It fell upon her shoulders to see to the estate and keep things running smoothly. Everyone had their problems it seemed.

When Daisy arrived home after her working day, she sat by the fire with her father, knowing he would be moving out in the morning. Her heart was heavy as she looked at the emaciated figure before her and she remembered the fit man who used to lift her over his shoulders when she was a child. To see him now was hard to take. She tried to assure him that the move would be beneficial.

‘You’ll be well taken care of, Dad. If you need medication the nurses will see you get it. The place is so very well equipped to
cope with patients with your illness.’ She took his hand. ‘It will also stop Mum worrying about you.’

‘Your mother is a good woman, Daisy love. I know she worries and for that reason, I’m willing to go. I know I’m living on borrowed time and this will make it easier on her. I’m so grateful to the doctor for fixing me up with a bed.’

Daisy was relieved that her father had accepted the lie they had told him. Had he known how and where Daisy was working, to pay for his stay, he would have been distraught!

The family sat down together to eat their supper, knowing it would be some time before they did so again. Daisy planned to pay for his care as long as she was able.

‘I’ve made your favourite, Fred,’ said Vera. ‘Steak and kidney pudding with a nice creamy rice pudding to follow.’ She smiled warmly as she gazed at him. ‘You eat that, my lad, it’ll grow hairs on your chest!’

‘As long as it doesn’t put lead in my pencil,’ he laughed, ‘only I don’t think I’m up to that.’

‘Fred Gilbert, what a thing to say, you cheeky devil.’ But as she watched him pick at his food and leave more than he ate, she hoped that once in the nursing home, his appetite would increase. At least that would give him some strength to fight back.

Daisy was pleased that her father could find something to laugh about because she knew that deep down he wanted to stay with his family. She admired his bravery. It took a strong man to accept that his days were numbered and she wondered how they would cope when he was no longer with them. The doctor had been frank with her and her mother as Fred’s illness grew worse and they had been grateful for his honesty.

‘Not that this knowledge will soften the blow when the time comes,’ he had said, ‘but at least there will be no surprises.’

The following morning, Daisy kissed her father goodbye. She’d arranged for an ambulance to collect him and her mother would go with him and see him settled.

‘I’ll come and see you this evening,’ she said, trying to smile.

‘No, love, leave it until tomorrow. By then I’ll be able to tell you what it’s like. Your Mum will be with me today. I’ll see you tomorrow. Take care of your mother,’ he added. ‘She’ll be a bit lost without me.’

Daisy walked down the road with tear-filled eyes. She loved her father deeply and it broke her heart to see his weakened state. She could do no more for him, but she would work hard to give him the care he needed and deserved for as long as she was able.

The next few days flew by it seemed to Daisy. Her father had settled well and she was working at home in the evenings on garments for her private clients and tonight she was back working at the Solent Club again.

Flo had laid out a black silk blouse for her to wear with a long black skirt. Stella was once again there to help her get ready for the evening rush.

The transformation complete, Daisy walked down the stairs as Gloria, her new persona. ‘Hello, Harry.’ She smiled as she greeted the barman.

‘Hello, love. My, you look good enough to eat,’ he chuckled as he looked at her. ‘The girls will start to be jealous of you, you look better than they do.’

‘Behave yourself!’ she chided. ‘I’m not dressed like them at all,’ which was true. The ladies of the club wore clothes that were tight-fitting and low-cut to show off their décolletage, tantalizing the clients.

‘That’s what makes you so attractive. A man likes to guess what’s beneath the clothes. It’s more of a mystery.’

‘Harry! You are outrageous.’

‘No, love, I’m a man and I understand how a man thinks.’

As the evening wore on, Daisy began to believe he spoke the truth as the men she served looked at her with admiration and some … with unadulterated lust. In fact one or two had propositioned her.

‘Gloria,’ pleaded one, ‘I can’t take my eyes off you. I’ll pay double if you let me take you upstairs.’

‘Now, sir,’ she said politely, ‘you know I’m here to serve drinks and that’s all. Now you behave or I’ll be cross with you.’

‘I love a woman with spirit,’ he said. ‘They are so much fun in bed.’

‘I really wouldn’t know,’ she said tartly.

‘Oh my God, are you a virgin? How marvellous! Name your price.’

Her curiosity was roused. ‘How much would you be prepared to pay?’ she asked.

‘Twenty pounds!’

Daisy was amazed. That was a fortune. With a smile she said, ‘Your money is safe. I’m not for sale at any price,’ and she walked away to serve another customer.

Later on during the evening, Bert Croucher and his mate, Ken Woods, came in the bar together. After Harry served them they sat at a table, deep in conversation.

‘If you come to the warehouse early tomorrow morning,’ said Woods, ‘I’ll have three sides of beef for you and two lambs. They are fresh, killed yesterday.’

‘Any trouble attached to them?’ asked Croucher.

‘No, they are part of a large consignment and I can assure you the paperwork won’t show the missing items. I’ve covered that,’ Woods said with a sly grin. ‘Usual price, so we should both make a bit on the side.’ He sat back in his chair and looked around. ‘I really fancy that Gloria,’ he said. ‘I’d like to see what’s under those clothes.’

‘You’ve got no chance!’ snapped Croucher who also lusted after her.

‘We’ll see about that,’ said Woods and, rising to his feet, he walked over to the bar. ‘Two large scotches and ginger ale,’ he told Gloria, ‘and of course one for yourself.’

‘No thank you, sir, it’s too early in the evening for me,’ and she turned away to fulfil his order.

When she returned he smiled and said, ‘I would very much like to take you out to dinner one evening, you know, somewhere special. I’ll treat you well I can promise you.’

Daisy felt her legs start to tremble as the man peered at her with a steely gaze. ‘Thank you but I’m spoken for and my young man wouldn’t like it if I went out with anybody else.’

‘I can well understand that,’ he said, ‘but he doesn’t have to know does he?’

‘I’m not in the habit of lying, sir, and anyway I wouldn’t go even if I wasn’t courting.’

His eyes narrowed. ‘I’m not good enough, is that what you’re saying?’ There was a menacing tone to his voice and Daisy knew she would have to step carefully.

‘Not at all, but I don’t have any spare time, I’m far too busy,’ and she walked away to attend to another customer.

Woods walked back to the table where his mate was laughing quietly.

‘She blew you out, didn’t she? Well, Kenny boy, you must face the fact you ain’t the answer to every girl’s prayer.’

The other man was fuming inside but just grunted in reply.

When, at the end of her shift, Daisy told Harry about Ken Woods’ invitation, he looked perturbed. ‘Don’t you go near that bloke, he’s bad news. He’s a very dodgy character and is known to have a nasty vicious streak. I’ll keep my eye open and if he comes in I’ll try to be free to serve him in future.’

‘Thanks, Harry,’ she said, but the man had scared her. She thought to be on the wrong side of him would be dangerous and she prayed that in future he would leave her alone.

During the following week, when Daisy visited her father, she walked down the corridor towards his room, breathing in the faint smell of ether and disinfectant, and she was pleased to see a slight improvement in him. He didn’t look so drawn and he was a better colour.

‘They do look after you well here, love. The food is good, but not as good as your mother’s of course. And would you believe it, see these French doors; well they open them to let the fresh air in.’

Daisy looked perturbed. ‘Don’t you feel the cold?’

‘No, love. They give me a hot water bottle and wrap me up in a blanket. It’s really nice, I like it and of course I can watch the birds in the garden. You’d be surprised how quickly the day passes and of course your Mum comes and sits with me in the afternoons.’

She was delighted that her beloved father seemed so happy; it took a load off her mind and the fact that Vera was now free of the loads of washing she’d once had to do made it all worthwhile. Daisy was tired of course, working during the day and doing her private work in the evenings, then the club three nights at the week’s end, but looking at the smiling face of her father, she knew it was worth every working hour and her aching back.

On occasion, during the week, Jack would call on Daisy and sit with her as she worked. He
said
he didn’t mind but seeing her on Sundays only wasn’t enough. Daisy was pleased with his company,
although when she had very close work to do and needed to concentrate, his cheerful chatter was distracting. But she couldn’t complain as he was so good-natured about it all.

But on the following Sunday when they were out walking together and Daisy passed not one but two of the customers from the Solent Club and they greeted her as Gloria, Jack demanded an explanation.

‘What the bloody hell is going on, Daisy? There was that man the other week who called you Gloria and now today two more men. Three people can’t mistake you for someone else!’

She knew she had no choice but to tell him the truth. They sat on a park bench as she tried to explain.

‘The Solent Club! You’re working in that knocking shop! I don’t believe it.’

‘Flo Cummings offered me the job so I could afford to pay for Dad to be looked after. The extra money I make there pays for the fees.’

He was appalled. ‘And what else do you do for the money? Do you earn it on your back?’

She slapped his face hard. ‘How dare you! Don’t you know me at all?’

He glared at her, his face flushed with anger. ‘It seems that I don’t. My Daisy would never contemplate walking into such a place, let alone working there. No, I don’t know you.’

She desperately tried to make him understand her need for the money.

‘What do you think your father would say if he knew how his bed is being paid for? He would be ashamed.’

‘What’s there to be ashamed of? I’m only working behind the bar serving drinks and don’t you ever think of telling him, Jack Weston! I would never be able to forgive you if you did.’

‘And who does he think got him his bed?’