Two Strangers (19 page)

‘It’s going to be quieter without Harry and the boys around,’ Bob said as the van drove away. ‘I will miss them around the shop. However, it was too good an offer for Harry to turn down, and the boys will be happy down there.’

‘Especially Alfie,’ Vicki said as they walked back home. ‘He’ll feel safe away from London, and once the school is ready we can visit. I’ve asked Harry to write and let us know how things are going. I hope he does.’

‘I expect Charles will let us know. His work brings him to London regularly.’

Vicki had been spending every spare moment at Harry’s since Dave and Alfie had moved in, and she missed them. It was now nearly two weeks, and, apart from a brief note from Harry saying that they were all well, they had no idea how the work was progressing.

‘I know they will be very busy and probably don’t want visitors yet, but I’m tempted to go down there tomorrow,’ Vicki told Flo as they shut the shop.

‘Give it another week and then we’ll all go,’ Bob told them. ‘They should be nearly finished by then.’

She nodded agreement just as Sid strolled into the salon with a huge smile on his face.

‘Get your glad rags on, Vicki. You’re coming dancing with me tonight. And it’s no good you protesting. I am not taking no for an answer.’

‘Sid! I’ve told you time and time again that I can’t dance.’

‘Then it’s time you learnt. Come on, Vicki, there’s a big dance at the town hall tonight. You’ll enjoy it.’

She gave him a suspicious look. ‘What about the crowd you usually go with? What’s happened to them?’

‘They are still going. You’ll like them, too.’

‘I can’t come. I haven’t got the right kind of frock.’

‘Yes, you have,’ Flo told her. ‘Do you remember that lovely frock you wouldn’t let me buy for you? Well, I went back the next day and bought it anyway. It’s been in my wardrobe just waiting for an occasion like this.’

‘Aha!’ Sid grinned. ‘You can’t possibly refuse now. Can she, Flo?’

‘I can’t think of one reason.’

Vicki sighed, knowing she was trapped. The three people smiling at her cared, and she knew that her isolation from any kind of social life troubled them. She owed them so much, and if going to a dance with Sid would make them happy, then it would have to be endured.

‘All right, but just this once.’

‘Get the frock out, Flo.’ Sid spun Vicki round and round. ‘I’ll go home and get changed, then come back for you at seven o’clock.’

The dance hall was crowded and so noisy that Vicki wanted to turn around and go back to her lovely peaceful room. She couldn’t do that after all the trouble they had gone to. Her hair had been washed and styled, the frock pressed while she’d had a bath, and Bob and Flo had been so pleased.

‘It’s all right, Vicki.’ Sid took her arm as she hesitated. ‘I know you’ve never been to anything like this before, so I’ll stay with you all the time. You look beautiful – I’ll have to fight off the men trying to get to you.’

That thought horrified her. ‘I do hope you’re joking, Sid!’

He glanced at her shocked expression. ‘Ah, sorry, that was the wrong thing to say. Most girls would take that as a compliment.’

‘I’m not like most girls.’

‘I know that what you have been through has made you cautious, but you can trust me.’ He smiled and patted her hand. ‘I won’t let anything unpleasant happen to you. Bob and Flo would never have allowed me to bring you if they had any doubts, would they?’

She shook her head.

‘Right, then, put a smile on your face and let’s enjoy the evening. They are playing a waltz, and that’s an easy dance for you to start with.’

Sid was very patient as he taught her the steps, and she concentrated very hard, not wanting to make a fool of herself in front of this huge crowd. They all seemed so good, and so was Sid. He led her quite expertly into the steps.

She began to relax as much as she could, although it made her nervous to be surrounded by so many people. Once or twice during the dance, a sense of panic tried to overwhelm her, but she fought it off. From a young age, she had been left to look after herself and, not making friends easily, she had led a rather solitary life. The isolation and loneliness had been even worse when her dad had thrown her out of the house. The time spent in that awful warehouse had been purgatory. Her life had changed dramatically when the Howards had given her a home and their love, but the scars remained. Perhaps she was like Alfie in some ways. He had stopped talking; she had shut herself off from people, except the few she had come to love and trust. Why had she never realized that before?

The dance came to an end, and she managed to smile at Sid. ‘I didn’t step on your toes too much, did I?’

‘Not once! You’re as light as a feather on your feet. Come and meet my friends.’

There were eight of them, and the names were just a blur to her, but two of the girls were customers at the shop, so she did know them.

During the evening, although she was asked to dance by quite a few young men, she would only dance with Sid, and for most of the evening she was content to sit and watch the antics of the dancers in bemusement. They all appeared to be having fun, but all that jumping around was not for her. She did, however, quite enjoy the slow ballroom dances with Sid, and by the end of the evening was fairly competent at them.

Bob and Flo were waiting up when Sid returned her home, wanting to hear all about the evening.

‘Vicki will become a good dancer when she’s had more practice,’ Sid told them. ‘She has a lovely sense of rhythm and timing. Next time, I’ll get her doing the Charleston.’

Oh no, you won’t
, she thought while keeping a smile on her face. There wouldn’t be a next time if she could avoid it.

Nineteen

Much to Vicki’s relief, there was no question about going dancing again because Harry arrived on Saturday afternoon.

‘How are things going?’ she asked, eager for news.

‘Very well.’ His grin was infectious. ‘The school is ready and we moved in there two days ago. The boys are happy and thriving in the country air. And they’ve got some company now because we’ve been sent two more youngsters. Charles has certainly moved quickly.’

‘That’s wonderful!’ Bob told him. ‘When can we see it? We’re having a job to keep Vicki from jumping on a train to visit you, and I must admit we are all missing you and the boys.’

‘You can come back with me tomorrow if you like. I’ve definitely got another teacher – John Steadman – and he’s coming at the end of next week. Once I’ve collected a few things from the house, we can catch an early train. If you closed the shop on Monday, you could stay the night.’

‘Don’t see why not – Monday is always a slow day. What about you, Flo?’

‘We’ve only got two bookings for a trim, and they are regular customers. We’ll pop round and ask if they mind changing their appointments. I don’t see any problem there.’

‘I don’t think they will mind,’ Vicki said, checking the appointment book. ‘It would be lovely to stay overnight. How is Alfie now he’s away from London?’

‘There is a huge improvement in him. He knows he’s miles away from the people who treated him so cruelly, and he feels safe at last. Dave asked me to bring you back with me. They both want to see you.’

‘I do miss them as well, but I’m relieved to hear they are happy.’

‘We all are.’ He grinned again. ‘This is a dream come true. Now I must see John and tell him he can come as early as he likes because everything is ready with the staff accommodation. We are going to need him because it looks as if Charles is determined to scour the countryside for children needing our help.’

The sound of children shouting and laughing could be heard as they approached the house, and the cause of the noise was a boisterous game of football going on. Edward was having a rough time in goal as the youngsters were determined to get the ball in the back of the net by fair means or foul.

‘That’s cheating!’ Bob laughed as two of the boys jumped on Edward and held him down while another boy kicked the ball in the net. ‘Don’t they know the rules, Harry?’

‘Where they come from, it’s every man for himself, and we encourage them to let off steam out here. It helps to get rid of a bit of aggression, which is something many of them suffer from at the moment.’ Harry put a whistle to his lips and blew hard.

The assault on Edward stopped and the boys spun round and stared for a moment, then there was a shriek as Dave and Alfie hurtled towards them. The other boys, laughing, helped Edward to his feet.

Vicki was nearly knocked over in the excited rush.

‘You’ve come!’ Dave was spinning from one person to the next in an effort to greet them all at once. ‘We’ve got such a lot to show you!’

‘Introduce everyone to your friends first,’ Harry told them, ‘and then we can all have a cup of tea together. Vicki and Mr and Mrs Howard are staying overnight, so there will be plenty of time to show them around.’

‘Oh, goody.’ Alfie beamed with pleasure and chased after his brother who was already pulling the other three boys towards them.

‘I thought you only had two more pupils so far, Harry.’

‘The tallest one arrived yesterday, Vicki. He isn’t too sure of us at the moment. We need him to open up and start talking to us because he has problems locked up inside him.’

Edward had dusted himself off and now greeted them, slightly out of breath, his usual good humour shining in his eyes.

‘This is Jack.’ Dave pulled the new boy forward, and then the other two. ‘This is Ron, and Sam is the same age as Alfie.’

‘We are pleased to meet you.’ Flo smiled. ‘That was a good game you were playing, but you didn’t give the goalie much of a chance.’

‘He don’t play fair, neither.’ Ron smirked as he looked up at Edward.

Alfie was holding on to Vicki’s arm, and she was thrilled to see the difference in him. The haunted look had left his eyes, and he was much more relaxed.

Jack was eyeing her with curiosity. ‘You that girl Dave told us about? The one who’s old man chucked her out?’

‘That’s right, Jack. I’m Vicki.’

‘Blimey! You look and sound proper posh.’

‘I was lucky and found people who cared about me. I took the chance they gave me to make a better life for myself. Now the same thing has happened to you, you will be able to do the same.’

‘Hmm. Perhaps.’

‘You will, but it will be up to you.’

Jack pursed his lips and smirked, as if it was a huge joke. ‘What you fink, Ron? Reckon we can get posh too?’

‘Well,’ Ron pointed towards the house, ‘we’re living in a posh place, ain’t we? Guess that’s a start.’

Pearl came out to meet them, all smiles. ‘Welcome to our school. Tea and biscuits are waiting for you in the school dining room. That includes all of you,’ she told the boys.

During this tea break they were able to get to know the other boys a little better, and then they ran out to play again, eager to be away from the older people. Dave and Alfie stayed with them as Pearl proudly showed them the rooms. Alfie followed Vicki everywhere, and once she had seen where she would be sleeping, he tugged her arm.

‘Show you Gypsy.’

‘And who is Gypsy?

‘My friend.’ The little boy caught her hand impatiently. ‘You’ll like her.’

‘Well, lead the way, then.’

He was so eager to get to his friend that Vicki had to practically run to keep up with him. He made straight for the kitchen, and jumped up and down in front of Pearl.

‘I bet I know what you want, young man.’ Pearl winked at Vicki and then opened the door leading to a large cupboard.

‘One for Vicki, too, please!’

‘Of course.’ Pearl handed them both a carrot.

It was only then that it dawned on Vicki what the boy was talking about. ‘Have you got the ponies already?’

‘They arrived two days ago,’ Pearl told her. ‘Alfie fell in love with Gypsy the moment he saw her.’

‘I’m gonna ride her! She’ll let me because she likes me.’ He spun on his heels and shot through the back door.

‘My goodness, that’s the most I’ve ever heard him say.’ Vicki ran after him.

When she arrived at the stables, she saw that Alfie was talking to a young man in his twenties, she guessed. When he moved, it was noticeable that he favoured his left leg and was obviously one of the ex-soldiers Charles was helping. There was also a scar down his cheek, but it didn’t detract from his good looks as he smiled down at Alfie.

The little boy spun round when he heard her coming. ‘This is Fred, and he looks after the ponies.’

‘I’m pleased to meet you, Fred. I’m Vicki.’

‘And it’s nice to meet you, miss. I’ve heard a lot about you from young Alfie.’

‘Have you still got the carrot, Vicki?’

She held it up and Alfie beamed at Fred. ‘Can we see Gypsy now, please?’

Fred laid a hand gently on top of Alfie’s head to stop him jumping about in excitement. ‘Quietly now. You remember what I told you?’

The boy nodded, then turned to Vicki and put his fingers to his lips. ‘Mustn’t frighten her.’

‘I understand,’ she said softly.

Fred led them to a stall and began speaking quietly to the animal until she put her head over the partition and eyed them.

‘Ah, she’s beautiful, Alfie.’

He nodded, gazing at the pony in rapture.

‘She said that carrot looks tasty,’ Fred told him, scooping the boy up so he was level with Gypsy’s face.

Vicki could hardly believe her eyes as Alfie gave the pony his gift and then let her push her face against his. His little hands rubbed her nose, showing no sign of fear.

Fred put Alfie down again and then told Vicki to give the animal the other carrot.

The pony took it quickly and watched them as they walked away. ‘Thank you, Fred.’

‘My pleasure, miss.’

‘When are you going to start the riding lessons?’ she asked.

‘In a couple of days when the animals have settled in and all the tack has arrived, miss.’

Alfie was looking up at them, puzzled. ‘Why’d you call her that? Her name’s Vicki.’

‘He’s being polite,’ Vicki explained to the boy, and then smiled at Fred. ‘I would rather you addressed me as Vicki.’