When Wishes Come True (8 page)

‘I did some secretarial work, like shorthand and typing, yes, but that was some years ago. I would be very rusty at it now.’

‘It wouldn’t take you long to get your speed up,’ Mildred said. ‘You’d be surprised how quickly it comes back to you. I only mentioned it because they will be taking on another secretary when I leave, and I thought you might be interested. It would mean a rise of five shillings a week which should be an incentive. I’m sure it can’t be easy living on an Army pension.’

‘No, it isn’t.’ While Evelyn spoke slowly, her brain was working overtime. An extra five shillings a week … just think what she could do with it. The only drawback, was it meant she would have to work an eight-hour day for five days. The office didn’t open on Saturdays. It would be awkward with Amelia, but she couldn’t say this because she had never told anyone here that she had a daughter. ‘Thank you for telling me, Miss Saunders, and for considering me suitable. I will certainly give it some thought, and if I think I can make up for all the lost years, and not be a hindrance, then I would love to apply for the position.’

‘Why don’t you slip into my office while I’m taking dictation from Mr Astbury? I’ll be with him for half an hour, and in that time you could practise your typing. If anyone asks for you, I’ll say I’ve asked you to do some filing for me.’

‘You are very kind, Miss Saunders, and I’ll definitely take you up on your offer.’ Evelyn had already made up her mind she wanted the job if only for the rise in status it would bring. She’d manage somehow with Amelia, the girl was quite sensible and reliable. She could have a key and let herself in after school and make herself tea and sandwiches.’ May I use some of the office paper?’

‘Yes, of course.’ Mildred was wondering now whether she should have kept the news to herself for a while longer, as Mr Woodward’s secretary Janet had already met Mr Astbury’s nephew at a social event and taken quite a fancy to him. In fact, she’d talked about nothing else for a week afterwards. He was good-looking and a bachelor, which made him fair game for the unattached Janet. If she knew there was a possibility of gaining the position of secretary to a young man with film-star looks, she would move heaven and earth to secure that position. Janet had told Miss Saunders he’d gone out of his way to smile at her, but neglected to add that he’d smiled at every woman in the room. At least all the young and pretty ones. ‘Please don’t discuss our conversation with anyone, Mrs Sinclair. I only mentioned it to you because I thought you would be interested in the promotion,’ said Mildred nervously.

‘Which I appreciate. And I assure you it will not be mentioned elsewhere.’

Sitting at Miss Saunders’ desk later, with the typewriter in front of her, Evelyn felt a little nervous. Not about the fact that she would be leaving her daughter on her own for a couple of hours every night, she would get around that somehow. The girl was quite capable of looking after herself and surely wouldn’t come to any harm. Besides, she would benefit from her mother working full-time as they wouldn’t go hungry any more. No, Evelyn was nervous about passing the interview if she applied for the post. She would surely be asked about her speeds at both shorthand and typing, and it wasn’t something she could lie about. It would be almost impossible to get them up to the required speed within two weeks. The shorthand she might manage perhaps, for this she could do at home every night by asking Amelia to recite poems or repeat what she’d been up to at school that day. But how could she hope to impress at an interview if she could only have half-an-hour’s practice on a typewriter two or three times a week?

Evelyn sat up straight and shook her head to clear it. She had a chance now to try her hand again at something in which she was once very proficient. Why not take full advantage instead of wasting precious time? After fifteen minutes her fingers were losing their stiffness and she was remembering how the letters were placed on the keyboard. When Miss Saunders came into the office later, she raised her eyebrows in surprise for the keys were clicking away quite quickly.

‘Very good, Mrs Sinclair, I’m quite sure that within the two weeks available, you will be well up to speed.’

Evelyn smiled with pride at the compliment. It made her more determined than ever. After all, a new job could quite possibly change her whole life. Get her out of the rut she was in and back amongst people of her own class.

‘I hope you won’t think it very forward of me, Miss Saunders, but I would be grateful if you’d allow me the use of your office, and typewriter whenever possible,’ she said. ‘I would need to practise very hard to make a suitable applicant for the position which you say will soon be available.’

‘My office will be free after our lunch break, Mrs Sinclair. Mr Astbury is writing to all the clients who have retained him over the years. He wishes to let them know personally that he will be leaving and to thank them for their loyalty over the years so I imagine his dictation will take at least an hour. You are more than welcome to make full use of my office then.’

Mildred Saunders hadn’t realised until now how happy she would be to retire. She would have more time to devote to her mother, and even enjoy a limited social life herself. She would never have retired while Mr Astbury still worked, but both of them now deserved a more leisurely kind of life, and she could see herself sitting in the garden on a sunny afternoon, with her dear mother, enjoying a pot of tea. How blissfully happy she would be.

Evelyn tutted when her finger landed on the wrong key and the word on the paper came up as ‘would’ instead of ‘could’. ‘I really am very stupid,’ she muttered. ‘I should know better by now.’

‘We all make mistakes, even the best of us.’

She spun around, her face crimson. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t hear the door open and you’ve taken me by surprise.’ The man standing inside the door was tall and slim with pale brown hair and bright blue eyes. He was dressed in a suit of the finest tweed, an expensive shirt and silk tie, and wore an air of confidence that was so obvious you felt you could stretch out your hand and touch it. It was a long time since Evelyn had seen a man dressed in such fine attire, or one who was so very attractive. She pushed her chair back. ‘If it’s Miss Saunders you wish to see, I’m afraid she’s taking dictation from Mr Astbury. If you will tell me your name, I will let her know you are here.’

‘There’s no need, I’ve just come from my uncle’s office where he is keeping Miss Saunders very busy dictating dozens and dozens of letters.’ Philip Astbury leaned against the frame of the door, a man at ease with himself. ‘I was on my way to see Mr Woodward when I heard someone in here calling themselves stupid. I wasn’t listening at the door, it was ajar and I couldn’t fail to hear. I was rather curious to see this stupid person.’ He moved away from the door and approached her with hand outstretched. ‘Philip Astbury, delighted to meet you.’

Evelyn took his hand. ‘Evelyn Sinclair.’

‘I will be joining the firm as of today, but will not be taking over completely from my uncle until he retires in two weeks. In the meantime I shall be looking and learning, and making myself familiar with the files of our clients. And you, Evelyn Sinclair, what is your position here? Oh, and is that Miss Sinclair?’

She shook her head. ‘I’m a widow, my husband was killed in the war. And I’m more or less the junior here because I do the menial chores. I came back to work to give my life some meaning. I was wallowing in self-pity for too long and allowed myself to lose contact with all my friends. Consequently my social life was non-existent. At least coming here every day gives me a reason for getting out of bed. I don’t work full-time at present, but that may change in the near future.’

‘And would it be presumptuous of me to ask why you think you are stupid?’

Evelyn lowered her eyes coyly, remembering how Charles had found this habit very endearing. ‘It’s a while since I sat behind a typewriter and I was calling myself stupid for having forgotten the position of all the keys. I had no idea the door wasn’t closed properly or that I would be overheard. I’m not actually stupid, just finding it rather strange. But that’s something I can easily overcome, and I am determined to do so.’

Philip had an eye for a pretty face, and found Evelyn very pleasing to look at. A bachelor of thirty-three, he had many women friends, but with him it was a case of love them and leave them. He led a very enjoyable life as a single man and no woman had yet been able to lure him away from it. ‘I hear Miss Saunders is leaving the same time as my uncle, and haven’t had time as yet to ask if they have found a replacement for her?’

‘I really don’t know.’ Evelyn didn’t want to pass on any information in case he repeated it to Miss Saunders. If she lost the trust of the older woman, she may also lose the chance of filling the vacancy. ‘I only found out an hour ago that Mr Astbury was retiring, and it came as a great surprise. It was an even greater surprise to hear Miss Saunders was retiring too, but having been secretary to your uncle for so long, and being so used to his ways, I imagine it would be difficult at her age to adjust to starting afresh with a new partner.’

‘So with whom am I going to have the pleasure of working? I hope it is someone pretty, and not an ogre with two heads.’

Evelyn thought it would be to her advantage to leave the room before this conversation became too personal, and questions were asked that she would have difficulty in answering. ‘It’s time for our morning break so if you’re going to see Mr Woodward, I will bring in an extra cup of tea for you. And would you prefer a digestive biscuit or a cream?’

‘That rather sounds as if I’m getting my marching orders.’

‘Not at all!’ Evelyn was beginning to think that here was a man who was so sure of himself he expected every woman to fall at his feet. But she felt sure this wasn’t the way to attract his attention. ‘I am not in a position to give anyone their marching orders. This is Miss Saunders’ office, lent to me only until she has finished taking dictation.’ She took the paper out of the typewriter, folded it in two then pushed her chair nearer to the desk. ‘I really must make the morning tea, I’m sure the partners and their secretaries are feeling thirsty.’ She squared her shoulders and held her head high as she passed an astonished Philip, who wasn’t used to being dismissed in such a manner. ‘I will see you in Mr Woodward’s office. It has been most pleasant talking to you.’

‘Yes’ he agreed, ‘a pleasure indeed.’

Philip and his uncle were having their lunch in the State Hotel when the younger man asked, ‘Uncle Simon, have you anyone in mind for my secretary?’

Simon Astbury raised his thick white eyebrows. ‘I presumed you would be bringing your present secretary with you. I’m used to hearing you singing her praises.’

‘She is very efficient, I must admit.’ Philip decided a little white lie was called for. ‘However, the other two partners feel she will be needed for the new man they are bringing in to fill my position as she is familiar with our clients. And as I have given so little notice of my departure, I felt it would be unfair of me to deprive them of such an efficient worker. You must admit, Uncle, a good secretary is jolly hard to find.’

‘Then we must be quick about finding a replacement for Miss Saunders as we are both leaving in just two weeks. I’ll have a word with her when we get back, perhaps she knows someone who would fit the bill.’ Simon picked up the heavy linen napkin and patted his lips. ‘Miss Coombes is very punctual and efficient, but she is settled in with James and I’m sure he wouldn’t want to share her.’

‘What about Mrs Sinclair? I was talking to her while you were busy and she seems to have had a decent education. She is certainly articulate.’

His uncle showed surprise. ‘Mrs Sinclair is an office clerk, she does not have the qualifications to be a secretary.’

‘You do surprise me,’ Philip said. ‘I walked into Miss Saunders’ office after leaving yours because I heard the click of a typewriter and wondered who could be in there. I found Mrs Sinclair sitting at the desk, typing. She stopped immediately so I couldn’t say for sure how fast she was. But I’m surprised you didn’t know this, Uncle Simon? She’s obviously far too intelligent to be a mere clerk.’

Simon looked at his nephew under his thick eyebrows. ‘And of course she is very attractive too, is she not?’ He shook his head. ‘Don’t you tire of constantly moving from woman to woman? Would you not like to settle down with a good wife and raise a family?’

‘Good heavens, Uncle Simon, are you trying to spoil my lunch for me?’ Philip laughed, for he and his uncle were very close and dear to each other. ‘I ask a question about a member of your staff who is, I admit, very attractive, and it leads directly to my settling down and getting married. Oh,
and
raising a family.’

‘You are incorrigible, Philip,’ Simon Astbury said, a smile on his thin, lined face. ‘Anyway, I know very little about Mrs Sinclair apart from the fact that she’s a war widow. Perhaps Miss Saunders would be the best person to whom to direct your questions. She probably knows more about the woman’s qualifications than I do. And in the meantime, could we forget the office and enjoy our meal in peace? It isn’t often I have a companion to talk to over a decent meal and a glass of excellent claret. So indulge an old man and forget your pursuit of the opposite sex for the next half-hour.’

Philip feigned shock. ‘Half an hour, Uncle Simon, surely not! That’s an eternity.’

‘You mark my words, young man, the day will come when one of the pretty girls you pursue will trap you in her net. And I hope I live long enough to see it, it would give me great pleasure.’

‘I’ll see if I can arrange it, Uncle, but didn’t you suggest a while ago that we should eat our meal in peace? It will soon be time to return to the office.’

‘Miss Saunders, may I have a word with you in your office?’ Philip knew that Mrs Sinclair was in his uncle’s room filing away some correspondence and wanted to take advantage of her absence. ‘I won’t keep you long from your work.’

‘That’s all right, Mr Philip, the letters I have to type practically all read the same so I don’t have to keep checking my notes.’ Mildred led the way into her office, and when Philip was inside, closed the door. ‘How can I help you?’