Sister's Trio Squad

Chapter 48

Chapter 48

Edward caught her arm and pulled her a few paces away. 'You selfish b***h!' he hissed. 'She's your sister who you've not seen for ages, and you didn't even go to her wedding! But she came to see you and now, just because it's ruined your plans, you want her to go back to an hotel with just a stranger and a child! My God, Nancy! If I wasn't a gentleman I swear I'd hit you. You don't deserve a sister like that.'

She jerked her arm free and her eyes narrowed with rage. 'Go to hell!' she spat back, before turning and smiling at her sister.

'Nancy, I'm so sorry,' Margaret said uncomfortably. 

'Don't be silly!" Nancy leaned forward and kissed Margaret on the cheek. "The good doctor and I will follow in a cab and once we've seen you safely back, then Edward and I will come back here, won't we Edward?' It was a statement, not a question.

He nodded. 'I'll get them to call a cab.'

'Now that's settled, we'd better get you back, Mrs Vannin. Ladies in your condition should take life a little slower, you know,' the doctor advised, in a gently admonishing voice.

The smile was wiped from Nancy's face to be replaced with a look of dazed disbelief. Margaret was pregnant! So that was the reason for all the fuss! Why hadn't she said so? She looked at Edward and to her rising chagrin, he was smiling in that sardonic way she hated. He took her arm as the doctor and Ellen, who clung

like a limpet to her step-mother, assisted by the maitre d', helped Margaret towards the door. 'That's quite a surprise, isn't it? She's certainly "upstaged"

you, hasn't she, my dear Nancy?"

'One of these days you're going to regret every insult, Edward Vinetti! Just you mark my words!' she said furi ously through gritted teeth. Oh, how she hated him. Right now she could have cheerfully scratched out those dark mocking eyes!

They'd got a taxi from the station and Margaret had sworn Ellen to secrecy about the whole incident, prom ising to come to her later on before she went to bed.

Lewis was already home and came out to take her

bag. Did you enjoy yourselves? If I'd known which train you were coming on I'd have come for you.'

'I told you we'd get a taxi, Lewis. Nancy was wonder

ful! It's such a pity you couldn't come. Did you get the contract?' 'Yes. Now I can buy a motorized lorry and I'll have to

hire a new man."

'I'm so glad! Has Vi been looking after you properly?"

'Good Heavens, you've only been gone for thirty-six

hours! Well Ellen, did you enjoy yourself and what do

you think of your Aunt Nancy?'

'She's very pretty, Pa.'

You don't sound terribly enthusiastic."

'She's tired, Lewis. We both are. Ellen, go and ask Vi if we could have a pot of tea in the parlour and then unpack and get washed. I want to speak to your go Pa.' and

Ellen did as she was told. Margaret and Lewis went into the parlour and she sank down thankfully on the sofa. He came and sat beside her.

'I missed you. The house was strangely quiet, as though

something was missing.'

'Ellen's chatter probably. She's a little upset, Lewis. After the show, we went for supper at the Café Royal and I'm afraid I fainted. The poor child was terrified that there was something really wrong with me, that I was going to die.' 'You fainted? Why didn't you contact me? I'd have come

to the station for you myself!' Oh, it's nothing serious, Lewis. I believe most women faint when they are in the early stages of . . . of having

a baby.'

She'd never seen such a change in a man. He sprang to

his feet as agilely as a man half his age, then he sat down

again and gathered her in his arms.

'Oh, Margaret! My dear, Margaret! Why didn't you tell me? I wouldn't have let you go all that way by yourself and with the added responsibility of Ellen.'

'I didn't know, Lewis. I've been feeling a bit washed out and tired, but I thought nothing of it. It was a doctor who happened to be at the restaurant and who kindly attended me, who told me. He said to go and see my own doctor when I got back."

I'd almost given up all hope! Oh, you don't realize how happy you've made me, my dear!'"

'Lewis, I had no idea that you wanted more chil dren. I thought you felt you had enough with Elizabeth and Ellen?'

'Of course I want more children, Margaret, and I know you'll give me the one thing I've always longed for. A son!'

A cold shiver went down Margaret's spine, like some one walking over her grave. She thought of his first wife and what Mrs Rickard had said. "Three she bore him and three she buried!' Oh, dear God, please don't that happen to me, she prayed. She disentangled herself from his embrace as Vi brought in the tea tray. Lewis shooed Vi away and insisted on pouring her tea himself.

'You'll have to take great care of yourself.' 'It's not an illness, Lewis. I still have a home to run."

'We'll get another girl in.'

"That would just be a waste of money, maybe later on.'

'Whatever you wish.'

She finished the tea, but she couldn't help thinking that this man, who had begrudged spending money on Ellen's birthday present and watched every penny piece, would employ a household of servants as price for a son. 'I promised to go up and see Ellen. Of course I haven't told her yet and I don't think she understood what the doctor meant by "my condition", she was too upset.'

Lewis helped her to her feet. 'I think I'll have a drink to celebrate!' he said, beaming.

Ellen was sitting on her bed fingering the programme Nancy had signed. All her clothes had been put away and her hair had been brushed out.

'Did you tell Pa about not being well?' 'Yes, I told him and I told him why, too."

The grey eyes regarded her seriously. 'Why?' to have either a baby brother

'Because soon you're going or a baby sister. Ellen let out a deep breath. 'Oh, is that all!'

Margaret laughed and took her hand. 'Is that all you've got to say. Your Pa is so delighted you'd think I'd him the Crown Jewels! Aren't you happy?' given

'I don't know. I'm happy you're not really ill. Will it cry all the time? Patricia Fearon in our class has a baby brother and she said he cries all the time and no one can get any sleep and it's just a nuisance.'

'I suppose they cry sometimes even you do. But you'll be able to help me and take it for walks in the perambulator.'

Ellen brightened. 'I hope it is a boy. I had a baby brother but he died. Did Pa tell you?'

'Yes.'

'Lizzie won't be happy. She hates babies! She says they're noisy, messy things that just ruin your life and your figure. 'If she had one of her own she wouldn't think like that.

So now you can put your mind at rest and stop worrying

about me and tomorrow you can write and thank Aunt

Nancy and Mr Vinetti for giving you such a grand time.' Ellen wriggled down under the bedclothes. 'I will, I promise. And tonight I'll ask God to give me a baby brother. I don't want another sister. Our Lizzie's enough for anyone!'

Margaret bent and kissed her. 'You ask God to for give you for saying such things about Elizabeth, you little minx!'

Ellen hugged her. 'I love you, Ma.'

Mrs Craig had taken Eileen on in the tea rooms and the girl was delighted and Lisa was relieved. Archie had taken Lisa aside and thanked her and even Bernie seemed more amiable than usual, although this Lisa put down to the forthcoming nuptials.

Bernie couldn't afford the traditional long white dress and veil, but she was determined that she was going to be married with some style and so she had announced that she was going to buy her dress at Copeland and Lye and had arranged to come in and see Lisa.

There was only one thing that was worrying Lisa now, and that was accommodation. The nearer the wed ding drew, the more anxious she became. She'd looked at numerous rooms in various parts of the city, but the only ones she had liked she just couldn't afford. Those she could afford were in districts that were almost as bad as the Gorbals. She hadn't set her heart on anything grandiose, she just wanted something clean with a few pieces of furniture - half-furnished they called them - in a decent neighbourhood. But so far she'd found nothing

and she was beginning to despair. She loved her job and she got on well with the girls she worked with, who were very different from the three from the Millinery Department, being older than both them and herself. Each morning the glass display cabinets had to be polished, the carpet around them brushed with a hand brush and dustpan and the stock replenished from the Stock Room. All the mirrors had to be cleaned and the fitting rooms tidied. Lisa learned which customers had accounts and what the relevant procedure that, and at least some time in the day was spent in the sewing room where the alterations were done. Miss Whyte appeared pleased with her work and had told her so after her first week. She had just finished fitting a customer. She carefully was for

helped the woman out of the dress so as not to disturb

the pins or scratch her, she folded the dress and as she

emerged from the fitting room she saw Bernie looking

through a rail of dresses. She passed the dress to Miss

Whyte and walked over to Bernie.

'Can I help you, Madam?' she asked, smiling. Bernie turned, startled. Then she, too, smiled. Would you just listen to her! Haven't we gone all posh, then?'

'You're a customer and I have to speak to you like that. Now, have you seen anything you like?' 'I don't know. They're a bit expensive, aren't they? I

thought you said they were "Inexpensive Gowns"? "They are. You should see the price of the Exclusive ones! How much do you want to pay, that way we won't waste time looking at things you can't afford?'

'About twenty-five shillings, but I suppose I could run to twenty-seven.'

'Right then, follow me, Madam!'

They finally picked out four, after Bernie had delib erated on about a dozen, most of which Lisa had discarded as being too bright, too fussy or just plain unsuitable. You don't want to look as though you're going on a trip on a Clyde steamer, do you? It's some thing plain, but striking, you want. Something that will show off your skin." your best features which are your hair and

'Who's going to see my hair, I'll be wearing a hat! I don't want to look "washed out", I want to be noticed on my wedding day!' Yes, but you don't want to look like Maggie Baird,

do you?' 'Is everything all right, Miss O'Maxwell?'

She hadn't seen or heard Miss Whyte come up behind her. 'Oh, yes. Madam is choosing a dress for a wedding. We've selected these four.'

The Manageress nodded and walked away and she ush ered Bernie into the dressing room Bernie grimaced. 'She looks desperate!'

'She's quite nice really, as long as you're doing your

work well. Right, we'll start with this one."