Sister's Trio Squad

Chapter 32

Chapter 32

'It would silence all the malicious tongues. I'm not a poor man, you would have security and position. Ellen would have a mother and my house would have a mistress again. Of course, you could have your own room if you wish. I've no desire to force myself on you. You are a young woman compared to me. Far too young, some would say, but I've ... become fond of you. You have brought a certain peace to my life. But if you don't feel that you can accept, then of course no more will be said on the matter. I will understand your reservations and your decision.'

Mary-Kate heard Gina's laughing voice through her torpor: 'Make sure your husband is rich, Mary-Kate, then sit back and be a Lady for the rest of your life! Oh, how cold and cynical it had sounded then. I ... I don't know

what to say,' she stammered. 'Will you at least think about it?'

She nodded and got shakily to her feet. 'I'll give you . my answer... tomorrow.' Her voice sounded as though

it belonged to someone else and she groped her way to the door. Supper, she must think of supper. He liked everything to be punctual. She clung to that shred of normality as he opened the door for her.

She stood in the hall still dazed, not knowing what to do or in which direction to go. It was as though she'd never been in this house before and didn't know what lay behind any of the doors or where the staircase led. The staircase! The staircase led to Ellen. Slowly she began to climb the stairs, feeling as though her shoes were filled with lead weights. On the landing she found Ellen curled up, clinging to the bannister rail. She bent and gathered her into her arms. What are you doing out of bed?'

'I'm sorry, I was listening, but I couldn't get back up the stairs. My legs went all wobbly. Are you going to be my new Ma, Mary-Kate?'

She looked down into the fevered little face. 'Yes, I think I am Ellen. I think I am!'

Bridget opened the letter and then let out a shriek.

Holy Mother of God! What's the matter. Nothing's happened to your Matty has it? Or is it your Ma? Or have they gone and blown up the whole b****y town? Bernie yelped with pain. 'Ouch! Haven't I gone and burnt my damned arm!' She banged the flat iron down on the hearth and began to blow on her fingers. And that's my best blouse ruined, too! What's the matter?"

'Mary-Kate's getting married!' 'Is that all! You mean to tell me I've burned my fingers. and scorched my blouse just because your Mary-Kate's finally got herself a man?"

Bridget laughed. 'Go and run your fingers under the

tap on the landing. You've not scorched it that much, it'll wash out and anyway, it's on the part that you tuck in.' Eileen had looked up from the book she was struggling

to read. 'Who's she marrying then?' "The man she's been housekeeping for.'

"There's no fool like an old fool, me Ma used to say!' Bernie said solemnly. 'She always was a smart one. Wasn't he your landlord as well? He can't be short of a few bob and didn't you say he had some kind of a business too?'

'Haulage.' Bridget re-read the letter but felt a stirring of distaste. Lewis Vannin was old enough to be their Pa and he had a married daughter. She knew Mary-Kate wouldn't be doing it just because he was well-off. Oh, she'd had her airs and graces, but she wouldn't marry someone as old as him just for his money. Still, she couldn't understand her sister. Fancy having him kiss you and sharing the same bed. She gave a little shudder. Now if it were someone like her Andy

'Are you going then?"

'Where?"

"To the wedding of course, eejit! Or hasn't she invited you?'

'Of course she has and yes, I'm going.' You'll have to buy something new, seeing as how your new brother-in-law is so grand!'

She supposed Bernie was right. Her winter coat wasn't too bad, but she'd have to get a new hat and maybe a

dress, if the money would run to it. 'We'll go over the bridge on Saturday.'

'I was supposed to be going with Andy.'

'Oh, what do men know about clothes at all? You

wouldn't know a toque from a cloche, would you Archie?' 'What's a toque?' Archie muttered from behind his copy of The Worker's Standard. 'See! And Big Andy MacDonald's just as bad."

'I wish you wouldn't call him that. It makes him sound

like one of the "frighteners"!"

Everyone lived in fear and terror of the 'frighteners', the henchmen of the money lenders, who were none too particular about how they got their money back, just as long as they got it.

'He could be one, if he wanted to, and he's the last per son to be afraid of them! Didn't he take on that razor g**g from Pollockshields nearly single-handed? They didn't come back in a hurry!'

Bridget cringed. If she were to live here for the rest of her life, she would never get used to the violence that surrounded her and from which Andy shielded her as best he could. She'd learned to ignore the drunken street fights and, when she was with him, the mere sight of him was enough to scatter the gangs who loitered on corners and in alleys. But she, like many respectable, peaceable citizens in the Gorbals, lived in terror of the notorious razor gangs who came marauding from other neighbourhoods, armed with knives, chains and their legendary caps, the peaks of which had razor blades, edges pointing to the fore, sewn into them. Blades that could slice through a man's cheek like a knife through butter. Andy had shown her one of these caps once and the scar that ran down his left arm that had been the result of the clash that Bernie spoke of. Bridget shuddered again."

'You don't know how lucky you are, Bridget O'Donnell, to have a man like that. But then "The Sisters O'Donnell" were always lucky.'

'I still haven't got a ring of any kind on this finger, have I?' Bridget said peevishly, holding up her left hand. Months it was now that they'd been 'walking out' and Mary-Kate's letter had only served to remind her that no matter how she hinted, Andy didn't seem to notice. Or was he just ignoring her? Lately, she'd had the odd twinge of doubt about him. Oh, it wasn't anything in his manner towards her, that hadn't changed and he still 'tried it on' as Bernie put it, and Bridget found it harder and harder to resist him. But it was just something about the way he looked at her sometimes. With resentment or was it reproach?

'Neither have I!' Bernie stated emphatically, staring

pointedly at Archie, who didn't raise his eyes from

his reading. Bernie wasn't one for hinting. She'd come

straight out and asked him if he'd ever had any intentions

of marrying her. He'd asked her if she wanted to start her

married life living here and she'd said no, she certainly

did not. Well then, they'd have to save up, had been his

answer, to which she'd retorted that if he didn't spend so

much of his money on drink and gambling it might get

saved up quicker.

'Can I come with you?' Eileen asked, eagerly. 'No, you can't, you'll be working on Saturday,' Bernie shot back.

Eileen glared at her and then returned to her book. Bridget rose. 'Id better go and see what I've got that's still decent.'

You can borrow my white blouse, if you like,' Eileen offered generously. It was the first thing she'd had new in years. Bridget had bought the material and Mrs Lavinsky, the wife of the tailor, had made it up and Eileen had paid for that herself.

And what would she want to be borrowing that thing for? Hasn't she got some grand things herself!' Bernie retorted scornfully.

Bernie always seemed to be putting the girl down, Bridget thought. She smiled at Eileen. 'Thanks, it will look just fine.' Bernie raised her eyes to the ceiling, but Eileen gave

Bridget one of her rare smiles.

'It's from your sister in Liverpool,' Rose Weston informed Gina as she handed her the letter when she came in. Have you been holding it over the kettle?' Gina asked

sharply.

'Starlight and Syncopation' was still running well although it was hard work, but she had been made second under study. Anne Robins was first understudy, a part Gina had hoped and believed would have been hers by now. Delia Heysham was the star and she acted accordingly. Gina didn't like her much.

'I can read the postmark, can't I? Do you want waking up or not?'

'No, there's no matinee tomorrow, so I can have a lie-in and then Helen and I are going up West. I'm buying myself a decent pair of boots before my feet freeze."

Gina and Helen had become friends and she had been to a couple of parties with her, although she'd never again drunk as much as she had on their night of celebration. She liked Helen's friends; they were fun to be with and she had even overcome her awe at the fact that Freddie Marshalsea was a Peer of the Realm. Edward didn't approve of them. 'Fast, Frivolous and Fickle' he called them. That had caused another row.

'I'll choose my own friends, thank you. You don't own me!'

'No, I don't, but just don't let your social life interfere with work.'

'Do you think I'm a complete fool?'

'Sometimes you act like one. They're no good, Gina."' And who are you to say that Lord Marshalsea is "no good"?

'Don't be dazzled by titles, Gina.'

'I'm not. I'm not the simple country girl I once was.'

'Really?'