Sister's Trio Squad

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

She didn't miss the note of sarcasm but she ignored it. 'Ellen didn't mean it, she's only a child and a very unhappy one, too. Children often do and say the most hurtful things to hit back in the only way they know how.' She faltered. 'But I think Sister Imelda was taking things a bit far." 'Ellen will have to be punished!'

'I agree. I, too, was shocked.'

'Miss O'Maxwell, sit down, please."

She sat on the edge of the chair Sister Imelda had

recently vacated.

'You seem to know a great deal about children?' 'Not really. But you will remember that I have two younger sisters, one of whom has always been difficult

to handle. That's all the experience I have."

'If Ellen were your "difficult" you do with her?' younger sister, what would She smiled ruefully. Ellen is an angel compared to

Nancy. In her worst tantrums Ma used to hold her head under the cold water pump.' 'Good God!'

'There are other schools you could try.' 'Who is going to take her after all this? And God knows what she'll do next!'

'She's promised me that she'll behave from now on,' He looked at her with surprise. 'She's promised you?' She nodded. 'She's only ten years old and she's des perately unhappy. She misses her mother and she thinks no one cares about her. She thinks you all hate her, that you want to be rid of her. That's why she's done all these terrible things.'

'She told you all this?' 'Yes.'

Vannin threw up his hands in despair. The times I've tried to talk to her!" 'Perhaps you didn't use the right words and...

sometimes it's easier for a woman to talk to children, especially girls." He dropped his head in his hands and she felt sorry for

him. She rose and walked across to his side. 'I know it's none of my business, Mrs Winskill was right about that, but for Sister Imelda to say Ellen was evil I couldn't stand by and say nothing, even though she was a nun! For give me if I've interfered, but I was only thinking of Ellen.'

He turned slowly and looked directly into her eyes. 'You're a very determined and thoughtful young woman, Miss O'Maxwell. In fact you seem to have wisdom beyond your years.'

Margaret relaxed, feeling the worst was over and that she had at least managed to forestall any dire consequences for Ellen. 'So, will you try Ellen at another school? I don't think she'll cause any more trouble, but she must, of course, be punished.'

He nodded slowly. 'She'll stay in her room with only bread and water for three days. This evening I will write to Mother Superior and to the convent in Everton Valley.'

She was about to protest at the harshness of the pun ishment, but she kept quiet. She'd already said too much. 'I'll

go and tell her.' 'No, send her down to

'As you wish, Sir.'

me, please.

Nancy was tired and utterly fed up. The euphoria that had enveloped her when she had first arrived in London had completely vanished. For a start, she didn't like Mrs

Weston and her bossy, inquisitive ways. Mrs Weston had been a theatrical landlady for years and knew every trick in the book, or so she had told Nancy when she had shown her her bedroom, which she told her she expected to be kept tidy and clean. Nor did she want any damage done to the furniture with make-up or cigarettes. 'I don't smoke! Nancy had stated curtly.

Meals were taken in the Dining Room and with what she was paying she couldn't hope to expect roast beef every day. I serve a plain, nourishing fare and I can't be doing with "faddy eaters", had been the comment as Nancy had studied the list of meal times, printed in large black lettering on a white card that was pinned to the back of the bedroom door. The room was dark and furnished with old-fashioned heavy pieces and cluttered with bric-a-brac.

'And I know every single piece, so don't go thinking I'd not miss anything. I know you lot - pawn the lock on the door if you could get away with it.' 'Mrs Weston, if you think I'd stoop so low as to steal,

you're mistaken. Just what kind of a girl do you think I am? If that's what you think of me, I'm sure Mr Vinetti can find me somewhere else where I won't be insulted!' 'I doubt it. I'm just pointing out some of the things

some of my previous boarders have got up to. No need

to fly off the handle.' Then I'll thank you not to pre-judge me and anyway, I don't intend to stay very long. I expect to have my own

place soon.' 'I've heard that one before, too! Now, I'll show you the bathroom and don't think you can be coming in all hours of the night, either, and I'll have no men upstairs. Anyone who comes to see you, you can entertain in the parlour.'

As she followed Mrs Weston up another flight of stairs, Nancy had thought it was worse than being at home. Senora Scarlatti, the retired prima donna whom Edward had arranged to give her singing lessons was, in Nancy's opinion, a veritable old witch, and there were times when

their volatile natures erupted. 'From the stomach, Nancy. You breathe from the stom ach! The Senora had prodded her in that part of her

anatomy with the short cane she always carried. 'I'll choke! Nancy had cried with exasperation. 'How can I be expected to think about where I breathe from and sing these interminable scales at the same time? It's impossible!'

'You see, now, when you shout so loud, you fill your lungs with the air! You have breathed so deeply to take in the air to shout and you did not think about it. You shout! Always you shout! Sancta Maria, 'ow you shout.

If you would only sing like that, Nancy! But I will make you sing like that or I am not Gratziella Scarlatti,' her teacher had vowed.

She positively loathed Charlie Grayson who was teach. ing her to dance. He was a monster without a shred of pity, who worked her until every muscle ached and burned with pain and she was fit to drop. And worst of all, when she complained to Edward, which she did all the time, he just laughed and told her it was the price of fame.

When she thought about Edward at all, she felt con fused. He had taken over her life, arranging everything, and when she had once bluntly asked him what he expected in return he had laughed and said, "Money - eventually." 'Don't you want anything else?' she'd probed, coyly.

'What else are you prepared to give me, Nancy?" 'Nothing! I don't have time for things like ... that! He had laughed again. 'It's a lonely world without love in it.'

'I hope you don't think that just because you've invested in me I'll go all silly and fall in love with you?' His laughter had filled the room. 'My dear Nancy. You're so naïve. How old are you, twenty-one? Yet you act like a child. You don't even know what love is, and I'm too

busy and too old to start to teach you!' She'd been infuriated. She'd always been in command of situations like this. All the boys she'd ever gone out with had been only too proud to be seen with her. While he, he was laughing at her and calling her a child. 'I wouldn't fall in love with you if you were the last man left alive! This is a business partnership, that's all and that's all it's ever going to be!' she had stormed back.

"That's all I ever intended it to be, and you're the one who started this conversation, Nancy. But if I'd ever had any intentions of forming a "liaison", shall we say, I would never have brought you here. I never mix business with pleasure. I could have had my pleasure in Liverpool and left you there!'

She'd been speechless with fury and trembling at the insults. How dare he say such things to her, as if she were some cheap floosie! And he was so sure of himself! She'd slammed out and his quiet, mocking laughter had followed her. There were times when she hated Edward and the only thing that made it all bearable was her ambition and the sound of the applause in her ears at the end of her act.

She felt as though she was a truly seasoned performer now. Gone was the starry-eyed, impressionable girl. It was work, work and more work, dashing from one theatre to another, with lessons in between. But today had been the last straw and she was going to tell Edward that she wasn't ever going back to Charlie, not if she never danced another step as a result! Her blood boiled as she thought of his shouted insults - and in front of the whole class as well! He'd picked on her for the whole of the lesson, singling her out and making her repeat steps over and over again, but when he'd yelled, 'You've got two left feet, Nancy, and you're about as light on them as a docker in army boots! Pick your feet up girl, you'll never make a dancer!' it had been the final straw. The fact that he yelled such insults to other members of his class was immaterial. 'And you're about as fit to teach as a b****y docker with

or without boots!' she'd screamed back, before snatching up her things and storming out. She had a matinee at the Hoxton Empire and although that wasn't for another two hours, she still wouldn't have time to go back to Bloomsbury. She decided to go to Edward's office instead.

All the way on the Underground she fumed. She was sick and tired of tatty, second-rate theatres! Where was the career Edward had promised her? And she didn't particularly like London either. It was such a vast, sprawling city. Oh, there were fine buildings, wonder ful shops, hotels and parks, but it was impersonal and everyone was in a hurry to get somewhere. It would be different if you had money, she thought, then you would have the time to indulge in all the pleasures it offered and no doubt there would be time for friend ships, too. But she didn't have the money. She didn't even have a friend. She barely made enough to live on, and as for her clothes...! She had three dresses, including the pale green crepe, and she was tired of wearing them and they were all beginning to look limp and faded.

By the time she arrived at Edward's office she was like a bubbling saucepan with the lid just about ready to blow off.

'Nancy, what are you doing here?" It was a warm day and Edward had his sleeves rolled up, his necktie was abandoned and his top button was undone, revealing a strong, muscled neck. I've had enough! Enough, Edward! I'm never going

back there to that . . . that . . . eejit Charlie Grayson!' He pulled a chair out and placed it in front of her. He was fully aware of the reasons why Charlie worked her so hard. Nancy had a raw talent, Charlie had told him, but she needed to be worked hard. The rough edges of the diamond needed to be pol ished off. 'I can't sit down, I'm too angry!'

'When are you ever anything else? I presume he's been

telling you a few home truths again? Nancy, how many

times do I have to tell you, I can't wave a magic wand, you have to work!' 'Work! I do nothing but work. I work until I'm fit to drop!'

'I warned you.' 'Oh, don't start that again. You sound like a cracked record. You said I had talent, a talent you didn't want to see ruined, well it is being ruined and in places like the Hoxton Empire! I won't do any more shows at second-rate music halls!'

Then you won't work at all.' There was a cold edge to his voice. I didn't think you'd quit so easily.' She glared at him. 'Where are the wonderful parts you promised me? Where are these wonderful Stage

Musicals?" 'I promised you nothing!'

'And nothing is what you're going to get from me from now on!' He'd seen her in a temper before, but never like this,

and he wondered if he hadn't pushed her just that bit too hard. But he understood her and he knew that if you gave Nancy sympathy she'd throw it right back in your face and only think the worse of you for being what she would call 'weak'. He walked to the door and opened it. "Then if I'm getting nothing, there's the door. Find your own way to the top! It's not an easy road and there are a lot of pitfalls, but if that's the way you want it .. 'He swept his hand across the open space.

Nancy hadn't expected this. Edward had called her bluff. His dark eyes seemed to be mocking her, daring her ... she jerked up her chin, she'd show him! Without a backward glance she walked through the door and out into the corridor.

'You'd better get over to Hoxton, the rent's due at the end of the week and Rose doesn't exist on charity!' he called after her. He closed the door. Had he gone too far? Then he smiled. She'd be back; sooner or later she'd be back. It usually didn't take long for her temper to cool down and then she'd return. Suddenly he frowned. What if she didn't? He felt some responsibility towards her - after all, he'd brought her here. But was it responsibility? His eyed darkened. Nancy had only one thing on her mind and she'd use anyone to get to the top. If their feelings were hurt in the process she wouldn't care; he doubted she'd even notice.

By the time Nancy got back to Bloomsbury after her matinee she had calmed down. She took off the light cotton coat that covered her 'stage' dress and threw it over the chair, then she sat down on the edge of the bed. Oh, what a mess today had been! She'd missed her timing on 'When I Grow Too Old To Dream' and the rest of the song had been a shambles, but a decent conductor would have sorted that out! She hated that song. She wanted to sing about happier things than old age. So what that it always went down well with the audience? Most of them were half way to old age anyway!

After the performance she'd taken an omnibus to the West End and had roamed up and down outside the theatres. It was on the stage of The Gaiety and The Palladium that she wanted to appear, not the Hoxton or Brixton Empires. The sight of the pinnacle of her desire had only depressed her and she'd come home.