A Promise Between Friends (12 page)

There was a long pause until Ruby asked, ‘Have you got a nice uniform?’

Kath nodded. ‘A white blouse and black skirt. Oh, and a little hat. But what about you? What will you do?’

Ruby took her opportunity. ‘As a matter of fact I’ve got a bit of news of me own.’

Kath sat bolt upright. ‘What!’

Ruby nodded to the bottle of gin on the table. ‘Let’s pour ourselves one. Then I’ll tell you.’

‘It’s really Bernie’s gin. And we’ve already drunk wine.’

‘Who cares?’ Ruby dismissed. ‘This is a celebration.’

Kath gasped. ‘You’re not going to leave Larry’s, are you?’

‘Well, I might.’

‘Now who’s the dark horse!’ Kath said excitedly.

Ruby sloshed large measures of gin into their glasses. Now she could tell Kath
everything
– well mostly everything – and not feel as if she was letting the side down.

This Christmas had turned out the very best – ever!

‘Almost New Year.’ Nick raised his glass of champagne in a toast. ‘I hope all your dreams come true, darling.’

Ruby blushed. ‘Yours, too.’

‘Oh, they have already,’ he assured her.

Ruby tried to look away from his gaze but she couldn’t. He was so handsome her tummy turned over. In his formal dinner suit, white shirt and dress tie, he seemed so assured, so familiar
with everything around him, that she felt at ease in the restaurant too.

Everyone in Angelo’s was excited, letting off crackers and counting the minutes to midnight. She’d never been to such a classy Italian restaurant before. The waiters had brought her
flowers to begin with, another gift from Nick. Tiny red roses, his trademark gift. Then Nick had ordered the finest champagne. Which, Ruby was pleased to hear from the head waiter, left Dom
Pérignon in the shade. That name still gave her the shivers. When Nick had called by the parlour to ask her out, she’d accepted. On one condition. They didn’t go anywhere near
the Manor!

Even though Ruby felt safe with Nick she still could not forget what had happened with Charles. So tonight Nick had brought her to Angelo’s, a small restaurant in Camden where she’d
enjoyed her first taste of real pasta. As they ate she was aware that Nick knew all the staff, calling them by their first names and asking them how their families were. He told her he used the
restaurant quite often. He liked to think they served the best pasta in London.

Ruby had never before eaten food like this. Nick had even shown her how to eat spaghetti properly. They’d laughed as she tried to curl it over the fork without much success. He’d
reached across, using his napkin to wipe the sauce from her chin. They’d spent most of the evening eating, laughing and talking. After the final dish of whipped Italian ice cream sprinkled
with nuts and chocolate, it was now time to toast in the new year.

Nick stood up and amid the streamers cascading around them, he helped her to her feet. ‘Happy New Year,’ he whispered, sliding his arm around her waist.

‘And to you,’ she said, gazing into his eyes. She had bought a dress especially for the occasion, a deep blue taffeta and silk with an enormous underskirt. She’d coiled her
hair up as Anna had shown her. Nick had threaded one of the small red roses over her ear. Her new high heels made her taller and were perfect for practising her model walk. As she’d entered
the restaurant on Nick’s arm, she’d remembered everything she’d learned: how to move, stand and sit gracefully. And now here was the result.

When the clock in the restaurant struck twelve everyone cheered. All the couples kissed one another. Some were Italian and shouted in their native tongue, as did the waiters. ‘
Felice
anno nuovo
!’

Nick folded his arms around her and brought her close. Stroking a pink streamer away from her face he smiled. Then with gentle fingers he tilted up her chin. ‘I made a mistake,’ he
said softly. ‘Beautiful doesn’t do you justice. You’re exquisite.’

Before she could reply he kissed her. The noise around them was nothing to the pounding of her heart. Her arms slid around his neck. Every single part of her body tingled.

‘Larry, I’ve got something to ask you. Well, two things actually,’ Ruby said as Larry was counting the takings at the close of a dark January day.

It had been quiet at the parlour for the first two weeks of the year, but Larry as usual was full of gossip. Ruby had been trying for the last half-hour to gain his attention but he’d been
eager to tell them about Stuart’s audition for a television programme to be filmed at Elstree.

‘The poor lamb has been in a real tizzy,’ he recounted drily. ‘Costing me a fortune in clothes and he might not even get the part.’ Larry giggled affectionately.

‘It’s about this Friday,’ Ruby tried once more.

‘Going out on the town, are you?’ Larry asked, licking his fingers as he counted the ten-bob notes from the till and stuffed them in his wallet. ‘How much do you want to
borrow?’

‘It’s not money.’

‘Well, that’s a first!’

Ruby hesitated. ‘Could I have the day off? I expect it to be docked from my wages of course. But as we’re quiet, I think Debbie will cope on her own.’

Larry closed the till, a frown pleating his bald forehead. His eyes looked large and concerned under his glasses. ‘Are you going to say what you want the time off for? Or keep me in
suspense?’

Ruby took a deep breath. Although she had thought this would be easy, it wasn’t. ‘I’ve signed a contract with a modelling agency.’

‘A what?’

Ruby laughed nervously. ‘Larry, I’m going to be a model.’

Larry took out a handkerchief from the top pocket of his fur-collared coat and mopped his forehead. Even though it was a gloomy, dark and cold night, Larry was sweating. ‘Darling, forgive
me, but do my ears deceive me?’

Ruby ran her fingers nervously down her white overall. ‘It’s always been my ambition to work in fashion. You know that, Larry.’

Larry just stared at her, looking up from under his thick lenses. ‘Does this mean you’re leaving us?’

‘I’m sorry, Larry.’

‘Don’t I pay you enough?’

Ruby shook her head. ‘It’s not that. This is my big chance.’ She found herself telling him about how she’d met Anna and her subsequent visit to Dower Street when Anna had
offered her the job. ‘I’ve already modelled underwear in my spare time. And on Friday I’m working at Steadman’s near Regent Street. That’s why I need Friday
off.’

Larry sank down on the chair beside the counter. ‘Oh Ruby, I’m heartbroken.’

‘I’m so sorry, Larry, really I am. Especially as you took me on just after Pete’s death and I was a mess. I owe you, I know. But this new job means an awful lot to
me.’

Larry nodded slowly. ‘I can see that.’

‘I’ll stay on till you find a replacement.’

‘Stuart will be very upset.’

‘As I’ll be working and living in the West End, perhaps I could call by your flat sometime?’

Larry nodded, once again using his handkerchief. He looked up at her with lap-dog eyes. ‘Have you told Debbie?’

‘No, I wanted to tell you first.’

Larry slowly rose to his feet and took hold of her hands. ‘You’ve become very dear to us. I shall let you go, angel, but you must promise to stay in touch.’

‘What’s going on? Who’s to stay in touch?’ a voice said and they turned to see Debbie with Delilah in her arms. The white poodle gave a little struggle, but Debbie held
on tightly.

Larry sighed, letting go of Ruby. ‘We are about to lose Ruby to the big wide world.’

‘What!’ Debbie looked at Ruby. ‘Is this a joke?’

Ruby took another deep breath, suspecting that Debbie wouldn’t be as eager as Larry to wish her well.

‘As you can see I’m not laughing,’ Larry said in a sober tone. ‘But I want whatever makes you happy, Ruby.’

And with that he hugged her and wiped a tear from his eye.

After Larry had gone and Mrs Freeman had collected Delilah, Ruby sat down with Debbie to explain. She deliberately avoided any reference to Nick and her fated second visit to
the Manor. Even so, she could see the envy in Debbie’s pretty face as she described Anna and Dower Street and the modelling work she hoped to make her career.

‘Is this the woman you met with when me and Rog took you to the Manor?’ Debbie asked.

‘Yes, Annabella Charnwood-Smythe.’

‘Is she legit? You don’t know with these type of places. It’s said they’re just a front to find girls.’

‘Not in Anna’s case,’ Ruby replied evenly. ‘I’ve already had one assignment. It was very enjoyable. Next, I’m modelling rainwear at Steadman’s in the
West End. That’s why I asked Larry for the day off.’

‘I’m amazed,’ Debbie said sullenly, ‘that you’ve kept this all secret.’

‘I needed to be sure.’

Debbie stood up. ‘Well then, I suppose congratulations are in order.’

‘Thanks.’

‘You’ll have to starve yourself, you know. And with your appetite that will be a challenge.’ It was Debbie’s parting shot, but Ruby ignored the sarcasm. After all, Debbie
needed to feel that she was still the centre of attention.

‘You’ll have to get Rog to bring you over,’ Ruby invited.

But Debbie was already taking off her overall and shrugging into her winter coat. She grabbed her bag and checked the clock. ‘Better be off. As you know, Rog is never late.’

Ruby sat alone in the parlour. She looked around at the mirrors, the many pairs of scissors and pictures on the walls of black and white poodles. She could smell the animal must and talcum
powder mingling with the disinfectant. She had been very upset to see Larry distressed. As for Debbie, they had never really become close.

Would she regret leaving? she asked herself.

Not in a million years.

The changing room was filled with half-naked girls wearing only their bras and knickers. Ruby had already put on her raincoat, a rather dull brown belted affair, and was
dodging the arms and legs as everyone tried to dress. Paula was sliding on a beautiful silvery cocktail dress with a low neckline and balloon skirt. ‘Zip me up, will you?’ she asked
Ruby and turned her back.

‘Hold still.’ Ruby fought with the fasteners. ‘There, that should do it.’

‘How do I look?’ Paula asked from under her page-boy-styled red hair.

‘Dazzling.’

‘Chin up, lovie,’ Paula said, grinning through crimson lips, ‘you’ll have the glam stuff next time. Steadman’s want to plug their wet-weather stock before the
spring when the new designs arrive. Pull this one off and they’ll ask for you again.’

Ruby smiled nervously. ‘I don’t mind.’

‘Mr Steadman junior sits in the front row, a middle-aged man with a moustache, and squinting eyes. He’ll have his personal assistant by him, a stuffed shirt, excuse the pun, who
wears a grey pinstripe suit every day of the year. Give them your full attention as you come to the end of the catwalk.’

‘I thought we are supposed to look up,’ Ruby said, panic-stricken. How was she going to identify someone in the audience when she had been practising keeping her nose in the air?

‘It’s an old trick. If he likes you he’ll ask for you again.’

Ruby swallowed, joining the line of girls waiting to leave the room and walk out to the shop floor where the audience was gathered. Some models were wearing expensive winter coats, but most
rainwear like her. How was she to catch anyone’s eyes dressed so frumpily? It was stock they needed to clear at reduced prices. She felt a bit tacky in comparison to the others. But she
mustn’t think like that. She was lucky to be here.

Just then the line moved up and Ruby felt slightly sick. She had forgotten everything she was supposed to do. Her pulse was banging hard at her temples and a slight veil of sweat had formed
under her fringe. She smoothed it away quickly, hoping her severely drawn-back hairstyle didn’t reveal how nervous she was feeling.

And then her turn came. The girl in front of her walked out and through the curtains. Ruby paused until a little woman in black called Elsie, who was the dresser, thrust her forward.

‘Hurry up,’ Elsie barked. ‘And don’t forget to show off the pockets.’

Ruby found herself walking along the catwalk. All around her there was a sea of faces. And they were staring at her. She tried to remember how to hold herself, pretending she had a pile of books
on her head. She tucked in her tummy and gracefully performed the turn. Then, revolving her body, she pulled gently at the pockets in order to show off the garment to its best. Just as Elsie had
reminded her. But there was so much to remember! Had she remembered it all?

As she turned on her heel, she remembered Paula’s advice. Quickly she glanced down into the audience. All she could see was a blur. Her nerves were so bad, she was shaking from head to
toe. Then she suddenly saw Mr Steadman junior, a middle-aged man with a moustache and narrow, close-set eyes. He was sitting with his personal assistant, a man in a pinstripe suit, just as Paula
had described. It was only sheer fright that caused her to smile, her lips trembling as she did so.

Quickly she moved on, her head in the air and her bottom swaying under the mac. She reached the safety of the curtains and the tiny lady in black pulled them apart.

Ruby wanted to run out to the lavatory. Her tummy was in turmoil with fear. She had forgotten everything Anna had taught her. Had she managed to smile at Mr Steadman?

A hand gripped her arm. ‘Good for you, ducks,’ Elsie said in a sharp cockney accent. ‘Now, don’t rush off as I’d like to see you in something else. Go over to
Margaret and ask for the cream linen with the semi-fitted bodice. We’ll squeeze you in later at the beginning of day wear.’

Ruby nodded, forcing herself forward, searching for this Margaret, unable to believe she had been given approval, when she had felt such a disaster.

‘You see, that smile did the trick,’ Paula said as she drove them in her car to Dower Street.

‘So I did smile?’ asked Ruby, still in a daze.

‘You certainly did. Making eye contact with the boss was a shrewd move,’ Paula said with a cheeky grin.

‘I was very nervous.’

‘You didn’t look it. And you were given another outfit to model. That doesn’t often happen with first-timers.’