Swansea Girls (39 page)

‘You have every right to. I told you there had been other girls but I haven’t been to bed with any of them, or been naked with them.’

‘I didn’t mean to pry.’

‘Lily, you’re going to be my wife and it’s only right we tell one another everything.’ Kissing her again, he moved his hand over her sweater to her breast, but his touch was so light that she could barely feel it. ‘Don’t you see, darling, any more than this will detract from our wedding night and I want that to be perfect.’

Chapter Twenty-one

‘No!’ Katie pushed Adam away as he tried to kiss her. Running ahead, she walked on quickly down the street.

Following her, Adam grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her towards him. ‘I don’t understand you.’ He hadn’t meant to be rough but his irritation – and temper – escalated as he sensed her recoiling from him. ‘All I want is a goodnight kiss. Is that too much to ask? We’ve been going out together ...’

‘We are not going out together!’ His anger, his height, even the way he was standing over her reminded her of her father and she instinctively drew closer to a house with lights burning in the front windows.

‘What have we been doing, then?’

‘I’ve been going out with Lily, Helen and Judy.’

‘But you’re walking home with me.’

‘Only because Lily left early with Joe, and Helen and Judy stayed to help Jack.’

‘So I’m only all right to go around with when your friends aren’t available.’

‘I didn’t ask you to come to the warehouse tonight to pick me up.’ His indignation spawned a resentment that welled into anger. ‘And who are you, Adam Jordan, to tell me I should kiss you, just because you offered to walk me home?’

Taken aback by her uncharacteristic outburst, he reached out and touched her shoulder. ‘Katie, let’s not argue.’

‘If you want me to be your friend, fine, but that’s all I’ll be.’ She knocked his hand away. ‘There’ll be no kissing or mauling ...’

‘Mauling!’

‘I can’t stand you touching me.’

‘Then there’s something wrong with you.’

‘Only where you’re concerned.’

‘And you wait until now to tell me. You’ve known all along that I wanted more than friendship from you.’

‘I made it clear from the first time you asked me to dance that there couldn’t be anything else between us.’

‘You led me on ...’

‘If I did it was unintentional.’ She looked at him, seeing hurt pride and a strange vulnerability she had never thought boys capable of possessing – except perhaps Jack. She searched her mind for something to say that would appease him. ‘Adam, you’ll find someone else ...’

‘Spare me the bloody patronising lecture. Thanks for nothing,’ he shouted, too angry to care who was listening as he strode off ahead of her.

‘I couldn’t be more pleased for you, love, or sadder that Norah won’t be here to see it.’

‘You don’t think it would be disrespectful to her memory for Joe and me to hold an engagement party so soon after Auntie Norah’s funeral, Uncle Roy?’

‘No, love, Joe’s a fine boy, she would have approved. My only concern is you’re both a bit young, but’ – he smiled as an apprehensive look crossed her face ‘Norah did bring you up to be older than your years.’

‘Thank you.’ She kissed his cheek.

‘We’ll organise the party here for as soon as you want it. Can you girls do the food or do you want me to ask Mrs Lannon?’

‘We can manage, Uncle Roy.’ Something in her tone told Roy that things weren’t getting any easier between her and the housekeeper he’d hired.

‘Katie, come in,’ Roy called as she opened the front door. ‘I’m just going to open the sherry. Lily’s getting engaged to Joe.’

‘That’s good news.’ Katie tried to smile, but Lily saw her lip tremble.

‘What’s wrong?’

‘Nothing.’

‘Funny nothing that makes you cry,’ Lily murmured as Roy went into the dining room to fetch the sherry.

‘I’m not crying, just angry with Adam for making me lose my temper.’

‘I knew you two weren’t getting along all that well.’

‘I wanted him to be a friend, like you, Judy and Helen ...’

‘But he wanted more.’

‘Much more, all that kissing and pawing.’ Katie shuddered. ‘It was horrible. I should never have let him walk me home.’ She smiled determinedly. ‘But he won’t ask again. It’s fantastic news about you and Joe. You will be having a party?’

‘We most certainly will,’ Roy confirmed, carrying in a tray that held the sherry decanter and three glasses. ‘And I’ll need all the help you, Judy and Helen can give me.’

‘Sausage rolls.’

‘Sandwiches.’

‘Fairy cakes,’ Roy suggested as he filled the glasses.

‘We’re not three years old.’ Lily laughed. ‘This is going to be a grown-up party with grown-up food.’

‘And grown-up drinks?’ Roy enquired warily.

‘Beer for the boys if they want it; we’re over eighteen.’ Lily took the sherry he handed her.

‘I am a policeman, love.’

‘I promise you, no one will get drunk.’

‘I’ll hold you to that.’ He made a mental note to check that Brian received an invitation just in case.

‘Lily?’

‘Mm.’ Lily turned sleepily towards Katie but didn’t open her eyes.

‘You don’t think there’s anything wrong with me, do you?’

‘In what way?’ Lily mumbled.

‘Not wanting Adam to kiss or touch me.’

‘I think you have to be in love to enjoy a boy’s kisses.’

‘He said I led him on.’

‘Did you?’

‘I walked home with him a couple of times when you weren’t around but I never told him I liked him or agreed to go out with him – just the two of us, that is.’

‘He’s good-looking.’

‘I think that’s part of the problem. He’s used to getting his own way with girls and that first time in the Pier after he came home I couldn’t help feeling that he picked me out instead of Helen or Judy because he thought I’d be grateful that a catch like him should even notice me.’

‘So you never liked him?’

‘Not enough to want him to kiss me.’

Lily sighed sleepily as she turned over. ‘There’s nothing wrong with you that falling in love won’t cure. You’ll meet the right one, Katie, I’m sure of it. Now I have to get some sleep. Big day tomorrow, interview for a typist’s job.’

As Lily snuggled down, Katie buried her face in her pillow. She suspected that she had already met the right one. He was old enough to be her father and married but that didn’t prevent her from remembering – and dreaming. She touched her lips, recalling the kiss she had given him. Had it been her imagination or had he responded – just a little?

‘You’ve nerve, Miss Sullivan, I’ll give you that. Most juniors are content to be just that – junior for at least eighteen months ...’

‘But I can do the job of shorthand typist, Mr Hopkin Jones, I know I can,’ Lily dared to interrupt, lowering her voice, not wanting to sound too desperate.

‘I rather suspect you can.’ He looked to the assistant manager and office supervisor who were sitting beside him. ‘Miss Oliver? Mr Collins?’

‘A month’s trial?’ Miss Oliver suggested.

‘I agree.’ Mr Collins smiled at Lily.

Trying to forget his high-handed, arrogant treatment of her, Lily returned his smile.

‘You’re the living embodiment of “ask and thou shalt receive”, young lady. If you hadn’t gone to Miss Oliver requesting an interview for this post you would have been overlooked. However, if you disappoint us at the end of four weeks you’ll be back at everyone’s beck and call for another year.’

‘Yes, Mr Hopkin Jones.’ Lily fought the urge to leave her chair and dance around the office, and tried to look suitably sombre as befitted a newly promoted shorthand typist.

‘We’ll advertise for a new junior – Miss Oliver?’

‘I’ll see to it, Mr Hopkin Jones.’

‘It may take a week or two to find someone. I trust it won’t be beneath your dignity to carry out some of your present duties until then, Miss Sullivan?’

‘No, Mr Hopkin Jones.’ Sensing she’d been dismissed, Lily rose from her seat. ‘Thank you, Mr Hopkin Jones, Mr Collins, Miss Oliver.’

‘Miss Sullivan?’ Mr Hopkin Jones called her back from the door.

‘Yes, Mr Hopkin Jones.’

‘Congratulations.’

‘Promise you won’t leave me alone,’ Lily pleaded as Joe parked his father’s Rover next to Robin’s sports car in the courtyard in front of the Watkin Morgan house.

‘Don’t tell me the audacious girl who shocked her colleagues by asking for – and getting – promotion is frightened of meeting new people.’

‘These people, yes.’ Lily glanced at the substantial turn-of-the-century villa that had taken on the proportions of a mansion to her inexperienced eye.

‘Don’t worry.’ He tilted up her chin and kissed her. ‘They’re only human and by the end of the evening they’ll all love you as much as I do.’ Leaving the car, he walked round to the passenger side to open the door for her.

‘Joseph, I’m so glad you could come.’ Angela walked out to meet him with Emily in tow. They were both resplendent in evening frocks that even Joe recognised as haute couture. Angela’s was a blue silk with a diamante-ornamented bodice; Emily’s a red chiffon, embroidered with jet beading.

So much for informal, Joe thought, already regretting his lounge suit and his directive to Lily, ‘Keep it simple.’ Extending his hand to Lily he helped her out of the car. ‘Lily, I’d like you to meet Angela Watkin Morgan and Emily ...’ He deliberately omitted the ‘Murton Davies’. Straightening the skirt of the simple white cotton shirtwaister Katie had helped her pick out in Joe’s father’s warehouse, Lily felt like a dowdy country cousin as first Angela, then Emily kissed her cheek.

‘Joseph, she’s charming.’ Angela surveyed Lily from the tip of her white stilettos to the top of her dark hair brushed into a simple chignon at the nape of her neck, guessing the cost of Lily’s outfit with more accuracy than Lily herself could have hazarded. ‘You’re a lucky man. And such a pretty dress, Lily. I think simplicity never goes entirely out of fashion no matter what
Vogue
says. Please, call me Angie,’ she directed, linking her arm into Lily’s. ‘I’ve heard all about you from Joseph and my brother Robin and I’m sure we’re going to be great friends. Now, let me show you to my bedroom so we can indulge in some girl talk while you check your make-up.’

Joe shrugged his shoulders helplessly at the backward pleading look Lily gave him as Angela and Emily swept her inside the house and up the stairs.

‘Game?’ Robin was lounging in the doorway of the billiards room; cue in one hand, the inevitable glass of whisky in the other.

‘I promised Lily I’d stay with her.’

‘Stay with a girl! At a party!’

‘She doesn’t know anyone here,’ Joe demurred.

‘Em and Angie will take care of her. You have serious drinking to catch up on.’

‘Later ...’

‘I’ll not take no for an answer. Michael, George, Alan,’ Robin called for reinforcements who had no compunction about pulling Joe into the room. ‘We’re playing for whisky. Loser has to drink as many inches as the winner dictates.’

‘Seems to me you’ve already lost a few,’ Joe commented as Alan rather forcefully helped him off with his jacket and Michael passed him a cue.

‘Quite spectacularly,’ Robin slurred.

‘I’ll play you one game, no more. Then I’m going to look for Lily and investigate the food. And you’ve any sense, you’ll come with me.’

‘Borrow anything you want,’ Angela offered generously as Lily stared at the array of perfume bottles and cosmetics on the white and gilt, French Empire style dressing table. Lily had always thought Helen had more things than she could possibly use in one lifetime. Angela’s jars and bottles were not only more numerous, but marked with names she had only ever read in magazines.
Chanel, Dior, Balmain
...

‘We’re so envious of you catching the handsome Joseph,’ Emily purred. ‘He’s such a dish and so polite and helpful, not at all like the rest of the boys. Do anything for anyone, won’t he, Angie?’

‘He’s a darling,’ Angie concurred. ‘Oh, but then perhaps you didn’t know, Lily. Joseph and I were together.’

‘He’s told me all about his other girlfriends,’ Lily murmured, not entirely truthfully.

‘All?’
Angela raised her eyebrows. ‘I hope not
all.
But then, the magazine agony aunts do say honesty is the best policy before embarking on an engagement. What do you think, Emily, do you tell Robin
all?’

Emily burst into peals of laughter. ‘What a silly question.’

‘I suppose it is when it’s put to you.’ Angela lifted Lily’s stole from the stool where she’d left it while she checked her hair. ‘I’ll lay this on the bed.’

Lily looked at the bed buried beneath a mound of handbags, hats, fur coats and stoles. ‘I’ll take it downstairs with me, if you don’t mind. Just in case I get cold.’ Lily’s thoughts were already turning to the journey home. She didn’t want to leave anything in Angela’s bedroom that might delay her retreat.

‘Joseph’s fiancée, Lily –’

‘Sullivan,’ Lily offered quietly.

‘So glad you could come, dear.’ Mrs Watkin Morgan frowned slightly as Angela abandoned Lily to follow Emily into the sun lounge where the skiffle group were playing. Her husband and his friends had taken possession of his study, tactfully leaving the billiard room for the younger male element. Her female friends were ensconced with bottles of sherry and bridge tables in the drawing room. It had been tacitly understood that the hall, sitting rooms, sun lounge and den were the province of the young people, and the dining room where the buffet had been laid out common territory open to all groups. The problem was, she couldn’t see any young people free to offload Lily on to.

Sensing her hostess’s dilemma, Lily murmured, ‘If you’ll excuse me, Mrs Watkin Morgan, I’ll look for Joe.’

‘He’s in the billiard room with my son Robin, dear, and I wouldn’t go in there if I were you. Masculine preserve,’ she hissed in a stage whisper. ‘Richard,’ she greeted Richard Thomas as he walked through the front door. ‘How kind of you to bring Philip and Amelia.’

‘None of us could bear to miss one of your events, darling, even Richard’s wife and the poor love’s at death’s door. I practically had to tie her to her bed to keep her from coming with us.’ Amelia Butler kissed Mrs Watkin Morgan’s cheek.

‘Neuralgia?’

‘She sends her apologies.’ Richard kissed his hostess. ‘Where is the birthday girl?’

‘Dancing. Philip, why don’t you take Miss ...’

‘Lily,’ Lily broke in.

‘Lily to the buffet.’ Mrs Watkin Morgan smiled. ‘She must be famished and Mrs John will be so cross if there’s anything left on the table at the end of the evening.’

‘My pleasure.’ Philip offered Lily his arm. ‘You’re a friend of Angie’s?’ he asked as he led her into the dining room.