PART I
(1950)
Chapter 1
I closed my sketchpad and crossed the room to the window. Seagulls flocked on the rocks, waves splashed high. I’d miss Greenemere but I was now a talented dress designer and full of dreams. One day, Grace Granville would change Britain’s vision of fashion.
The door creaked. Katy, my roommate, strolled back in. ‘Well?’
I turned around, mulling over her earlier words.
‘Well don’t just gawp.’
‘I don’t know.’
‘Come on Gracie, it’ll be fun. You can see how the other half lives.’
‘Wigan though.’ I twiddled my hair around my finger. ‘Father isn’t going to like it.’
‘It’s nineteen fifty, not the nineteen-hundreds, you know?’ She huffed. ‘Does he need to know about Wigan? It’s only for the dance. Just tell him you’re going to Bolton and that my Dad owns a cotton mill there.’
‘Maybe.’
‘Surely that should be respectable enough, even for your parents.’
It did sound thrilling. Would Father let me go? Katy was right, I didn’t need to tell him about Wigan or the dance.
‘Your parents are such snobs Gracie, best not mention Dad started off in a two room terrace. Or that Mum was in service before she got married.’
After I finally agreed to phone my parents, Katy jumped off the bed, grabbed a small purse and waltzed into the bathroom.
‘What are you doing in there?’ I called.
‘Lippie.’
By that I assumed she meant lipstick. I’d never worn any. Would I need to? Should I be buying some? Maybe Katy would help me choose? I’d no idea what colour to get. I picked up a magazine with Bette Davis on the front cover. She was wearing bright red. Katy and I had seen her earlier in the year in All about Eve.
If we were going to a dance I needed to buy material to make a dress. I could see it now, a full skirt, fitted waist and belt, showing off my slim figure.
The door slammed shut as a new Katy rushed back in. What a metamorphosis. I wondered if I could change like that.
‘Dad said he’ll send his driver with the Rolls to collect us. Forgot to say, my cousin Jack can’t wait to meet you.’
Golly, she’d never mentioned him before. Better not mention Jack to Father. I wondered what Jack was like. Probably a spotty faced, lanky lad. He’d be no threat to my chastity.
‘Katy, shall we take a trip to the market before we leave here and get some fabric so I can make us new frocks as I’ve got nothing to wear to a dance?’
‘Sounds a marvellous idea, anything particular in mind?’ she asked.
I passed my notebook from the desk. ‘Well I was thinking this? Red for me?’
‘Yes I can see you in that. The colour will show off your dark hair.’
‘I could make yours the same design but a different colour. Soft blue to accentuate your blonde curls?’
‘Yes please.’
We were going to have an adventure. A pang of guilt hit me as I remembered my sister, Elizabeth. In her last letter she mentioned counting the days until I was back home. It must be hard with only Nanny and dreary Daphne, the dullest governess ever, for company. Mother and Father were far too busy working and socialising to spend time with their children. I consoled myself that I’d be home in time for her thirteenth birthday and buy her something special or maybe make an unusual gift.
Greenemere taught every girl how to dance as part of the curriculum. In fact there wasn’t much they didn’t cover to ensure we graduated as fine young ladies. Father had his own idea of education, to groom me into a good wife for someone of his choosing. Katy’s parents sent her for refinement because she was a tomboy but she was still down to earth Katy, always up to mischief. We were a bit like salt and pepper.
I couldn’t believe it had been three years since we first shared the sparsely but tastefully furnished room. She liked telling stories about her cousins, how they lived on the breadline, unlike her mum and dad who lived in a big house with servants. Her grandfather had been a coal miner, uncles and cousins followed in his footsteps. It must’ve been awful working down there in the dark. I couldn’t think of anything worse. I was even scared of shadows at night. Katy’s father managed to avoid the pits because he made enough money through gambling to buy a cotton mill which became prosperous. I’d never been to Bolton but I’d seen pictures in books of mills with tall chimneys. In fact I’d never been further north than our home in Gerrard’s Cross.
‘Come on Gracie,’ Katy said, ‘are you going to make that call?’
I couldn’t put it off any longer. ‘Will you come with me?’
‘Of course.’ She linked her arm in mine and we made our way to the large winding staircase. She gave me a little shove, her eyes glinting.
‘Come on Gracie.’
I wasn’t sure, but at the same time something inside me made me.
‘Live a little. What can they do? It’s almost our last day.’
‘Go on then.’ I threw my legs over the wooden banister and she climbed on behind, tugging gently at my waist.
‘Ready?’ She nudged me.
We slid down the thick shiny rail, helter-skelter style. Footsteps, oh dear. We were rumbled. Oh no, it had to be...
‘Katherine Gilmore and Grace Granville, my office now.’
Miss Allison turned her face but not before I spied the fleeting grin. Maybe we’d caught her on a good day? Subdued, like naughty children, we stepped towards the heavy mahogany door with Headmistress engraved on a brass typeface.
‘Come in, girls. Sit down. Haven’t we taught you anything these past years? Young ladies graduating from Greenemere don’t behave like kindergarten.’
‘Sorry Miss Allison,’ we said in unison, trying not to laugh.
‘And what’s that on your face, Katherine?’
Katy touched her face. ‘It’s for drama,’ she lied.
‘Very well. Make sure you wash it off before leaving the building.’
‘Yes Miss Allison.’
‘Please may I use the telephone?’ I asked. ‘I need to call Father to get permission to stay with Katy for a couple of weeks.’
‘What an excellent idea, Grace. If you need me to speak to him to vouch for Katy’s family, then I’m happy to do that.’
‘Thank you, Miss Allison. Sorry about the banister.’
‘Don’t worry.’ She smiled showing white teeth. ‘It’s tradition that graduates have one last ride on Bernie.’
‘Bernie?’ Katy rolled her eyes.
‘You don’t think you’re the only adventurous ones, do you? Sliding down Bernie the Banister was popular in my day.’
Katy and I giggled.
Shaking, I dialled the number to Granville Hall and asked for Father. I hung up and turned to Miss Allison.
‘It was the maid, she said Father isn’t in. She’ll get him to call later.’
‘You girls go and get ready for dinner. I’ll speak to Lord Granville when he phones.’
I’d miss this place and wasn’t sure how I’d cope if Father didn’t allow me to go on to college. The thought of being stuck at home in isolation with Nanny and dreary Daphne worried me. In fact, the idea horrified me.
Chapter 2
A Silver Rolls pulled up outside the school building. The chauffeur got out of the car. He reminded me of Father’s drivers, the same grey uniform and matching flat peak hat. Katy ran over and addressed him by his first name leaving me shocked.
‘James, this is Gracie, my best friend.’
He offered his hand but I ignored it and nodded. It was unheard of to speak to the staff. I worried what Father would say. First name basis too. I supposed that was the difference between Katy and me.
‘I’ll get the trunks.’ James moved towards the stone steps.
Katy called up to him, ‘Just a suitcase for Gracie, her trunk’s already gone home.’
James loaded up the boot while Katy and I climbed onto the back seat. She pulled down a flap, took out two glasses and a bottle of dark coloured pop.
‘Drink?’ she offered. ‘It’s Sarsaparilla.’
Katy chattered as we sped along. I’m not sure how long we’d been travelling when my tummy started to feel queasy.
‘Gracie, are you all right?’ Katy asked. ‘You’ve gone awfully green. James, pull over, I think she’s going to be sick.’
James dutifully obeyed. I managed to open the car door just in time, leant over and let the contents of my stomach spill to the ground. I was so embarrassed. It was hardly ladylike. Mother and Father would be ashamed to see me in this manner.
Katy patted my hand. ‘Why didn’t you tell me you suffer from travel sickness?’
‘Probably because I didn’t know. I’ve never been further than Brighton from home before.’
‘Don’t worry.’ Katy poured water into a beaker and passed it to me. ‘Drink little sips. Maybe you shouldn’t have had the Sarsaparilla?’
I gave a little laugh. I’d never tried Sarsaparilla before that day. It wasn’t the type of drink Father would have approved of.
‘James, do you know somewhere close, where we could stop?’
‘There’s a park about a five-minute drive away, if your friend can manage?’
Katy turned to me, I signalled yes and we both clambered into the back of the car. James closed the door behind us.
‘I’ll open the windows, it should help,’ he said, before driving off.
Katy stroked my face and reassured me all would be fine. Before I knew it the driver eased the car through tall arched iron gates and switched off the motor.
‘There’s a little café up the footpath if you want to get something, or I could go?’ he offered.
‘I think the walk will do Gracie good,’ Katy said.
We got out of the car and strolled up the enclosed track adorned with Black Night Buddleias on either side.
‘We’ll buy some travel sickness tablets before you go home. Look.’ Katy pointed at the ice cream sign. ‘The café. Maybe we should sit inside, away from the sun.’
It was almost empty, just a woman with a small child buying an ice cream and a young couple sitting cosy in the corner, drinking cups of tea.
‘Cake, that’s what you need,’ Katy insisted. ‘My Dad vows by cake for sickness, he says it lines the stomach. We haven’t got far to go, about another forty miles or so.’
My tummy was raw and empty. I was willing to try anything. Katy ordered our snack and we sat by the window. Before long, a slim waitress brought a tray with cups of coffee and slices of Victoria sponge. I nibbled on the cake and sipped the warm fluid. Surprisingly it made me feel a little better.
‘Are you ready to cope with the rest of the journey?’
I acknowledged with a nod but I wasn’t ready for any of this. I should’ve gone home. If Father found out about first name terms with a driver and me being sick in a car, he’d lock me in my room forever. Katy took my hand as we walked back towards the Rolls. James was standing outside smoking a cigarette.
‘Give us a puff.’ Katy held out her hand.
James obliged, I couldn’t believe it. She took the cigarette, held it between two fingers and drew it to her mouth, inhaled, pursed her lips and released the smoke. She was clearly skilled at smoking. It certainly wasn’t her first time to partake.
‘Would you like to try, Gracie?’ she asked.
I stepped back, shook my head.
‘No, you’re probably right, not the best thing when your stomach is out of sorts, no rush.’
I couldn’t believe what I heard. Surely she didn’t expect me to take part in that unladylike behaviour.
‘Do your parents know you smoke?’ I asked.
‘Yes, of course but they don’t mind. I mean how can they? Dad’s been smoking since he was fourteen and Mum since she was a little older.’
It seemed we lived quite different lives. I was uncomfortable and nervous not knowing what was coming next. I wished I’d gone home.
Katy dropped the cigarette stub to the ground, extinguished it with the heel of her shoe then climbed into the car and patted the seat to instruct me to follow. James slowly drew the car away. A cool breeze from the open window stopped me from feeling sick.
‘Not long now, girls,’ James said, ‘we’ll be home in about half an hour.’
My eyelids closed and I drifted into deep thought, pondering on the big mistake I’d made by agreeing to this crazy venture. The driver slowed down. I sat up as he steered through black wrought iron gates and followed the road up to a mansion not dissimilar to my own home.
‘We’re here,’ Katy said. ‘Mum and Dad are desperate to meet you.’
A short lady with dark curly hair stood waving by the steps. She rushed towards us. ‘Welcome home, darling. We’ve missed you. Dad’s caught up with a phone call but will be here in a minute.’ She turned to me. ‘And you must be Grace? Welcome to Willow Banks, we’re so happy to have you.’
I offered my hand. ‘How do you do Mrs Gilmore, thank you for having me.’
‘Call me Eliza, we don’t stand on ceremony here. Eric will take your bag.’
A middle-aged man in a dark suit came over.
‘Hi Eric.’ It seemed my friend was informal with all staff members. ‘Daddy,’ she shouted, and ran towards a tall man with blonde curly hair.
The man hugged her in his arms and swung her around. ‘How’s my girl?’
‘Better now I’m home. This is Gracie, she’s been sick, I think she’d like to lie down for a while.’ She turned to me. ‘Wouldn’t you?’
It sounded like a good idea. ‘Please.’
Eliza came to my side and wrapped an arm around me. ‘You poor love, Katy will show you to your room. You can freshen up and take a little nap. Max.’ She turned to Katy’s father. ‘Give Grace’s parents a ring and let them know she’s arrived safely.’
Katy nudged her mum. ‘Have you heard from Jack?’
‘Yes, there’s been a change of plan. He and Eddie are coming to Bolton instead. They’ll meet you Saturday evening in the Palais and then come back here for a few days.’
‘Yippee, I can’t wait.’ Katy clapped her hands.
I was confused, Eddie, who was Eddie, he hadn’t been mentioned before? Was he another cousin?
‘Come on, you’ve got the blue room.’ Katy grabbed my hand. ‘I’ll show you where it is.’
We walked along the hallway, up a winding staircase and down the corridor. Katy stopped outside a door, turned the knob and led me inside.
‘The blue room. Home for the next two weeks. I’m glad you’re here.’
I peered in. It looked pleasant enough and someone had certainly gone to a lot of trouble to make it welcoming. A crystal vase sat on the dressing table housing burnt orange cactus dahlias and yellow chrysanthemums. Blue curtains draped the window and a flowery bedspread flowed across the double bed.
‘I’ll just be next door.’ She pointed to the other side of the room. ‘Eric’s brought up your case so you can get unpacked. Through here is your bathroom.’
Once Katy left the room, I lay down on the bed and cried myself to sleep.