The Mersey Daughter (Empire Street #3)(26)
Nancy looked at her friend with respect. ‘You’ve always had a lovely voice, Glor, but I didn’t realise you were so serious about it.’
‘Well, I am now.’ Gloria sighed. ‘After … well, you know.’
Nancy’s face softened. ‘You mean Giles?’
Gloria nodded. ‘Yes. Giles.’ For a moment her voice faltered. ‘He was wonderful, Nancy, and I don’t think I fully realised it until he was gone. Typical, isn’t it?’ She shook her head. ‘He was kind, and courageous, and he died because he took the blast of that bomb, protecting me. It’s taken me ages to even think about it properly. He did that, for me. Everyone used to say that he was just after a good time with a showgirl and that he’d never actually marry me, but he proposed that very night and I know he’d have gone through with it. Then he went and died.’ She sighed. ‘Well, that was my one chance to marry a pilot and escape the Sailor’s Rest that way. I’m not interested in catching another man. The good ones are all in the Forces and then they can die on you. Just like that.’ She snapped her fingers. ‘One minute you’re planning your future, the next – nothing. Well, never again. I’m done with men.’ She paused. ‘Sorry, listen to me going on. We’re here to enjoy ourselves, aren’t we? Here, try some of this. I get room service, you know, and I got them to bring us up a little something just before you got here.’
‘Oooh, don’t mind if I do. What’s in that?’ Nancy eyed the bottle in the ice bucket on the silver tray greedily. She was disappointed that her evening out looked as if it was going to be spent in Gloria’s hotel room ? she’d been looking forward to dancing, some music, a bit of harmless flirtation with the servicemen on their night off. Still, at least she didn’t have to look at Mrs Kerrigan’s curdled features … and the Adelphi really was lovely. Yes, this was a welcome change all right.
‘It’s vermouth. I’ll make us a cocktail.’ Gloria expertly poured the glossy liquid from the bottle and added a little splash of bitters from a smaller bottle, before popping in a twist of lemon and giving it a little stir. ‘Here you go. Cheers.’
‘Cheers.’ Nancy raised the delicate glass and sipped cautiously. ‘Ooooh, that’s strong.’
‘Well, take it easy.’ Gloria smiled and raised her own glass. ‘It’s my treat. I hardly ever drink, and never when I’m singing, it dries the throat. But now and again on my nights off I like something special. Thought you might like it too.’
‘Oh, I do,’ sighed Nancy, getting into the mood. ‘Honestly, Glor, this is the life, isn’t it? Just look at us. Two girls from Empire Street, drinking cocktails upstairs at the Adelphi.’ She leaned back against the sumptuous pillows.
‘Not bad.’ Gloria took a small sip. ‘But enough about me. What have you been up to, Nancy? It’s been so long since I’ve seen you. It’s May already. Tell me everything I’ve missed.’
‘Not very much.’ Nancy scowled. ‘I’m back living with the dragon, so I don’t do anything. I stay in with little Georgie.’
‘How is he?’ Gloria asked dutifully.
‘Oh, he’s all right.’ Nancy’s face broke into a smile. ‘No, he’s lovely, he’s walking and everything. Mam’s got him tonight.’
‘She’s good, your mam.’
‘She is,’ Nancy acknowledged. ‘I’m lucky, I know. She could have refused to help out after that row at Christmas when our Sarah found out about me and Stan. She was furious, of course, but she still takes him when Violet’s busy. Well, she’s happy to, he’s so sweet, he really is.’
Gloria smiled, even though she wasn’t really very keen on babies. She couldn’t see the point of them. But Georgie made her friend and her family very happy, so it would be churlish to mention that having him had definitely cramped Nancy’s style. ‘Any news from Stan?’ she asked instead. ‘Have you seen him since the row?’
Nancy’s face fell. ‘He hasn’t had leave for ages.’ She took a larger swig of the cocktail than she’d intended and spluttered. ‘Oh, I must be careful. Hah.’ She paused. ‘He writes, though, that’s something, even if it’s no real substitute for having him here. I’ll see him the next time he’s home – they can’t stop me, I’ll find a way. Actually I got a letter earlier today and I couldn’t get a moment to myself to read it. I have to be very cautious.’ She grinned conspiratorially at Gloria.
Gloria smiled indulgently at her friend. She knew that Nancy was in danger of getting her fingers burnt, but Nancy was headstrong and would never be told anything she didn’t want to hear. Gloria knew that if word ever got out around Empire Street about what Nancy had been up to, they’d hang her out to dry. It wasn’t like the circles that Gloria herself ran in now, amongst the liberal artistic set. They were much more relaxed about things like that. Anyway, this wasn’t the moment to burst Nancy’s bubble. ‘Go on, then, read it now,’ Gloria urged her. ‘I won’t tell, promise.’
Nancy rolled over across the big bed and reached for her handbag, which looked rather battered and out of place in the luxurious bedroom. ‘Here we are. Let me see …’ Her eyes scanned the single piece of paper. Then she read it again. ‘No. That can’t be right.’ Her hand flew to her mouth. ‘No, he can’t mean it.’ Her face went pale.