1931. That had also been on Hogmanay.
‘No. Colin is driving Dad’s car. We’ve left it outside.’
‘What? At the bottom of the close?’
She nodded. Lily was through the door in a flash and by the time we emerged she was standing on the wet pavement. The car, an Austin, was parked on the steep slope under a gas lamp. People passing by were turning to stare at it. Curiosity was stamped over their faces and their eyes almost popped when the couple emerged in their grand clothes. I don’t think the Hilltown had ever seen anyone so grand looking.
‘The neighbours will be thinking you’re royalty, Maddie. They’ll be saying, “Was that Wallis Simpson and the King in your house last night?”’
She roared with laughter. ‘Surely not.’
‘No I’m just joking – you’re far better looking than Wallis,’ I said truthfully.
‘Wasn’t it a lovely romantic story, Ann?’ she said, looking wistful.
‘Aye, it was and I was just thinking how great it would be if we could have got together to discuss it, Maddie.’
Her smile disappeared and she took my hand. ‘I know. Now you will meet me at the end of the month?’
‘Of course I will. Now away you both go and enjoy yourselves at the dance.’
I watched as they both got into the car and with a quick wave they were gone. Meanwhile Lily was still jumping up and down with excitement.
‘Can I have a braw frock like that when I grow up, Ann?’
I smiled at her childish delight. ‘Of course you can but let’s get out of this awful wet night.’
For some reason I didn’t immediately follow her up the stairs but remained standing on the pavement, watching the rear lights of the car as it disappeared down the hill. I glanced across the road and got another surprise. Standing in the darkness across from me was Danny. Although his face was in the shadows I noticed his bright red hair. I called to him but he didn’t come over. I called again, ‘Danny, is that you?’
There was no reply. Right, I thought, I’m going over and I’m going to pull him out of his hiding place. As I set off across the street, a crowd of men emerged from the pub opposite. They were either full of beer or high spirits or maybe both because they strung out in a long snake-like line, singing and dancing. I stood back to let them pass and, by the time I reached the other side, there was no sign of Danny.
I was angry and frustrated with him. Then a thought struck me. Had he seen Maddie with another man? It all depended on how long he had been in those shadows. Damn, damn, damn him, I thought. Then I realised I was standing in the wet drizzle with no coat on and my dress was soaked. I ran back towards the house. Lily was putting her polish and duster away and I was aware of a fainter, more expensive perfume – obviously Maddie’s.
Lily didn’t mention Danny so, thankfully, she hadn’t seen him. In fact, if I hadn’t lingered to see the car go away, then I wouldn’t have seen him either. Had he been on his way to see us or merely passing? Was he on his way to see another girl and that was the reason he had ignored my call? I was getting in a tizzy over this and I still had the wet frock clinging to my body.
‘Let’s get ready to go to the Overgate, Lily,’ I said, pulling the wet garment over my head.
I had bought Lily a lovely woollen dress to wear for tonight but it wasn’t in the same class as Maddie’s blue satin one. As she put it on, she sighed. ‘I really like this frock, Ann, but it’s no’ like yon bonny blue frock that Maddie was wearing.’
‘I know, Lily, but a blue satin frock wouldn’t keep you warm, would it? I mean it’s fine for a dance but you couldn’t wear it to the school.’
‘No I suppose not.’
Although I had my nest egg, I was wary about using money from it too often. Lily had a good many years ahead of her and I would need every penny of it to keep her clothed and shod. My dress was quite old but it was still in good condition. It was a
‘No. Colin is driving Dad’s car. We’ve left it outside.’
‘What? At the bottom of the close?’
She nodded. Lily was through the door in a flash and by the time we emerged she was standing on the wet pavement. The car, an Austin, was parked on the steep slope under a gas lamp. People passing by were turning to stare at it. Curiosity was stamped over their faces and their eyes almost popped when the couple emerged in their grand clothes. I don’t think the Hilltown had ever seen anyone so grand looking.
‘The neighbours will be thinking you’re royalty, Maddie. They’ll be saying, “Was that Wallis Simpson and the King in your house last night?”’
She roared with laughter. ‘Surely not.’
‘No I’m just joking – you’re far better looking than Wallis,’ I said truthfully.
‘Wasn’t it a lovely romantic story, Ann?’ she said, looking wistful.
‘Aye, it was and I was just thinking how great it would be if we could have got together to discuss it, Maddie.’
Her smile disappeared and she took my hand. ‘I know. Now you will meet me at the end of the month?’
‘Of course I will. Now away you both go and enjoy yourselves at the dance.’
I watched as they both got into the car and with a quick wave they were gone. Meanwhile Lily was still jumping up and down with excitement.
‘Can I have a braw frock like that when I grow up, Ann?’
I smiled at her childish delight. ‘Of course you can but let’s get out of this awful wet night.’
For some reason I didn’t immediately follow her up the stairs but remained standing on the pavement, watching the rear lights of the car as it disappeared down the hill. I glanced across the road and got another surprise. Standing in the darkness across from me was Danny. Although his face was in the shadows I noticed his bright red hair. I called to him but he didn’t come over. I called again, ‘Danny, is that you?’
There was no reply. Right, I thought, I’m going over and I’m going to pull him out of his hiding place. As I set off across the street, a crowd of men emerged from the pub opposite. They were either full of beer or high spirits or maybe both because they strung out in a long snake-like line, singing and dancing. I stood back to let them pass and, by the time I reached the other side, there was no sign of Danny.
I was angry and frustrated with him. Then a thought struck me. Had he seen Maddie with another man? It all depended on how long he had been in those shadows. Damn, damn, damn him, I thought. Then I realised I was standing in the wet drizzle with no coat on and my dress was soaked. I ran back towards the house. Lily was putting her polish and duster away and I was aware of a fainter, more expensive perfume – obviously Maddie’s.
Lily didn’t mention Danny so, thankfully, she hadn’t seen him. In fact, if I hadn’t lingered to see the car go away, then I wouldn’t have seen him either. Had he been on his way to see us or merely passing? Was he on his way to see another girl and that was the reason he had ignored my call? I was getting in a tizzy over this and I still had the wet frock clinging to my body.
‘Let’s get ready to go to the Overgate, Lily,’ I said, pulling the wet garment over my head.
I had bought Lily a lovely woollen dress to wear for tonight but it wasn’t in the same class as Maddie’s blue satin one. As she put it on, she sighed. ‘I really like this frock, Ann, but it’s no’ like yon bonny blue frock that Maddie was wearing.’
‘I know, Lily, but a blue satin frock wouldn’t keep you warm, would it? I mean it’s fine for a dance but you couldn’t wear it to the school.’
‘No I suppose not.’
Although I had my nest egg, I was wary about using money from it too often. Lily had a good many years ahead of her and I would need every penny of it to keep her clothed and shod. My dress was quite old but it was still in good condition. It was a
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