Milly turned and looked out of the window, her thoughts tossing around in her head like dice in a cup. How on earth had this happened? If the hussy was Lena’s mother, that must mean that Daddy had two wives. But that couldn’t be right, could it? You weren’t allowed to have two wives. You could go to prison for that.
She and Lena were sitting together on the back seat of the car. Dixon was driving and Daddy sat in the front passenger seat, so Milly couldn’t help giving her half-sister surreptitious glances. She did look a bit like her; they both had the same colour hair and the same brown eyes, although of course Milly’s were hidden behind her glasses. She had guessed that Lena was at least a year younger than her, and she had a slightly smaller build, but there was something about her that reminded Milly of Daddy. Gosh, a secret sister.
The town was fairly busy for a Friday afternoon. Dixon parked the car near the Arcade by the seafront and their father asked him to be back by five-thirty. With a touch of his cap, Dixon turned away from them and melted into the crowd.
‘First things first,’ Charles said cheerfully. ‘Milly’s shoes.’
They found the perfect pair of boring school shoes in Stead & Simpson on South Street. The assistant seemed to know exactly what was required. ‘A sensible shoe,’ she said, producing her shoehorn from a pocket in her overall. ‘It’s well made, it has a round toe so that there’s plenty of room for a little girl’s toes to grow, and it has laces. Can you do up your laces all by yourself, dear?’
‘Yes, I can, thank you.’ Milly was slightly offended but she didn’t answer back. Of course she could do up her laces. She wasn’t a little kid! They all watched her as she put the shoes on. Both girls were totally underwhelmed by them, but their father was content to part with his money. Milly was just happy that they didn’t hurt.
Bentall & Son’s department store was next door. Their father took them in and strode towards the children’s department. The three of them emerged twenty minutes later with two pretty cardigans, one each, and a dress for Lena. Milly decided that this was better than shopping with Mummy! For the first time ever, she’d actually been asked which cardigan she would like and her opinion had counted.
‘Well now,’ said their father as they left the department with their parcels, ‘I think afternoon tea is in order. Young ladies like tea and cake, don’t they?’
He took them upstairs to the restaurant. Milly could hardly believe her eyes and, judging by the expression on Lena’s face, neither could she. A waitress in a black dress and the tiniest frilly apron Milly had ever seen came over to them.
‘Table for three, please,’ said Charles, ‘a window seat if possible.’
They followed her to a table which overlooked South Street itself. The two girls sat opposite each other and next to the window, while their father ordered tea, two glasses of milk and cakes. The restaurant was fairly full and Milly couldn’t help noticing that every now and then, a lady carrying a number on a card sauntered leisurely past their table. The girls were fascinated to watch as she turned this way and that in front of the tables where well-dressed women were having their afternoon tea, and then moved on. When the waitress came back she brought a whole cake stand and they were allowed to choose whatever they wanted. Lena opted for a chocolate cherry cake. Milly had a slice of iced lemon cake. Their father drank his tea and smoked his cigarette contentedly. To Milly’s surprise, the lady they’d seen before reappeared wearing a completely different outfit. She carried a different number on her card, but she still did her twirl in front of the other customers.
‘What’s she doing?’ Milly whispered.
Their father chuckled. ‘She’s a mannequin,’ he said. ‘She’s showing everyone the dress she’s wearing and, if they like it, they can go to the dress department, tell the assistant the number and then they can try it on for themselves. It’s a way of selling something.’
Milly stared at the mannequin with admiration.
‘When I grows up,’ said Lena, showering chocolate cake crumbs onto the snowy white tablecloth, ‘I’s going to be a nanny kin.’
Chapter 8
On the journey back to Muntham Court, the two girls sat side by side on the back seat once again, but this time Milly was more relaxed. Lena opened her parcel and took out her new cardigan. Milly thought that it was very pretty but not quite as nice as hers.
‘I ain’t never ’ad nuffing as beautiful and all brand new like this afore,’ Lena whispered as she smoothed the dainty flowers all down the front of the cardigan. She glanced up at Milly. ‘And I likes ’aving you as my sister.’
Milly returned a thin smile. She still wasn’t sure about all this. Lena was nice enough, but what would Mummy say? ‘Where did you say you lived before you came to the cottage?’
‘I told you, all over,’ said Lena, pushing the cardigan back between the tissue paper. ‘We goes wherever there’s a fair.’
‘Yes, but where do you live?’ Milly insisted.
‘In the wagon, o’ course,’ said Lena. ‘It used to be pulled by ’orses but we got a motor engine now.’
Milly frowned. ‘Does that mean you’re . . .?’ She hesitated to say the word because she knew how her mother felt about them. Milly leaned closer towards her sister and whispered, ‘Are you a gypsy?’
Lena’s eyes grew wide. ‘Don’t be such a dinilow!’ she said crossly. ‘We ain’t gypsies. We be travellers. Fairground travellers.’
Milly’s mouth dropped open. ‘You mean you and your mum actually run a funfair?’
Lena giggled. ‘It’s not just Angel and me. There be loads of us. We be all one family, see? We all pitches in. I does the hoopla.’ She raised her voice. ‘Roll up, roll up. Three rings fer a penny. Fabulous prizes. Three rings fer a penny.’
Their father turned round but only to smile. As he turned back, Lena whispered in Milly’s ear. ‘Can I ’old yer dog again?’
Milly handed it over and Lena stroked its head lovingly. ‘And you live in the big ’ouse,’ she said to the stuffed toy. ‘Along wiv Milly and Pa.’
Milly marvelled that there didn’t seem to be an ounce of jealousy in her. ‘I’m only there in the holidays,’ she said. ‘I’m at boarding school most of the time.’
‘What’s boarding school?’
Milly explained.
‘I bin to school a few times,’ said Lena. ‘They tried to learn me to read but I couldn’t make ’ead nor tail of it.’ She sighed. ‘I should dearly like to read a book.’
‘You can’t read?’ Milly squeaked.
Lena shook her head. ‘I ain’t been long enough at school to learn. Any-road, Rainbow George says it’s a waste of time h’educatin’ a girl ’cos they only gets married.’
‘Well, I’m glad I’m at school,’ Milly declared stoutly. ‘And I shall wait until I’m really, really old before I get married. I shall make sure I’m at least twenty-three.’
They smiled at each other as if they’d shared a secret. Lena handed the toy dog back. Milly took a deep breath. ‘You can have it if you like.’
Lena’s eyes grew wide. ‘You mean it?’ she gasped.
Milly immediately regretted her hasty decision, but the wide smile on Lena’s face soon dispelled this feeling. She nodded her head.
Lena suddenly leapt at her and kissed her cheek. ‘Fank you, fank you,’ she whispered. ‘I shall love ’e for ever.’
Dixon drove them to the cottage first. As soon as he stopped the car, Lena jumped out and ran inside. By the time Milly and her father went in, she was already showing Angel her beautiful dress and cardigan.
