Classic Bestsellers from Josephine Cox: Bumper Collection

‘I’ll not be long.’ Taking her frock with her, Daisy went away to the bathroom. When she returned a few minutes later, her wild, wavy hair was brushed to a golden shine, and she looked so lovely, Amy leaped out of the seat and, coming to turn Daisy round and round, she told her, ‘By! Every bloke in the room will want to dance with you.’ Tutting loudly, she grumbled, ‘The rest of us won’t even get a look in!’

‘Are you telling me the truth, Amy?’ Over the years Daisy’s parents had dented her confidence until, now, she needed constant reassurance. ‘Do I look nice? Do you really mean it?’

‘Of course I mean it, Daisy,’ Amy answered warmly. ‘You look beautiful.’

She observed Daisy’s bouncy mop of auburn hair and the pretty freckles that danced about her nose and eyes, and she meant every word.

At half-past seven, looking pretty as two pictures, they came down the stairs to a round of applause.

‘You look a treat!’ Dave was proud of them both.

Marie was so impressed, she vowed to visit the second-hand shop next time she went into town.

‘Mind you behave yourselves!’ Marie fussed as they went out the door. She made them put on a coat each and warned, ‘It’ll be chilly by the time you come out of there. And don’t be back late,’ she told Amy. Addressing Daisy she offered, ‘If you want to come back and stay the night, you’re very welcome, lass.’

‘Better not,’ Daisy declined gratefully. ‘My dad might take it into his head to come looking for me, and I wouldn’t wish his presence on anybody.’ Staying out until the early hours was one thing, but staying out all night would cause trouble and she daren’t risk it.

Chatting excitedly, the girls set off for the Grand. ‘I wonder if there’ll be any good-looking blokes there?’ Daisy mused aloud. ‘Somebody who’s rolling in money and looking for a girl like me.’

‘You’ll not find anybody rolling in money in this town,’ Amy declared, ‘except the mill-owners and businessmen, and they’re all fat, bald and married.’

‘Not all,’ Daisy corrected her. ‘I’ve heard that Luke Hammond is a real knockout.’

Amy was surprised. ‘Dad works for Hammonds, but he never talks too much about his work, or his boss.’

‘Men are useless!’ Daisy declared scornfully. ‘The poor devils just don’t know how to gossip. All I know is what I were told, and they say he’s a real good-looker.’ Her eyes widening with anticipation she glanced about. ‘D’you reckon he comes in here?’

‘I shouldn’t think the poor man goes anywhere, what with running the factory and then his wife to look after. Remember she was beaten up, and needs constant care?’

Daisy felt little sympathy. ‘He’s rich, isn’t he? And if he’s as caring as you say, I’m sure he’s arranged for her to have the best of everything.’

‘I’m sure he has.’ Amy felt both sympathy and curiosity. ‘It’s a terrible thing, though, don’t you think – him having such a burden, and for his wife too … It can’t be easy for either of them.’

Daisy agreed, though she had to have the last word. ‘It’s a damned sight worse if you’ve not got money. My old grandad fell over one Friday night. Drunk as a lord he were … broke both his legs and lost his false teeth down the grating. Months he had to wait for a new pair. His sodding legs were mended afore he got his new teeth.’ She laughed. ‘Two crutches and no gnashers – what a state to be in!’

As always, Amy had to laugh. ‘You’re a wicked bugger!’ she chuckled. ‘Anyway, what were we saying?’

Daisy reminded her, ‘We were saying how all the rich blokes are either fat, bald, or wed.’

‘That’s true, an’ all,’ Amy replied. ‘So, even if they do cast an eye in your direction, they’d only be after one thing, and we all know what that is, don’t we?’

Daisy gave a knowing wink. ‘It means they’d be after a bit of “how’s your father”.’

‘Right,’ Amy confirmed.

‘I’m not really sure I’d mind either,’ Daisy answered. ‘I’d mek the buggers pay top whack for their entertainment. Then I’d get my own place a damn sight sooner!’

‘Behave yourself,’ Amy told her. ‘We both know you wouldn’t sell yourself like that. Look, we’re here now, and don’t make eyes at every man in the room, or they’ll get the wrong idea.’

‘Trust me,’ Daisy said.

Linking arms with Amy, she pushed her forward. ‘I don’t want no trouble. I’m just here for a good time. All right, lass?’

‘So make sure you stick to that,’ Amy said. She knew from experience that when she and Daisy went out together, the evening could end unpredictably.

As they went through the doors and into the bar, Amy glanced at Daisy, who was already casting her net for any good-looking, unattached young men.

She smiled inwardly. Daisy was Daisy and try as you might, you would never change her.

‘By heck!’ Daisy gave Amy a sly little dig with her elbow. ‘Look, lass!’ Grabbing Amy, she then drew her aside, at the same time pointing to the two young men at the bar. ‘It’s them!’

Following Daisy’s gaze, Amy heart sank when she recognised the two blokes they’d tangled with last spring. ‘You’re right,’ she whispered. ‘It’s them all right.’

Daisy began backing away. ‘We’d best get out of here, before they see us.’

‘No!’ Standing her ground, Amy declared, ‘We’re not leaving. We’ve as much right to be here as they have.’

Daisy couldn’t believe her ears. ‘Bloody hell, lass,’ she groaned. ‘Have you forgotten what happened?’

‘I haven’t forgotten,’ she replied defiantly, ‘nor have I forgotten what that devious little squirt was up to when I interfered. For all I know he meant to have you by any means he could, and if I hadn’t dived in, he probably would have done. No, Daisy. We’re staying! If anybody needs to leave, it’s them.’ With that she marched forward to the bar, with Daisy clinging on to her arm for all she was worth.

In a strong, clear voice Amy ordered, ‘Two sarsaparillas please, barman, and a packet of pork scratchings.’

Daisy whispered, ‘What did you order them for?’

‘Because we always have pork scratchings.’

Daisy groaned. ‘Well, you can pay for ’em, and you can eat ’em. I ate enough food at your house to last me all week.’

Addressing the barman, Amy said, ‘Forget the scratchings. We’ll just have the sarsaparilla.’

Grumbling and groaning he replaced the packet of scratchings on the shelf. ‘Women!’ he muttered. ‘Never can mek their mind up.’

Catching sight of the two young men out the corner of her eye, Daisy tugged at Amy’s sleeve. ‘Don’t look now, lass, but they’re coming this way!’

Wishing they had given the Grand a miss tonight, Amy told her, ‘Ignore them, and they’ll go away.’

But they didn’t, and a moment later they were standing before the girls; the tall one looking unsure of himself, and the other one braving it out as though nothing had happened. Amy couldn’t believe the nerve of them.

‘Well! Would you believe it?’ It was the short one who spoke first. ‘We meet again, eh?’ Encouraged by the twinkle in Daisy’s eyes, he reminded her, ‘I’m Roy Williams.’ Gesturing to his friend, he addressed himself to Amy. ‘This ’ere’s my mate, Jack Tomlinson.’

Angered by his bare-faced cheek, Amy confronted him. ‘I think you’d best clear off,’ she answered haughtily, ‘before I call somebody to have you thrown out.’

His mate quickly stepped forward. ‘There were misunderstandings on both sides. What say we call a truce?’ Looking from one to the other, he waited for an answer.

‘Depends.’ Daisy spoke out. It was clear she was still attracted to the other young man, who by now was giving her the wink.

‘On what?’ Appraising Daisy from head to toe, the smaller man smiled confidently.