‘If you’re busy, Vittorio, I could take the little lady. You know I’d look after her.’
Lily looked anxiously across the table at The Maltese.
‘I’m sure you would, Ned. But Lily is solely in my care.’
She saw the disappointment in the other man’s face. She also felt the pressure of his knee against hers beneath the table. She moved her leg away. He moved his too.
After the dessert, coffee was served and the men lit cigars. Lily gave a start as she felt Ned’s hand on her knee. She looked across with wide eyes at Vittorio, who was watching her carefully. The rotten swine, she thought. He knows exactly what’s going on!
Ned’s hand crept higher, pushing the skirt of her dress out of the way. Lily’s lips narrowed. ‘May I have a cigarette, Vittorio?’
He handed over his gold cigarette case and she took one. Still Vittorio’s gaze didn’t leave her. Lily drew on the cigarette until the tip was long and red. She flicked off the ash, drew on it again, then swiftly stubbed it out on the back of Ned’s hand.
He gave a cry of pain, then sucked on the burnt skin. He turned to Lily, a curse on his lips.
‘Yes?’ she said.
The others, now aware of what had been happening, chided their friend good-naturedly. Still Vittorio remained silent. Observing.
Turning to Ned, Lily said clearly, ‘If ever we sit together again, I expect you to keep your paws on the table. I don’t like being mauled.’
Ned looked thunderous, but his friends roared with laughter. Vittorio held up his glass to Lily in salute. She wondered if this had been some kind of test. If so, she’d apparently passed.
Their guests were the last to leave the club, with Vittorio at the door to see them off the premises. As Lily walked past the bar, seated on the high stools were the three girls she’d seen that morning. The redhead looked her up and down with disdain.
‘I suppose you think you’re better than us with your fancy new clothes.’
Lily looked hard at her. ‘Watch your mouth or you’ll be sorry.’
‘Humph! She thinks she’s God Almighty.’
Lily put her hand in the centre of the girl’s chest and gave a mighty push. The redhead toppled over backwards onto the floor. She was still sprawled there when Vittorio walked over.
‘What’s going on?’
‘Nothing I can’t handle,’ was Lily’s spirited answer.
‘Been opening your mouth again, Iris?’ said Vittorio. ‘I think you’d better apologise to Lily.’
She scrambled to her feet. ‘Sorry, Lily.’
‘Miss Lily to you, Iris.’ She glared at the girl, defying her to disobey.
Iris, puce with anger, glowered at her. ‘Miss Lily,’ she repeated.
Lily stalked away, followed by Vittorio.
‘Come into the office,’ he said. She did so, closing the door behind her. He took her into his arms. ‘You did well today. I like the way you handled Ned – and Iris.’
‘Nobody treats me like those two and gets away with it!’
‘Quite.’
Still furious, she asked, ‘Why didn’t you do anything about that bastard, Ned? You knew what was going on, I could tell. You just sat there!’
‘I had to see if you could handle men like him. I would have stepped in if necessary.’
‘I should hope so.’
‘You are mine and, as such, you are due respect. In time people like Ned will learn this lesson. Remember that.’
‘Does that go for you too, Vittorio?’
The slow smile she was beginning to recognise crossed his lips. ‘We’ll see. This afternoon before we open I’ve asked the band to come in and rehearse with you. Sort out your programme with the leader. You will sing here on Saturday night.’
‘And you will choose my gown, no doubt.’
His smile didn’t fade. ‘Any of them will do. I chose them carefully.’
‘In other words, I can’t go wrong.’
‘Precisely.’
She looked at him with curiosity. ‘Do you ever do anything that isn’t calculated?’
Shaking his head, he said, ‘No. That’s why I’m successful and rich. Now I have work to do.’ He kissed her on the forehead and walked over to his desk. ‘The band will be here at five o’clock.’
The leader of the five-piece band looked at her with a thinly disguised expression of disdain. ‘Right, miss. What key do you sing in?’ he asked in a flat voice.
Puzzled, Lily said, ‘How the hell should I know?’
He looked at his colleagues in despair.
Already irritated by his tone, Lily took off at him. ‘What’s your name?’ she snapped.
‘Harry.’
‘Right, Harry. I know what you’re thinking. This bit of skirt is Vittorio’s latest piece!’
The man was taken aback by her candour.
‘And you think you’ve got to please the boss and tolerate me, knowing that I have no talent. Well, that’s right, you do. But I can sing. Believe me, I can sing. Now you tell me what bloody key, all right?’
He nodded.
Lily started to give a beautiful rendition of ‘Danny Boy’. As her pure voice rang out in the empty room, various members of staff crept in to listen. The band soon joined in, playing the melody in the right key. In the leader’s eyes grew a look of respect. When Lily had finished, there was a flurry of applause from her small audience, joined by the members of the band. And the leader.
She looked at Harry, the expression in her eyes a definite challenge. ‘Well?’
He bowed to her. ‘I owe you an apology, miss.’
‘Lily. My name’s Lily.’ She beamed at him. ‘I think we’ll work well together. Now here’s my programme.’
Later, she and Vittorio had dinner together in the club dining room. Looking across at her he asked, ‘How did the rehearsal go?’
She smiled inwardly but said, ‘Fine. No problems. We got on very well.’
‘Excellent. Saturday night is usually very busy, so you’ll have a good audience.’ Seeing the look of anxiety in her eyes, he leaned across the table and took her hand in his. ‘You’ll be fine, my dear.’
‘I hope so. I’ll certainly do my best.’
‘Have you enjoyed your first day with me, Lily?’
She nodded. ‘Thank you, Vittorio. It’s certainly been different – strange, even – although that Ned is a dirty old man. Don’t you ever leave me alone with him, will you?’
He laughed loudly. ‘From what I saw, he’s the one who should be saying that.’
‘Is he a friend of yours?’ she asked.
‘No. Just a business acquaintance.’
Lily was relieved. If it was just business between the men, with luck she wouldn’t encounter Ned very often. He made her flesh creep.
Weary after her busy day, Lily looked across the table at the end of the meal. ‘Do you mind if I go to my room? I’m really tired.’
‘No, you go, my dear. I have some papers to clear before I’ve finished. I’ll see you later.’
She was half-asleep when he came into the room.
Vittorio climbed into bed. ‘Are you awake, Lily?’
‘Mmm,’ she murmured.
He leaned over and kissed her cheek. ‘Good night,’ he said as he gathered her into his arms. ‘Sleep well.’
As she lay there, she was surprised yet pleased that Vittorio just wanted to hold her. In her experience of men, with the exception of Fred, all they had wanted from her was sex. It was nice just to be held in a warm embrace, Vittorio’s firm body at her back, his arms gently around her. It was something she’d yearned for, for so long. How strange it should be the feared Maltese, who should be the one to give it to her.
It was Saturday night, the club was full and Lily was feeling nervous. She sat in front of the dressing table brushing her hair, her heart beating like a steam engine.
Vittorio emerged from the bathroom, dressed in evening wear. Walking over to her he said, ‘For goodness sake, relax.’ He laid his hands on her shoulders and began to massage them. ‘Good heavens, you’re wound up tighter than a spring. If I didn’t think you were good enough for my establishment, you wouldn’t be here. Trust me.’ He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. ‘I’ll see you downstairs in the bar.’
When he had gone, Lily took a deep breath and gave herself a talking to. ‘You’re here of your own free will and you want to go on singing,’ she hissed, ‘so pull yourself together. Sandy said you were a natural, so go and give them the performance of your life.’
Choosing an emerald-green dress, which was made of satin and trimmed at the neck with black jet beads, she looked into the mirror at her reflection and she was pleased. The beads on her dress sparkled, as did the diamond-paste necklace and earrings that Vittorio had bought for her.
As Lily descended the stairs, she saw that the dining room and the bar were already full. Vittorio, standing at the bar, called her over. He ordered a drink from the barman and handed it to her. With a kindly smile he said, ‘Take this, it will calm your nerves. You’ll be just fine. Go up there and enjoy yourself.’ He kissed her forehead and gently pushed her towards the stage.
Lily walked over to the band. Harry, the leader, winked at her. ‘Ready, ducks?’
Taking a deep breath she said, ‘As ready as I’ll ever be.’
He squeezed her arm. ‘You look lovely. Within minutes you’ll have this lot eating out of your hand.’
She started her programme with a cheerful ‘Margie’, which soon caught the attention of her audience. Her rendition of Marie Lloyd’s songs was enthusiastically received, especially when she draped a woollen shawl around her head and sang, ‘I’m one of the ruins that Cromwell knocked about a bit’. And ‘A little of what you fancy does you good’ brought forth raucous laughter. But as usual it was the ballads that caught at the heart of her audience, the songs a perfect foil for the cheeky numbers she’d sung earlier. At the end of her performance, the applause rang out. ‘Encore!’ shouted several voices. She thanked them; then, turning to Harry, she nodded for him to play in the first notes of her encore, ‘After you’re gone, there’s no use crying …’ She smiled to herself as she thought of dear Sandy and his bit of raunch, as he called this song. She remembered exactly how he taught her to put the number over and the applause was noisy and enthusiastic.
This time her heart was beating fast with relief. She looked over at Vittorio, who was smiling and applauding along with the rest. He beckoned her over. Putting an arm around her shoulders, he hugged her. ‘Didn’t I tell you? You were wasted in those shabby pubs. This is where you belong, amongst those who can appreciate your talent.’
She looked at him, her eyes bright, and defended her friends. ‘They too appreciated me. They just didn’t have as much money, that’s the only difference.’
His eyes sparked at her show of defiance. ‘True, Lily. But none of them could help you. Here in this room are men of position who can be of use to your future … and mine.
That’s
the difference and it’s an important one. You have a lot yet to learn. However, this is not the time for a lecture.’ He handed her a glass of champagne. ‘Here’s to your success.’
She took a sip and wrinkled her nose as the bubbles burst in the glass. She thought of Tom and wished he could have been here tonight. But of course, then he would have known she was the mistress of The Maltese. For a moment the reality of her situation really hit home.
Several clients came up and congratulated her on her performance. Lily forgot her concerns and enjoyed her popularity. She chatted happily with the men, flirted outrageously with many – and became a star.
Vittorio looked on, an expression of pride and amusement on his face, but his eyes were ever-watchful.
Two days later, Lily made her way to the home of recovery in The Avenue to visit Rachel. She was shown into a small private room.
Rachel was sitting in a comfortable chair by the window, wearing a dressing gown, reading a newspaper, glasses perched on the end of her nose. She turned as the door opened. Taking off her glasses, she looked at Lily, her glance taking in every detail of the girl’s new apparel. ‘Hello, darling! Come in. Come in.’ Looking at the nurse, she asked, ‘A tray of tea for two, please, and some biscuits.’
‘Well!’ exclaimed Lily, looking around the comfortable room. ‘You’re doing all right for yourself.’
With a wry smile Rachel said, ‘So are you, my dear, if I may say so. Walking in here like the bloody Queen of Sheba. That’s some expensive
schmatte
you’re wearing. The Maltese always had good taste.’
Lily blushed. ‘How do you know so much about him?’ she asked.
‘I knew the family after they came to live in Southampton; not long after the mother died. Such a pity. The father was a handsome devil, but it was the uncle I took a shine to. Yes, The Maltese has come a long way since those days. I admire him for it, really. But enough of that. Come and sit down,’ urged Rachel, pointing to another armchair. ‘Tell me your news. I’ve been thinking about you a lot, wondering how you made out. How is Vittorio treating you?’
Lily was suddenly overcome with shyness about her lover. ‘He’s been really good to me. He’s not the awful man people think.’
Rachel raised her eyebrows. ‘Is that so? Then I’m happy for you.’
Shaking her head, Lily said, ‘No, you’re not. You don’t approve, so don’t pretend you do.’
Shrugging, the Jewess said, ‘What difference does it make what I think? If you are happy, that’s the main thing. Are you, though? That’s the question. Tell me the truth now.’
‘I am, honestly,’ Lily assured her friend. ‘Vittorio’s really a nice man. He’s kind, gentle. He’s taking care of me.’
With a wicked glint in her eye Rachel asked, ‘Is he good in bed?’
Lily looked shocked. ‘Really, such a question!’
With a cackle Rachel said, ‘Listen, my dear, when you become someone’s mistress, it’s bloody awful if he’s no good between the sheets. You think my husband was the only man I knew?’ She looked with amusement at the interest mirrored in Lily’s eyes. ‘Listen, when Hymie went off with his prostitutes, I had a few lovers. One was a gentile – don’t tell the Rabbi.’
Lily began to laugh. ‘The longer I know you, the less I know you.’
‘Listen, my girl, as a young woman, I was a good-looker.’ Rachel’s eyes crinkled with amusement. ‘This man taught me more about sex than my husband ever could. He was such a virile man. What a body.’
‘Rachel!’ Lily protested. ‘This is not the sort of conversation you should be having with me.’