After the club closed that night, she tackled him. ‘Some men came here tonight looking for you.’
‘Oh. What did they want?’
‘They wanted to gamble. Apparently you told them of a place where they could play cards. A place that was yours.’
‘Oh, those chaps. Yes, I know.’
‘How do you know?’
‘Because they found me later.’
She sat down and asked, ‘What’s going on, Vittorio?’
‘I’ve rented a small house. It’s a very select place – only a few invited clients use it. Nothing that need concern you.’
Lily was speechless. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She had really thought Vittorio was going straight. ‘How could you?’
He glared at her. ‘It’s none of your business, Lily.’
‘Are you mad or what? You know the police are keeping an eye on you.’
He was unconcerned. ‘They can’t do anything about it. It’s a private house. I only have a small gathering and if the police should ask, it’s a get-together with friends, not a business.’
‘For which your so-called friends pay.’
‘Of course.’ He smiled. ‘And pay handsomely.’ Seeing the expression on her face he said, ‘You must realise, Lily, that this is my business. My way of life. I’m not able to do it here, so I have to do it elsewhere. How do you think I make my money?’ he went on irritably. ‘There are no prostitutes now, no gambling. How do you expect me to buy your clothes, that jewellery you wear – on the modest profits of my legitimate loan-brokering business? You can’t be that naive! Besides, it’s what I do best, and I get a kick out of it.’
‘So much for your new way of life!’ Lily stormed out of the room, tears in her eyes.
As she undressed, she raged inwardly. How could he take such a chance, just as things were working out? Huh – that was a laugh! She was pregnant and Vittorio was breaking the law. Maybe nothing was working out. Yes, business was good in the club … at the moment. But it could all blow up in their faces. Poor Rachel, how disappointed she would be if it did fail. It was all right for Vittorio, he was well off. But if he was caught, everything would be ruined. All her hard work would be for nothing. And Rachel’s expectations would be shattered. She couldn’t tell her.
When Vittorio climbed into bed beside her later, Lily turned away from him.
‘You’re still angry,’ he said.
‘Well, what do you expect?’
‘I expect you to have faith in me, Lily. You know that I never do anything without calculating the risks. And in this case there are none.’
She was not convinced. Impulsively, she blurted out: ‘Well, there’s one thing you didn’t calculate. I’m pregnant!’
She hadn’t meant it to come out like this.
He sat up. ‘You’re pregnant?’
She nodded. What would his reaction be? She held her breath.
He stared hard at her and asked, ‘Is this child mine?’
Still angered from the earlier revelation, Lily blazed at him. ‘How dare you ask me such a thing?’ She threw back the covers, got out of bed and stormed across the room. Picking up one of his silver-backed hairbrushes, she repeated her words, ‘How dare you!’ and threw the brush at him.
Vittorio ducked under the sheets, then leapt out of bed and swiftly crossed the room, grabbing her by the wrists. ‘How do I know it isn’t that man’s? That Tom McCann who came here and upset you.’ His dark penetrating gaze burned into her. ‘You said he wasn’t your lover but I didn’t believe you.’
Lily was so enraged she spoke before thinking. ‘We were lovers,’ she spat. ‘For just one night! Long before I met you. Now are you satisfied?’
‘When was this? Tell me.’
‘It’s none of your bloody business!’ she yelled at him.
His grip tightened, making her wince. ‘Indeed it is my business. You are mine. You belong to me.’ His voice was full of menace. ‘
When?
’
For the first time, Lily saw in Vittorio what caused so much fear in others, but she was too incensed to be cautious.
‘I don’t ask you about your women!’
‘If I thought you were carrying another man’s child, I’d kill you. When did you have this night of passion?’
‘It was a year before I came to live with you. Now are you satisfied?’
‘How many others have there been?’ he demanded.
Lily glared at him. ‘Millions!’ she cried. ‘They could all be the father.’
Vittorio released her. ‘Don’t be so stupid.’
‘Stupid! Me? It’s you who are stupid, Vittorio.’ But she could find no more words. She was incredibly hurt that he could doubt her loyalty. How could he even think of her taking a lover whilst she lived with him?
He sat on the chair, took a cigarette out of his case and lit it. Looking back at her he saw that she was trembling. ‘For goodness sake get under the covers before you catch your death of cold.’
‘I’m not at all sure I want to share a bed with you,’ she said tearfully.
His jaw tightened and he said evenly, ‘Do as I say.’
Lily was feeling so chilled and unwell, she did as she was told. She’d been deeply shaken by their angry exchange.
Vittorio put his cigarette out and climbed into bed.
Lily turned her back on him.
He put his arm around her. She stiffened at his touch, but he ignored this. ‘You’re frozen,’ he said and held her closer until she stopped trembling. He put his hand over her stomach, gently stroking the soft mound. ‘Inside here is our child?’ he asked quietly.
Lily said, ‘Yes. You can believe it or not. I don’t care any more.’ Her shoulders shook as she tried in vain to stem the tears that started to flow.
He gathered her even closer. ‘Please, Lily, stop this,’ he coaxed her. ‘It isn’t good for your condition.’
Her condition. The words seemed strange, but she did have a condition. She was carrying a child in her womb.
‘You aren’t angry any more?’ she whispered.
‘No.’
‘But you told me once, you didn’t want a family.’
He suddenly chuckled. ‘That’s right, and at the time I didn’t, but now, I must say the idea appeals to me.’ He turned her round so that she was facing him. ‘And you, Lily, how do you feel about it?’
She was relieved that his anger had faded. That he knew. ‘I really don’t know.’ She looked at him anxiously. ‘It’s been such a surprise. But when I think about it I wonder how the club patrons will react. Will it make a difference to the business? Oh Vittorio, I want this child very much and I so want the club to be a success, but if I was the reason it all failed, it would be terrible.’
‘Darling,’ he said, his voice filled with concern, ‘so much worry on so young a pair of shoulders.’
‘And now to learn about your gambling. It’s too much.’
‘I have to earn a living. I’ve explained that,’ he said patiently. ‘Especially now, with the baby coming.’
‘I suppose so,’ she reluctantly agreed. She suddenly found her spirit. ‘Why should I care what the customers think, anyway? As long as the food and the entertainment’s good, they won’t give a toss.’
He became thoughtful. ‘I’m not so sure about that. You are already notorious as my mistress. This, of course, will only add fuel to the fire. Are you prepared for it? You could be in for a rough ride, you know. People can be very cruel. I don’t want you getting hurt any more.’
She snuggled against him. ‘I really don’t know. I was hoping that before my pregnancy showed, the club would have taken off. I’ll just have to wait and see.’
He kissed the tip of her nose. ‘You are a wonderful girl. Bright, and very brave. Some women might have rushed to have an abortion.’
‘Not me! I’ll not let some back-street woman shove things up me.’
Cringing at the thought, Vittorio pulled her to him and kissed her softly. ‘Promise me you won’t ever consider putting yourself in such danger.’
‘No, of course I won’t. I know there are girls who have died after such a thing.’
There was a moment’s silence, then Vittorio said, ‘We could always get married.’
This was as big a shock to Lily as when she realised that she was pregnant. She looked at him anxiously.
‘Would that be so terrible?’ he asked.
‘I’m just so confused,’ she said. ‘All this is a bit much to handle at once. First the club, then the baby and now this. My mind’s in such a whirl I can’t think straight.’
‘It would make the child legitimate, darling. And you respectable. And it would make me very happy. Think about it. But right now I want you so much, I can’t wait.’
Later, as she lay in his arms, Lily looked at the sleeping figure beside her. Did she want to marry Vittorio? It would give the child his name. After all, he was the father – but again he was living beyond the law. What if he went to prison? What would happen to her and the baby then?
The first month of the new enterprise was coming to an end and everyone was pleased with the obvious success of the venture. Word had spread quickly that things at the club had changed. It was now the place to be seen and the bookings were much sought-after.
‘Didn’t I tell you, Lily!’ exclaimed Rachel with obvious glee as the head waiter showed them his book of reservations.
‘You did. And we are getting a decent kind of crowd too. More women are coming and that’s good.’
‘Well, how else would the young flappers be able to say they’d spent an evening in a former brothel without having their reputation in tatters?’ was Rachel’s cynical retort.
With a grin, Lily had to agree. ‘At the moment that certainly adds to the attraction, but that’ll soon pass.’
‘Yes, I know.’ Rachel rubbed the palms of her hands together. ‘But by then, we’ve got them.’
Rachel was standing with her back to the main entrance, unaware of the new customer who had just entered, but Lily, looking over her shoulder, recognised him immediately.
‘Oh well, better get on,’ she said calmly. ‘Rachel, why don’t you go up to the office? Vittorio is working on the first month’s figures and I know you’re interested to see how well we’ve done.’
‘Bloody slave-driver,’ her friend grumbled with a smile, and made her way upstairs.
With bright eyes and a brittle edge to her voice, Lily greeted the newcomer. ‘Good evening, Manny. This is a bit posh for you, isn’t it, even if you have improved your appearance.’ She looked at the well-tailored dark suit he was wearing. She’d never seen him look so presentable. But hate burned in her heart as she stared into the hooded eyes of Rachel’s son.
He leered at her. ‘You are the one who’s moved up, or so I hear. Is it true that you and Mama are in business together?’ He looked around the dining area, and she saw the calculating look in his eyes.
‘Yes, that’s right. News travels fast. What do you want? There are no prostitutes here any more.’
‘I’ve come to see my mother. She sold the business in The Ditches.’ He glared at Lily. ‘That was supposed to be my inheritance, but …’ Looking around he added, ‘This doesn’t look so bad.’
Lily felt anger rise within her like a volcano and she fought to keep control. It was because of this man she’d lost Tom, had spent time on the streets, selling her body for a crust of bread. The humiliation still lived hidden deep within her, and Manny had brought it all racing to the surface. She was choking on the memories of that wretched period in her life.
‘I’ll tell her you’re here. Give this man a drink,’ she sharply instructed the barman.
Lily marched into the office upstairs and shut the door behind her. She looked across the room at Rachel, poring over the books. Her glasses were perched on the end of her nose, making her look like a wise old owl. ‘Where’s Vittorio?’
‘Popped out for a moment. He won’t be long. Something wrong, darling?’
‘You have a visitor,’ Lily announced.
With surprise Rachel said, ‘I do?’
‘Your son is downstairs. I thought I’d better warn you, before I brought him up to see you.’
Taking off her glasses Rachel asked, ‘And what does he want?’
‘He says he wants his inheritance!’
Rachel’s eyes narrowed. ‘They soon come crawling out of the woodwork at the smell of money. You’d better ask him up here. I wouldn’t like the clients to be put off by the sight of blood.’ At the look of dismay on the face of her young friend, she cackled with laughter. ‘Don’t worry. I’ll smother his screams of pain.’
Manny was shown into the office. As the door closed behind him, he looked around the well-appointed room, then at his mother seated in the large leather chair. He took in every detail of her elegant apparel and sneered, ‘Well, well. You’re doing all right for yourself, aren’t you?’
She eyed him up and down. ‘I’m surprised you clean up so well. You’d better sit down.’
He walked across the room and she was filled with bitterness as she watched her son. Things could have been so different between them. ‘What do you want? I know you’re not interested in my health.’ She leaned back in the chair and waited.
Beneath his mother’s steely gaze, Manny became a little nervous. But he had come with a purpose. ‘You sold the shop without consulting me.’
‘What the bloody hell did it have to do with you, might I ask?’
‘It was my inheritance.’
She laughed loudly. ‘You
shlemiel
! It’s what kept you in pocket-money to spend on women. My indulgence, as your mother. Well, I threw you out – disowned you. Remember?’
His pudgy face seemed to swell even more as his anger rose to the surface. ‘Only because of that bitch downstairs. I want what is mine. I want a piece of this club.’
Raising her eyebrows she said, ‘You think you are capable of running such a business, I suppose?’
‘Of course I could. There’s nothing to it. Any fool could do it.’
‘And that just about sums you up, Manny. What brains you got you carry in your trouser pockets. Beyond that you have nothing. You
are
nothing.’
‘Look at you,’ he said scornfully, ‘sitting there filled with your own importance, like the bloody Queen of Sheba.’
Rachel remained calm. ‘Such a brain you have. You have just proved my point, Manny. You come here wanting money and you sit and insult me. Hardly a good business move, would you say?’
He flushed with anger. ‘Don’t lecture me, Mama. You’ve nagged me all my life. Now I’m too old to be spoken to like that.’