All My Tomorrows by Ellie Dean Read Free Book Online Page A

fall just to her knees. Her long, slender legs were bare, but shown off to their best advantage in black high-heeled court shoes. She carried a small black satin bag and her only jewellery was pearl studs and a string of more pearls around her elegant neck. ‘You look wonderful,’ said Peggy truthfully.
    ‘She looks like a model in one of those fashion magazines,’ breathed Jane as she perched on the arm of Cordelia’s chair. ‘Do you like the way Sarah’s done Suzy’s hair up into a chignon? Mummy always had hers like that, and I think it’s very sophisticated.’
    ‘You don’t think it’s all too much?’ asked Suzy with a worried frown. ‘Black’s a bit formal, but I didn’t think a blouse and skirt was smart enough, and—’
    ‘Believe me,’ interrupted Peggy, ‘you look just perfect.’
    But as Cordelia sighed in delight and Suzy did a twirl for the other girls and basked in their admiration, Peggy was sharply reminded of the day when her daughter Anne had been invited to lunch with Martin’s snobbish parents. It had been ghastly for her, poor lamb, and she’d come home in tears having been looked down upon and sneered at all the way through that awful meal. But she and Martin had married despite his horrid parents, and although the war meant they were rarely together, she knew it was a strong and enduring marriage. She just hoped Suzy showed the same fortitude, for she wouldn’t put it past Doris to do her best – in a subtle, but cutting way – to make the evening hell for her.
    ‘Right, come on Rita,’ said Fran as she handed a sleepy Daisy over to Peggy. ‘The staff car will be here in less than two hours, and you can’t go to a party looking like that.’
    ‘I haven’t got anything else,’ retorted Rita. ‘And if they don’t like me the way I am, then I’m not interested in going.’
    ‘Will you be listening to yourself?’ replied Fran crossly. ‘Anyone would think you were one of those odd women who never marry and live with their “friend” Sybilla or Enid – and who breed dogs and stride about in trousers, smoking a pipe with their hair cut like a man’s.’
    ‘I’m not like that at all,’ retorted Rita hotly. ‘I got dressed up for the cocktail party the other week, didn’t I?’
    Fran rolled her eyes. ‘I do not call an old jumper and skirt dressing up – and you sat in the corner and glowered at everyone so no one dared talk to you, and then you just left without a word to anyone after half an hour and came home.’
    ‘I think Rita just needs to feel a bit more confident about herself,’ interrupted Sarah quietly. ‘If she’s not used to parties, then it can be terribly daunting to find yourself in a crowded room full of strangers.’ She turned to Rita. ‘Would you mind terribly if I helped you to get ready, Rita? Only I really do think the right clothes for the occasion make such a difference to how one feels, and the dress we’ve picked out for you is very pretty.’
    Peggy silently blessed sweet little Sarah for her kindness, but she could see the inner battle going on in Rita, and silently willed her to agree. Rita liked to think she was tough, but under that fierce, prickly exterior Peggy suspected there beat the heart of a little girl who longed to be pretty and popular, but who’d not really had much chance to learn how.
    Rita glanced at Peggy and then back at Sarah. ‘All right,’ she muttered, ‘but I’m not having ten inches of make-up all over my face, and my hair stays loose.’
    Sarah nodded and took her hand. ‘Come on then, we’d better get started. I’ll get dressed while you use the bathroom, then Jane and Fran can take turns in there, and before you know it, we’ll all be ready for a lovely evening out.’
    Suzy decided she’d rather supervise and help than sit about getting more nervous by the minute as she waited for Anthony, and the five girls hurried out of the room and pounded up the stairs, their happy voices ringing