Together for Christmas by Carol Rivers Read Free Book Online

spent his life in service to other people, yet those closest to him had been cruelly taken away.
    Flora sniffed back her tears. ‘Oh, Jesus, calm my fears, increase my trust and help me to aid those less better off than me,’ she whispered, recalling the words Sister Patricia had
taught them. She took comfort in the fact her prayers had helped her through so far. If she was to be of any use to Dr Tapper, she had to believe her faith would help them in the many testing weeks
and months to come.
    It wasn’t until the first Saturday in June that Flora next saw Hilda. They had decided to go to the market together on their afternoon off. For the occasion, Flora had
worn her only really good day dress. The colour was a soft pigeon-breast grey and buttoned through from top to bottom. Together with a grey velvet-trimmed hat, they had been her first purchases
after she’d left the orphanage and started work. Although Dr Tapper allowed her to live in the airey rent-free, he also gave her a wage of twelve guineas a year. At first, she had felt very
well-off. She had never had any money before. But, as the days and weeks passed, she discovered that money spent in the big wide world disappeared very quickly. After paying the gas, coal and food
bills, there wasn’t much left over. She’d had to buy clothes; she only had what she stood up in on the day she left the orphanage. Boots and shoes were needed too. The market became the
source of all her purchases.
    Flora was surprised to see Hilda wearing new clothes: a bright green hat with an ostrich feather, together with a smart belted jacket worn over a brown skirt.
    ‘You look very nice,’ Flora said as they met at the top of the street.
    ‘Well, if I’m going to be a lady’s maid, I’ve got to practice at being a lady meself,’ said Hilda, swaying her hips and making Flora giggle. ‘I had to borrow
a shilling off Mrs Bell to buy it.’
    ‘Are you short again?’ Flora knew Hilda was hopeless with money. Mrs Bell always helped Hilda out.
    ‘When I get my new job, I’ll be in the pink.’
    ‘Do housemaids earn much?’ Flora asked, doubtfully.
    ‘I told you before, I won’t be a housemaid for long. I’m going to be a lady’s maid.’
    ‘Well, I must say, you look the part.’
    Hilda beamed. ‘How do you get your fringe to curl so prettily?’
    Flora blushed at the unexpected compliment. She touched her hair. She was grateful for its natural curl. Wetting her fringe and rolling it around her finger as it dried brought effective
results. ‘Oh, it doesn’t take a moment.’
    ‘I’m saddled with a cow’s lick,’ Hilda complained. ‘Me fringe parts in the middle and sits on my forehead like a blooming great moustache.’
    Soon they were laughing and Flora knew Hilda was happy. It was at times like this that Flora knew she would miss Hilda a lot if she went away. They loved walking through the market together.
Flora often bought fruit and vegetables and occasionally fish. Cox Street market served all the nearby island hamlets: Millwall, Cubitt Town, Blackwall and even Poplar. Flora found all the traders
very friendly. There was more than enough choice of goods. From bric-a-brac and second-hand furniture to jewellery and clothes, fresh meat, fish and costermonger stalls. Flora’s favourite was
the tea and coffee stall. The trader sold hot and cold beverages, sweets, biscuits and toffee apples. She also liked the barrow boys offering roast chestnuts, shrimps, cockles and muscles when in
season. Sometimes she called in to the little shops running the length of the market on both sides. Flora noticed their trade hadn’t suffered in the first year of war. Grocers, butchers,
bakers and food shops were always busy. The stewed eels, tripe and onion and pease pudding café sold the favourite dishes of the day. The smells wafting out of the door were tantalizing. And
on Saturday, you had to push your way through the crowds to enter them.
    ‘Well, what’s all