Lucy #2
Then she began, and her voice was rich and expansive, the tone and timbre perfect for the song. The audience burst into cheers, people racing onto the dance floor while others stood to clap along.
She glanced over to Morris, who smiled back. It felt amazing to be performing with a band again, to have everyone in the audience watching her. Caroline, Betty and the others waved and cheered from the side, and she felt a thrill of joy that they could finally see her performing.
By the end, the wedding guests were all on their feet, cheering as Lucy took a bow, and Morris leaned across to ask what she’d like to sing next.
‘I thought it was just the one song,’ she said.
‘With a voice like that?’ He laughed. ‘We’ll need you to stay for the rest of the show.’
Her heart exploded. ‘Well, in that case . . .’
She reeled out a list of her favourite jazz songs, and Morris shared the ideas with the others before counting them in.
With her voice full and warm, emotion strong in her heart, she began. ‘That Ole Devil Called Love’ rang out, echoing through the room, and then Morris’s saxophone began to weave around and through her notes, a duet between them.
At the end, cheers of ‘more!’ and ‘encore!’ echoed around the room until Lucy, a great smile on her face, began ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ from last year’s hit movie, the audience once again crowding onto the dance floor.
The evening was a huge success, and as they cleared away the instruments, everyone was talking about the band and the sensational singer. Lucy had been onstage for over an hour, only leaving because the band had to head on to their next performance.
‘I didn’t know you were a singer,’ Morris said. ‘You’re incredible.’
‘I’m not professional – at least, not yet.’ She gestured to the saxophone. ‘And I didn’t know that you performed, too.’
‘We formed a band at college and keep it up for weddings and parties, make some extra money.’ He grinned. ‘You’d make a great addition, if you ever want to join us?’
‘I-I’ll have to see,’ she said. ‘I’m meeting a West End agent next week, and I’m hoping for proper theatre work.’
‘Well, think about it. We have a big event coming up, a grand party on Coronation Day evening. I don’t suppose you’ll be free?’
Her mind raced. The palace had told her and the other wardrobe assistants that they’d only be needed during the daytime. Naturally, she’d imagined herself spending the night with Richard. What if he invited her to one of the grand coronation banquets?
‘I think I might be doing something,’ she said, biting her lip. ‘But keep me in mind for another time.’
For a brief moment, she wondered what it would be like to sing somewhere lovely on Coronation Day, but the idea of missing time with Richard was simply too much for her.
After thanking the band, she made her goodbyes and hurried back to the others, where they crowded around her with congratulations.
‘You were sensational!’ Betty cried, throwing her arms around her.
‘Doesn’t the saxophonist work in the palace?’ Caroline asked. ‘Maybe he’ll ask you to sing with them again.’
‘Well, I’m hoping to sing on a far bigger stage.’ Lucy grinned. ‘You see, Richard’s introducing me to agents and producers.’
Betty’s face fell. ‘Do you know anything about this Richard, my dear, who he is?’
Blushing, Lucy said, ‘Of course I know him. He’s very well-to-do – he stays in one of the palace guest rooms.’ She skipped over the part where she often joined him there.
‘He talks to you, a wardrobe assistant, while you’re in his room? That’s against palace regulations.’ Betty raised a worried eyebrow.
Lucy frowned, thinking of Richard’s disdain for rule followers. It was this kind of petty concern that held the others back.
Well, Lucy was far too clever for that. She’d found Richard, a wealthy, connected man who could help her get to the top.
Putting on a smile, she replied, ‘He’s charming and kind, funny, too, and he thinks I’m the most beautiful girl he’s ever met.’ She blushed, looking at the others for corroboration. But all of them seemed more frustrated than overjoyed for her – Richard was right about the jealousy.
‘Did he ask you to dye your hair, too?’ Caroline asked.
She nodded, patting it. ‘He was convinced I’d look the part more if I was blonde, and he was right, wasn’t he?’ Seeing their doubt, she reached for something else to add. ‘And he said he’d introduce me to the owner of the Apollo Theatre, too.’
But Miranda leaned forward. ‘Have you met him yet?’
Lucy laughed. ‘With everything that’s been going on, I’ve quite forgotten to press him about it. You see, now he’s organized for me to meet one of the top West End agents.’
Instead of the burst of excitement Lucy was expecting, this news was met with a fraught silence.
Betty’s face creased with uncertainty. ‘Well, he doesn’t sound very reliable, my dear. Are you sure he means well?’
‘He’s helping me,’ she said, trying not to get cross. ‘He says I’m too beautiful to be wasted working in the palace. He can help me move up in the world, make the most of what I have.’
‘Well, be careful, dear. If you carry on this way, a nice civil servant like Vernon would never be interested in you.’
‘But Richard’s wealthy and connected – his family has one of those stately homes in the countryside. He’s virtually a lord.’
Miranda interjected, ‘Don’t rush into anything, Lucy. You have a wonderful voice. You should try to make it by yourself.’
‘But it would take so much time. He has friends who can help me now.’ She giggled, annoyance creeping in as she tried to assure them. ‘You should see the way he looks at me. He can’t take his eyes off me.’
‘All men can act like that if they want to take advantage of you.’ Betty looked at her pointedly. ‘How do you know he’s serious about you?’
‘Of course he is. He talks about our future, always holding my hand. A few weeks ago, he took me to his flat – you should have seen it! – and we, well’ – she bit her lip, wondering how much to give away – ‘we kissed and things.’
Caroline paled. ‘Just because he seduces you, it doesn’t mean he’ll propose, Lucy. Men from country estates marry girls from other country estates, not singers or wardrobe assistants.’
That familiar anguish swirled inside her, and she jerked her head around to Caroline.
‘Just because you’re content to play it safe and make do, you can’t stop me from wanting more from life.
You don’t know him like I do, or maybe you’re just jealous because you married a man who treats you like a servant.
’ She knew it was harsh, but she couldn’t seem to stop herself.
For a moment, Caroline looked so pale that she might collapse.
But then, she seemed to find the spirit to pull herself together.
‘I made mistakes, Lucy, and I’m trying to stop you from making them, too.
With men, you don’t always end up with what you see on the outside.
All the women’s magazines talk about beautiful homes and perfect marriages, but scratch the surface and that’s not always the case.
A woman might think she’s finally landed a great life as she heads down the aisle, but it could end up becoming her worst nightmare. ’
Lucy sat back in her chair. ‘That won’t happen to me. In any case, Richard’s different. He’s one of the new, modern set, nothing like the man you married.’
‘But how much do you know him?’ Caroline said. ‘That’s the point I’m making. Don’t make the same mistakes I did.’
But Lucy had had enough. Getting to her feet, she said, ‘Why should I take advice from any of you, when you’ve hardly made good decisions?
I’m old enough to make up my own mind. For all my life, my mother’s been telling me I’ll never be someone, and now I’m going to show her – show everyone – that I’m not just a nothing. ’
With this, she threw them a disdainful look, picked up her coat, and stormed out of the hall.
It was exactly as Richard had said it would be. Her friends were against her.
And Lucy had no choice but to turn her back on them.