The Very Thought of You
Chapter 41
"Any news about Paul?" Charlie asked Janet as she walked into the kitchen.
"He's comfortable, I believe." Janet said flatly. "Well, that's what his mother tells me."
"Is he still refusing to see you?" Charlie asked quietly.
Janet nodded and looked sad. Charlie comfortingly touched her arm and smiled.
"He'll come round." She said.
"Don't forget to get the tickets tonight, Janet!" Ruby called, excitedly.
Janet Leah straightened her W.R.V.S. uniform and winked at Ruby.
"All in hand." She said, with a smile. "So, how many young men have you got lined up for a dance?" She asked Ruby.
Ruby blushed and put her nose in her book.
"You are free that night, aren't you Charlie?" Janet asked, about to leave for her meeting.
"Oh yes! Not on shift that night, thankfully. We're looking forward to it." She smiled.
"Joey's coming, I take it?" Janet asked.
"As far as I know." Charlie said, swallowing and glancing nervously at her sister, who continued to read her book, but grinned.
"Good. I really miss her around the place, Charlie. Can't you persuade her to come back here to live? It can't be all jam living with that brother of her's. He always seems so surly." Janet said, wrinkling her nose.
"Well, staying here was only meant to be a temporary thing. Maybe she wouldn't want to move in as a lodger." Charlie replied, feeling a little uncomfortable.
"Bet she would." Ruby muttered under her breath.
Charlie shot her sister a look. Ruby continued to read.
"Well, just a thought. See you girls later!" Janet called as she breezed out.
"Ruby!" Charlie said, sternly.
"Charlie?" Ruby cried innocently.
The Women's Royal Voluntary Service was holding their annual dance at the Assembly Rooms the following Saturday evening. Preparations had been in hand for weeks now. The dance band was ordered, the refreshments were arranged and everyone seemed to be buzzing with excitement.
Ruby and Annie exclaimed over which dresses to wear and whether or not they would be asked to dance by any of the local lads. The day couldn't come quick enough for them.
"This way, ladies!" The elderly lady representing the W.R.V.S. on the door said smiling. "Have you your tickets?"
Charlie handed the lady three tickets. Ruby fidgeted with excitement.
"For Heaven's sake, Ruby, calm down!" Charlie hissed at her sister as Ruby pushed from behind.
Joey smiled,
"She's excited and quite frankly, so am I! Will you save me a dance?" She whispered to Charlie.
"Won't that look a little odd?" Charlie asked, frowning.
"You wait until you see the lack of men!" Joey answered, pushing open the swing doors into the hall.
The band was already in full swing.
"Oh my God! Hardly a man to be had!" Expressed Irene Roberts from the bakers, who had following them in. "Better save me a Waltz, Ruby!" She grinned.
"Maybe my suggestion wasn't so silly, after all." Joey said to Charlie, raising one eyebrow.
Charlie just gave her a look.
"There's Annie!" Ruby shouted and ran off to be with her friend.
"Oh! There's Janet and Vince over there!" Charlie said, waving to her friend. "Good, she's saved us some seats."
The two young women made their way over to their friends. Charlie clad in a knee length shiny green skirt and a white blouse with delicately embroidered flowers on the small collar. Joey, in a rare show of leg, had donned a pretty but unfussy lemon dress with a sweetheart neck line. Charlie wore her hair piled up. Joey's was left down, but Charlie had very pretty rolled it so it hung in waves down her back.
Martha Holden skipped up to their table.
"Guess who's here Charlie?" She said, excitedly.
Charlie shrugged her shoulders.
"Hugo!" Martha said, with a big grin on her face. "He's on leave."
"What again?" Joey muttered.
"He'll be over in a while." Martha said, ignoring Joey's comment. "I expect he'll be marking everyone's card!"
"How nice." Said Joey, sipping her shandy.
Charlie shot her a look, and then smiled happily at Martha.
"We'll look forward to it, won't we Joey?" Raising her eyebrows.
"Humm." Joey replied.
The evening was in full swing. The band was better than expected, especially as it only consisted of a piano, saxophone, clarinet, double base and accordion. Oh! And not forgetting the drum! Men were indeed in short supply due to most husbands and sons being away at war, but women danced with woman and when given the opportunity, danced with elderly Gentlemen or the odd Serviceman home on leave.
"Ruby's having the time of her life!" Janet called over to Charlie as her dancing partner escorted her back to their table after their dance.
Charlie looked to where Janet was indicating. Ruby was in the middle of group of boys and girls who had been jitterbugging. She was very red in the face, but obviously enjoying the night. Charlie smiled, but then a figure cast a shadow over her and she looked up.
"Good evening, Charlie." Hugo Austin said smoothly. "May I have the pleasure of the next dance?"
Joey looked at Hugo with a degree of distaste. Hugo was the man Charlie had dated after her panic over the boat picnic. He was obviously very keen on Charlie and thought he was in with a good chance.
"Thank you, Hugo," Charlie said standing up to join her partner.
Suddenly, upon impulse, Joey stood too, touched Charlie's arm as she was about to walk away and whispered,
"Save the next dance for me."
Charlie turned and smiled. Her heart beating a little quicker in anticipation.
"Okay." She said, smiling, and turned to join her partner.
Joey stood watching Charlie and Hugo walk onto the dance floor. A pang of jealousy engulfed her as Hugo wound his long arm around Charlie's waist and cupped her hand with the other. The band started and all the couples began to dance. Joey eased her way through the merry dancers, carefully avoiding any contact with Charlie and Hugo and made her way up to the band leader. She beckoned to him and said something in his ear which he acknowledged. Joey walked back to her table; a gentle smile playing on her lips.
"So, you're on leave again, Hugo?" Charlie commented, by way of conversation.
"French leave, actually." He corrected.
"What! Won't you get into frightful trouble?" She asked, with a frown.
"I'd do anything to have an evening with you, Charlie." He whispered in her ear.
Charlie drew her face away from Hugo and cleared her throat.
"I really would prefer you not to take such chances in order just to have a dance with me, Hugo!" Charlie said, squirming.
"But, Charlotte Buckton, you're too wonderful to ignore. I think about you all the time. If it wasn't for this bloody war, you wouldn't get a minutes peace from me!"
Charlie suddenly felt oppressed. Having Hugo's person so close to her own and making such speeches to her, in such close proximity was making her feel very uncomfortable. She glanced around in hopes of seeing Joey, but Joey was not in her seat. The tune the band was playing seemed never ending.
"Hugo. I'm very flattered, but I'm not interested in a relationship at the moment." She said, trying to put Hugo off.
"Who said anything about a relationship? Life's too short, Charlie. Live it! Come and spend the weekend with me." He whispered in her ear.
Charlie shuddered as she felt his breath on her face.
At last the band finished playing and everyone clapped and Hugo, gallantly escorted Charlie back to her table, but before releasing her, quietly reminded her of his offer.
Charlie sat back in her chair anxiously. She picked up her gin and tonic and drank it up quickly. She felt uncomfortable and fidgeted with her skirt. Suddenly she felt a warm hand on her arm. She looked up as the band struck up again and saw Joey standing before her.
"Our dance, I think." Joey said; her eyes dark and inviting.