Free A Sister's Shame by Carol Rivers

Dad? What’s wrong with wanting to better ourselves?’
    ‘Nothing at all, love,’ Hector said mildly. ‘It’s just that she don’t want you to take risks or come to any harm.’
    ‘We wouldn’t, not with Teddy beside us,’ Vesta insisted.
    ‘He’s a nice enough lad,’ Hector agreed, rubbing his chin. ‘But I’m not sure your mother would understand.’
    ‘But we’re turned eighteen and can look after ourselves,’ Vesta cried as she, too, ran from the room.
    When another door banged, Hector raised his eyes. ‘What is happening to this household, Marie?’
    Marie sat down on the chair. ‘I don’t know, Dad.’
    ‘Do you want to go to this audition as much as your sister?’
    Marie nodded. ‘Yes, I do.’
    Hector smiled and patted her arm. ‘I’ll see what I can do.’
    As she sat alone, Marie couldn’t help thinking that the answer to her father’s question about what was happening to the family had something to do with Teddy. The trouble had started
when Vesta had fallen under his spell. Perhaps their mother was frightened that Teddy would take Vesta away.
    Elsie looked at Marie with fondness. She had come in to find the argument still in progress and Marie had told her what had happened.
    ‘Well, Marie, what do you think about all this? Is that young whippersnapper Teddy to be trusted?’
    Marie wanted to say he was, for Vesta’s sake, but she held back. ‘He did keep his word to Vesta and spoke up for us, even though I thought he might just be boasting.’
    Elsie reflected on this. ‘He seems nice enough, pays his rent and don’t cause no trouble. But there’s something I can’t put me finger on. And when I have that feeling
about someone, I’m usually right.’
    As much as Marie wanted to go to the audition, she felt the same as Elsie about Teddy. At the back of Marie’s mind was Bing’s warning about the Duke’s not being the right sort
of club.
    ‘When he came to this house earlier this year,’ said Elsie, her face thoughtful, ‘I took him at face value. Well, he’s been no trouble and he looked clean and smart and
had a fortnight’s money up front. Not many like that these days. And you know I’ve got a soft spot for anyone connected with the boards. The room above was gathering dust, with no other
enquiries to rent it, so I took him on. But that’s as far as my knowledge stretches.’
    Marie saw Elsie touch the many gold rings she had on her fingers. She was wearing a black dress, which made the gold look even brighter. In her ears were gold studs and her dark eyes were very
piercing. ‘Ah, well, it will all come out in the wash, as they say. Your mother will have the last say, even though you girls are nearly women now.’
    ‘Elsie, why is Mum so against us performing?’ Marie asked suddenly. ‘It always causes a row between her and Dad.’
    Elsie straightened up slowly, not meeting Marie’s gaze. ‘I told you, she’s protective.’
    ‘But is it only that?’
    Elsie walked to the door quickly. ‘Sorry, love, I’ve got to go. My friend from Bethnal Green is coming over and I’ve got to make tea. See you later.’
    Marie noted Elsie hadn’t answered her. Did she know more than she was saying? Elsie always gave a straight answer to any question.
    Marie watched Elsie walk across the hall and take her key from her pocket. She always kept the key to her own rooms on her, rather than leaving it to hang on a string. She had too many precious
things to risk losing.
    Marie closed the door and wondered if her father had succeeded in changing her mother’s mind. All was quiet, which usually meant the calm before the storm. But if Mum had her way and
refused to let them go, who would be the one to tell Teddy?
    Vesta refused to come out of the bedroom the next morning. After eating his breakfast, Hector decided to go out for a walk. ‘Just to get a breath of air,’ he told
Ada. ‘Would you like to come with me, dear?’
    ‘No, I’ve got things to do.’
    After