Free The Reluctant Sinner by June Tate Page B

her front door she hesitated. She now had to lie to her mother, and the fact that it would be the first of many upset her greatly.
    ‘How did you get on, love?’ asked Vera. ‘Did Flo give you extra hours in the club?’
    ‘Yes, she did, starting next week.’ Daisy forced a smile. ‘And she was good enough to give me an advance on my wages so I could cover the nursing home bills.’
    ‘She’s got a heart of gold, that woman,’ said Vera. ‘Sit down, I’ll make us a cup of cocoa and a sandwich,’ and she pottered about, humming softly to herself.
    Daisy listened to her mother’s chatter as they ate but made an excuse soon afterwards that she was tired and went to bed. If she could only sleep, she could forget what was before her. But she tossed and turned all night long.
     
    At the gown shop the following morning, Grace Portman stood while she tried on her new dress. It required a slight alteration and when Agnes came to see to it, Grace was surprised.
    ‘Where’s Daisy?’ she asked. ‘Only she usually sees to all my alterations.’
    Agnes looked uncomfortable as she said, ‘I’m afraid that Daisy has left, Mrs Portman.’
    ‘What do you mean, left?’
    ‘She gave in her notice,’ lied Agnes.
    ‘Where is she working now?’
    Taking a pin out of her mouth, the girl mumbled, ‘I really don’t know,’ and got to her feet. ‘You can take that off now, Mrs Portman. If you care to wait, I can take that little bit in on the waist now.’
    ‘Yes thank you, I will wait. I was hoping to wear the dress this evening.’ When she was ready, Grace made her way to the reception and sat down. As Madam came through from the workroom, Grace voiced her concerns.
    ‘I am so sorry that you have lost young Daisy. She was an excellent seamstress and a really nice young lady. I was very fond of her.’
    Madam’s face flushed crimson and she fluttered about. ‘Yes, I was sorry to lose her, but you know these young girls, they go from one job to another.’
    With a frown, Grace stared at the owner. ‘I wouldn’t have thought that was in Daisy’s character at all. She always seemed to me to be very dedicated to her work.’
    Madam Evans sniffed and in withering tones declared, ‘Well, Mrs Portman, you think you know a person but then they turn round and surprise you. I am very disappointed in Daisy Gilbert, I can tell you! I’ll just go and see if Agnes has finished that slight alteration.’ And she left Grace alone.
    Puzzling over the owner’s remarks about her former employee, Grace sensed there was more to it than she’d been told and promised herself that she would eventually get to the bottom of Daisy’s departure, but not today. The next time she came in she would ask a few discreet questions of whoever came to measure her. Madam Evans, she was sure, would not tell her any more.
     
    On Tuesday evening, Daisy walked into the Solent Club, then upstairs and changed into the clothes that Flo had laid out for her before going to the bar to be greeted by Harry.
    ‘Flo told me you’d be working all week,’ he said. ‘Mind you I’m not sure we’ll be that busy, but it’s nice to see you, love.’ And he moved away to stack the bottles of beer.
    As the club began to fill, Flo arrived and started walking round, talking to some of the customers. Before long, Daisy saw some of the men looking at her speculatively and with a certain smile. She felt herself colour with embarrassment as she realized that Flo was marketing her to the punters. As the bar got busier there was a certain buzz among the customers, a lot of chatter between the men, a lot of joshing, and the odd argument. It was a strange atmosphere which didn’t escape Harry’s notice.
    ‘What’s going on here tonight?’ he asked Daisy quietly as he wiped glasses.
    ‘I’ve no idea,’ she lied.
    ‘Well something has got their tails up but for the life of me I can’t put my finger on it.’
    Daisy tried to behave normally but when the men came up