Free A Promise Between Friends by Carol Rivers Page B

sense.’
    Ruby squeezed herself against the door. ‘Your car – I’ve seen it outside the poodle parlour. You were driving up and down. Even my friend Debbie saw you.’
    He slowed the car down and stopped the engine. ‘Listen, this is a short cut to the City Road. And as for seeing me outside your shop, yes, hands up, it was me. You see, I counted on the
fact you’d phone me. And when you didn’t, I asked around at Fortuno’s. I was lucky. You and your friends are regulars there and it wasn’t difficult to look you up.’ He
paused. ‘I just wanted to talk to you. And I couldn’t do that with your boyfriend present.’
    Ruby sat up. ‘Bernie isn’t my boyfriend.’
    ‘Had I known that I would have been more up-front.’
    ‘Why didn’t you come in the parlour?’ she asked uncertainly.
    ‘Pride?’ he suggested with a rueful grin. ‘I’d waited all Sunday for your call. I was certain I had your attention.’
    Ruby’s feelings were confused. Of course she was flattered, but she was also a little frightened. He was very persistent. Did she like that? She wasn’t sure. He was certainly much
older than any of the boys she knew. But now she looked at him closely, he was also far more handsome than she remembered. He had warm, unblinking eyes, a nice smile and a dimple on his chin. His
overcoat looked tailor-made with a row of meticulous hand-stitching on its lapel. There was something very charming about this man.
    ‘It’s getting late,’ he said. ‘And if I’m to get you home before the cock crows, we’d better get going.’
    She smiled. Now she felt embarrassed. She had made a fuss over nothing when he was only trying to do her a good deed.
    Starting the engine he drove them out of the darkened street.
    Ruby sat back and enjoyed the rest of the journey. She was even mildly disappointed when it came to an end and they drove into the mist-shrouded light of Poplar.
    When Ruby got home Kath was saying goodbye to her new friend, Penny Webber, the dancer she had met at Larry’s party.
    ‘Ruby, do you remember Penny?’ Kath said as Ruby came up the stairs. ‘We’ve been enjoying warm bagels and wine that Penny brought. And we saved a glass for
you.’
    Ruby smiled at the tall, reed-thin girl with curly dark hair. ‘I could do with that. It’s very cold out there although the fog is clearing now.’
    ‘It’s nice to see you again, Ruby,’ Penny said. ‘It’s a shame you couldn’t join us.’
    ‘Perhaps another time,’ Ruby replied.
    ‘Penny’s been telling me how she got into dancing,’ Kath explained. ‘And lots of wonderful stories about the Windmill.’
    ‘Well, that does sound exciting,’ Ruby said, shivering a little on the freezing landing, her mind still on Nick and her interesting drive back to the East End.
    ‘I’d better go,’ Penny said. ‘Would you like to meet up again, Kath?’
    ‘Yes, I’d love it,’ Kath replied eagerly.
    ‘You’ll have to come over and meet Mum and Dad.’
    Ruby watched Kath and Penny go down the stairs together to the front door. She was very surprised to see Kath so happy. The bedsit was warm when she got inside, the one-bar fire having been on.
But Ruby didn’t begrudge the expense tonight. She had had such an exciting day and night that she wanted to tell Kath all about it. But how could she, without mentioning the Manor?
    ‘Did you buy anything nice?’ Kath asked when she came in, rubbing her hands together in the cold.
    ‘No, but I did a lot of window shopping.’
    ‘I was a bit worried when you didn’t come home,’ Kath said, taking the chair beside her. ‘But as it was foggy, I guessed you’d find your way eventually.’
    Ruby looked at the half-full bottle of wine. ‘Shall I pour?’ she said with a grin.
    ‘Yes, I only had one glass. It went to my head.’
    ‘Don’t worry, we won’t get another hangover.’
    ‘Penny is such a nice girl,’ Kath said as she sipped her drink. ‘She lives up Mile End with her parents