Read Online Lizzie's War by Rosie Clarke - Free Book Online

about a sale so I’ll offer them for what I’ve suggested.’
    Mave’s face fell. ‘I ain’t got no more…’ she hesitated, then, ‘I’ll bring yer five bob when I get back from me honeymoon. Bobby is taking me to Southend for a week…’
    Lizzie hesitated, knowing that she could quite easily end up losing the five shillings, but for once she was willing to take a chance. ‘All right, just this once,’ she agreed, ‘but don’t tell your friends, because I shan’t make a habit of it.’
    â€˜Thanks,’ Mave said and her thin, pretty face lit up. ‘I shan’t let yer down, miss. I promise. I’ll ’ave both them hats please.’
    â€˜Yeah and I’ll ’ave this un an’ all.’ Sheila grinned. ‘You’re all right – Lizzie, ain’t it, same as the name over the shop?’
    â€˜Yes, Lizzie Larch,’ Lizzie said, using her professional name. She packed the hats carefully in tissue and a box, just as she would for customers who bought large orders from her. ‘I hope you’ll be happy, Mave – and enjoy the wedding, both of you.’
    They thanked her and went out, giggling and looking at each other as they walked off down the road. Lizzie wondered what Ed or Harry’s uncle would say if they knew what she’d done. They would probably think she’d gone soft, but Lizzie hadn’t forgotten what it felt like to spend almost the whole of your wages on a hat. Somehow she didn’t mind whether she got her five bob or not, because those hats had suited Mave, and after all wasn’t that what making pretty hats was all about…?

Chapter 4
    Matt was sleeping peacefully when Lizzie got home that evening. His tummy trouble had passed and neither of the others had caught the bug. Beth had fed the children and put them to bed, and her mother had gone back to the hospital to visit Mary.
    â€˜Dad’s gone with her so I decided I’d stay home and look after the kids,’ Beth said. ‘I gave Matt some more of that medicine the nurse made up for you and he seems much better. I didn’t want to leave him with anyone, though, just in case.’
    â€˜Very sensible,’ Lizzie said and hugged her. ‘He’s your priority for the moment, Beth. Mary will have your mum and dad, and I expect Dottie will call and see her too. You can go tomorrow if you feel like it.’
    â€˜Bernie said he would sit with them for a few hours if I wanted.’ Beth looked at her oddly. ‘Would you mind if he did that, Lizzie? I trust him to look after the twins, but it would mean leaving Betty as well…’
    â€˜Perhaps I could take her in with me,’ Lizzie said. ‘It wouldn’t be so much for you to manage – and I’m sure the twins would be enough for Bernie, and it isn’t fair to ask him to have Betty as well.’
    Lizzie wasn’t sure why she didn’t like the idea of Bernie looking after the children, but something niggled at her. She couldn’t tell Beth what to do, but she would prefer Betty to be where she could keep an eye on her rather than leaving her with a stranger. Bernie seemed perfectly respectable, but Lizzie had her reservations, even though she couldn’t have said why she didn’t quite like the man. It was just something about him that made her distrust him, but she hadn’t voiced her feelings aloud, for Beth’s sake.
    Beth frowned for a moment. ‘Well, that’s up to you – but won’t she be in the way when you want to work?’
    â€˜I’m sure we can fix up a makeshift playpen for her,’ Lizzie said. ‘Ed loves her – he loves your two as well, Beth, but three might be too many. Yes, I think I’ll try it and see how we get on. I may need to do it in the future sometimes, because I can’t expect your mum to be responsible for my daughter all the