He looked at it for a moment and then turned to her, picking up a lock of her hair that had tumbled down, his finger grazing her collarbone. ‘You truly are extraordinarily pretty, you know.’
‘I don’t feel very pretty in this boring uniform.’ She tried to re-pin her hair, but he took down her hands, his eyes locking onto hers.
‘A beauty like you shouldn’t be working as a maid. You should be on a stage, or maybe in Hollywood.’ His face came closer to hers, and she could feel his breath, full of warmth and whisky. ‘You need to be where people can admire you, adore you.’
‘How do you know? I’m a singer, you see.’ She could hardly believe her ears. Fate had brought him to her. ‘I’m trying to get onto a West End stage.’
He put his hand up to her face and ran a finger gently down her cheek, as if she were something to be cherished, loved. ‘With a face like that, you could make a lot of money as a singer, a model, an actress, anything you want. I know a few people who might be able to help, if you’d like.’
‘Truly?’ She gasped, unsure if she’d heard him properly. ‘Are they producers, directors...?’
‘That kind of thing. A friend of mine owns the Apollo Theatre, I believe.’
‘Heownsit?’ Lucy blurted.
‘They have beauty contests every month or so.’ He sat up, as if an idea had come to him. ‘And you, my Sleeping Beauty, would win hands down. Wouldn’tthatbe the perfect way to meet him? I’m sure you’ll be the best – you’d win every beauty competition in the country.’
Lucy’s eyes widened. ‘Do you really think I’d stand a chance?’
He held a hand up to stop her. ‘Say no more! You, my darling girl, would make a fortune with that beautiful face. All you need is a few lessons on how to walk and pose, and then a gorgeous new outfit.’
‘I can’t afford—’ she began.
But he waved it aside with one hand. ‘Do not despair, little one. I’ll get you the perfect gown, one to show off your lovely figure.’
‘I can’t let you pay for a dress!’
He took her hand and said earnestly, ‘You can pay me back with your winnings.’
‘Really?’ She glowed appreciatively, a nervous smile on her lips. ‘I hope I don’t let you down. I’ve never done anything like this before.’
‘Have no fear!’ He raised a hand dramatically. ‘I will teach you all you need to know.’ He rubbed his hands with enthusiasm. ‘You’ll be on the front of every newspaper in town. And who knows, after that you might be on television, entering Miss Great Britain.’
‘Me? On television?’ She bit her lip, her mother’s voice at the back of her mind taunting her:Don’t get too big for your boots, Lucy.
‘Now don’t start saying that your mother and your friends won’t approve. They’ll be jealous, especially when you win.’
She felt her shoulders straighten, pushing her mother out of her mind. Now that she was eighteen, she could make her own decisions. Even Miranda and Caroline said that the young queen should stand up to her mother, show her that the new ways were better. Now it was Lucy’s turn.
‘When do we start?’ she said.
‘As soon as you’d like. Let me pay the ten pounds’ entry fee and find a gown for you, and then we can start rehearsing for the big event.’
‘But how will I find you again?’ she asked.
He pondered. ‘Let’s meet up here a week from now. Do you think you could do that?’
‘I’ll do whatever it takes,’ she said, unsure if this was truly happening.
‘That’s exactly what I hoped,’ he said, and his arm went around her shoulders, pulling her to him. ‘As soon as I laid my eyes on you, I knew you would change my life.’
His body was firm, and as she nestled her head against his shoulder, she could smell his deep musky aftershave. How she wished she could stay like that forever, to vanish into his world, where everything would be all right.
He took her hand in his. ‘Did you know that you’d make someone a wonderful wife,’ he said, pulling back to face her, ‘a very beautiful wife indeed.’
Slowly, he stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers, his eyes on her lips, which seemed to part in longing.
Was he going to kiss her? She could hardly believe it, that a man of his wealth and class would be interested in her.
