Applause (The Dudley Sisters Saga Book 2) by Madalyn Morgan (best authors to read txt) 📕

‘I don’t think so. I’m sure I’d remember if we had.’ Margot felt her cheeks flush and she began to chatter to hide her embarrassment. ‘I’m in show business. Perhaps you’ve seen my photograph outside the Prince Albert Club in Covent Garden. I’m with ENSA at the moment. I worked at the Prince Albert Theatre on the Strand, until--’ Margot felt a lump in her throat and busied herself putting the magazine in her bag.

‘Well, how about that! I’m in the movies back home. Have you made any movies, Miss…?’

‘Dudley, Margot Dudley,’ she said, regaining her composure.

‘First Lieutenant Boyd Murphy. Pleased to meet you,’ he said, standing up.

Margot shook the lieutenant’s outstretched hand and watched him sit down. Damn, why hadn’t she said something? By not speaking she’d ended the conversation and she was desperate to know about the movies and movie stars. How could she take the conversation back without appearing to be a gushing fan? ‘To answer your earlier question,’ she said at last, ‘I was filmed when I was with ENSA last year. I haven’t actually made any movies, but I should like to.’

‘Well, if ever you’re in California--’

‘I’ll be sure to look you up,’ Margot laughed. ‘Do you live in Hollywood?’

‘No. My dad does, and I stay with him all the time. Mom and my sisters and me live in Santa Monica. It’s only eighteen kilometres away. That’s about eleven of your English miles, or a half-hour drive.’

‘I read that James Stewart joined up.’

‘He sure did.’

‘Is he in England as well?’

‘No. I don’t know whether it’s to do with his age – he’s over thirty – or because he’d been training guys to fly for about a year, but he’s still in the US and he’s still an instructor.’

The train whistled and juddered as it began to slow down. ‘Soon be in Southampton,’ the lieutenant said, jumping up and taking down his kit bag. ‘Is Southampton your destination, Miss Dudley?’

‘No. I’m going to Stony Cross air force base in the New Forest to do a concert for ENSA.’

‘Well I’ll be! That’s my base. Since we’re both going to Stony Cross, could I offer you a lift? The base bus is picking us up. If you don’t mind sitting among a bunch of rowdy Yanks, I’d be happy to give you a ride.’

‘If my friends aren’t at the station, I’ll take you up on it, Lieutenant.’

‘Call me Murphy,’ he said, his blue eyes sparkling.

‘Margot,’ she said, holding his gaze.

As the train pulled into Southampton station Margot picked up her handbag and gas mask in one hand and her suitcase in the other.

‘Let me,’ Murphy said, covering her hand with his. Margot’s heart began to flutter with girlish excitement and she felt the heat of a blush on her cheeks. She slid her hand from under his and let him take the handle. With his air force bag over his shoulder he picked up the suitcase.

As she stepped from the train, George and Betsy were waiting. Throwing their arms around each other they hugged and kissed and all spoke at once. ‘Come on, let’s get out of here,’ George said, taking Margot’s case.

Margot turned and looked along the platform. The US air force boys were filing off the train. Murphy was with them. He had turned at the same time as Margot. When she waved, he saluted.

RAF Stony Cross was the first date of the Albert Sisters’ final tour. They opened with Artie’s piano gag, followed by his impersonation of George Formby. Then Artie called in the troops. The airmen, RAF and USAAF, whistled and cheered as Margot, George and Betsy strutted on stage. Instead of standing to attention by the piano, they marched to the front of the stage and swiped caps from the heads of the three nearest Americans. Then, marching back to the piano, they turned and stood to attention, saluting American-style. With their GI caps sitting at an angle on their perfectly coiffed hair they sang The Andrews Sisters’ song, “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B” followed by “I Can Dream, Can’t I?” As they marched off stage for their quick change, RAF boys and GIs cheered and threw their caps in the air. When they returned, Margot and Betsy in long evening dresses and George impersonating Noel Coward in white dinner jacket and black bow tie, they sang “A Room With A View” followed by “Putting On The Ritz”. The audience went wild.

Each night after the show, Tommy Trinder, who had asked for the Albert Sisters to support him after working with them the previous autumn, invited them to his makeshift dressing room. The great man was charming and instructed his dresser to keep their glasses filled. He then disappeared to sign autographs. They didn’t think it would be polite to refuse the star of the concert’s generosity and, trying to hide the fact that they were in awe of the biggest star of British films, they allowed his dresser to fill their glasses.

On the last night at Stony Cross, Tommy returned from signing autographs with a brown paper sack. ‘Thank you presents for the Albert Sisters,’ he said, giving each of the girls a gift. ‘And a bottle of Hooch for you,’ he said, handing Artie a bottle of bourbon. ‘You lucky people!’ he shouted, and everyone laughed. ‘Oh, and there’s one for me,’ he said, looking deep into the paper sack, and everyone laughed again.

Margot opened her gift and caught her breath. Lying on a cushion of cream satin was a pair of silver wings. Apart from being smaller, they were identical to those that Murphy wore. Betsy ripped the paper from her present to reveal a pair of fully-fashioned silk stockings. She squealed with delight, while George wrapped a beautiful