Read Online Angels at War by Freda Lightfoot - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Freda Lightfoot
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break windows or throw water or flour at folk, chain yourself to railings. How would you feel about that?’
Livia hesitated, but as she met Connie’s distrustful glare and glanced around at the cynical disbelief in the other girls’ faces she realised she had to go along with it, no matter what it cost her. ‘I’m prepared to do whatever is needed.’
The next moment she was on her feet, addressing them directly. ‘I agree we need to make the government sit up and listen. It’s long past time they made an effort to understand women’s problems. I would like to see working hours reduced, and for a woman not to lose her job when she marries, with time allowedfor her to have babies and come back to work afterwards. I’d like working conditions and wages to be improved, not to mention the state of this food,’ she quipped, which met with laughter and murmurs of approval. ‘And just as soon as we get this business back on its feet, I will start to set these things in motion here at Angel’s. But there’s a bigger battle to fight. We have to speak out for the lot of women in general, so yes, I’ll be there, Connie,’ she agreed. ‘At the front, with you.’
And the cheer that went up this time was loud enough to be heard down below in Matthew Grayson’s office. As he was putting out the gas lights and locking up, he lifted his head to listen to the sound of fists hammering on tables, feet pounding on the wooden floor, and wondered what the rumpus was all about. Someone’s birthday perhaps?
Chapter Six
It was Connie who came to her first thing the next morning and told her, with a knowing smirk on her face, that Livia had been summoned to the manager’s office. ‘Grayson heard about your little speech last night.’ She looked almost pleased that Livia was in trouble with the manager. ‘Some of the girls sent a delegation and asked him for a rise. One girl was cheeky enough to demand time off to have a baby, while another told him the food wasn’t fit for pigs. He wants to see you right away. He’s accusing you of stirring unrest among the staff.’
‘What? I’ve never heard anything so outrageous.’
‘I told him you’d done nowt wrong,’ Connie said with a shrug, as if unwilling to admit she’dspoken up for her. ‘Though for all I know, you may not be genuine about wanting to come to that meeting.’
‘Oh, I’m genuine all right.’ Livia was still mourning the death of her beloved sister Maggie, and longed to do something worthwhile with her life. Improving the lot of women seemed like a good place to start. ‘I have my reasons for wanting to get involved.’
‘I dare say you do, but you won’t find everyone quite so sympathetic of your views, certainly not his nibs. Have you the guts to stick by what you believe? That’s the question.’
Livia half laughed. ‘Don’t worry, once I’ve made up my mind nothing will shift me. And I shall certainly not be bullied by Grayson. He can’t possibly be as bad as my father.’
Connie regarded her out of shrewd, knowing eyes. ‘I allus thought Josiah Angel might be a hard nut to crack. He was ruthless with his staff.’
‘And even more so with his own family,’ Livia confessed.
‘I had a father much the same. Never wasted a word in an argument that his boot couldn’t solve.’
The two girls considered each other, realising they might have more in common than was apparent at first sight. ‘Right then, I’ll go and see what our Mr Grayson wants. Wish me luck.’But if Livia thought she might almost have made a friend, Connie’s parting words destroyed that hope.
‘No need for you to fret. He can’t sack you. With us it’s a different story.’
Livia strode to the manager’s office and without pausing to knock, flung open the door and marched right in. Matthew Grayson was seated at what had been her father’s great walnut desk, beneath which she’d once taken refuge when looking for a letter to help in their search for
Livia hesitated, but as she met Connie’s distrustful glare and glanced around at the cynical disbelief in the other girls’ faces she realised she had to go along with it, no matter what it cost her. ‘I’m prepared to do whatever is needed.’
The next moment she was on her feet, addressing them directly. ‘I agree we need to make the government sit up and listen. It’s long past time they made an effort to understand women’s problems. I would like to see working hours reduced, and for a woman not to lose her job when she marries, with time allowedfor her to have babies and come back to work afterwards. I’d like working conditions and wages to be improved, not to mention the state of this food,’ she quipped, which met with laughter and murmurs of approval. ‘And just as soon as we get this business back on its feet, I will start to set these things in motion here at Angel’s. But there’s a bigger battle to fight. We have to speak out for the lot of women in general, so yes, I’ll be there, Connie,’ she agreed. ‘At the front, with you.’
And the cheer that went up this time was loud enough to be heard down below in Matthew Grayson’s office. As he was putting out the gas lights and locking up, he lifted his head to listen to the sound of fists hammering on tables, feet pounding on the wooden floor, and wondered what the rumpus was all about. Someone’s birthday perhaps?
Chapter Six
It was Connie who came to her first thing the next morning and told her, with a knowing smirk on her face, that Livia had been summoned to the manager’s office. ‘Grayson heard about your little speech last night.’ She looked almost pleased that Livia was in trouble with the manager. ‘Some of the girls sent a delegation and asked him for a rise. One girl was cheeky enough to demand time off to have a baby, while another told him the food wasn’t fit for pigs. He wants to see you right away. He’s accusing you of stirring unrest among the staff.’
‘What? I’ve never heard anything so outrageous.’
‘I told him you’d done nowt wrong,’ Connie said with a shrug, as if unwilling to admit she’dspoken up for her. ‘Though for all I know, you may not be genuine about wanting to come to that meeting.’
‘Oh, I’m genuine all right.’ Livia was still mourning the death of her beloved sister Maggie, and longed to do something worthwhile with her life. Improving the lot of women seemed like a good place to start. ‘I have my reasons for wanting to get involved.’
‘I dare say you do, but you won’t find everyone quite so sympathetic of your views, certainly not his nibs. Have you the guts to stick by what you believe? That’s the question.’
Livia half laughed. ‘Don’t worry, once I’ve made up my mind nothing will shift me. And I shall certainly not be bullied by Grayson. He can’t possibly be as bad as my father.’
Connie regarded her out of shrewd, knowing eyes. ‘I allus thought Josiah Angel might be a hard nut to crack. He was ruthless with his staff.’
‘And even more so with his own family,’ Livia confessed.
‘I had a father much the same. Never wasted a word in an argument that his boot couldn’t solve.’
The two girls considered each other, realising they might have more in common than was apparent at first sight. ‘Right then, I’ll go and see what our Mr Grayson wants. Wish me luck.’But if Livia thought she might almost have made a friend, Connie’s parting words destroyed that hope.
‘No need for you to fret. He can’t sack you. With us it’s a different story.’
Livia strode to the manager’s office and without pausing to knock, flung open the door and marched right in. Matthew Grayson was seated at what had been her father’s great walnut desk, beneath which she’d once taken refuge when looking for a letter to help in their search for
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