It was all Holly could do to stop herself from throwing her arms about the woman but her smile said it all.

Miss May grinned. ‘I think perhaps you’d better bring your friend to look at the place and then you can make your decision. Here take the key and you can tell me in the morning.’ With that she turned off the light and made her way downstairs with a bright-eyed Holly following very close behind. Things were looking up. Suddenly she could hardly wait to get home to tell Ivy the wonderful news.

Chapter Seven

Later that night, Ivy stood in the little flat above the shop and stared about her in amazement. ‘Are yer quite sure you heard her right?’ she questioned. ‘All this fer just eight bob a week? Why, we’ve even got us own bedrooms an’ a proper little kitchen to cook in.’

‘I know.’ Holly gave a little twirl of excitement. ‘Just think we might even dare to venture out after dark without worrying about women of the night shouting after us on street corners because they think we’re after their clients. Oh, do say you like it, Ivy!’

‘Like it! I bloody love it,’ Ivy responded, hardly able to believe their luck. ‘But when did she say we could move in?’

‘We haven’t spoken about that yet but I dare say as soon as we’re ready. Bear in mind it will be Christmas in a few days’ time and you won’t want to be moving then … will you?’

‘Not ’alf! I’d carry our stuff here tonight given half a chance.’

‘In that case I’ll speak to Miss May first thing in the morning then,’ Holly promised and after leaving the flat they carefully locked the door behind them and made their way back to Soho.

‘I don’t see why you shouldn’t move in just as soon as you like,’ Miss May told Holly the next day, and so that very evening she and Ivy packed up some of their meagre possessions, took down the curtains that Holly had made and set off for the flat.

‘We can bring the rest tomorrow after work,’ Ivy said. ‘Though I have a feelin’ Mrs Hall ain’t goin’ to be none too pleased when we tell her we’re leavin’.’

Holly shrugged. ‘She can’t complain. We’ve paid the rent up till the end of this week,’ she pointed out, but as it turned out, Ivy was proved to be right.

‘What do yer mean, yer goin’ tonight?’ Mrs Hall sputtered when late the next evening Holly tapped on her door to return the key. ‘It’s almost Christmas – what chance do I ’ave of lettin’ it out again till after the ’olidays? Yer should ’ave given me some notice so I’m goin’ to ask fer another week’s rent fer me inconvenience.’

‘Ask away but yer won’t get it.’ Ivy stepped forward and taking the key from Holly she firmly pressed it into the woman’s hand. ‘We paid fair an’ square fer the time we were here an’ you’ll not get a penny piece more.’