The Leaving of Liverpool by Lyn Andrews Page A

was dusk. She’d been so engrossed that she’d lost track of the time. As she leaned back against the seat in the taxi she felt as though the whole day had been a wonderful dream. It had been glorious. ‘I can never thank you enough, miss, for today. It’s been . . . Oh, I wish I could find the right words!’
    Olivia smiled. Phoebe-Ann’s naive enthusiasm was becoming tiresome and she was now absorbed in a new plan. She would see Papa about it this very evening. A trip to America, that’s what she wanted him to sanction. To New York, Boston. Why had she never thought of it before? She had been very impressed with the Mauretania . Of course she knew the Cunard ships were the best, the fastest, the safest, but she’d never really realized just how luxurious they were. She had also been attracted by the number of young men she’d seen in the palatial public rooms; men who had looked at her with open admiration. She’d been under the impression that only old men and wealthy spinsters or dowagers went cruising. There were, of course, all those second and third class passengers, but she would never even contemplate having anything to do with them. She fell silent, engrossed in her thoughts and schemes.
     
    As they reached the bottom of Brownlow Hill the cab stopped.
    Olivia leaned forward. ‘Why have we stopped?’
    ‘Don’t like the look of this crowd, miss.’
    ‘Don’t be stupid! Drive on!’ she demanded.
    The cabby ignored her.
    Phoebe-Ann looked out of the window and gasped. Ahead of them there was a mob of about a hundred people, shouting and jeering. She could hear the sound of breaking glass and then she remembered the newspaper. ‘Oh, miss! The police are on strike! Don’t you remember the newspaper?’
    ‘What has that to do with us for heaven’s sake!’ Olivia snapped.
    ‘Sorry, ladies! I ain’t goin’ any further and if you take my advice you’ll get out and run back to Church Street.’
    ‘I am not running anywhere and neither are you! Drive on!’ Olivia shouted.
    To their consternation he got out and opened the passenger door.
    Olivia lost her temper. ‘Oh, go away! Run away if you want to! I’m not frightened of those . . . those common people!’
    ‘You should be! They’re drunk and capable of anything! Give me your parcels and we’ll all scarper! Hurry up!’
    ‘I’ll do no such thing! You get back in the driving seat and do what you’re paid to do – drive!’
    ‘Don’t be bloody stupid! This cab is my living but if I try to drive through them I’ll have no bloody cab and no bloody life either! Now get a move on! I’m not waiting for much longer!’
    Phoebe-Ann was afraid and she tugged at Olivia’s arm. ‘He’s right! I mean if he’s willing to leave his taxi he must be right!’
    ‘He’s a fool, that’s what he is! And a coward to boot! I’ll drive the damned thing myself!’
    ‘Well, I’m off! You’ve had your chance!’ The driver turned and began to run.
    Panic began to grip Phoebe-Ann. ‘If we hurry we can catch him up!’
    ‘Oh, let him go! We’ll manage!’
    ‘Do you know how to drive, miss?’ Phoebe-Ann was near to tears.
    ‘Of course I do! James used to let me drive his car, it’s easy!’
    Olivia climbed into the front seat and started to push and pull the gear lever. At least the engine was still running, she didn’t have to crank it with the heavy handle. Not that there would have been time for that. They jerked forward, stopped and jerked forward again and Phoebe-Ann uttered a scream.
    ‘Shut up, Phoebe-Ann! I’m doing my best!’ Olivia’s frown disappeared as they moved forward again, slowly but evenly this time and she became more confident as they picked up speed.
    Phoebe-Ann stuck her head out of the window. The crowd was getting nearer and she could clearly hear the cries and curses. Soon they would be in the thick of it. She began to shake and gnawed nervously on her bottom lip. She was terrified.
    Olivia’s confidence was waning