The Melody Girls by Anne Douglas Page A

‘I’ve often heard her and the girls complaining.’
    â€˜Well, you might hear me complaining, too.’
    â€˜I won’t ask you what you get, but I know Luke pays girls less than the men. Can’t blame him, I suppose. It’s usual practice.’
    â€˜Can’t blame him? What are you talking about, Rod? How can it be fair to pay women less than men if they do the same work?’
    â€˜Lorna, the men are the breadwinners. They have families to support.’
    â€˜Oh? So where’s your family, Rod?’
    He looked a little abashed and seemed at a loss for a reply, until the waitress brought their soup and he gave a sigh of relief.
    â€˜Hey, this is good, eh? Want a roll with it?’
    â€˜You must admit, it would be fairer if single men and single women at least were paid the same.’ With unusual force, Lorna tore her roll apart. ‘Come on, Rod, agree with me!’
    â€˜Yes, maybe that would be more fair,’ he said hastily. ‘Can we talk about something else now?’
    For a moment or two, she studied him, thinking, yes, his was a fine face, with wide, benevolent brow and generous mouth, those eyes that crinkled when he smiled. So, why were his views so different from hers? And, oh God, why did she mind?
    For the rest of the meal, they trod very carefully, saying no more about money or women’s rights in the workplace, and by the time they came out into driving rain and decided to go to the pictures, they felt remarkably in tune with each other.
    â€˜Good idea to come here,’ Rod remarked, as they stepped into the vestibule of the cinema where a small queue was forming at the box office. ‘Best place to get out of this downpour, eh? And who cares what’s on?’
    â€˜Why, I do!’ Lorna cried, brushing her damp hair from her brow. ‘And it just so happens, it’s something I want to see. Look – it’s a Hitchcock picture – Spellbound .’
    â€˜With Ingrid Bergman – my favourite!’
    â€˜Gregory Peck – mine! Oh, Rod, I do hope we’re no’ too late for the beginning.’
    â€˜Exactly in time for the matinee, from what it says on that board. Our lucky day, eh? I’ll just find some money.’
    Standing to one side, Lorna averted her eyes as Rod sorted through a handful of coins from his pocket. Sometimes, in the past, going out with boys who weren’t earning much, she’d offered to pay her share but they’d always refused, just as Rod would refuse if she offered now, she felt sure.
    It would not be his style, to let a woman pay for anything, and the truth was, he did earn more than she did. All the same, she wondered if she should make a stand – let him see that they were equals, even if Luke didn’t think so? But he’d already reached the front of the queue and was buying their tickets while she was still debating what to do, and in the end she let it go. Why make a fuss and cause more arguments?
    â€˜Thanks, Rod,’ she said quietly, as the usherette showed them to seats in the back stalls, and at his smile, decided she’d done the right thing.
    She was even more relieved they hadn’t had another argument when, as the lights went down, he took her hand and she sensed his pleasure in just being with her. He really wanted that, didn’t he? Was really happy in her company, even though he scarcely knew her? And already, as his warm hand rested round hers, she was wondering if she might be feeling the same about him.
    There was certainly something about his presence that stirred feelings that were new to her. And exciting. Trouble was, she’d meant it when she’d told Flo she wasn’t interested in young men ‘at the minute’ – only in her career. Anyway, it was all too soon and she had other things to think about. The broadcasting contract, for instance. Whenever the thought of that came into her mind, she hugged it to her as