The Melody Girls Read Online Free

She still thought, maybe . . . maybe she had won.
    First, of course, there had to come the nice words about all the entrants, to make them feel better over losing. Such a high standard . . . everyone deserving of a prize . . . particularly liked . . . there was the tenor’s name . . . and, oh no, her own! Too soon, if she was going to win. Oh, too soon!
    And, yes, that was right, for here came the final announcement. By unanimous decision, for her professionalism, her sensitivity, and her most talented piano playing, the winner was . . .
    â€˜Hannah Maxwell!’
    Everything after that was a blur, as the bitterness sank in. Even when Lorna’s name was called as runner-up and she had to go up to the judges with Anthony Baird who’d taken third place, she felt quite unreal. Perhaps he did, too, for his grin was forced as he accepted his prize of three pounds and later congratulated Lorna on her five.
    â€˜No’ bad, eh? Better than nothing.’
    â€˜I’ll say,’ she heard herself heartily agreeing. ‘It’s more than twice my wages.’
    â€˜But no’ a chance to broadcast.’
    â€˜That’s only for Hannah.’
    And then, of course, they joined in the congratulations being given to Hannah, now scarlet in the face and being embraced by her parents and a girl who might have been her sister, before turning away to be consoled by their own families.
    â€˜Ah, pet, what a shame, eh!’ Cissie was crying, and Tilly was just putting her arm around Lorna and Pattie was saying, well, never mind, five pounds was a fortune, eh? And Miss Dickinson was saying she’d been so thrilled by ‘Red Sails in the Sunset’, and Ewen was declaring that Lorna should have won, and she was shaking her head and telling him to keep his voice down, when another voice cut through to her and she turned in surprise.
    â€˜Miss Fernie – forgive me for interrupting – but could I have a word?’
    A tall well-dressed man of about forty, carrying a hat and a raincoat over his arm, was standing at her elbow. He had dark hair that was mixed with grey and a sharp, dark gaze, and as her eyes went over him, the world for Lorna suddenly became real again. She had no idea who he was, but she knew somehow that he was important. Or, might be – to her.
    â€˜Yes?’ she asked, standing aside from people leaving, as her mother, Auntie Cissie, Ewen, Pattie and Miss Dickinson, all stood staring at the newcomer.
    â€˜I’m Luke Riddell. From Glasgow. You may have heard of me? I have a dance band there. Luke Riddell’s Orchestra?’

Five
    He had a dance band?
    Lorna’s eyes on Mr Riddell were not just bright, but starry. He had a dance band in Glasgow, and he’d asked to speak to her? Could it mean anything? Such as what? Take a hold, she told herself, stop staring, stop thinking, say something!
    But Mr Riddell’s gaze had moved to Tilly, standing close to Cissie, both looking wary, though Cissie, Lorna could tell, was excited. She always loved the unexpected and to have this well-dressed stranger coming up to speak to Lorna was unexpected, all right. Tilly, though, just wanted to know what was going on and perhaps sensing this, Mr Riddell guessed correctly that she was Lorna’s mother. Again apologizing for interrupting, he asked if Tilly was Mrs Fernie.
    â€˜That’s right,’ Tilly admitted cautiously. ‘I’m Mrs Fernie.’
    â€˜Well, then, I knew your husband. We met from time to time, as folk in the same line of business do, and I always admired his music making. I was very sorry to hear that he’d—’
    â€˜Yes, he died last year,’ Tilly said quickly. ‘But why did you want to speak to my daughter?’
    â€˜I wanted to compliment her on her playing. In my opinion, she should have won.’ Mr Riddell turned to Lorna. ‘When I heard your name