The Brooklands Girls

by Margaret Dickinson

  Her voice faded away as Sam shook his head. ‘He’s not here and Harry’s not at school either, though we think he might be playing truant. He’s done it before, but if you say Daisy and Luke can’t be found either . . .’

  Len came up behind Sam. ‘Luke wouldn’t go off without telling me.’ He jabbed a finger towards Robert. ‘That little madam of yours has led him into mischief, I’ll be bound.’ He seemed to be forgetting, for the moment, that Daisy was his grandchild too. ‘She can twist him round her spoilt little finger.’ He glanced at Sam. ‘And I bet young Harry’s with ’em. He’ll do owt they tell him.’

  ‘Oh, Dad, please,’ Alice whispered, but Robert, ignoring the older man’s accusations, said, ‘Can you think of anywhere they might be?’

  Now they all looked at each other, but not one of them could make a useful suggestion.

  It was Jake who said, ‘I’ll round up all the farm workers and organize a search party,’ prompting Robert to add, ‘And I’ll go home and telephone the police station.’

  Having hitched a lift into the city, Harry felt lost standing amidst the bustling travellers on Lincoln railway station. He had thought to empty his money box, but he had no idea what he ought to do next or how to find the right train to London and he dared not ask a railway employee. He was sure they would not allow an eight-year-old to travel to London on his own.

  He sidled nearer to a family of four, mother, father and two children – a boy and a girl – who looked about his own age.

  ‘Now,’ the father was saying, ‘this is the right platform and the train is due in about ten minutes. When we get there, we’ll check in at the hotel. Then, what do you want to do first?’

  The two children both spoke at once.

  ‘See Buckingham Palace.’

  ‘Go on a boat on the Thames.’

  The father was smiling. ‘We’ll do both.’

  Buckingham Palace, Harry thought. He’d heard of that. It was where the King lived and it was in London. He lingered near the family, not near enough to attract their attention but close enough to seem to an observer that he was part of their group.

  When the train came in, he followed the family into the same carriage, earning himself a curious glance from the mother. No doubt she was thinking that he was young to be travelling alone, but he kept his eyes averted and concentrated on gazing out of the window until her attention was diverted by the demands of her own children.

  As the train began to move, Harry breathed a little more easily.

  As they stepped off the train, Luke said, ‘Now, what hospital did your dad say she was in?’

  ‘The London Hospital.’

  ‘Right, now I’ll ask a porter how far away it is. There’s one. Wait here, Dais, and don’t move. I don’t want to lose sight of you.’

  When he came back, he said, ‘It’s too far for us to walk. He says we’ll need a taxi.’

  ‘Have you got enough money?’

  ‘Yeah. We’ll be fine,’ Luke said, taking her arm. He wasn’t so confident inside. The two train tickets and the cab fare would probably take all the money he had been able to bring.

  As if sensing his thoughts, Daisy squeezed his hand. ‘I know they’ll be cross with us, but Gramps will give you the money back.’

  ‘Don’t worry about it, Dais. As long as we get to see Aunty Pips, I don’t really care.’

  Fifty-Three

  ‘Tickets, please.’

  Harry felt his stomach turn over when, at the next station, the ticket inspector opened the door into the carriage. Hoping not to be noticed, Harry continued to stare out of the window, but now he was not seeing the view before him; he was only aware of the conversation behind him. He heard the rustle of paper, a pause and then the man’s voice. ‘You’re a ticket short, sir.’

  ‘I don’t think so,’ the father of the family said. ‘Two adults and two children.’

  Harry felt as if all eyes were turned towards him before he heard the father say, ‘He’s not with us. I don’t know who he is.’

  The burly figure of the inspector loomed beside him. ‘Now, lad, have you got a ticket?’

  With a sigh, Harry turned to look up at him. ‘Sorry, no.’

  ‘Then you’ll have to come with me, son.’

  Knowing he was in trouble now, Harry followed the man with his head down. He didn’t even glance at any member of the family as he passed them. The ticket inspector led him across the platform towards the stationmaster’s office. Swiftly, he explained the situation to his superior, ending, ‘I’ll have to leave him with you, sir. I can’t hold the train up.’

  When the inspector had left, the stationmaster looked at Harry severely over the top of his spectacles. ‘Now, m’boy, you tell me the truth and I won’t have to call a bobby in. What’s your name?’

  ‘Harry, sir.’

  ‘Harry – what?’

  Harry clamped his jaws together and stared at the man in front of him, but not another word would he say.

  After ten minutes of trying to coax the information out of him, the man sighed and said, a little sadly, Harry thought, ‘I’m sorry, but you leave me no alternative. You haven’t got a ticket . . .’

  Harry fished in his pocket and brought out a few coins. ‘I can buy a ticket.’

  The man looked at the coins in his hand. Perhaps there was another way to get the little lad to talk. ‘Where are you trying to get to?’

  ‘London. My aunty’s in hospital an’ I want to see her.’

  ‘What’s her name?’

  Harry opened his mouth and then closed it quickly, guessing what the stationmaster was trying to do.

  ‘I’m sorry, m’boy, but you haven’t got enough money to go any further. But we’re not a heartless bunch. I’ll send you back to Lincoln without charge. How would that be?’

  Harry, at eight – nearly nine, as he was fond of saying – knew when his luck had run out. If he argued any more, the police would be called.

  ‘I’ll put you in the care of the guard on the next train back to Lincoln. That’s the best I can do, I’m afraid.’

  ‘Thank you, sir. I’m sorry I did wrong. I didn’t know about buying a ticket. You can take all this money though.’

  The man got up from behind his desk and ruffled Harry’s hair. ‘That’s all right, m’boy. Now let’s see if I can find you a cup of tea and a bun before your train’s due.’

  ‘This must be it, Dais.’

  ‘Let’s hope so,’ Daisy said, clinging to Luke’s hand. They had run out of money for taxis and had now been walking for over an hour, asking the way every so often. Though he didn’t say so to Daisy, Luke had the horrible feeling that they had been going round in circles. It was late afternoon and already the city streets were turning to dusk.

  ‘It’s not like the skies we’ve got at home, is it, Dais?’ Luke said, looking up at the tall buildings all around them that seemed to the country boy to block out all the light.

  They entered the hospital and approached some form of reception desk.

  ‘Excuse me,’ Luke said politely, ‘could you tell me if a Miss Pips Maitland is a patient here?’

  ‘They’ll likely call her “Philippa”,’ Daisy butted in.

  The woman looked down her lists. ‘Oh yes, here she is.’ She told them the ward name and gave them directions. ‘You’ll need to ask someone if you can see her. Visiting is almost over for today.’

  ‘Thank you,’ they both said hurriedly and scuttled away before she could change her mind about letting them even go to the ward. They found the right floor, but were completely lost when Daisy caught sight of someone she recognized.

  ‘Mitch!’

  She left Luke’s side and ran down the corridor and into his outstretched arms. Luke, not knowing him, approached more slowly.

  Daisy glanced back and beckoned him. ‘Luke, this is Mitch, one of Aunty Pips’s friends at Brooklands.’ She turned back to Mitch. ‘Have you seen her? How is she?’

  ‘Come into the waiting r
oom. Milly’s here.’

  This time it was Milly and Mitch keeping vigil together.

  ‘Oh darling!’ Milly said and hugged Daisy. ‘Have you seen your granny and grandpa? They’re with Pips now. And George is here somewhere, but I think he’s just gone to get something to eat.’

  Daisy shook her head. ‘We’ve only just got here. We got a bit lost. It’s a big place, isn’t it? Can we see Aunty Pips?’

  ‘We’re only allowed in two at a time – or three at a push – and George insists on staying most of the time, so . . . Here, let me take you to her room.’

  They walked along the corridor and into the room where Pips lay white-faced and motionless.

  Daisy stopped. ‘Oh my!’ she breathed and tears sprang to her eyes.

  At the sound, Edwin and Henrietta glanced up.

  ‘Daisy! Whatever . . .?’ Edwin rose and came towards her, enfolding her in an embrace. ‘Are your mother and father here too? They didn’t tell me they were coming when I telephoned last night.’

  ‘Gramps, don’t be cross. Luke brought me down.’

  ‘D’you mean they don’t know where you are?’

  ‘They will now. Luke told Harry to tell them.’

  ‘Let’s hope he did, or they’ll be frantic.’

  Edwin went to Pips’s bedside and kissed her forehead. ‘We’ll leave you for today, my darling, but we’ll be back tomorrow. Daisy and Luke have just arrived now, too, so they’ll be here as well.’

  ‘Can she hear you, Gramps?’ Daisy whispered.

  ‘We don’t know, but the doctor encourages her visitors to talk to her.’

  ‘Can I?’

  ‘Of course.’ He moved aside and allowed Daisy to come close to the bed.

  ‘Aunty Pips! Aunty Pips!’ She took hold of Pips’s hand. ‘It’s Daisy. Please wake up. We’ve come to see you. Luke’s come with me. He wanted to see you too.’

  To the girl’s disappointment, there was no movement, not even a flicker of her eyelids.

  Edwin put his arm around her shoulders. ‘Come along, my dear. We’ll go now, but we’ll come and see her again tomorrow.’

  ‘But we can’t leave her on her own.’

  Edwin smiled. ‘George is somewhere close by. He’ll come back as soon as we go. We’ll tell him we’re leaving.’

  As they made their way along the warren of corridors, Edwin said, ‘We’ll telephone home and tell them you’re staying for a night or two at the hotel with us. Will that be all right for you, Luke?’

  The young man – for, at almost fifteen, tall and broad shouldered from his work at the anvil, and deserving of the title – grinned sheepishly. ‘I expect I shall get a roasting from me granddad, but . . .’ he glanced at Daisy before adding, ‘I wanted to see Aunty Pips too.’

  Edwin respected him. He could have blamed Daisy, could have said she’d persuaded him to bring her, but he hadn’t. He was taking the responsibility for their escapade firmly on his young shoulders.

  But Daisy was not going to allow him to take the blame. ‘It’s my fault, Gramps. You must tell Daddy that. Luke found me crying.’

  ‘You? Crying? Good Heavens!’ Edwin exclaimed.

  Daisy smiled. ‘Yes. Me. Actually crying.’

  ‘But you hardly ever cry. Not even when you hurt yourself.’

  ‘I know. That’s why Luke knew I was really upset and worried.’

  Henrietta, who had been listening to the exchange, said, ‘You should have asked your father, Daisy. He would have arranged something for you.’

  Daisy hesitated and dropped her head, but her perceptive grandmother guessed. ‘Ah, I see that you did and he said “no”.’ Henrietta sighed. ‘What you both did was wrong, Daisy, but if you did ask your father and were refused, then . . .’ She pulled in a deep breath and put her arms around both youngsters. ‘I have such mixed feelings about the pair of you. You were wrong to sneak away – so I’m angry with you – but at the same time, I’m so proud of you. It’s just – ’ her voice trembled – ‘the sort of thing Pips would have done for someone she loved.’

  ‘Oh Granny, I’m sorry to have made you angry, but I’m not going to apologize for coming. I – we – just had to see her.’

  Henrietta hugged them both. ‘Then we’ll say no more about it. Edwin, you must telephone Robert the minute we get back to the hotel.’

  Edwin booked two rooms for Daisy and Luke and then tried to telephone the hall. After three attempts, he said, ‘I can’t get through, Hetty. The line seems to be permanently engaged.’

  ‘Leave it for a while. Let’s take them down to dinner and try again later. Another hour or so isn’t going to make a lot of difference.’

  ‘But what if they don’t know where they are?’

  ‘Harry will have told them, I’m sure. Come along, those two must be starving.’

  Daisy, who had enjoyed the high life with Pips on her previous visit to London, took everything in her stride, but Luke was over-awed.

  ‘Isn’t it grand, Dais?’ he whispered. ‘I see what me granddad means now.’

  ‘What about?’

  ‘About you being “above me”, as he’s always saying. It’s not so noticeable at home. The difference between us, I mean. It’s just normal, but my family could never afford to stay in a place like this.’

  Daisy giggled. ‘Then you’d better enjoy it while you’ve got the chance.’

  After dinner, Edwin tried telephoning again. Already, the streets of London were dark and the street lamps were lit. This time, his call was answered.

  ‘Robert?’ Edwin shouted down the receiver. ‘Can you hear me? This line isn’t very good? Are you all right?’

  ‘We’re worried sick, Father. Daisy and Luke are missing. But, how’s Pips?’

  ‘They’re here, Robert,’ Edwin said. ‘The little rascals have come all the way to London to see Pips.’

  ‘What did you say?’

  ‘I said, “They’re here”. They’re safely with us at the hotel.’

  ‘Oh, thank God,’ Robert breathed and then he raised his voice and Edwin heard him shouting: ‘Alice! Alice! They’re safe. Daisy and Luke. They’re with Mother and Father – I’ll explain in a minute.’ He turned back to the telephone. ‘Father?’

  ‘I’m here. But didn’t you get their message? They told Harry to tell you what they’d done.’

  There was a moment’s silence before Robert said flatly, ‘But Harry is missing too.’

  Fifty-Four

  Pips felt as if she was fighting her way through a dense fog. She could hear someone calling her name – a young, light voice.

  ‘Aunty Pips! Aunty Pips!’ Someone was holding her hand. She tried to squeeze it, tried to open her eyes, tried to answer, but nothing would work. She couldn’t move, she couldn’t speak, she couldn’t even force her eyelids open – and then the mist closed in again . . .

  Harry arrived home after dark, cold, wet and very hungry. All his bravado had deserted him as he had walked most of the way from Lincoln, hitching a lift only for the last mile. As he opened the back door, tears flooded down his face. Peggy flew towards him, pressed him against her in a fierce hug and then stood back and smacked his face all in one swift movement.

  ‘Where have you been, you bad boy? We’ve been worried sick. Are Luke and Daisy with you?’

  Harry rubbed his cheek and sobbed harder.

  From behind Peggy, Sam appeared and, for a moment, Harry shrank back, but all his father did was put his arm around him and lead him towards the fire. ‘You’re soaked through. Peg, get him some dry clothes and a hot drink. He’ll catch his death, else.’

  ‘But where are the others?’ Peggy wailed. ‘I want to know where they are.’

  ‘They’ve gone to London.’

  ‘London!’ Peggy and Sam both spoke at once. ‘Whatever . . .?’

  ‘Oh, I understand,’ Sam said, before Harry could say any more. ‘Daisy wanted to see Miss Pips, I bet, so Luke has taken her. He should have told us, though.’

 
; Harry hung his head and mumbled, ‘He told me to tell you.’

  ‘So, why didn’t you?’

  ‘Because I wanted to go too and they wouldn’t take me, so I tried to follow them. I got on a train, but I hadn’t got a ticket, so the man at the next station sent me back to Lincoln.’

  ‘Oh Harry, old chap, you should have told us.’ Sam’s tone was full of disappointment, not anger, but Peggy was not so sympathetic.

  ‘Those two on their own in London. Anything could happen to them. Sam, you’ll have to go up to the hall and tell them. They’ll be frantic, just like we’ve been.’

  Sam rose at once. ‘I will, but get this lad out of these wet clothes, Peg. I reckon he’s learned his lesson.’

  ‘I wouldn’t be too sure about that,’ Peggy muttered and began to pull Harry’s clothes off, none too gently. ‘You’re lucky I don’t give you a good hiding.’ Then, as Sam left the cottage, she pulled her son into her arms and held him close. ‘Oh Harry, don’t ever do anything like that again.’

  The boy clung to her and, muffled against her, said. ‘I won’t, Mam. I promise.’

  The fog was clearing – just a little. She fought against the drowsiness, struggled to open her eyes. Where was she? She listened for the noise, but all was silent. The shelling must have stopped for a while. She should rouse herself. There’d be casualties who needed her help. But she felt so bone-weary. If she just rested a little while longer, perhaps . . . She could feel someone sitting beside her. George. It was George. He’d found her, hadn’t he? Huddled near the Ypres canal when she’d run away from the first-aid post. Why had she run away? She couldn’t remember, but George had found her, wrapped her in a blanket and taken her back to his dugout in the trenches. And he’d watched over her through the long night. And he was still sitting beside her now . . .

  ‘Robert – tell me quickly,’ Alice said, clinging to him.

  ‘They’re safe. The little monkeys have gone all the way to London to see Pips.’

  ‘You’re sure they’re all right?’

  ‘Positive. They’re with Mother and Father and he’s booked them in at the hotel to stay a night or two. They said they’d left a message with Harry.’