Doubting Abbey

by Tonge, Samantha

  Yay! Gaynor and Roxy were still rapt. War stories were a far cry from Marwick Castle’s tacky flashes of boobs. Maybe, just maybe, this reunion would give Applebridge Hall’s chances a much-needed boost.

  Lady C nodded. ‘Vera says now that she spent many a night, those first few months, crying herself to sleep. It still brings tears to her eyes if we talk about the moment she waved goodbye to her mother at Waterloo Station. In fact my mother used to well up when she recalled the look of apprehension on little Vera’s face when the Billeting Officer dropped her off at our house.’ She looked into the distance. ‘In our village, the girls had an easier time of it, though—there was a lot of rivalry between the local lads and evacuee boys. Then there was Vera’s cousin, sent to a family who stole his rations and fed him on nothing but bread and water…’ She cleared her throat. ‘However, I suspect children who stayed here will have pleasant memories. Remember dried eggs, Lord Croxley?’

  ‘How could I forget?’ He smiled. ‘Perhaps, Lady Woodfold…Would you care to stay to dinner?’

  ‘How exceptionally kind of you,’ she said, ‘but, I, um, wouldn’t want to impose…’

  ‘Stuff and nonsense,’ he said. ‘In fact, why don’t you stay for a few days? We converted the nursery next to Abigail’s room into a guest room many years ago. There’s still the big rocking horse in there, but it has a pleasant view of the orchards. And I’m sure we’ll need all the help we can get, arranging this reunion. Edward, please ask Kathleen to prepare the room.’

  Edward’s jaw dropped. Mine, too. As a rule, I’m sure the Earl didn’t like unexpected, unfamiliar guests.

  ‘Of course, Father.’ Edward stood up, just as Kathleen walked in with more tea. ‘But, first things first – Abbey wanted me to show her the bedrooms upstairs that used to belong to the children. We haven’t searched through all that gubbins for years. If this reunion is to take place, we need to crack on.’

  Suddenly, Lady C jumped to her feet and almost headed the boom – she had a lot to learn about filming a reality show.

  ‘Goodness me!’ she said. ‘Is that a common yellowthroat I saw on the fountain outside? What a treat.’

  The Earl stood up beside her. ‘Well, I bless! You recognize a yellowthroat? Bravo! So few people nowadays take an interest in our country’s immensely varied birdlife. As you probably know, that species is a rarity. We must go out with my binoculars some time and…’

  With a nod at Roxy, Edward and I exited the room, leaving Kathleen to serve tea to Abbey’s excited uncle and aunt.

  ‘Hold on!’ called Gaynor, fag already in her lips. She sidled up to us. ‘A bang-on concept this reunion is, Lord Edward – well done.’

  ‘Actually, it was my cousin’s idea,’ he said, and ran a hand through his honey curls, but the director wasn’t listening.

  ‘Mics, Roxy!’ she hissed at her assistant, who’d just appeared by her side.

  Roxy rummaged in a bag she was carrying.

  ‘We’ll send the cameraman up when he’s finished filming your father,’ Gaynor said to Edward, still ignoring me. ‘Delving into the past, the evacuees’ dorms… I’m sure you’ll agree that’s just too good to miss.’

  Taking her time as usual, with her hands on his chest, the director fitted Edward up with his mic while Roxy put on mine. Then Edward and I climbed the staircase, up to the Long Gallery. I hadn’t been there since the Earl gave me a tour. The buckets placed to catch raindrops were still empty, thanks to the warm spell.

  Edward stopped outside a bedroom, opposite the portrait of the glamorous couple known for partying – the Earl’s great-grandparents—while I thought about Lady C. She must have been mega chuffed to land an invite to hang around for a few days, and keep an eye on me and Nick. Edward pointed to his battery pack, clipped onto his waist, and pulled out the mic lead. I followed suit.

  ‘No need for them to hear our every word,’ he muttered, ‘until the cameraman arrives.’

  I nodded and glanced out of a window on the other side and gazed down at the maze. Talk of the devil—Nick was working late, busy shaping it an with electric trimmer, no doubt hoping to avoid the imminent rain. The little avenues looked sharper and more defined. No doubt Croxley kids had played hide and seek in it over the centuries. He stood up and stretched and I smiled at the sight of his cheeky face. Yes, the gardener was a relief from the stodgy Croxleys but…I swallowed hard. How I’d felt with my arm around Edward… Who could make sense of that?

  I turned back around and followed Edward into the bedroom. He’d switched on the light, which was just a glaring bulb with no lampshade.

  ‘It looks as if no one has touched this room since the war,’ I said.

  Edward shrugged. ‘They haven’t really – only once when we had the whole of this top floor rewired.’

  The room was big and full of clutter, with dismantled shelves against the walls and nuts and bolts scattered across the floor. It smelt of books that had been left in the loft too long. On each side were two pairs of bunk beds, so eight children had slept here. Cardboard boxes were stacked against the beds and on them. I crouched down and lifted the lid of one. On top of a pile of toys was a doll wearing a dusty bonnet and stained dress.

  ‘Look at this,’ I said, voice all mushy, and held it up. ‘Talk about antique. With those choochy cheeks and rosebud lips, its face is quite beautiful.’ I lifted up a knitted toy. ‘Hey Teddy, this looks like a teddy!’

  But there was no humour in Edward’s eyes or even a scowl for me using his pet name. He simply stared, before heading for the door.

  ‘Back in a minute. I’m just getting the laptop. It might be good to search online and familiarize myself with background knowledge about wartime evacuees, so that I can show some genuine knowledge on screen.’

  ‘Ever the honest, conscientious one, aren’t you,’ I said in a teasing voice, probably sounding more Gemma than Abbey.

  He stared at me for a moment and his eyes narrowed. ‘Whenever possible. Someone has to be. In fact you can drop the pretence. Don’t you think I’ve guessed your little secret?’

  My mouth went dry.

  ‘It’s become clear, since Lady Constance has arrived. Perhaps, when I return, you’ll do the right thing and come clean.’

  He left me in the room, my heart racing.

  LORD EDWARD’S E-DIARY

  Wednesday 5th September

  Comments

  7.30p.m. I’ve just bobbed back to the Parlour to pick up my laptop and noticed some responses already to my poser question. Thank you, all, for your continued participation.

  Cupcakesrock, so, you think we’re hosting a demonstration of Second World War meals? How interesting that your grandmother used to make carrot cakes during the war called Beady Buns—because they helped people see during blackouts.

  Historybuff, I agree, a reunion of the evacuees, incorporating subsequent personal stories, would be a fascinating social documentation of life in post-war Britain.

  bustyfanDownton, nice to see you back, even if it is just to tell us we don’t stand a chance against Marwick Castle – unless we scrub all current ideas and declare Applebridge Hall a naturist destination. Hmm. I have a rather awkward image in my head now, thanks to your suggestion of us playing naked Twister…

  Chapter 16

  ‘So?’ said Edward, now finally back from the Parlour.

  ‘Um…’

  ‘For goodness’ sake, woman!’

  At least he no longer considered me some juvenile little girl.

  ‘I’ve worked it out! Lady Constance is taking you home. No doubt you’re still upset after I suggested you abandon ship.’

  I breathed a sigh of relief. Wow. For a while there, I thought my disguise had been rumbled.

  ‘Are you still determined to see the worst in me, Edward?’ I said eventually. ‘To doubt my convictions, my abilities, my every move…? What about that half-glass full?’

  ‘So, Lady Constance just happened to be in the area?’

  ‘Yes
,’ I said firmly, although it was rather a coincidence.

  We gazed into each other’s eyes for a moment. His shoulders relaxed.

  ‘Okay. Fair enough. Apologies, then, Abbey. Although, if you ever felt… I’d understand your departure, if you weren’t happy or found this reality show experience difficult to endure. Only this morning, on the phone, Henrietta pointed out how much of a challenge this fortnight must be for you. Father and I aren’t always the, erm, easiest people to live with.’

  ‘You don’t say?’ My mouth upturned. ‘Look—you aren’t on your own any more, Edward. I’m here to help you and Uncle—to see this thing through.’

  His eyes crinkled at the corners and in that moment I longed to wrap my arms round him; to see another glimpse of the carefree Edward who’d swum with me last night in the pond.

  ‘You and Henrietta are good friends, aren’t you?’ I asked.

  ‘Henry’s a special lady,’ he murmured.

  For some reason my stomach went into a Sheepshank—or Overhand Bow (I’d learnt about knots from Dad). Edward was clearly mega fond of her.

  ‘Look, I’m fine. This week has been stressful, but I’m a fighter,’ I said. ‘You don’t need to worry about me.’

  ‘Then perhaps your aunt has called by because she’s worried and doesn’t trust us to look after you.’

  ‘More likely she doesn’t trust me to do a good job,’ I mumbled.

  His brow relaxed. ‘Well, you do do – a good job.’

  ‘Do-bee, do-bee, do,’ I said without thinking.

  We exchanged glances and laughed. Fuzzy feeling inside again. Nope. He’s supposed to be my cousin. Musn’t dream of a snog.

  ‘Edward, don’t you think there’s a chance…I mean surely it’s possible that our fathers will make up? I don’t know the full details of why they haven’t talked for so long, but perhaps me contributing towards this programme, perhaps us pulling together will—’

  ‘Don’t raise your hopes, Abbey. Father’s feelings were very hurt. The rift… It could have destroyed our family name. Perhaps it’s better things stay as they are.’

  I raised my eyebrows. ‘You know what happened between them?’

  ‘I’ve already said too much. Someone’s coming.’ His eyes dulled. In other words, subject closed.

  The door creaked open and, as the cameraman entered, we both plugged our mics back in. Extra lighting set up, the room looked twice the size. Just as we were about to start filming, the Earl appeared.

  ‘Kathleen is sorting out your aunt’s room, Abigail,’ he said. ‘How delightful Lady Constance is. Tomorrow I shall take her on a stroll to spot the birds that frequent our estate.’

  ‘Good idea, Father,’ said Edward. ‘Although I doubt many wildlife boffins watch Million Dollar Mansion.’

  ‘Pah! I’m not spending every minute of this fortnight doing things to please this blasted show.’

  ‘Did, um, Roxy fix you up with a mic, Uncle?’ I asked innocently.

  He, Edward and I looked at each other and grinned.

  The cameraman chuckled. ‘Don’t worry, folks. I’ll get that bit edited out.’

  ‘I haven’t been in this room for years.’ The Earl sat down on one of the beds and lit his pipe. The cameraman gave us the thumbs-up. While Edward sifted through a cardboard box full of paperwork, I carried on discovering toys.

  ‘Look at this!’ I held up another knitted toy – aw, what a cute elephant.

  ‘Damn me, I’d forgotten about Mrs Trimble,’ said the Earl. ‘She’d make us soft toys, using old jumpers for wool, rags for stuffing and mismatched buttons for eyes. Factories only made weapons during the war – anything else had to be made at home.’

  ‘What about this?’ I said, and with two hands lifted out a clockwork train set.

  ‘We were lucky to keep that,’ said the Earl. ‘I used to have a big collection of metal soldiers I shared with the boys, but eventually Mama gave them up to be melted down for the war effort. Most of the toys we had were handmade. Our butler, Mr Carter, was a whiz with a saw, chisel and mallet. There should be some wooden zoo animals in there.’ The Earl scratched his beard. ‘And a farm, if I remember rightly.’

  After rummaging in the box for a few minutes, sure enough, I pulled out a zebra, penguin and lion. Something clattered in the bottom and I pulled out a handful of marbles.

  ‘We’d roll them along the Long Gallery. Jolly good fun, it was, although Matron wasn’t impressed. She always said someone would trip over them and break their neck. Gerry Green did sprain his ankle once.’ The Earl chuckled. ‘We had to play covertly, after that.’

  ‘What about these…?’ I lifted out a folder of paper dolls and a shower of dust fell over my blouse. ‘Plus Snakes & Ladders!’ I pulled out a box.

  ‘Us boys made our own fun a lot of the time,’ said the Earl,’ like hide and seek in the maze or digging for worms. But my old family games and the ones made by Mr Carter were a godsend during inclement months.’

  Digging for worms? Ooh, that brought back memories of me growing up with my brothers. No Barbie dolls for me. Action men were cool, as was our favourite game, ninjas versus aliens.

  ‘Have you managed to find a register, Edward?’ I said.

  A mound of papers now littered the bed.

  ‘Yes – although if we’re really holding this lunch on Saturday, it won’t give us much time to trace the girls who’ve married and changed their surnames. There’s a tremendous amount to look through – medical papers and school work…

  ‘Roxy must be used to doing research,’ I said. ‘No doubt she could help.’ The knitted elephant lay on its back amongst the paper dolls and seemed to stare at me. How many homesick children had clutched that to their chest at night, all those years ago? I shook myself. Edward wouldn’t approve of soppiness.

  The Earl moved to the wall behind the headboards of the beds.

  ‘They’re still there,’ he muttered.

  ‘What’s that?’ I got up and gave a loud sneeze, from all the dust.

  ‘See these marks. Some of the children used to scratch the number of days they stayed here into the wall.’

  I went over. My eyes tingled. At the end of one huge set of scratches was a big smiley face and the words ‘Going Home’.

  I opened up another box to find a pile of ration books and gas masks.

  ‘Once we know who is coming—’ if anyone, fingers crossed ‘—we could present them with all their paperwork. I’ll clean up these toys,’ I said.

  The Earl nodded and picked up a yo-yo that I’d put on a bed.

  ‘I could never master this,’ he said. ‘Jonny Jackson showed me again and again.’ He gazed at it for a few moments before giving it an unsuccessful go.

  ‘Let’s get cracking, then,’ said Edward and unplugged his mic. The Earl and I did the same, as the cameraman put down his equipment.

  ‘I, um, just need some fresh air,’ I said, wondering if Nick was still trimming the maze. ‘Then I’ll check on my aunt before going online to search for names. Shall I use the computer in the cellar whilst you use the laptop, Edward?’

  ‘Whatever you prefer, Cousin,’ he said.

  ‘I’ll visit Bill in the morning,’ said the Earl.

  ‘Let’s meet tomorrow, a couple of hours before the next episode of Million Dollar Mansion, to see how far we’ve all got,’ suggested Edward. ‘I’ll pick Roxy’s brains and see if she can speed up the research process.’

  ‘Super idea,’ I said.

  With a swing in my step, I headed downstairs. This was wicked! Although there was no point getting carried away—we still had one more week, after the reunion, to go. Things might fall flat, so, despite Lady C’s disapproval, I had to find a way for me and Nick to give the cameras a bit more reality show gold.

  I legged it out of the main entrance and immediately my skin came up in goose bumps. It was mega cool now. I looked at my watch. It had already gone nine o’clock. In the dusk, by the fountain, Roxy chewed gum and talked non-st
op with Gaynor, at her usual breakneck speed.

  ‘Get the cameraman,’ said the director, fag hanging out of her mouth. ‘This brewing storm could provide some excellent moody shots. They’ll make the perfect backdrop to edit in if any dramas take place. Take some of the pond first, and then the cemetery, plus a panoramic view from the back of the house.’

  They stopped chatting as I walked past. Slowing my pace, I made sure they saw me primp my loose hair as if I wanted to look my best. Then I headed around to the back and Nick, who stood next to a wheelbarrow.

  ‘You’ve done a splendid job on the maze,’ I said. ‘But it’s almost dark. Don’t you think you should stop? What about dinner?’

  On cue, my stomach grumbled and we laughed.

  ‘Um, Nick… after the lawnmower debacle…’

  ‘Have you been on the Internet? Seen the fallout on Facebook? How have the family reacted?’ Nick’s top lip curled. ‘I didn’t want to leave you alone with your cousin last night.’

  I smiled. ‘It’s nothing I can’t handle. Naturally, I’ve played down our, um, relationship. Still, it’s perfectly understandable if you don’t wish to—’

  ‘Bring it on!’ Then he stared at me for quite a long moment.

  ‘Anything, um wrong, Nick? Have I smudged my mascara?’

  ‘Sorry! It’s just… You’re not at all what I’d expect of a lady – no offence. You’re so easy to talk to, whereas your cousin…’

  ‘He’s under a lot of pressure at the moment,’ I said with a shrug.

  ‘Sure. But with him I’m always very aware that I live in a one-bedroom flat and he owns a mansion. You could be the girl next door.’ He grinned. ‘Well, almost—bet you’ve been to university and…’