Winston's Spy

by Robert Webber

  ‘Go and get married, stop worrying, enjoy a few days off with your wife, and we will see you back here next Monday,’ Commander Jeffers instructed.

  As Alex was leaving, Miss Willoughby handed him a security pass for the building, and told him to keep it secure and only use it for this building.

  As Alex walked to St James’s Park Underground station, he became aware of an unwelcome presence, so he ducked into the station, dived out of the side exit and re-entered to find his tail looking confused in the station concourse. Alex bumped into him accidentally and then apologised profusely, smiling at the man as he pickpocketed the man’s security pass surreptitiously from his raincoat pocket. The man looked quite disappointed that Alex had spotted him, and he smiled and shrugged at Alex before leaving.

  Alex feigned picking something up from the floor and attracted the man’s attention by calling, ‘Excuse me!’ He smiled as he handed back the man’s pass, ‘I think you must have dropped this.’

  The man looked even more embarrassed and hurried away.

  Alex proceeded to the appropriate platform. The train rattled into the station, and Alex boarded it; it took only a few minutes to travel the five stations to Earls Court. Alex let himself into Teddy’s flat in Cavendish Court just as the hall clock was striking noon.

  Although she was pleased to see him, he noticed that there was a slight hesitation in her greeting, ‘What’s wrong?’ he asked.

  ‘Where have you been? I have been waiting for you since before 9.00am; I thought you were coming straight from your mother’s?’ Teddy was plainly upset.

  Alex hugged her. ‘I’m sorry, my darling. I just did not think; I only called by the office. Besides, I thought you would appreciate the chance to catch up on your beauty sleep.’

  ‘Well, I was worried,’ she replied sulkily before the realisation of his words crept up to her, ‘What do you mean you thought I would appreciate the chance to catch up on my beauty sleep? Do you think that I need any beauty sleep?’ She stepped back and put her hands on her hips in mock indignation.

  ‘Well, every little helps!’ Alex said cheekily, and he earned himself a playful slap for his nerve. He caught her wrist as she was about to deliver a second and pulled her to him, kissing her.

  It was, therefore, a somewhat subdued Teddy who got ready to accompany her soon-to-be husband into town to collect his new uniform.

  *

  The tailor at Hawkes & Co. smiled in acknowledgement as Alex and Teddy entered the shop. ‘Lieutenant Carlton, your uniforms and greatcoat arrived back from the workroom yesterday, and I think you will agree that they look very nice. Please take a seat, and I shall go and bring them to you.’

  Alex tried on all three uniforms, together with a greatcoat and two caps. To his mind, everything fitted like a glove, but the tailor fussed about making minor alterations, which he pinned in place or marked with a triangular piece of chalk.

  When Alex had tried on all the clothes, and they had been suitably marked, the tailor announced, ‘Just one or two final finishing touches.’ He pulled out a gold half-hunter watch from his waistcoat and checked the time. ‘Shall we say 4.30pm, sir?’

  Alex had not been expecting to be delayed in town for a further two hours, but he agreed. They left the cubicle, and the tailor snapped his fingers at his junior assistant to collect clothes and take them upstairs to the workroom. ‘These are for 4.30pm, Ernest,’ he told the younger man.

  ‘Of course, sir,’ ventured the tailor, ‘if you would prefer, we could have them sent round to where you are staying?’

  Alex agreed and gave the tailor the Onslow Gardens address.

  He and Teddy left the tailor’s and spent the rest of the day looking around shops, where both made a few purchases, and Alex found a gentleman’s barber where he could get his hair smartened for his wedding. Alex told the barber that he would like his hair cutting so that it was smart and well-groomed, but not so short that he would be mistaken for a raw recruit.

  ‘Just so, sir, and the beard?’ enquired the barber.

  ‘I am keen that the beard stays, but the same applies; it needs tidying up,’ Alex instructed.

  The barber responded, ‘If I may say so, sir, it is a little…’ He searched for the right word. ‘Immature in places. Perhaps sir should wait a while?’

  ‘No, the beard stays,’ Alex insisted.

  ‘Then I’ll see what I can do, sir,’ the barber responded.

  After half an hour of snipping, clipping, razoring and shaping, the barber stood back to admire his handiwork before making a final snip here and there; he then declared that Alex was ready to face the world. The barber held up a mirror so that Alex could see the back of his head, and he received a nod from Alex to indicate satisfaction.

  ‘Perhaps a little eau de cologne, sir?’ the barber asked.

  Alex declined.

  The barber bent a little closer so that he could whisper discreetly, ‘Something for the weekend, sir?’

  Alex understood the code. ‘I sincerely hope not,’ he responded, ‘I’m getting married tomorrow.’

  The barber smiled, pulled the curtain back and glanced at Teddy, who was sitting and reading a newspaper, and who momentarily looked up. ‘Congratulations, sir!’ he declared. There was a definite emphasis and perhaps envy, or maybe even the wish that he might be twenty years younger himself.

  Alex paid and left a generous tip, making a mental note to return when he was able, as the haircut that he had received was excellent. Even Teddy remarked how smart and distinguished Alex now appeared.

  Teddy decided that she wished to have an early night as she had a big day ahead of her tomorrow, so they hailed a cab and returned to Cavendish Court. She suggested that Alex might like to come in for a while before returning to Onslow Gardens. Alex half-thought that Teddy did not want him disappearing again and was making sure that he would go straight home after leaving him, but, whatever the reason behind Teddy’s suggestion, Alex agreed.

  In a moment of déjà vu when they entered the flat, Teddy suggested that Alex should make them both a Martini while she went to powder her nose. Alex found the ice bucket fully loaded, and there was even a lemon on the tray. Alex prepared the drinks, and Teddy returned wearing the same pyjamas and gown.

  ‘Don’t get any ideas,’ she said, ‘you will not be staying tonight! But this will be the last evening that I will have as Miss Palmer; tomorrow night I shall be Mrs Carlton,’ and then she pondered, ‘or will it be Karlov?’

  ‘Carlton,’ Alex responded, ‘but otherwise it would be Karlova as an “a” is added to the surname to indicate the feminine.’

  ‘Either way,’ stated Teddy, ‘I wanted to spend our last evening as single people together. So, Mr Carlton, are you going to get cold feet and leave me jilted at the altar?’

  ‘Never in a million years,’ he replied, and those five words were the sincerest that Alex had ever spoken.

  ‘Good!’ Teddy replied, ‘Then I might turn up as well!’

  They fell into each other’s arms, laughing, and they kissed; both felt the passion that existed between them, but both suppressed it valiantly. Self-restraint won – just; and Alex went back to Onslow Gardens.

  XXIX

  It was Thursday morning, and Alex was awake early. It was, after all, about the most significant day of his life thus far, and he was excited. As good as their word, Hawkes & Co. had delivered his uniforms the previous evening, and the maid had put them carefully onto coat hangers in his wardrobe.

  Alex was breakfasting in his dressing gown when Uncle Walter arrived, carrying a long mahogany box.

  ‘Alex,’ he began, ‘I am glad that you are here. Today is the day of your marriage, and this time also marks the start of your service as an officer of His Majesty’s navy. You may be unaware, but my grandfather was also a naval man who gave his life during the Battle of Sinop in 1853, whil
e commanding a ship of the line under Admiral Pavel Stepanovich Nakhimov.

  ‘In 1850, His Imperial Majesty Tsar Nikolay I came aboard my grandfather’s ship, and he was so pleased with the hospitality that he received that he presented my grandfather with one of his own ceremonial swords. My grandfather cherished that sword and bequeathed it to my father on his death. My father, in turn, passed it to me, and, now, as it is unlikely that I will have a son to whom I can pass the sword and you are as close as it is to be my own son, it is just and right that I pass it on to you.’

  Uncle Walter placed the wooden box on the dining-room table, and he produced a key from his waistcoat pocket with which he unlocked the box. Inside, nestled in deep-red satin, was the most beautiful sword that Alex had seen. The scabbard was sheathed in the finest leather, and surmounted by stunningly embossed gold suspension rings, locket and chape. The grip of the sword was covered in sharkskin that was bound with gold twine, and the golden guard was exquisitely engraved and enamelled with the Imperial Eagle with Tsar Nikolay I’s monogram. The solid-silver pommel was cast in the shape of the Imperial Eagle. The fashion for naval dress swords at that time was that they should have a straight blade, unlike the curved “hanger” that was used in battle, and when Alex drew the sword, he saw that the blade had been highly polished and beautifully engraved with Imperial symbols and, again, the tsar’s monogram. It was a truly magnificent weapon, and probably worth many hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds.

  ‘In truth, Uncle,’ Alex began, ‘this is too generous, and I feel unworthy to receive such a magnificent gift.’

  ‘Alexander… Sasha, I cannot think of anybody worthier. Please, it is yours, and that is my wish,’ declared Uncle Walter.

  Alex hugged his adopted uncle and shook his hand and thanked him once more. ‘Uncle, I am overwhelmed. I shall wear it today at my wedding.’

  ‘There is also another gift that you will receive at your marriage, but this is in celebration of your commission,’ Uncle Walter said. ‘Now I must go to work. I am so glad that I found you at home, Sasha. Please extend my compliments to your mother.’

  Alex sat down, his breakfast a forgotten memory, as he remained overcome by his uncle’s generosity.

  It was in this state that his mother discovered him when she arrived downstairs shortly after 10.30am. ‘Sasha!’ she disturbed him, ‘Come along now, I must go to Teddy; I promised that I would not be late. Your best man will be here presently, so please ensure that you are ready for him. I am coming back here so that we can travel altogether. I hope you will not be late!’

  The Countess Tatiana Ivanovna swept imperiously from the house, and into Uncle Walter’s Rolls-Royce, which was waiting patiently at the curb for her.

  Alex rose and picked up the mahogany box, and he carried it deferentially upstairs to his room. The maid had preceded him, as she had pressed his dress uniform and hung it on a coat hanger. She had laundered, starched and ironed a new white shirt, which she had laid out on his bed, and his shoes, which gleamed mirrorlike, stood neatly by the side of his chest of drawers.

  Alex went to the bathroom and drew himself a comfortably hot bath, into which he scattered some masculine bath salts that Teddy had bought the previous day. As was his custom, he carefully laid out his shaving brush and razor, so that he could trim his recently coiffured facial hair, while the hair was still supple enough to be shaved smoothly.

  Alex undressed and lay in the bath, allowing the therapeutic minerals from the bath salts to relax his body. He allowed his mind to drift until he was brought back to reality by the ringing of the doorbell, which heralded Simon’s arrival.

  The maid let Simon in and installed him in the sitting room, with a cup of coffee and the daily newspaper to keep him occupied until Alex was ready to receive him.

  Alex extracted himself from the bath and completed his ablutions before dressing in the neatly laundered singlet and shorts, and pulling on a pair of black socks that he attached to his elasticated garters so that they would remain unwrinkled. He slipped on his silk dressing gown and went in search of his best man. Simon looked dapper in his day dress uniform, and they shook hands in welcome.

  ‘So,’ Simon began, ‘this is about the last chance that you have to change your mind without causing an embarrassing scene. I suppose I must ask, even though I am sure of your response, but do you genuinely want to go through with this marriage?’

  ‘Yes, I do, you silly arse,’ Alex chided his friend, ‘Now, for God’s sake, will you come and help me?’

  As they started to go up the stairs, the doorbell rang, and Simon ran down to open the door. After a moment, he closed the door gently, turned to Alex, and said, ‘It’s for you, and I think you’d better see him.’

  Alex nodded and started to walk back down the stairs as Simon opened the door and invited the caller into the hallway. Alex was surprised as the older investigator, the one who had identified himself as Gordon, came through the doorway.

  ‘Lieutenant Carlton,’ he began, ‘May I have a moment?’

  ‘I am getting married this afternoon and have to get ready; can this not wait until later?’ He was very much afraid that Gordon had come to whisk him away for another bout of interrogation, thereby confounding his marriage plans.

  ‘It won’t take a moment,’ confirmed Gordon, who turned and walked into the sitting room expecting Alex to follow.

  Simon came to lend his friend moral support also.

  When all three were in the sitting room, and Simon had closed the door, Gordon said, ‘I understand that you are busy, and I also appreciate that I am probably the last person that you wish to see on your wedding day. Nevertheless, I thought it fair to come in person to let you know that the recommendation from the investigating team is that you acted in self-defence while in fear of your life. Notwithstanding that you acted to save yourself, you also saved our country from acute embarrassment because, had Horváth been deployed in the field, he could have wreaked incalculable damage to the British war effort.

  ‘There are two other investigations underway that will report to the board of inquiry; the first is looking at how this man was not picked up during the security screening, and the second is trying to piece together why he acted in the manner that he did. I understand that these investigations are ongoing and may not have concluded by the time the board of inquiry convenes, but, as far as you are concerned, I thought you would appreciate knowing that you can get married without the fear of any future action being taken against you.’

  ‘Thank you for your consideration,’ Alex said, ‘It is most appreciated.’

  Gordon rose and shook both Alex and Simon by the hand, and wished Alex the very best of luck before leaving.

  Simon’s reaction to the visit was one of relief, and even Alex’s demeanour improved as a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, and thus the groom and his best man resumed their journey up the stairs to Alex’s room.

  It was soon time for Alex to dress, and he was most particular and careful how he put each item of clothing on. His new uniform fitted perfectly, and his elegance was complete when he clipped his recently presented sword to the belt clips.

  Simon was almost as speechless as Alex had been as he admired the beauty of the metalwork and enamelling, declaring, ‘That is a truly magnificent weapon.’ Simon was envious. ‘I keep forgetting that your family was so well connected in the motherland.’

  ‘It was a huge surprise to me also,’ said Alex, ‘Uncle Walter brought it around for me this morning; apparently, the sword was presented to his grandfather, who was also a naval officer, by Tsar Nikolay I.’

  ‘Nevertheless,’ said Simon, ‘to have the privilege of wearing such a magnificent sword is most humbling.’

  Alex did not disagree.

  *

  Leaving nothing to chance, the car arrived to take them to the Chelsea registry office at 1.45pm, a full hour b
efore they were due to arrive. Surprisingly, Alex emerged onto Onslow Gardens to find a hackney carriage awaiting them.

  ‘I thought I would send the Rolls-Royce for Teddy,’ Uncle Walter explained from the back of the cab, ‘it’s far better that her last journey as a spinster should be in comfort.’ There was a definite twinkle in his eye.

  What with Uncle Walter’s bulk, and Simon’s and Alex’s swords getting in the way, the journey to Chelsea was not the most comfortable that they had ever taken. Nevertheless, they arrived shortly after 2.00pm and were in time to notice a sergeant from a Scottish regiment leaving the registrar’s office on the arm of a young lady, whom he had apparently just wed.

  ‘Good luck, Sergeant,’ Alex said to the man in passing.

  Guessing that Alex was there for the same reason, he responded, ‘Aye, and to ye, sir.’

  It was a happy occasion, and Alex wondered how many more happy events would be performed that week, in this and other similar places. He ran up the steps, and presented himself to the receptionist.

  ‘You’re early.’ she declared.

  ‘Yes, well, I was told not to be late,’ he replied tartly.

  ‘Is your bride here?’

  ‘No, I think she will be a little less punctual,’ Alex responded.

  ‘Well, we hope she will not be too fashionably late,’ the receptionist commented with sardonic humour, ‘Up the stairs and through the third door on the left is the waiting room; there should be one other bridegroom also waiting.’

  Alex’s party made their way upstairs and to the waiting room, which was decorated and furnished – as are most government offices – with the barest minimum of comfort. Not that Alex could relax, and he spent the ensuing minutes pacing the room, trying to wear down the linoleum floor covering.

  The other groom and his best man were called through at just turned 2.20pm.

  Alex gave them a smile of encouragement and wished them, ‘Good luck,’ also.