by Terri Nixon
‘I will, I promise. But I have to tell you something else. Something more important.’ I told him everything that had happened after I got back to Number Twelve after seeing Will, and he looked grim at the news of Kitty’s situation. The look melted into sympathy, until I told him Archie was planning to cover for Oliver, and then his face darkened again but I pushed on; I was just three words away from fully unburdening myself and couldn’t stop now.
‘Oliver has disappeared.’
There was a silence in that little cottage kitchen that seemed completely out of place. Not a sound came through from outside, not even the distant noise of animals or birds. Eventually Jack spoke and I could hear the effort of control in his voice.
‘I’ll kill him.’
‘Jack!’ Lizzy said, but her voice too was worried and taut. She laid a hand on Jack’s arm, and he subsided slightly, but his jaw was still rigid, and his eyes flashed blue fire.
‘This is my nephew we’re talking about. He’s risking his life for this bloody Maitland boy!’
‘As you did for Will!’ I shot back. ‘And as Lizzy did for you.’
‘That’s not the –’
‘Please, Uncle Jack,’ I said in little more than a whisper, ‘you have to help find him, persuade him to go back before Archie sends that telegram.’ And he had Archie’s papers, too, I belatedly realised. My neck and shoulder hurt horribly and my eyes were grainy and tired. Lizzy had prepared a bed for me in case I turned up late at night, and she stood ready now to help me to my feet, but I couldn’t rest until I knew Jack was going to help. His anger was palpable, but he was a good man and I knew he would do the best he could, if only he could put his fury aside.
He exchanged a long, wordless look with Lizzy, and then shifted his gaze to me and his voice softened, although only a little. ‘Of course I will.’
It was enough. I felt Lizzy’s arm come around me as I slumped in relief, with my head pillowed on my arms. ‘I’m so glad you’re here, Uncle Jack,’ I mumbled into the crook of my elbow. Lizzy drew me gently to my feet, and led me upstairs to Emily’s room.
‘Do you think he can help?’ I asked her as she helped me undress. It was strange, an old ritual, familiar to us both for so long, yet we were different people now. She helped me only because my arm was becoming less functional the longer I remained awake, and when she turned back the eiderdown to let me slip between the clean, fresh sheets, I felt like crying for all we had lost.
But we had gained, too, and Lizzy’s trust in Jack gave us both strength. ‘I’m sure he’ll do everything he can,’ she said. ‘We’ll talk to Kitty later, and see if we can work out where Oliver might have gone.’
‘Thank you,’ I mumbled, hoping my gratitude was more obvious to her than it sounded to me.
‘Sleep now.’ She left me alone then, and I closed my eyes as the relief of being among loved ones once more stole through me, and carried me into a peaceful and, for once, dreamless sleep.
When I came awake it was late at night, and the opportunity to talk to Kitty that day was past. For a second I fretted at the passing of time, but there was nothing I could do about it now, and worrying about the wasted chance would achieve nothing, so I lay quietly, relishing the comfort of Emily’s bed. The wind had picked up, making a strange, animal-like whine as it cut across the corner of the end-terraced house. I lay for a while, enjoying the sound, comparing it to the hideous shriek of the shells which usually punctuated my nights, making sleep a fitful luxury. As I shifted position to stretch my legs my right shoulder woke up and howled. I bit back a cry and reminded myself to move more slowly, but even settling back down did not lessen this new ache. It set up a sympathetic throbbing in my gum, and I knew I was finally going to have to get something done about that too.
Taking a deep breath, I sat up and eased my legs out from under the covers, the cold momentarily replacing the stinging tug from the stitches in the side of my neck. I let my eyes adjust to the darkness for a while, until I could locate the Aspirin powder I had brought with me, and then poured a glass of water in readiness. Before I could drink it, however, I heard the murmur of voices from the room next door and realised that was what had woken me.
I didn’t want to listen; it would have been like eavesdropping on my parents, but I heard my name, and paused with the glass halfway to my lips.
‘It’s not just up to her,’ Uncle Jack said in reply to whatever Lizzy had been protesting. I could tell they were trying to keep their voices down, but the disagreement had clearly upset Lizzy and her voice had risen.
‘You can’t go back, not for that!’
The echo of my own words, in her scared voice, shook me. Go back where? I carefully replaced the glass and crept closer to the wall between the two rooms. ‘It’s her legacy, darling,’ Jack was saying. ‘And he didn’t see me, I’m sure of it.’
‘And you’re absolutely certain it was him?’
Jack’s voice was grim. ‘Hard to mistake Wingfield, you know that better than most.’
There was a quiet moment and, from the way Lizzy’s voice was muffled when she spoke again, I guessed he had pulled her back to lie against him. ‘Jack, please, go back for your country if you must, but don’t do it for a rock she never wanted in the first place.’
The Kalteng Star? I frowned, my heart speeding up as I strained to catch every word.
‘It’s not just up to Evie,’ Jack said, his voice quieter now too. ‘It’s a Creswell heirloom, and…I owe it to Henry.’ There was a silence, and I closed my eyes, urging her to convince him not to go, but he spoke again. ‘Listen, I’m not risking anything, he doesn’t know I’ve even been over to Germany, let alone seen him. I should be able to find out what he’s done with it, and if he hasn’t got it any more I’ll come home. I promise.’
‘When will you go?’ Lizzy sounded resigned now, and I felt her pain. Just as I had had to accept Will’s decision to return to fighting, so she had, equally reluctantly, accepted this.
‘I’ll leave directly from France, as soon as this mess with young Archie is sorted out. We’ll need Kitty’s help though, I hope she’s up to coming back with me.’
‘Jack?’
‘Hmm?’
‘I love you, you know that, don’t you?’
A low chuckle. ‘I think you’ve proved that.’ He sighed, and the sound drifted through the wall as I imagined him tightening his hold on her. ‘And you know I love you. I’d do anything for you.’
‘Except stay,’ she said sadly, and then there was no more talking.
In the morning it was as if the exchange hadn’t happened. There was no mention of his leaving, and it was only the darker circles beneath Lizzy’s eyes that betrayed a sleepless night.
‘We’ll go and talk to Kitty today,’ she told me as she put a bowl of porridge in front of me. It was thick, laced with Dark River Farm honey, and the smell was warm and rich. It made me smile, despite my nervousness.
‘Just the two of us,’ I clarified, looking apologetically at Uncle Jack. He waved it away, already stuck well into his porridge.
‘She’s never met me, the last thing she’d need would be some old man rolling up while you three are discussing…’ he cleared his throat ‘…delicate matters.’
I looked at him with some amusement; at a little under forty years old he still looked thirty, square-shouldered and handsome, only the creases beside his eyes and the deepening of the lines around his mouth showing the toll these past few difficult years had taken on him. Judging from the way Lizzy raised an eyebrow I imagined her thoughts were the echoes of mine.
I grinned. ‘And what will the “old man” be doing while we’re up at the farm?’
‘Gardening,’ he said with satisfaction, and dropped the spoon into his empty bowl. He leaned back and patted his stomach. ‘Any more where that came from?’
Lizzy gave him a look. ‘No. There’s a war on, you know. Besides, you’ll get fat.’
Jack pulled a face and stood up. He leaned down to
kiss Lizzy’s forehead, and she leaned against him for a moment. I looked away, not quite embarrassed, but feeling like an intruder on their quiet moment together. They both seemed to sense this and broke apart, and once more I felt a pang of envy for their closeness, and the way their minds were completely in tune.
Jack took his jacket down from the peg by the door, and I reflected how well the casual life suited him. He’d never been one to conform to social standards, but here, in this little kitchen with his garden outside and Lizzy within reach, he was more relaxed, and happier than I’d ever known him.
‘I’m sorry,’ I blurted.
They both looked surprised. ‘Sorry for what, love?’ Jack said.
‘For pulling you away from all this,’ I waved my spoon, ‘and sending you off to France.’
Jack came over to me and took my hand. He removed the spoon from my grip and drew me gently to my feet. The smell held deep in the fibres of his jacket was a comforting mixture of earth and bonfire smoke, and as I wrapped my arms around him I breathed it in, mingled with the smell of the warm, honeyed porridge. How had we ever lived in such isolated, sterile surroundings before?
‘You’re not pulling me anywhere, nor sending me,’ he said, his voice low and soothing. ‘Archie is my family, as are you, and all you’ve done is let me know he needs my help.’
‘Do you think we could send a wire to Archie, warn him not to send the message back to HQ?’
‘No, it’s too dangerous. We don’t know where he’s staying in Calais, although I could probably find out without too much problem. But even if we did, as far as everyone’s concerned he’s in England, and a message wouldonly throw a searchlight onto the whole thing. Better not to draw attention, and trust we get to him first.’ I nodded, and he released me with a gentle squeeze. ‘How’s your shoulder?’
‘It’s better than it was last night,’ I said. The ache had subsided with the aspirin and the water, and I had slept well for the remainder of the night. ‘I should be quite fit to travel in a day or two.’
‘You will not!’ Lizzy protested. ‘You’ll stay here until you’re properly mended.’
I exchanged a glance with Jack and we both smiled. ‘Yes, Lizzy,’ I said meekly. ‘Oh, Uncle Jack, I meant to say; I met someone who remembers you from Africa.’
‘Really? Who’s that?’
‘Lieutenant-Colonel Drewe.’
His expression brightened. ‘Ah, yes, I remember him. Good officer. Madly courageous.’
‘He said the same of you,’ I said, pleased.
Uncle Jack looked surprised, but gratified. ‘I remember he was sort of grandfatherly-looking, even back then,’ he went on. ‘Should think he looks every bit the grandfather now.’
‘He does. And he’s terribly kind. Not at all the type of brass hat you’d expect.’
‘Well, it’s good to know he’s back in active service. After he was injured at Rooiwal he changed quite a lot, became dependent on morphine for a while. We didn’t think he’d rejoin the military so I’m glad to hear things have turned around for him. He runs a tight ship, be a shame for that to have gone to waste.’
‘He spoke highly of both you and Father,’ I said.
‘Did he now? Well, he knew Henry rather better than he knew me.’
I smiled. ‘I have the feeling he knew you a bit better than you realise – said you had no sense of propriety.’
‘Damnable cheek,’ Uncle Jack said, though amiably enough. ‘Do give him my regards when you next see him.’
‘I will.’
‘And don’t go overdoing things while you’re here, all right?’
‘I won’t.’
‘And remember to change your bandages as often as you need to.’
‘I will.’
‘And don’t forget to write to your mother and Lawrence.’
‘I won’t.’
‘And –’
‘Jack!’ Lizzy broke in, and he grinned and ducked away from her well-aimed dishcloth, taking refuge behind the closing door. He opened it again just far enough to blow her a kiss, and she blew one back, and then he was gone.
After I had eaten my porridge I helped Lizzy clear away the plates. She locked the door behind her and the two of us set off up the road towards Dark River Farm. She had not for a moment entertained my suggestion that we should take the ambulance, and it was a relief to stretch my legs, wrapped up warm against the stiff breeze, where the only gun we heard was the occasional crack of a farmer keeping down vermin. I turned my thoughts from Will, where they kept trying to settle every time I thought about the way life was at the fighting front, and instead asked about the farm.
‘It’s a lovely place,’ I said. ‘Where did the name come from?’
‘There are woods that back onto it, at the southern edge of the boundary, and in front of that there’s a fairly small tributary of the River Dart. The trees cast a shadow over most of its length, and since they’re evergreen the river remains in darkness for a good deal of each day.’ She shot me a brief grin. ‘I know, you were hoping for something a little more exciting, weren’t you?’
‘Believe me, I’ve had more than enough excitement for one lifetime,’ I assured her. ‘And what of Mr Adams? Is he still…I mean, did he…’
‘He died, yes. In the first year of the war.’
‘Poor Mrs Adams.’
‘She’s bearing up. She has a lot of help – the girlsare a good substitute family for her, and I’ve seen the man who collects the milk give her the glad eye when he comes over.’
‘And does she return it?’
Lizzy grinned. ‘She pretends he drives her crackers, but I do think she welcomes it, yes.’ She touched my arm, and her voice was gentle. ‘Evie, I know things look bleak now, but they must be well again someday, mustn’t they? We just have to push through this, and hope for the best.’ We were silent for a while as we walked, and I looked across the moors, the woodlands dotted here and there, the valleys spread out below and the occasional farmhouse nestled against the steep slopes. Rain-wet huddles of granite glistened against the green, and the harsh landscape soothed my thoughts, and I began to dare to hope things might just be all right after all.
Chapter Twenty
The chilly wind cut through our clothes as we came within sight of Dark River Farm, and it was wonderful to step into the warm, fragrant kitchen. There was no one there, but we found Kitty upstairs in the main bedroom, stripping the beds. She looked up with a ready smile that died when she saw me; it was clear that, in this case, absence had not made the heart grow fonder, nor had it softened the anger she felt towards me, and it was only going to get harder once I told her what I had come to say.
I looked around at Lizzy, who stood in the doorway, uncertain, then back to Kitty. ‘I have to talk to you, is it all right if we sit here?’
‘Of course. I hope you’re keeping well.’
Her well-bred formality took me aback somewhat, but it was better than the outright hostility to which she had every right. I realised she didn’t know about our little cottage yet, nor about Gertie, and groaned inwardly; if only I had some good news to tell her, but it was all absolutely awful.
Lizzy came into the room and closed the door behind her. ‘You look a bit peaky, love. Are you feeling all right?’
‘It’s just a cold,’ Kitty said. ‘And I’m a bit tired, I was out early this morning with Jane and Sally.’
‘Where’s Mrs Adams?’
‘Gone to the village. She’ll be back soon.’ Kitty glanced at me. ‘She told me she saw you early yesterday.’
I wondered if I had imagined betrayal in that the little look, that I’d been here and not come in to see her, and nearly blurted out defensively that I’d thought she was at the cottage. But instead I just said, ‘She invited us to come up for a chat.’
‘She asks after you often, she’ll be glad to see you again.’
‘I wish you were.’
She shrugged. ‘I’m glad you’re safe,’ she said, an
d that was the best I could hope for. ‘What did you want to talk about?’
I sat on the bare mattress, wondering where to start. I had considered telling her about Gertie first, then the ambulance base, and only then building up to the terrible situation with Oliver, but in the end I just went straight to the very worst.
‘Oliver has deserted.’
‘He…what? What?’
‘He was on his way back here, to try and talk to you about what happened, but he disappeared from the station.’ The girl flinched and swallowed hard, as if she had been on the verge of being sick, but waited for me to go on. ‘You have to be the one to name the man who attacked you, or else I’ll be accused of putting words into your mouth. But I know who it was. He knew the car was booked to me that night, so of course you’d be alone.’
The way she paled told me all I needed to know, had I still been in any doubt, and I told her about Archie’s plan. She looked more hopeful at that, but I had to be sure she understood the consequences. ‘Kitty, Oliver might have got away now, but he will be found in the end.’ I made her look at me. ‘He’ll be court-martialled. You know what might mean for him, and for Archie.’
Kitty’s eyes were wide and bloodshot in her white face. ‘What can I do?’
‘You must think hard about where he might be. How we might find him and persuade him to go back. And then you must come to France with us and give your story.’
‘What happened to your neck?’ she said suddenly.
‘There was…it doesn’t matter.’
‘I’m not a child! What’s happened?’
‘We were shelled,’ I said. ‘Number Twelve is gone. I’m so sorry, darling, Anne was killed.’
She fell silent and her hand twisted in mine but it didn’t feel as if she was trying to pull away, so I kept hold of her. Eventually she drew a ragged breath. ‘What do I have to say, and who to?’
I sagged in relief, and put my arm around her. ‘Come back to Lizzy’s house with us. Uncle Jack will be there, he’ll tell you what to do. Thank you.’