by Molly Green
‘I don’t think it’s true love even though she was pretty upset that night and said she’d never forgive him – I don’t think it’s the first time he’s gone off with someone – but it seems she’s giving him another chance.’ June smothered a yawn. ‘It’s been quite a day, so I think I’ll turn in early as well. I’ve got a good book I’m reading – Rebecca. It’s a bit creepy at times, especially when I read it at night.’
She couldn’t help it – at the very mention of books Murray’s image rose in front of her. She’d promised him she’d lend him Monica Dickens’ autobiography.
‘I’m going, too.’ Kathleen jumped to her feet. ‘It’s a long night for me. Let’s hope Jerry doesn’t make it any worse.’
Against all Matron’s disapproving looks, the children turned the furnishing of the shelters into a game. Miss Ayles and Athena remained in the house with Hilda and Bertie, but most of the staff joined in, and by the end of the week the shelters were transformed.
‘I think we all deserve a medal.’ Barbara looked around with satisfaction. ‘We’ve got food and drink for at least a week, just in case; we’ve got a decent first-aid kit, plenty of warm bedding and extra clothing, kettle and Primus stove, and enough books and games and crayons to keep the kids occupied.’
‘Well done, kids,’ Iris said. ‘Bobby, thank you for taking charge of the younger ones.’
‘It was nothing, Nurse.’ He went off whistling.
‘I’d better get them back for their lessons,’ June said. ‘But I’m pleased we’ve got this job done. If there’s another raid at least the children have got some proper provisions.’
‘Don’t forget the grown-ups, Junie,’ Iris put in. ‘We’d quite like some proper provisions too.’
Chapter Nineteen
‘Hello, Junie.’ Murray’s voice was warm over the telephone wires. ‘I’m so sorry I haven’t been in touch, but this is the first time in ages I’ve had an opportunity to ring you.’
‘I wrote to you the other day because I was worried I hadn’t heard.’
‘Oh, Junie, I didn’t get your letter. You must have thought me a cad not to have replied but the post isn’t as reliable as it used to be. Please don’t ever worry about me – I’m all right. How’s Freddie settling in?’
‘That’s what I need to talk to you about. But the worst thing – we had a bombing raid the week before last – that’s why I wrote to you.’
She could feel the tension over the wires.
‘Oh, my God. Is anyone hurt?’
‘Yes, two people dead – the couple in the gardener’s cottage. They were sitting at the table and the cottage took a direct hit. They must have died instantly.’ Her voice shook.
‘Anyone else?’
‘No. No one else was injured. Luckily Bingham Hall was unscathed but it was very frightening.’
There was a pause and then she heard Murray’s voice sounding far away.
‘Oh, I’m so sorry. It’s dreadful for the poor couple but thank goodness they were the only casualties.’ The line crackled and she held the receiver tighter to her ear as though that would help keep the contact. ‘Thank God you’re all right, Junie. I had no idea you’d had a raid. They usually target the cities.’
‘Harold said it was a lone pilot dumping his bombs on his way back to Germany. I suppose it could have been worse.’
‘It certainly could.’ There was a pause. ‘You said Freddie is another thing. Has the dragon discovered him?’
‘Yes,’ June said miserably. ‘I’d managed to hide him so far in one of the stables but Freddie was already getting restless locked up in there. Anyway, Hilda, one of the girls, was taking the twins outside for a runaround while I was in church and they heard barking. Freddie’s bark used to be so small, but he’s getting louder by the day. They looked in the stable and there he was, all excited to see them, thinking they were going to have a game with him.’
‘Poor little chap.’
‘I know. He’s the sweetest little dog in the world. I love him to bits. But Hilda went running straight to Matron as soon as she came back from church, and of course Matron came out to inspect the stable for herself. Luckily Iris overheard some of the conversation and got hold of him beforehand and took him into her own room, but Matron found out she had him and demanded that he’s sent back to where he came from. “No dogs allowed, and that’s an order,” she was bellowing to anyone in her sight.’
‘I suppose it’s surprising we got away with it as long as we did,’ Murray said. ‘Do you want me to come and get him – take him back to the station?’
‘I think it’s the only answer, and at least he knows you.’
‘Don’t worry. He’ll be our mascot. It won’t be so difficult taking care of him now he’s a little older. I’ll get over there tomorrow and collect him. Can you bring him to the bottom of the lane at … let me see … eleven o’clock? That be all right?’
‘Yes.’ She swallowed and looked around the hall to see if Matron was waiting to pounce. There was no one. She breathed out. She was going to miss the little chap. But Lizzie was going to miss him even worse. ‘Oh, Murray, Lizzie comes to see him in my room twice a day. She’s started talking to him – just like you thought she would. She’s a changed child. She’s sleeping in the girls’ dormitory now. But she still won’t speak if she sees Matron. And even if Matron knew, it wouldn’t make any difference. It’s no pets and that’s it. Lizzie will be devastated when she finds he’s gone. I don’t know what to tell her.’
‘Tell her he’s having a holiday with Uncle Murray,’ he said, and she could hear the reassuring smile in his voice. ‘We’ll work something out. Is there anything else I can do?’
‘No, nothing. Just look after Freddie. And give him a hug sometimes. He likes that.’ The pips went. ‘I’ll bring him tomorrow at eleven.’
She put the receiver down. Freddie’s fate had been decided.
At a quarter to eleven the next day she put the quivering bundle of puppy into a basket with a cloth over it and shot out of the door as the children and teachers had their morning break. She hurried down the lane wondering how she’d feel when she saw Murray. It was silly but every time she saw him she wondered if it would be the last. His job was so dangerous. But she also knew that if anything should happen to him nobody would think to tell her. She was just another girl he knew. With a sickening feeling she reached the top of the lane and exactly five minutes later a lorry pulled up and a uniformed man jumped out. Heart in her throat she ran towards him. But it wasn’t Murray.
‘Flight Lieutenant Andrews couldn’t come, love,’ a twinkling young man said. ‘There was an emergency and he asked me to pick up a dog, but I don’t see him.’
Trembling with disappointment that it wasn’t Murray, and feeling sick with guilt, she wordlessly handed over the basket with Freddie’s nose now pushing through the cloth she’d half buried him in.
‘Gosh, he’s just a puppy,’ the young man said. ‘But he’ll be fine with me. The boys will look after him until Flight Lieutenant Andrews comes back.’ Freddie whined as he realised he was going off with someone he didn’t know and June’s heart contracted. ‘It’s all right, love.’ The young man smiled at June. ‘Don’t you worry at all. He’ll be quite safe with us.’
Chapter Twenty
‘Only one letter today, Miss Lavender,’ the postman said as he swung his leg from the bar of his bike and jumped off. ‘And it’s for you.’ He threw her an appreciative glance that sent June a little pink and breathless. ‘Lucky beggar, whoever he is.’
He was a good-looking young man, and cheeky with it. She couldn’t help smiling. It was nice to be noticed. She looked at the envelope, now recognising Murray’s handwriting. It was postmarked 23 January 1942. With trembling hands she pulled out the sheet of notepaper.
My dear Junie,
I’m so sorry not to have made it to pick up Freddie. Don’t worry about him. He’s settled in and the chaps are spoiling him rotten.
My ne
ws is that I’ve been given a whole two days’ leave this coming weekend and would love to spend it with you. I know you won’t be allowed two days but can you try to arrange with that cantankerous old matron of yours that you would like to have next Saturday off? It would be 31st January. I’m hoping to get tickets for the theatre in Liverpool as we’ve never been out anywhere nice for the evening. We can have supper before or afterwards – whichever you prefer. One of the chaps has offered to lend me his motor – and I’ve managed to get some petrol! – so I can pick you up as early as you can get away. What about 10 a.m.?
I’m longing to see you again. It seems ages. Please write and let me know as soon as possible so I can look forward to seeing you.
Yours,
Murray x
Her heart leaped. How wonderful to spend a whole day with him. And then in the evening a play. The last time she’d been to see a play was with dear Aunt Ada. And now she’d be going with Murray. Her mind rushed on ahead. What should she wear? It would have to be the same black skirt she’d worn for the dance, but maybe there was time for her to make a new blouse. She had five days. Yes, there’d be time – that is if she had the chance to buy some pretty material.
June desperately tried to see Matron to ask permission about Saturday but every time Matron shook her head and said, ‘I can’t stop. Come and see me tomorrow.’ Then tomorrow would come and the woman would say the same thing. If she didn’t get hold of Matron soon, Murray wouldn’t get the letter in time to tell him she could or couldn’t go. And she was determined she would see him. Who knew when there would be another chance?
To calm her frustration she decided she would start making her blouse. It was getting too close to the date for any shopping in town, but maybe there was some material she could have in the Sewing Room. She’d ask Barbara.
‘I don’t think there’s anything suitable for evening wear,’ Barbara said. ‘What’s the occasion, if I might ask?’
‘It’s a date, actually,’ June said, blushing.
‘Ah. With that dashing pilot of yours.’ Barbara gave her a knowing wink.
‘I wish everyone would stop calling him my pilot. We’re just friends.’
‘Mmm. That’s what everyone says when there’s a lot more going on – which I want to hear about.’ Barbara grinned. ‘Anyway, this isn’t getting us anywhere. Let me have a look in the cupboards and I’ll see if there’s anything I’ve forgotten about.’
‘Thanks, Barbara. I’d be really grateful.’
‘Just as long as he’s worth it.’
‘Oh, he is. He definitely is.’
But later that day, June was disappointed that Barbara wasn’t able to find anything remotely suitable.
‘It’s because the girls mainly sew things like aprons and embroider tablecloths. And at the moment we’ve only got seven girls and they’re all too young to do any proper sewing. I’m really sorry, June.’
‘Never mind. Maybe something will turn up.’
‘Has the Fierce One given permission for you to have next Saturday off?’ Iris said under her breath as the two of them left the dining room after tea the following day.
‘I can’t pin her down. She always has an excuse as to why she can’t see me.’
‘Maybe she thinks you’re going to ask her something awkward.’
‘I don’t know what that might be.’ June looked at her friend. Should she tell Iris what she was worried about? She’d be the best person to confide in. ‘Can we go somewhere private?’
‘Come to my bedroom,’ Iris said, taking her arm. ‘You sound quite serious.’
Iris’s bedroom was exactly as it was that first time, possibly even worse. How on earth did Iris look so beautifully groomed every day?
‘Sorry as usual for the mess,’ Iris said, casually acknowledging the state of the room. ‘Take a pew. Perch on my bed, why don’t you? Now, spill.’
‘Did you see that man, Mr Clarke, the other day, from Stepney Causeway?’
‘Oh, Dr Barnardo’s Head Office?’
June nodded.
‘No, but Ellen mentioned it. She seemed anxious, but the staff always are when we have a visit from the top nobs.’
‘It’s just something rather disturbing.’ June took a deep breath and told her quickly that someone at Bingham Hall, and it wasn’t one of the children, had called Joachim a ‘dirty Jew’.
Iris’s eyes widened in shock. ‘Dear Lord, what a thing to say! When you read of all the horror that’s being dished out to those poor Jews in Europe. How awful. It has to be someone who’s anti-Semitic.’ She closed her eyes, frowning in concentration. ‘So it’s not one of the children, you say?’
‘No. And I had the distinct feeling that he suspected Matron. But although I think she’s not the right person to be put in charge of an orphanage, and she wasn’t keen on having a German child, she’s too clever to do or say anything which would put her job at risk. Well, that’s what I believe, anyway.’
‘I think you’re right,’ Iris said slowly. ‘Do you know who reported it to Head Office?’
‘Apparently, Joachim himself. He wrote to Dennis Fuller, the chap who brought him to us, but he won’t name the person.’
‘Who on earth could be saying such disgusting things to a child?’ Iris said.
‘Well, it won’t be any of the teachers, I’m certain, nor Kathleen or Bertie …’
Iris shook her head.
‘… and I doubt if it would be the maids as neither of them would say boo to a goose,’ June finished.
‘What about Hilda? I hate to say it, but she’s quite a spiteful person and always feels hard done by. She’s got it in for Matron ever since she ordered her to work in the kitchen instead of the nursery. Quite right, too. She might have wanted to get Matron in trouble by reporting her. And who knows – maybe it was our beloved Matron.’
‘I don’t think it was,’ June said. ‘And I don’t think Hilda would have telephoned Stepney Causeway and reported anything. She’d be too scared.’ June frowned, trying to imagine who might have been so cruel. Mentally, she ran through all the teachers, the staff in the kitchen, the maids, the nurses, sure none of them would be so cruel. And then it dawned on her. Matron had said whoever it was would be given her notice, but if she didn’t know who it was, she couldn’t be certain it wasn’t a man. There was Harold, the chauffeur. No, not him – she just couldn’t picture it. He was a real gentleman, reserved but cheerful, and he’d been so good with the children that time in the shelter. Besides, she’d never heard him make snide remarks to the boys. In fact, the opposite. If one of the boys misbehaved he would tick them off, and even give them a clip over the ear, but they still liked and respected him. But there was one who could never command respect. She shuddered. One who made her blood go cold every time he came near her.
‘What’s the matter, Junie?’ Iris was looking at her with concern.
‘Gilbert.’
Iris raised both eyebrows. ‘What about him?’
‘I think he might be the one who called him that. Maybe I’m being unfair but the way he was about Lizzie when I first came here, and how rude he’s been to me on several occasions, I just don’t trust the man. And I’m going to find out if I’m right.’
‘You might well be right,’ Iris said, thoughtfully. ‘Only the other day I heard him call Thomas a little sod. I actually told him off and he gave me such a dirty look I practically shrivelled up in front of him. He didn’t dare retaliate, of course, but he is a nasty piece of work. Don’t know why Matron keeps him on. I expect he’s cheap labour.’
‘That’s not a good enough excuse.’
‘Well, we’ll keep an ear pricked for Gilbert, and if he comes out with any other bad language towards the children we’ll damn well report him.’
‘Horrid little man,’ June said fervently. ‘I just wonder what his background is. Be interesting to find out.’
‘Have you actually asked Joachim who the person is who called him such a horrible name?’
<
br /> ‘Yes, twice.’
‘And …’
‘He refuses to tell me,’ June said. ‘When I asked him the second time he clammed right up.’
‘If it is Gilbert, maybe he threatened him that if he ever told anyone he would – oh, I can’t think what he might do, he’s such a dreadful little man, but I bet he’s frightened him silly.’ Iris ran her hands through her curls.
‘I just wish Joachim would be brave enough to tell me.’
‘Yes, because if Gilbert, or whoever it is, has done it once he’ll say it again and I don’t want the children to hear it. Joachim is damaged enough already. We need to keep our eyes and ears peeled.’
‘And tell one another if we hear anything suspicious.’
‘Yes, of course. Anyway, let’s talk about happier things.’ Iris threw June a sly look. ‘What will you do if Matron refuses to give you permission to go out on Saturday?’
June frowned. ‘I’ve thought of that. I wouldn’t want to go against her as she can be really nasty if she thinks anyone is disobeying her, but I intend to go.’
‘Ooh, you look quite determined,’ Iris teased.
‘I am.’ June smiled. ‘I didn’t have a day off for the last two Mondays with Miss Ayles ill in the ward with influenza—’
‘Just a cold,’ Iris interrupted. ‘And what a difficult patient she turned out to be.’
June smiled in sympathy. ‘Anyway, I think I deserve a few hours off now she’s back on her feet again. I’ll just have to insist on asking Matron for two minutes of her precious time. But first’ – she looked at Iris and grinned mischievously – ‘I need your help!’
Every hour dragged for June until the Saturday came round and she would see Murray again. She loved her job and the children but her heart practically did cartwheels when she thought of their meeting. Maybe he would kiss her again. For longer, this time. He must like her to want her to spend the day with him. She bit her lip with annoyance as Matron’s words sounded in her ear. The woman had refused to allow her the whole day off.