‘And your grandmother? Who and where is she now?’
‘My pretend grandmother? Oh, she died several years ago.’
‘And your parents? Brothers and sisters?’
‘All killed in the bombing. I was the only survivor.’
‘And all this is made up?’ Marthe was incredulous.
Beth nodded. ‘But there’s no need for you to worry about remembering any of it. All you’ve got to do is call me “Leonie”. Leave the rest to me, if it becomes necessary.’
‘Leonie, Leonie, Leonie,’ Marthe murmured. ‘I’ll try.’
Raoul was glancing down at the clothes she was wearing. ‘And how old are you, Leonie? That, at least, we ought to know.’
‘I’m fifteen now and my birthday is the twenty-third of June, so next year I’ll be sixteen.’
It had been decided to give Beth a totally new birth date.
‘It’s very easy,’ Sybil had warned, ‘if we use part of your true birth date, that you’ll reel it off automatically. Far better that you learn a totally new one.’
So Beth must now remember that she’d been born in Boulogne-Billancourt on 23 June 1927.
‘Good, good,’ Raoul said, picking up the second of her two suitcases. It was much heavier than the one he’d already carried upstairs for her. He glanced at Beth. ‘Is this what I think it is?’
Beth smiled. ‘It’s a wireless transmitter.’
‘Then first thing tomorrow, we must hide it. I know just the place.’
Seventeen
The following morning after her arrival, Beth woke to the sounds of clattering hooves and the lowing of cows as they were herded into the milking shed. Even though it was early, sunlight streamed through the thin curtains and, despite only a few hours’ sleep, Beth found she was wide awake and anxious to begin the day. Hiding the wireless transmitter was a priority. She dressed quickly, splashed her face and hands with cold water, hastily plaited her hair and went downstairs. There was no one in the kitchen, but bread, cheese and a glass of milk had been left on the table for her. Only a few minutes later, as she left the house, a dog came bounding towards her, his tongue lolling out.
‘Hello, boy,’ she said, holding out her hand in friendship to him. The animal was wary for a moment but then came towards her and stood in front of her, looking up at her as if assessing her. He was about two foot in height, with pointed, alert ears. His fawn-coloured coat was rough and wiry to the touch.
‘Will I do, then?’ she asked laughingly and, almost as if he were answering her, he gave a short bark, turned and seemed to lead her across the yard to the byre where she found Raoul and Marthe milking four cows. Beth hesitated near the doorway, not wanting to startle the animals, until Raoul should see her.
‘Good morning,’ he said, standing up from the low milking stool and moving the pail of milk away from the cow. ‘Did you sleep well?’
‘Surprisingly well,’ Beth laughed, ‘after all the excitement.’
‘I see you’ve met Jasper. He’s our sheep dog and a very good one he is too.’
‘What breed is he?’
Raoul laughed, a deep, rumbling sound that reminded her poignantly of her father. Sharply, Beth told herself that she must not think of home.
‘You think he’s a breed? I thought you’d think he was a mongrel. People make that mistake, but actually he’s quite a rare breed. He’s a Berger de Picard.’ He nodded towards his dog. ‘I can see he’s taken to you. He doesn’t act like that when the Germans come. I reckon he’s got more sense than a lot of the folk round here. Now,’ he went on, changing the subject abruptly, ‘Do you know how to milk a cow?’
‘I’m sorry – no.’
‘Then you had better learn, if you are to help on the farm.’
‘Shouldn’t we hide the wireless first?’
Raoul chuckled – a deep, comforting sound. ‘The Germans don’t get up this early. We’ll be safe for an hour or two.’
So, for the next hour, Beth learned how to milk.
‘Very good,’ Raoul said, smiling. ‘Have you done this before?’
‘No,’ Beth said, stroking the rump of the cow she had just milked.
‘Then you are a natural.’
Beth smiled, accepting the compliment graciously. She was by no means conceited, but she did seem to have a knack of picking things up quickly. She had been similarly praised during the paramilitary course in Scotland and had passed the Morse code and wireless operator’s course with flying colours too. Her memory was faultless and would be a useful asset out here. She wouldn’t need to carry a lot of written messages; it was all in her head.
‘We don’t like our agents carrying anything written down if it can be avoided,’ Alan had warned on her last interview with him before boarding the plane to take her to France, ‘Of course, you have to leave messages in the drop boxes but we have secret ways of writing those.’
Beth had nodded. She’d learned all about being able to write invisibly at training school.
‘The only danger in remembering everything is if you get caught and interrogated. You could give away so much more.’ Then he’d added with a smile, ‘Just mind you don’t get caught.’
And now she was here in France and the German army was just down the road and would even be visiting the farm. Raoul explained: ‘Their headquarters for this district are in the town, but there are several officers billeted in our village.’ He nodded in the direction of St Michel. ‘Much to the disgust of most of the locals, I have to say, but’ – he frowned – ‘there are one or two who are a little too anxious to please our invaders. Collaborators!’ He spat the last word out. ‘Just be very careful, Leonie. Trust no one. And, like I told you last night, we get soldiers visiting here with their lorries to pick up supplies.’
‘Do they pay you for it?’
Raoul laughed bitterly. ‘Very little, if at all. They’d take everything we have and more, given the chance. And when the local Maquis commit an act of sabotage in the area, they take reprisals. They shot two men from the town last week, though so far no one has been harmed from St Michel – yet I suspect it’s only a matter of time. For the moment, they are thinking of the supplies of food and accommodation the villagers can provide for them.’
Beth was shocked and yet it was what she had been told to expect. As they crossed the yard towards the farmhouse for a welcome mid-morning drink, she glanced around her at the beautiful countryside through which the River Loire meandered. It was quite flat around the farm and she was reminded of her home county. But she was suddenly aware that it was not as peaceful and innocent as it looked.
‘Beth can’t get home, Lil,’ Edie told her with disappointment when Lil popped in on the morning of 30 September – the day of the party for Shirley’s eighteenth birthday.
‘Aw, that’s a shame. But you’re sure Archie’s going to be here?’
‘He’s here now. He didn’t get home until very late last night and he’s still in bed.’
‘What about Jessie and Harry?’
‘Oh, they’re coming. Have you invited your Norma?’
Lil laughed. ‘No, I thought we’d give her a miss. Don’t want a damper on the day and she and Shirley don’t exactly hit it off, now do they?’ She paused and then added, ‘You’ve told Ursula, I suppose?’
‘Oh yes, though I had a job to get her on her own. Shirley hardly leaves the girl’s side. Right, now have we got everything ready?’ Edie glanced around her front room, which had been swept and dusted with extra care for the occasion. Gifts were piled on the sideboard. ‘I’ve been saving mine and Archie’s sweet ration for the last three months for her. I just wish I could have got some pretty wrapping paper for her presents, but you can’t get it now and newspaper doesn’t quite look the same, does it, Lil?’
Lil smiled. ‘Can’t be helped, Edie, and it’s what’s inside that matters. I’ve given her some more scented soap. She seemed so pleased with what I gave her at Christmas.’
‘She certainly was.’
Edie glanced at her friend. ‘More of yours that you’ve had stowed away?’
Lil pulled a comical face. ‘You know me, Edie. Irene gives me expensive soap most Christmases and I never like to use it. Good old Wright’s Coal Tar suits me, so I’m pleased for Shirley to have it. And Irene would understand.’
‘I’ve knitted her a scarf and gloves from an old woolly I’ve pulled down. Now winter’s coming and she walks to and from work every day.’
‘No doubt Jessie will bring her something frivolous.’ Lil smiled. She’d always been fond of Edie’s gregarious sister.
‘Oh, if there’s anything “frivolous” still to be had in the shops, you can bet Jessie will hunt it down, but it’ll balance Archie’s sensible gift of National Savings Certificates.’
‘I’ve made one of me trifles, Edie, and I’ve made a cake of sorts.’ Lil grimaced. ‘An eggless sponge. It’s an “if-it” cake.’
Edie laughed. ‘Aye, if it’ll go round. I’ll make the sandwiches last thing so they don’t curl up. I’ve got spam and a tin of snoek.’
Lil laughed. ‘I don’t reckon anyone’ll eat that, will they?’
‘Actually, Archie quite likes it. Must be because it’s fish.’
Lil turned to go. ‘Right, I’ll get back to me nets until this afternoon and then I’ll get me glad rags on and come and help you set everything out.’
‘Thanks, Lil.’ Edie chuckled. ‘She’d got a right mardy face on her this morning because I pretended I’d forgotten her birthday. I made out I had to be at the WVS early and was in a rush. I say, have you heard that Jessie wants you an’ me to go out with her on the mobile canteen delivering meals to the folk manning the barrage balloon installations and the anti-aircraft batteries in the district?’
‘Oh, that’ll make a nice change, Edie. It’ll get me away from Norma watching everything I do.’
‘Now, Shirley’ll be home just after six and Ursula said she could be here before that. I want a chorus of “Happy Birthday” when she walks in through the back door. That should put a smile on her face.’
Lil nodded, but said nothing. It wasn’t an easy task, putting a smile on Shirley’s face, but she was pleased that planning the party had kept Edie busy and occupied her thoughts; she wasn’t dwelling quite so much on the absent members of her family.
Later that afternoon, the table was groaning under the weight of all the food Edie and Lil had managed to provide.
‘We’ve been going short for weeks,’ Edie said as she carried a plate of sandwiches through to the front room. The Morrison shelter had been covered with a snowy linen tablecloth that almost reached the floor, hiding what was really beneath it. Lil had laid out the knives, forks and spoons, plates, side plates, cups and saucers. ‘And I know you have, an’ all, Lil.’
‘That’s what friends are for, duck,’ Lil said, as she set the sponge cake as a centrepiece on the table.
They stood back to admire their efforts. ‘It’s nearly as good a spread as we did for Frank and Irene’s wedding.’
‘We’ve done well, Edie, considering all the shortages.’
Edie chuckled. ‘And with a nifty bit of improvisation here and there.’
At that moment, Archie appeared from upstairs where he’d been changing out of his work clothes and having a wash and brush-up in readiness for the party.
‘By heck, girls, you’ve done a grand job there, but I reckon I just ought to sample . . .’ He reached out towards a sandwich, but Edie smacked his hand. ‘You keep your thieving fingers off, Archie Kelsey. Wait till everyone gets here and I want Shirley to see what we’ve been doing for her.’
They were all there, hiding in the front room, by the time Shirley arrived home from work. Even Jessie and Harry had managed to make it in time.
‘Shush, everyone. That’s her coming down the passage.’
They heard the back door open and then Shirley step into the scullery. There was a moment’s silence before she called out, ‘Mam?’
‘Here, love,’ Edie shouted. ‘I’m in the front room.’
The door opened and everyone began to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ and Lil said later that the look on Shirley’s face had been worth every bit of scrimping and saving she and Edie had done over the last few weeks. The girl had tears in her eyes; she wasn’t used to being the centre of attention or having so much fuss made of her.
They all enjoyed the party and even gave in to Shirley’s demand to play charades.
‘But it’s not Christmas,’ Edie pleaded. ‘We play charades at Christmas.’
‘I know – but it is my eighteenth birthday, Mam.’
‘All the more reason why we shouldn’t be playing childish games,’ Edie teased. Then she relented. ‘Oh go on, then, just this once.’
Even Ursula joined in wholeheartedly, seeming to understand the rules of the game a little better now.
At the end of the evening, when their guests were starting to say ‘we should be going’, Shirley stood up and thanked everyone for coming. ‘It’s been a lovely party – I just wish Beth and the others could have been here too.’ She hesitated and glanced warily at her mother, ‘And there’s something I have to tell you all and this seems like a good moment. As you probably realize, I had to register for war work because I was coming up to eighteen, but because I don’t want to be drafted into something I don’t want to do’ – she pulled a face – ‘factory work or something like that, I’ve volunteered for – for –’ she paused again and glanced apologetically at Edie before ending with a rush, ‘the ATS. I thought if it’s good enough for the Prime Minister’s daughter, then it’s good enough for me.’
It took a few seconds for the news to sink in. The ATS was the Auxiliary Territorial Service, the women’s branch of the British Army. Then Jessie was the first to clap her hands and say, ‘Oh Shirley, well done you! That’s marvellous.’
Archie was watching Edie’s face. The last of her chicks to leave the nest. She would be completely on her own when he was at sea. And then he caught sight of Lil watching her friend too and he sighed inwardly with relief. Of course, there was always Lil. She’d be on hand whatever happened. Thank Goodness for Lil.
Her face expressionless, Edie got slowly to her feet and went towards Shirley. For one dreadful moment, the girl thought her mother was going to strike her across the face but, instead, Edie stood in front of her, just staring into Shirley’s eyes. Then slowly, she nodded and began to smile. Without a word, she put her arms around her daughter and held her close.
Shirley hugged her in return.
‘Oh Mam, I was so afraid you’d be angry, but I couldn’t be the only one in the family not to do something important for the war effort, now could I? I’ve asked specifically if I can go into the anti-aircraft batteries. Serving selfish women with a new hat and listening to their grumbles about how their clothing coupons won’t stretch far enough isn’t quite my idea of helping my country. Although Oldroyd’s have been very nice about it and have said I can have my old job back after the war. I mean, even Reggie – young as he is – is helping out on the land. And Beth must be doing something really worthwhile now she’s in the FANYs.’
‘I know, duck, I know,’ Edie patted the girl’s back and her voice was husky as she added, ‘I can understand why you’ve done it, but just take good care of yourself, eh, and come home safe and sound. I’m proud of you.’
Now the tears ran down Shirley’s face. It was the first time in her life that she could remember her mother ever saying those words to her.
Eighteen
Raoul stood in the centre of his yard and glanced around, narrowing his eyes against the bright light. He listened too. ‘Mm,’ he said at last. ‘All seems quiet. Good. Leonie, fetch your wireless set and we’ll hide it.’
When Leonie returned with the wireless set, Raoul took the heavy suitcase from her and led her out of the yard and into a meadow that sloped gently upwards away from the house. Jasper bounded ahead of them, stopping every now and again to sniff the grou
nd. Halfway up the field, they walked down a dip in the land and up the other side and then on again up towards a small, tumbledown stone building at the edge of the field.
Raoul, puffing a little, explained. ‘Years ago, we used this as a small barn for animal feed and occasionally as a shepherd’s hut at lambing time, but now we bring them down into the sheds close to the farm when the ewes are due. It’s better for them if the weather’s cold’ – he smiled – ‘and it’s certainly better for us. So, it’s a bit rundown, but I think it’ll serve your purpose.’ He turned and gestured back towards the house and the farm buildings clustered around it. ‘You must be aware that the Germans have their vehicles out all the time and whenever you are transmitting or receiving they can pick up your signals. They’d be most likely – and I’m counting on this – to drive into my yard first and then send out search parties. The beauty of this position, Leonie,’ – Raoul used her name a lot and Beth realized this was to familiarize himself with it – ‘is that you’ll be able to see them from here and if they come towards you, they’ll be hidden in the hollow for a few precious moments.’
He ducked his head as he stepped into the gloomy interior of the barn. The walls were crumbling and several large stones were loose. The floor was covered with dusty earth and a few bales of hay were stacked against the wall.
‘When Antoine’ – he even remembered to refer to his own son by his code name – ‘told me you were coming and what you were going to be doing, I came up here and made a hidey hole behind some of these stones for your wireless. Now, tell me, can you see where it is?’
Beth let her eyes roam over the surface of the walls. She glanced down at the floor, but it looked as if no one had been in there for years.
‘No,’ she said at last. ‘I can’t.’
‘You’ll soon get to know where it is, but to start with, if you move the bales and then count six stones from the left-hand side of the doorway and four from the floor,’ he said, demonstrating, ‘and then pull out this stone . . . I can’t mark it for you for obvious reasons. I’ve hollowed out what I hope is a big enough space to take the suitcase. Let’s try it.’
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