The Beekeeper's War, page 24
He spoke to the nearest one and gave the driver Pru’s address. Sitting in the back of the vehicle, he reminisced about the last time he had come here. He still recalled the crushing pain of seeing Pru holding baby Emma, with another man’s arm around her shoulder. He knew he should be grateful to Peter for looking after these two precious women but he couldn’t help wishing that it had been him bringing up his daughter and him loving Pru all these years. He turned his attention to look out of the window, determined to focus on the present.
‘Not many folk coming to the island these days,’ the driver said.
‘I won’t be here for very long,’ Jack said. ‘Just visiting an old friend briefly.’
It didn’t take long for them to reach the guesthouse and this time he let the driver take him to the front door. ‘If you’ll wait here? I’m hoping I won’t be too long but I’ll cover any time I take up so that you’re not out of pocket.’
‘As you wish.’
Jack paid the driver to cover the journey to the guesthouse and then got out of the car and walked up to the front door.
He was nervous as he rang the doorbell, desperate to get their initial meeting over with. What if she fainted on seeing him so unexpectedly, he mused, aware that to her he had been dead these past twenty years. He should have thought more about how he was going to approach her. He heard footsteps coming down the hallway. It was too late to come up with anything now.
The door opened and she stared at him as if she was seeing an apparition, which he supposed wasn’t a surprise. He didn’t know whether to say something or let her shock dissipate. Eventually, when she drew her fingers up to the side of her forehead in confusion, Jack realised he had to take charge of the moment.
He reached out and took her hand in his. ‘Pru,’ he said, trying to keep the tremble in his voice to a minimum. ‘You aren’t seeing things. It is me. Jack.’ When she still didn’t say anything, he gently led her inside and closed the door behind them, not wishing the taxi driver or any neighbours who might be watching to witness what was happening.
‘Jack?’ She reached out and touched his damaged cheek. ‘Your face?’
He tried not to recoil from her touching his scars, not wishing to cause her any more upset than he clearly already had.
‘You’re alive.’ She looked him up and down, her eyes wild as she tried to process what she was seeing.
‘I am.’
‘Does Monty know?’
‘Monty?’
She still didn’t move. ‘Yes,’ she said, still obviously confused by what she was seeing. ‘He will be so happy to know you weren’t killed.’
‘Monty knows. So does Jean.’ Jack wondered if maybe seeing him on top of the trauma she had experienced recently – with her husband dying so suddenly, Emma leaving and the threat of invasion – might have sent her mind into freefall.
‘Let’s go through and sit down. I’ll make you something hot to drink if you like. Something sweet.’
He began leading her through the house to the back where he assumed the kitchen might be when she suddenly stopped and spun round to face him. ‘You’re alive?’
Jack smiled at her sweet face. ‘Yes, sweetheart. I am,’ he said gently. ‘I’ve come back to fetch you and take you to Ashbury Manor.’
She slammed both her palms against his chest and pushed him away from her with such force that he stumbled backwards, only just stopping himself from falling by grabbing hold of one of the bannisters on the nearby stairs.
‘How dare you come back from the dead like nothing’s happened and tell me you’re rescuing me.’ She marched through to the kitchen and turned, glaring at him with her hands on her slim hips. She shook her head and crossed her arms. He could see she didn’t know what to do with herself. This was not the happy reunion he had hoped for. Pru was furious.
‘How long have they known you’re alive?’
He cringed inside, aware that to tell her was going to open a floodgate of fury. ‘Since July 1918.’
She stared open-mouthed at him, her face reddening in temper. ‘Twenty-two years?’ She paced back and forth, glaring at him. ‘What is this? Some sort of joke? You’ve all kept this secret from me?’
‘Pru, please let me explain.’ He reached out to take her hand in his but she slapped it away.
‘Don’t you dare touch me. Do you know how I mourned for you? I had to keep my grief to myself so I was forced to do it in secret. Do you know how that feels, Jack?’
‘Pru, listen.’
‘No, Jack. You listen.’ She told him how Peter had been the one to rescue her and their daughter. How Peter had loved them and given them a good life. ‘And where were you while all this was going on?’
‘I moved back to Ashbury and lived in the folly.’
She shook her head and gritted her teeth, holding on to the top of the table next to her. He watched her compose herself and take a few deep breaths, as she used to tell patients to do when they were in a state, back when she was nursing.
She didn’t look up at him. ‘Go.’
‘Pardon?’
She raised her eyes to his. ‘I said go.’ He didn’t know what was worse, her fury or her cold calm.
He stared at her, trying to take in her face, now with tiny lines at the sides of her eyes. Her hair was still almost black and she was still very beautiful. He had no intention of leaving her here to the mercy of the damn Nazis. ‘No.’
She narrowed her eyes. ‘How dare you? If I ask you to leave my house you will do so, do you understand?’
Jack pressed his palms together, aware that he had to think quickly if he had any hope of her listening to him before he had to leave. The first thing he needed to do was apologise. ‘I am sorrier than you will ever know that I didn’t make it back to Ashbury until six months after you married Peter,’ he said without taking his eyes from hers. ‘I wanted to tell you that I was alive but Monty persuaded me that it would be selfish of me to do so. That you were making a new life for yourself and for Emma.’
‘It’s easy to say that now, after all this time. Did you ever think about us?’
He could see her anger was dissipating slightly and being replaced by sadness. ‘Every single day,’ he admitted. ‘I promised Monty never to try and see you or contact you or Emma. He told me about the promise you had to make to Peter.’
She looked down then back at him. ‘He was a good man.’
‘So I’m told.’ Jack pushed his hand into his pocket and felt the small leather box. Now wasn’t the time to show it to her. He only hoped that she would one day give him the chance.
‘We were happy enough.’
‘I know.’
‘How do you know, Jack? It’s not as if you ever saw us when you were secreted away at Ashbury.’
‘I came here.’
She looked stunned. ‘When?’
He told her about his trip to Jersey and how he had needed to see for himself that she was safe and well. He watched her face soften as he spoke, relieved. ‘I’ve met Emma. She came to the walled garden and was telling me how she enjoyed the honey I sent to you both.’
‘That was from you?’ Pru’s voice was barely a whisper and he hoped that he might have a chance of persuading her to go with him.
‘She’s frightened for you, Pru,’ he said, aware that the only form of persuasion he had was to try and get Pru to go with him for Emma’s sake. ‘She’s safe enough with Jean and Monty, but she misses you.’
‘She told you this?’
‘Yes.’ Pru seemed surprised. ‘Why are you really still here, Pru? Is it because it was your parents’ home, or is it Peter?’ Then it dawned on him. ‘Good grief. It’s neither of those things, is it?’
She pursed her lips. ‘Isn’t it?’
He was right. ‘No. You’re still here because you couldn’t bear to return to Ashbury and all the memories the place still holds for you. Isn’t that right?’
She folded her arms across her chest. ‘I see that I was misguided to feel that way though, wasn’t I, Jack?’ He winced as she practically spit out his name.
He noticed the clock on the wall and knew that if they were to leave the island that day, he had to try harder.
‘I have a taxi waiting outside for us and Emma is on the other side of the Channel waiting for you.’
‘She knows you’re here?’ She gasped. ‘You told her who you are?’
He shook his head and held out his hands to stop her losing her temper again. ‘No. I didn’t say a word to her, I promise. She thinks I’m the beekeeper from the estate, nothing more.’ She saw Pru’s shoulders relax slightly. ‘Please, Pru. I’ll help you pack. Come with me. While there’s still time.’
For the first time he saw her waver. So she was frightened to stay. He had been right. ‘What have you got to lose by going back to Ashbury?’
She stared at him, clearly unsure of the answer.
He moved his hands up to point to his scars. ‘These are from men like the ones on their way to this island, Pru. Despite what you might think of me – and believe me, I am truly sorry for how things panned out – if there’s any way at all that I can persuade you to come with me, I will. I’ll agree to anything. Anything at all. You cannot stay here on this island, as pretty as it is. You need to be with your daughter. Safe.’
She stared at him silently. The seconds turned to minutes and Jack was beginning to wonder if she would ever speak again when she nodded gently.
‘I will come with you Jack, for Emma’s sake. You stay here and I’ll pack a suitcase and speak to my neighbour. How long do I have?’
‘We’re on the first boat out in the morning.’
She walked past him, stopping to glare at him one last time before walking slowly up the stairs.
Jack leaned against the wall and almost wept with relief.
Thirty-One
Emma
June 1940
Emma ate her toast and honey as Sam told her he had arranged for her to have an interview at the factory at ten o’clock. Excited and a little nervous, she thanked him and finished her tea before running upstairs to change into something she felt more suited to an interview.
‘It’s a factory, Emma. They won’t expect you to be too smart,’ Sam called after her.
They drove down to the factory and Sam pointed out the Itchen. ‘This is Woolston,’ he said as they drove through the town. ‘And that’ – he pointed to a vast factory which Emma took to be on the banks of the river – ‘is Woolston Works, which is where we’re going.’
Her confidence waned. She wasn’t used to places that enormous. Hundreds of people must work there, she decided, unsure if she hadn’t been a little hasty in her determination to interview with the Air Ministry.
Sam patted her hand. ‘It’s fine. You’ll be fine. Trust yourself.’
‘Are you sure?’ She could hear the tell-tale wobble in her voice. ‘We don’t have anywhere nearly as big as this in Jersey.’
He gave her a reassuring smile. ‘Just remember that everyone working inside this enormous place is wanting to do their bit for the war effort, just like you and me. They’re no better than you are and you have as much right to be there as anyone else.’ He turned the car towards a parking area. ‘If you decide you really don’t want to work there after your interview then you don’t have to. We can always look for other work for you instead.’
‘Yes, that’s true.’ His reassurances made her feel much calmer and her panic slowly receded.
‘I’ll come in with you to introduce you and then wait outside to drive you back to the village afterwards.’
‘Thank you, I’d appreciate it.’
‘Well, that wasn’t so bad, judging by the grin on your face,’ Sam said as she returned to his car. ‘What’s the verdict, then? Did he offer you the job?’
‘He did,’ Emma squealed as soon as they were inside the car and out of everyone’s hearing. ‘Thank you for bringing me and arranging that,’ she said, grabbing hold of him and hugging him.
‘Oof.’ He laughed, caught off guard. ‘Hey, steady on. I only made a telephone call, nothing much.’
She let go of him and giggled. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to bowl you over like that. Anyway, you brought me here and if it wasn’t for you calming me down before I went in, I probably would have chickened out.’
‘No, you wouldn’t,’ he disagreed as they settled into the MG.
‘You don’t know that.’
‘I do. You’re too determined and I’m guessing too brave to let much put you off something you want to do.’
Was she? She hoped he was right, but she wasn’t altogether sure that he knew her as well as he obviously thought he did. Not wishing to disillusion him, she decided not to argue.
‘Did you accept the job?’
She nodded and pursed her lips thoughtfully.
‘What’s the matter?’ he asked before starting the engine. ‘Something wrong?’
She shook her head. ‘No. I was just thinking that I can’t believe it was that simple. Where are we going now?’
‘Back to Ashbury Village for some lunch. I think you could probably do with something to eat and drink by now,’ Sam said as he pulled out of the parking lot.
She realised she was a little thirsty. ‘I only want something light like a toasted teacake,’ Emma said, too excited to have an appetite.
‘Then that’s what you’ll have.’ He smiled at her. ‘I’m glad you’re settling in here already.’
‘So am I,’ she said, relaxing and enjoying being with him.
‘Where are we going?’ she asked a while later as they entered the village.
‘I thought in there might be good,’ he said, pointing to a pretty, double-fronted place with ‘Dolly’s Tearoom’ painted in dark pink across the top of the two windows. ‘I’ve eaten here once or twice and it was pleasant enough.’
‘It looks lovely to me.’
They parked and walked inside and were shown a table near to the window. Having ordered their teacakes and a pot of tea for two, Sam smiled at her. ‘This is going to be a cheaper lunch than I expected,’ he teased.
‘I’m the one who should be buying you lunch,’ Emma said. ‘Not the other way around.’
Sam looked indignant. ‘I’ve never heard such a thing, nor met a gentleman who would allow a lady to pay for their meal.’
Emma pulled a face. ‘How very old-fashioned of you, Samuel Ashbury.’
‘I’m pleased you’re happy with the job.’
‘I am – very.’ It dawned on her that Sam would be leaving to return to his unit later that day. ‘I’ve just realised that I have to work tomorrow night. I suppose I should really walk back to the manor today so that I know how long it will take me to get from there to this village in time to catch my bus to the factory.’
Sam shook his head. ‘No, it’s fine. I could ask Stephens to give you a lift and pick you up later? I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.’
‘Are you sure? I’d hate to put him out.’
Sam leaned forward. ‘I’ll ask him. If he does mind, I’m sure he’ll tell me. Anyway, if we find you somewhere to stay in the village then you won’t need to worry about the journey between the manor and the village each day, will you?’
‘No.’ She smiled at him. ‘You’re really kind, do you know that? You’ve been so helpful to me and all I’ve done is taken you away from valuable leave time with your parents and asked you to drive me somewhere.’
‘It wasn’t that far and anyway I’ve enjoyed myself. I was expecting to have a couple of very quiet days but spending time with you has been…’ He took a second to think. ‘Interesting.’ He laughed and Emma joined in, aware that to anyone else she would have been rather trying.
‘Then you have a strange way of having fun,’ she teased.
The waitress brought over a tray with their order. ‘Did I overhear you saying you were looking for rooms?’
‘That’s right,’ Emma said. ‘Why, do you know of any nearby?’
‘I do, as a matter of fact. There’s little cottage nearby that has a room available to rent.’
‘Oh, thank you. I’m Emma,’ she said, thinking that if she was to live in the village then she should really make some friends. ‘And you are?’ Emma waited for the waitress to introduce herself.
‘Maisie.’ She pointed out of one of the small windows. ‘Can you see the little lane going up the side of the hardware store?’ Emma nodded. ‘It’s up there. A pretty little cottage with a sweet front garden. It’s a little rundown and the sisters who live there are…’ She stopped to think. ‘I’m not sure how to describe them.’
The owner of the café, who Emma soon discovered was Maisie’s mum, joined them, resting her hands on the back of her and Sam’s chairs and bending slightly so they could hear her quiet words. ‘They’re a little eccentric, is what my Maisie is trying to say. Tiz and Terry Healy. Salt of the earth, but a bit barmy.’
Emma bit her lower lip to stop herself laughing. She caught Sam’s eye and he immediately looked away and out of the window before clearing his throat.
‘Do you know them, Sam?’ Emma asked.
‘I think I know the ladies you’re referring to. They’re decent types, but I can see why you’d say they were a little eccentric.’
The owner straightened. ‘You could do worse than staying with them. Tell them that Janice told you to go and see them.’
‘Thank you, I’ll do that.’
‘Are you new to the area?’ Maisie asked, the tray hanging by her side. ‘We don’t often have new people coming to live here in Ashbury Village. It can be a little quiet most of the time.’
‘Don’t put her off, love,’ Janice said. ‘Don’t mind my daughter. It’s a lovely place to live, isn’t it, Captain Ashbury?’
Emma was initially surprised that the woman recognised Sam and realised that as he was from the manor house most people in the village must know who he was. ‘I am new around here,’ she said. ‘My mother worked at the manor during the last war. She was a nurse.’
