War in the Valleys

by Francesca Capaldi

  ‘He’s become a bit obsessed since Rose was arrested, worried that others will either steal the hens or the eggs.’

  ‘We shouldn’t be surprised Rose was caught red-handed, after stealing food from our pantry. Hello Gwilym!’ she called.

  Anwen and Elizabeth walked over to meet him.

  ‘They seem like happy little ladies.’ Elizabeth looked down at the hens. ‘That’s a nice big run you’ve built them.’

  Gwilym started throwing grain into the run. ‘Aye, I wish I could let them out for a bit, but I dare say they’d ruin the veg.’

  ‘Indeed. Now there’s Sergeant Harries heading this way. Looks like he’s on a mission.’

  ‘Hello there,’ he called, as he got nearer. ‘I thought I’d find you here after your shift. Thought you’d be interested to hear that your chickens aren’t the only thing that Rose Pritchard’s been stealing.’

  ‘Did you search her home?’ Anwen asked.

  ‘Certainly. I thought there’d likely be evidence of other thefts, and I was right.’ His head held high, he bounced on his heels, looking most pleased with himself. ‘Never mind them detectives, I’ve been doing a little detecting myself.’

  ‘What did you find?’ Elizabeth asked when he didn’t enlighten them.

  ‘Books from the bookshop, no less. I’ve talked to Mr Schenck and he confirms that Miss Pritchard has never bought a book from there, though she’s been in at least three times.’

  ‘That sounds right,’ said Anwen. ‘She claimed when she came in the shop, only two days before the fire, that she’d never buy a book there when she could get them from the library.’

  ‘Did she now? Mr Schenck didn’t mention that, only that she’d caused a row and had flung some books off the shelves.’

  ‘So what are you thinking, Sergeant?’ said Elizabeth. ‘That Rose was involved in the fire?’

  ‘Seems highly likely. And the break-in a bit before when some money and papers were taken. Didn’t find them at her house, but the money’s likely spent and the papers thrown away. And there are the half-dozen other minor thefts that have been reported in the village. Anyway, she’s been arrested with all those charges. Shouting her ’ead off about it not being her, though she admits to stealing books from the bookshop on two other occasions. Seems pretty conclusive to me. It’s up to the courts to decide now.’

  ‘In that case,’ said Anwen, ‘would you pass the word around the village so that people don’t continue blaming Esther Williams? I know she’s not a nice woman, but she’s lost work because of it. And nobody should be blamed for something they didn’t do, should they, Sergeant?’

  She could tell by the sheepish look on Harries’ face that he knew she was referring to Idris’s unsound arrest last year.

  ‘Yes, quite right,’ he said, rocking on his heels once again. ‘Best be going now.’ He touched the rim of his helmet. ‘Good day to you all.’

  He ambled slowly off, the three of them watching until he was out of earshot.

  ‘Would Rose really have set a fire to the bookshop?’ said Anwen.

  ‘I reckon so,’ said Gwilym. ‘Got a real malicious streak, that one.’

  ‘Who else could it be?’ said Elizabeth. ‘She’s the one who had the argument with Mr Schenck. And there was another argument last month, involving Mrs Schenck too, so my mother told me. She loses control very easily.’

  Gwilym replaced the lid on the large tin where he kept the grain. ‘Aye, I was there too. It was the day after the theft. Rose was pretty nasty to him and his wife. It is odd that the theft of the money and papers came just before that argument and the fire not long after.’

  His eyes widened. Strolling along the side of the allotment was Mrs Meredith in a pristine navy skirt and matching jacket. Her hat was large and decorated with several long feathers. It seemed a little ornate for a Monday afternoon in the village.

  ‘I’ll be getting along to the far allotment,’ he said, scampering off before Elizabeth’s mother caught them up.

  ‘Good afternoon, Anwen,’ said Margaret as she approached. ‘So you’re out helping with the allotments too.’

  ‘Yes. I don’t do much now, what with Sara Fach.’

  ‘How is little Sara now? Enid does not speak much about her.’

  Anwen experienced that mist of gloom that always shrouded her when she thought of the problem of her mother and baby sister. It was a constant sadness.

  ‘She’s growing quickly, and already crawling. When she’s a bit bigger and can walk, I’ll bring her over to the allotments with me. She’d enjoy playing with the other children.’

  ‘I dare say you’ll be giving her a little niece or nephew to play with soon.’

  Anwen produced the customary smile in response to this question. ‘All in good time. Sara needs my attention for now.’

  ‘Quite so. And who knows, it may not be too long before Elizabeth is in a position to start a family.’

  Anwen had never seen such a wide smile on Margaret. She turned to Elizabeth for an explanation. ‘What’s all this then?’

  Elizabeth’s face had turned a deep crimson. ‘There’s really nothing to it.’

  ‘Oh come, come,’ said Margaret. ‘You haven’t told Anwen about Ralph?’

  ‘No, for I feel there’s really not a great deal to tell.’ She was getting flustered, which was not like her.

  Ralph? What a coincidence, what with Gwen’s young man… No, it surely was coincidence.

  ‘Well I think he’s a very good catch, our Mr Tallis, the councillor. I’ve met him on several occasions and such a charming man he is too. It’s high time you brought him home, Elizabeth. Do you remember him, Anwen, from his visit about the allotments? I believe you were there.’

  ‘Yes, I do recall him.’

  ‘And fancy him turning up at the cinema the same time as Elizabeth! It was surely fate. Of course, you’d know about that, for I believe your friend Gwen was there too.’

  ‘When they went to see The Battle of the Somme?’

  ‘That’s right.’

  Elizabeth closed her eyes briefly and looked uncomfortable. Neither she nor Gwen had mentioned Mr Tallis being there, despite both of them, separately, relating the contents of the film to her. Something told her Elizabeth didn’t want Gwen to know about her relationship with Tallis, and that in itself was strange. What had she to hide, unless she knew he was also walking out with Gwen?

  ‘Sergeant Harries was here not long ago,’ said Elizabeth, ‘to say they’d arrested Rose for the fire and theft at the bookshop, as well as the attempted chicken theft.’

  ‘That doesn’t surprise me in the least,’ said her mother.

  ‘I think Anwen might have doubts about it being her.’

  ‘Really?’ Margaret looked askance at her.

  ‘Sergeant Harries doesn’t always come to the right conclusion with the evidence available, but simply the easy one. Like with Idris last year,’ said Anwen.

  ‘That was certainly a travesty,’ said Margaret.

  ‘And if she isn’t guilty of those particular crimes, then the real villains will go free,’ said Elizabeth.

  ‘Yes. And I was thinking,’ Anwen began, wondering if she should be saying this. ‘Well, it’s just that there have been a few other thefts in the village, as the sergeant said, but all of these started happening after Polly Coombes moved back.’

  Margaret visibly trembled. Anwen guessed she didn’t want reminding of her son’s mistake.

  ‘Polly seems a bit afraid of her husband, Gus, and the family are all troublemakers. Look at the way they behaved at the sports day.’

  ‘It’s certainly worth looking into,’ said Margaret. ‘I’ll have a word with Lavinia Perryman, as her husband is Chief Constable. Now, I shall continue with my daily constitutional. Don’t be too long, Elizabeth, for Mrs Jones is cooking the dinner earlier this evening. I have a meeting with the Netley Hospital fundraising committee. I think now your work is terminated, you should come and give a hand. Good aftern
oon, Anwen.’

  ‘Good afternoon, Mrs Meredith.’

  Margaret unfurled her parasol and put it up as she walked daintily away. Elizabeth rolled her eyes and tapped her mouth as she gave a fake yawn. They both giggled. Business as usual for poor Elizabeth.

  Anwen wished she hadn’t mentioned Gus Smith. Being unhappy about Polly’s return to the village, Mrs Meredith might use this as an excuse to get rid of them. They could certainly do without such troublemakers, but she was worried about Polly. How strange that that should be the case.

  Her mind turned back to Gwen. There were surely two Ralphs. She’d ask Gwen about his surname, just out of interest, but it was unlikely to be the same man.

  * * *

  Cadi was preparing dinner that evening. Anwen had just come down from putting Sara Fach to bed in the cot they’d recently acquired from a neighbour of Idris’s parents. Just as well, as she’d grown out of the crib that Bethan Schenck had lent her soon after the baby had arrived.

  For the last few hours she’d worried about the Ralph question. The more she thought about it, the more it bothered her. When Gwen had accidently revealed his name, hadn’t she followed it up with something about Elizabeth, as if she’d been reminded of her? Did she know they were both walking out with him? It didn’t sound like something Gwen would put up with.

  ‘I’m going to pop round to see Gwen before dinner,’ Anwen told Idris, who was sitting at the table reading the Monmouth Guardian. ‘There’s something I want to discuss with her.’

  ‘That sounds mysterious,’ he said.

  ‘It’s probably something and nothing. I’ll tell you later. Keep an ear out for Sara Fach.’

  He nodded. ‘Of course. I’ll check on her soon.’

  She fetched her shawl and left by the front door. Despite being June, with the sun shining most of the day, it had become a little chilly by the evening. She was soon at the back of James Street, going through the garden gate of number forty. As luck would have it, Gwen was standing in the yard, a cigarette in her hand.

  ‘I didn’t know you smoked?’

  ‘Only a little. Ralph started me off. I quite enjoy it, though it makes me cough a bit.’

  That was something she could do without, given that she’d been a lot chestier since working at the munitions.

  ‘Gwen, I was wondering about this Ralph.’

  ‘All will be revealed in good time. He needs to sort something out first. There’s someone else interested in him, and they’re not taking no for an answer. That’s all I can tell you. He’s afraid I might get the brunt of her anger if she finds out.’

  There was unquestionably something wrong here. She was going to come right out and say it. ‘Is your Ralph, Councillor Tallis?’

  Her friend’s mouth opened wide in surprise. ‘How do you know that?’

  ‘I’m guessing this person who’s interested in him and not leaving him alone is Elizabeth.’

  ‘Goodness, you should be Sherlock Holmes! How did you work that out? Did Elizabeth mention him to you?’

  ‘Oh Gwen. There’s no other way to tell you this, but he’s walking out with Elizabeth too.’

  ‘Is that what she claimed?’

  ‘No, she didn’t, it was Mrs Meredith who mentioned him. She knows all about their relationship.’

  Gwen threw the cigarette on the ground and stubbed it out with a rather stylish cream shoe comprising three straps. ‘Elizabeth must have told her that, but it’s not true. It’s all in her imagination.’

  ‘Is that likely?’

  ‘Then she’s simply lying.’ Gwen folded her arms round her waist, a determined expression on her face.

  ‘No Gwen. That’s the kind of thing Rose would do, or Polly before she married Gus Smith. Elizabeth’s not like that. And she’s not the kind of person to pursue a man if he’s not interested. She’s a modest sort. She doesn’t have Tom’s self-confidence, nor his vanity.’

  Gwen’s head flopped forward, and she stood like that for a while. ‘As much as I hate to say it, I believe you could be right. All this cloak and dagger stuff, and we’ve been walking out for the best part of nine months, but still he’s wanting to keep it a secret. And it’s not like I see him very regularly. I should have known he was too good for the likes of me.’

  ‘Gwen, he hasn’t… you know…’

  ‘What, tried his luck with me? He’s hinted at it a couple of times, but I’ve made it clear I’m not that kind of girl. I did think it strange that Elizabeth should chase him. I’m supposed to be seeing him tomorrow evening. He was going to pick me up in his car at the end house of Mafeking Terrace. I dunno what to do now.’

  Gwen slumped down onto the low garden wall, her head in her hands. Anwen wondered if she was going to cry. She sat next to her. ‘I’m sorry I had to bring you this news. I didn’t want to see you get hurt.’

  ‘I was getting quite fond of him too. Thought I’d fallen on my feet, him being a councillor and estate agent. Not that it was the only reason I walked out with him.’

  ‘No, of course not. I think we should teach Mr Tallis a lesson. What do you think?’

  Gwen didn’t reply for a while, then said, ‘Yes. Ralph Tallis will regret the day he took advantage of my trust.’

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Anwen had agonised all the next morning about telling Elizabeth the news of the not-so-charming Mr Tallis. There was one thing for sure: if she found out some other way that Anwen knew he was seeing both her and Gwen, she might not take kindly to it. At the same time, she was loath to upset her friend.

  She was cleaning the front room now, with Sara Fach crawling round the old rug. The baby was picking up each of her coloured wooden bricks in turn, examining them with a serious expression, before moving on to the next. The table in there had been folded down and pushed to one side to give her more room. Anwen often brought her in here to play, as there was more room – and it was out of her mother’s way.

  Going to the window, she pulled the curtains open a little wider and peered out. There were a few women on the allotments, some with children either helping or running around the grassed edges. Elizabeth was there, kneeling down on the soil with a trowel. If she didn’t do it now, she never would.

  She picked the little girl up. ‘Come on, fach, you’d like a bit of fresh air, wouldn’t you?’ In the kitchen she called, ‘Just taking the baby for a walk.’

  Cadi poked her head through. ‘Right you are.’

  Outside, the sky was a brilliant blue, not a cloud in sight. It was also warmer than it had been of late, making Anwen wish she could be out working on the land. But she didn’t want to take too much advantage of Cadi’s good nature. Apart from which, her mamgu had a few sewing jobs to catch up with. She closed her eyes and soaked up the sunlight. It was a way to delay the unwelcome task. But the quicker she did it, the quicker it would be over.

  Elizabeth pulled herself up when she spotted her. ‘What a glorious day. It makes one glad to be alive. And how lovely to see Sara Fach.’

  How Anwen hated spoiling the day for her.

  ‘Could I have a word, Elizabeth? It’s a bit delicate.’

  ‘Why, yes, of course.’ She put the trowel down. ‘Let’s have a walk around the perimeter.’ As they started on their lap, Sara put her hand out towards her. Elizabeth took it and waggled it, making the baby giggle. ‘How sweet. She really does have the loveliest nature.’

  ‘Heaven knows where she gets it from, for it’s not from either of her parents.’

  ‘From her grandmother, I should think, like you.’

  ‘Thank you for saying that, though… I’m not so sure you’ll still think it when I tell you, well, what I’ve got to tell you.’

  ‘Oh dear, that sounds serious,’ she said on a long breath.

  ‘Gwen has been walking out with someone.’

  Elizabeth clasped her hands in front of her chest and beamed. ‘But that is good news. I know you’ll wonder why I should be so enthusiastic about it, but, well, it does m
ake things easier for me. The reason I was so reluctant to—’

  ‘Please, I haven’t finished.’ Anwen stopped as they reached the part of the field just past Gwilym’s house, where it curved to go down towards Lloyd Street. ‘I found out last night that Gwen has also been walking out with Mr Tallis.’

  ‘What? No!’ she laughed. ‘You are mistaken. Gwen has been pestering him ever since we watched The Battle of the Somme at the cinema. But he’s been politely putting her off. I’m afraid to say she’s become a bit of a nuisance, according to Ralph.’

  By the way Elizabeth said his name, Anwen could tell she was more than fond of him.

  ‘And that’s exactly what he’s told Gwen about you.’

  The smile melted away. ‘I don’t understand. Are you saying Ralph has told Gwen about me? He was trying to keep it under wraps for her sake.’

  ‘What I’m saying, Elizabeth, is that Ralph has been walking out with both of you this last nine months, but instructing you both not to tell the other, giving the reason that each of you is pestering him. He’s been deceiving you both.’

  Elizabeth’s expression drooped into wretchedness. ‘But why would he do that? Are you sure Gwen isn’t just… It sounds terrible to say it. Could she be imagining that her pestering him is a relationship?’ Elizabeth looked hopeful.

  ‘Why would Gwen tell the same story you have unless Tallis told her it? And how would Gwen be in a position to chase him unless she was actually meeting him somewhere? She doesn’t move in his circles.’

  Elizabeth let out a long, distressed sigh. ‘I will have to have a word with him.’

  ‘I don’t think that’s a good idea. If he’s willing to deceive you both, no doubt he’d come up with some excuse. He’s picking Gwen up this evening, at the end of West Street. She and I have a plan.’ Sara Fach started to wriggle, clearly wanting to be down on the ground. ‘I’ll have to be quick. She’s getting restless.’

  ‘It’s a shame you don’t have a pushchair for her. She’d enjoy that.’

  ‘Elizabeth, are you listening?’