Always In My Heart

by Freda Lightfoot

  He gave a wry smile. ‘You could say that. It’s true that I’ve learned a great deal working here: milking cows, ploughing, and many other skills. Let me show you something.’ Dino led her across the farmyard and proudly pointed to a drystone wall he’d repaired. Each stone had been slotted into its appointed place as precisely as a jigsaw puzzle. ‘It took me the best part of a day, but Hugh came over and told me I’d no right to be working on this alone.’

  ‘Why would he say such a thing?’

  ‘I thought at first it was because he’d discovered my disability, as has happened to me on previous occasions with other employers.’

  Prue looked startled. ‘What sort of disability?’

  ‘I’m partially blind in one eye.’

  ‘Oh, Dino, I’d no idea. Why didn’t you tell me?’

  ‘It’s not something I like to reveal as it could result in my losing the job, and I’d no wish to be sent back to camp. Or lose you,’ he added with a loving smile. ‘Some things don’t require perfect sight, the skill for repairing a wall being in a strong pair of hands. But I was wrong. That was not the issue at all.’

  Prue frowned. ‘Then what is?’

  ‘Our outing together on VE Day. Someone must have told him that I’d accompanied you, and as fraternisation is still against the law, he tipped off the police. I’m now to be sent back to the camp in the Isle of Man, or possibly prison.’

  Prue let out a gasp as she stared at him in horror. ‘Oh no! Just for taking a walk with me to celebrate peace?’ She made no mention of what had happened between them afterwards.

  At that moment the local constable, PC Matthews, quietly approached. Touching his brow with a polite tap of his hand, almost like a salute, he gave a sad little nod. ‘I’m afraid that is the case, Miss Prudence. This is not my choice, but I’m afraid I must follow the rules. Italian PoWs are permitted to speak to members of the public and accept invitations to visit their homes, but relationships with a young lady are prohibited. Excuse me.’ And clipping handcuffs on to Dino’s wrists, the policeman led him away.

  Utterly devastated, Prue ran after him. ‘This is completely wrong. The war is over and he’s not an enemy.’

  ‘Will you let my mother know where I am?’ Dino anxiously begged her as he was ushered into the back of the truck.

  ‘I will, and I promise I won’t allow my brother to get away with this,’ she cried, her heart plummeting with fear as the vehicle drove away.

  *

  Relations with her brother had become increasingly strained over the last few weeks, and Prue made a vow to stand up to him all the more and do everything she could to get her beloved man released. After all, British soldiers were allowed to marry their German sweethearts, so why couldn’t she marry hers, a perfectly innocent Italian PoW?

  Bursting into Hugh’s office, she slammed the door shut behind her and stood before him, hands on hips, defiance pounding within her. ‘How dare you do this to Dino?’

  Glancing up to meet the fury of her gaze, Hugh let out a heavy sigh. ‘You know full well that fraternisation between prisoners of war and the local population is strictly forbidden in this time of crisis.’

  ‘There is no crisis, the war is over.’

  ‘Have you no sense of morality?’ he sternly asked. ‘Women are not allowed to involve themselves in undesirable relationships with PoWs. I expected you to behave more respectably. Not only are you bringing shame upon our family, you could well be charged and fined for engaging with the enemy.’

  ‘Oh, that’s ridiculous. Dino is a good man, and you were perfectly happy for him to work on our farm.’

  ‘That had nothing to do with me,’ he snapped. ‘According to the Geneva Convention, officers cannot be forced to do any work but the lower ranks can, which is most certainly what he was.’

  ‘If he’s allowed to work on the farm, why could he not join me for the VE Day celebration? That attitude is so unfair. He’s killed no one, done nothing wrong.’

  ‘As I pointed out when we spoke of this before, sexual or social encounters with women are against the law,’ Hugh coolly reminded her. ‘Action had to be taken. Your so-called relationship had to be stopped before you were accused of fraternising with the enemy.’

  Tears filled her eyes as she thought of Dino being locked up in prison when he so loved the freedom of the outdoors. ‘Lord, I wish the government would lift this stupid ban.’

  ‘It won’t happen any time soon, so you’ll just have to learn to live with it.’

  ‘I most definitely won’t,’ Prue retorted. ‘As a woman I have rights too, and I’ll do everything I can to get him released. Then we’ll marry as soon as possible.’

  Watching her storm off, again slamming the door behind her, Hugh sighed, feeling filled with anguish. Had he done the wrong thing yet again, despite feeling the need to protect Prue?

  He seemed to be at odds with both his sisters, if for different reasons. Melissa had made her objections to this Brenda person clear from the start, insisting that she would never accept her as a member of the family or hand over a penny. Admittedly, he too was reluctant to do so, or allow her any say in the running of the business. And not for a moment did he believe she would ever succeed in finding the correct papers.

  Yet Fairhurst, the family solicitor, took an entirely different point of view. He’d pointed out that she could well be speaking the truth, and would do his utmost to resolve the issue. There was still no proof her alleged child was Jack’s. German soldiers may well have been forbidden from having relationships with women, but according to reports, that was a rule difficult to enforce. So why would that little madam expect riches to be given to her if she really did join a brothel and bestow favours upon her enemy?

  A thought occurred to him which brought forth a slight chuckle of amusement. Were she to offer him certain favours, would that tempt him to change his mind? She was, after all, a very attractive young lady.

  Hearing a patter of heels clicking across the hall and seeing Melissa enter, his heart sank as he prepared himself for yet another dispute.

  *

  Prue called at the police station day after day to see Dino, then would speak to the local bobby to argue their case. She also visited the town hall as well as writing to every person she could think of in a valiant attempt to get him released. Sadly, without success. One afternoon when she called, PC Matthews told her Dino had now been returned to a camp in the Isle of Man. She was utterly devastated, but remembering her promise to him, Prue took the next train to Ancoats, determined to speak to his mother. She was also keen to hear more of his family’s story.

  Walking along Great Ancoats Street, packed with delicatessens selling pasta, the scent of spicy sauces made her feel quite hungry. It was an area known as Little Italy, although there were plenty of Irish living here too. It had always been a thriving community well respected by Mancunians because of the Italians’ friendly charm and their skills with music, ice cream and good food. Sadly that had all changed now.

  She found the small shop close to the Wharf, the window boarded up. But Prue smiled at a Union Jack hanging from an upstairs window. The family was clearly eager to prove their loyalty to Britain. Knocking on the shop door, she wondered why the business was closed.

  The door opened a crack and a small face appeared. ‘We not open, sorry.’

  Prue smiled. ‘I’m a friend of Dino’s and he asked me to call. Are you his mum?’

  The door swung wide open, revealing a small grey-haired woman standing with her clasped hands pressed to her chest. ‘Ah, mamma mia. You knowa my son? Come in, come in.’

  Seconds later they were seated together in a small kitchen as Mrs Belloni prepared a cappuccino for them. ‘Tell me, how is caro mio?’ she asked, placing a cup before Prue.

  Taking a quick sip of the delicious coffee, Prue gave the bad news, together with a brief explanation of how they’d been accused of ‘fraternising’.

  Sympathy focused in the older lady’s dark eyes.
‘He lovesa you?’

  ‘He does, and I love him. We hope soon to be married, now that this dreadful war is over, although it could take a while. I am aware that your family has suffered badly, but I do hope you will welcome me.’

  Giving Prue’s hand a little pat, she smiled. ‘We do nota blame the British for whata happened. Even when the polis came for mio marito, they were most gracious in their questioning. He was asked where he kept his private papers, and if he was a fascist. Then Bartolomeo was handcuffed and taken away to the polis station. I too was taken. We were separated, not knowing where the other was being held.’

  ‘That must have been so hard.’

  ‘Sì. The next day Dino too was arrested.’ A bleakness entered her dark eyes, and clasping her cup with both hands, she savoured the coffee for some moments before continuing with her story. ‘They were both interned in different places without any reason given. The authorities did nota take into account the facta we have lived here for years and are perfectly respectable people. We came from Campania in search of a better life and soon became very much a part of this community. For weeks I heard nothing until mio marito wrote to me from the Isle of Man. Later I heard from Dino. He was held at Warth Mill near Bury, sleeping on a camp bed in very bad conditions.’

  ‘He told me once how he was taken to Liverpool, then across the Irish Sea in the Lady of Mann, which they called a Prison Ship, escorted by a naval frigate,’ Prue said.

  His mother nodded. ‘I was released almost at once, but ordered nota to go out of the city. I could nota go more than ten miles from my home. My wireless was taken away and the business closed. I tried to keep it going, but there were too many difficulties. I felt that we were being blamed for our nationality, yet we havea always remained loyal to Britain in this war.’ Clenching her fists to her heart, she said, ‘If I were a young man, I’d happily fight to destroy Mussolini. As do my other sons. They have botha been regular soldiers for years. Dino, my youngest, would have joined too, but his eyesight nota good, so he was rejected.’

  ‘Dino admitted that problem to me only the other day when he was re-arrested. I did wonder why he’d never told me before.’

  ‘Ah, he isa blind in one eye, but never likes to tell anyone, or they mighta class him as deformed and nota worth employing. He is a proud, hard-working man.’

  Prue smiled. Listening to his family’s story, she realised how little she had previously known about Dino. Not that it made any difference to her if he suffered from a disability; she still loved him with all her heart. ‘He is very good at his job on the farm, and so keen and willing to learn more. What did he do before the war?’

  ‘He trieda different jobs, but in the end worked in the family business doing terrazzo tiling and mosaics.’

  ‘A business that is now closed. How sad. And what about your husband, is he free yet?’

  ‘Bartolomeo was released back in 1942 and has been working for the Home Guard ever since,’ she proudly announced. ‘Now he isa busy helping to clear up bomb sites. He did try to start the business again but distrust has grown and somebody broke the window, so we boarded it up. He was nota fit enough any more to cope on his own with no one to help him. And there were few orders to be had, now that people had turned against us. Too many innocent Italians have been held in the camps.’

  ‘I believe most PoWs are now being released, so it irritates me all the more that Dino has been taken back, even though the war is over. I really feel the need to be with him and try to get him released or repatriated, whatever they call it.’

  ‘Oh, that woulda be so wonderful, if you could,’ Mrs Belloni said, again grasping Prue’s hands to give them a warm squeeze. ‘You are a lovely girl, pleasea help him.’

  Determination ricocheted through her. ‘That is what I fully intend to do,’ Prue firmly stated. ‘And I’ll keep in touch to let you know what happens.’

  Fourteen

  Mrs Harding was busily cleaning the oak mantelpiece with dregs of tea leaves, as she generally did every Thursday morning when Brenda popped her head around the kitchen door. ‘Can I come in?’ she softly asked.

  ‘Eeh, lass, good to see thee. I’ll put t’kettle on again. I’m ready for a sit down and a bit of a chin-wag.’

  ‘I’m fully aware that I’m no longer allowed in this house, but it’s Wakes Weeks, as we Lancashire folk call our summer holiday. And as Prue said I was welcome to stay with her at any time, I wondered if I could spend it here. I can see no sign of her right now. Do you know where she is?’

  ‘Sit theesen down and I’ll tell thee what’s happened.’

  The tale of how Dino had found himself arrested simply for walking down into the village with Prue filled Brenda with horror. It sounded so unjust. She understood exactly how it felt to be treated as an enemy, as she had been in France, and suffered badly as a result. ‘Poor man, and poor Prue. She must feel utterly decimated.’

  ‘Aye, but she’s a determined and very positive-thinking young lady, so is out most days talking to local councillors, Members of Parliament, the mayor, vicars, anyone she can think of who might offer some support to help get him released. We can but hope she succeeds, as he’s a nice young lad. Anyroad, how about you? Have thee found out owt about your little one?’ Mrs Harding asked, placing a mug of tea before Brenda.

  ‘I’m afraid not, but like Prue I’m writing and calling upon everyone I can think of, so far to no avail. At least I have a good job in Castlefield and can afford to rent a flat and the cost of this search, but feel in sore need of a little break and a change of scene. And Prue is such a good friend, I’ve missed her. If she’s busy with this task I’d be happy to help her in any way, and you too, while I’m here.’

  ‘Tha’d be most welcome, lass. You’re a right little treasure in any kitchen. Most of the servants once employed here joined the forces, or went to work in better-paying jobs. None seem eager to return, so there’s far too much for me to deal with looking after this big house.’

  ‘I’d be most happy to do my bit, Mrs Harding, were Hugh willing to allow it. Although why would he object when he treats me like a servant anyway?’ Brenda said with a laugh. In her heart she felt a little nervous of his reaction, her main motivation being to attempt to win him round so that he might start to believe in her. And if that meant doing her bit in the kitchen, it was a small price to pay.

  The housekeeper gave a wide toothless grin, her false teeth currently sitting in a glass bowl on the kitchen sink. ‘He happen wouldn’t agree to pay thee much, if owt at all, but at least tha’d get well fed, and could go for a walk whenever it takes tha fancy. It’d be grand if tha could make some cakes and puddings.’

  ‘I’m not asking to be paid. I’m on holiday. Just glad to do something useful instead of sitting about doing nothing. How about if I start by making you a fruit cake?’ Brenda suggested with a smile.

  ‘Eeh, we’ve no dried fruit, save for a few sultanas. They’re a bit hard to come by.’

  ‘I could soak some prunes instead, if you have any of those. The cake would be a bit more solid, but still tasty and filling.’

  ‘Aye, we’ve plenty o’ them. Eeh, tha’s a clever lass.’

  ‘I’ll start right away,’ Brenda said, reaching for an apron.

  Following the afternoon tea when the fruit cake was served, Carter the butler brought them a message as he carried back the empty trays. ‘Master Hugh wishes you to know, Mrs Harding, that the cake was delicious. He sends his compliments.’

  ‘If only he knew it weren’t me what baked it,’ she chortled.

  ‘Best not to tell him,’ Brenda said, and they all burst out laughing.

  *

  Brenda was eagerly welcomed to stay in the cottage by Prue. That evening she sat happily crocheting a bag out of string, since she couldn’t afford to buy one, while her friend told her own version of Dino’s arrest and what she’d learned from his mother.

  ‘It is so wrong to treat him as an enemy, a feeling I know well,’ Brenda sai
d. ‘But are you saying it was Hugh who reported Dino to the police? Why would he do such a thing?’

  Prue sighed. ‘Oh, my darling brother is in something of a state himself. He’s lost all his usual patience as a result of the low profits coming from the sale of biscuits, as well as struggling to find the necessary money to pay death duties on Papa. Bit of a nightmare, so he has my sympathy, even though I was hugely cross with him.’

  ‘Is there anything I can do to help?’ Brenda asked.

  ‘Bless you, not really.’ Pausing for a moment, Prue frowned as tears filled her eyes. ‘The trouble is, Dino’s now been returned to a camp on the Isle of Man. Not good news.’

  ‘It’s better than being confined in a police cell,’ Brenda gently pointed out.

  Giving a little nod, Prue sadly agreed. ‘I once told my brother that were he ever to arrange for Dino to be sent back to the island, I would go too. At least then I could visit him regularly and help to persuade the camp commandant to release him.’

  ‘Sounds like a good plan,’ Brenda agreed.

  ‘His dear mother thought so too.’

  ‘Take care how you go about it.’

  ‘I most certainly will. I learnt quite a bit more about his family, which should help. Oh, and I’m longing to see him again. The only snag is that it would mean abandoning my work here. Who would keep the garden weeded, tend to the fruit and vegetables, the tomatoes in the greenhouse, not to mention look after the chickens and Kit while I was away?’ she said, glancing across at the collie snoozing in his basket.

  ‘I’d be happy to do that. I’ve a couple of weeks free but do like to keep busy, so why not?’

  Prue blinked. ‘Even though it’s your holiday?’

  ‘There’s nowhere else I want to go, even if I could afford to,’ she laughed. ‘And I’m sure I can cope. I helped deal with quite a few of those jobs in the past, so why would I not?’

  ‘Oh, that would be wonderful! What a dear friend you are,’ Prue cried, wiping the tears from her cheeks as she jumped up to give Brenda a hug. ‘Thank you so much. I’ll speak to Hugh first thing in the morning and tell him what I’ve decided to do, and that you’ve offered to take my place for a while.’