Anna's Return

by Sally Quilford

  To add to her somewhat gloomy mood, Janek had not contacted her again, even though it was well known that he had returned. The papers had been full of the news of the New York Carmichaels and how popular it had become in a short time. Perhaps, she thought, he felt he had done his duty in inviting an old friend for tea and did not feel the need to invite her again. Or perhaps he was spending all his time with Mary Carmichael.

  “Why are you sighing?” asked Nicky, as they walked through Hyde Park. If Anna had taken Nicky there in the hopes of bumping into Janek again, she had not admitted it to herself.

  “Did I sigh, sweetheart? I’m sure I just took a deep breath. The air is lovely, isn’t it?”

  “It’s alright, but it will be better at the seaside.”

  “The seaside?”

  “Yes, Mama said we are going there, tomorrow.”

  “Are we? She did not say anything to me.”

  “Oh, I forgot…”

  “Forgot what, dear?”

  “It’s supposed to be a secret. I’m not to tell you.”

  “Oh… Do you mean a secret or a surprise?”

  “A secret.”

  “I see. Oh well, perhaps your Mama and Papa want time alone with you.”

  “Hmm, but Tasha is coming too. I heard her talk to Mama about it. That’s why Mama had to tell me. But she said I must not tell you.”

  Anna swallowed hard. She must have done something to upset Madame. It was the only explanation. It was not that she expected to go on all their day trips with them. Only that she always had in the past. “I’m sure you’ll have a lovely time,” she said, her voice feeling tight. “You’ll have to bring me back a stick of rock.”

  “Yes, I will. And we’ll send a postcard. Mama said so.”

  “A postcard? For a day trip.” Anna laughed, even though there seemed to be nothing amusing about the situation to her.

  “Well…” said Nicky. “It might be a bit longer than a day. I can’t really remember now.” He ran on ahead, and Anna sensed that even at such a young age, he felt embarrassed by the situation. She vowed not to let it matter to her. Or at least not to let anyone see that it mattered.

  “You’re behaving like more of a child than Nicky,” she muttered to herself, when the feelings of disappointment and abandonment would not go away as quickly as she would have liked. Then she was able to reason it out. It was to do with cost, of course. If they took everyone from their staff, it would cost them a lot of money, and she knew that even diplomats were not terribly well paid in the Russian diplomatic service. So of course they had to be selective. Tasha had been with them longer, so she was more deserving of a trip to the seaside.

  Yes, thought Anna, trying to be sensible and grown up about it, that would be the reason why. Perhaps Madame felt embarrassed about it, and that was why she had said to keep it a secret. She wished her employers had trusted her a little more, but there was nothing to be done about it.

  “Come along, Nicky,” she called. “It’s time to go home.”

  The following morning, the family were up early, and the atmosphere in the house was very strained. They ate a virtually silent breakfast, only speaking to ask someone to pass the butter or the salt.

  “Anna,” said Madame, tentatively.

  “Yes, Madame.”

  “We are all going out today and taking Nicky with us. We thought that you have worked so hard, you deserve a day off.”

  “Oh… thank you. That’s very kind.” So that is why Madame had not invited her. She probably realised that if Anna were there, she would naturally fall into the role of caring for Nicky. It made Anna feel a little better. Madame was only thinking of her welfare. “But I would not mind.”

  “No, no, it is decided now. There is just one errand I should like you to run. If you do not mind.”

  “No, not at all.”

  “I have written a letter to Mr. Dabrowski to thank him for the cake. I realise I should have done so weeks ago, but I have been busy with other things. There is also an invitation in there for him to come to dinner. Would you mind taking it along to him then waiting for an answer? I’ll know then what to tell cook to order.”

  It seemed a strange request, but Anna could do nothing but comply. “Very well, Madame. What if Mr. Dabrowski is out?”

  “He is not. I checked with the hotel last night. He has been back a fortnight.”

  “Oh…”

  “Is something wrong, Anna?”

  She shook her head. “No, nothing at all.”

  “He has not been in touch with you?”

  “No, but he is a very busy man.”

  “Of course. I just hope … well I hope I have not put you in an embarrassing situation.”

  “No, Madame, not at all.”

  “It’s just that I was under the impression that you two were … great friends.”

  “We are friends,” said Anna, blushing. “I suppose we are anyway.”

  “Good. Good. I hope so,” Madame said, looking very worried all of a sudden.

  “I’m sure he would like to come to dinner,” said Anna, hastily, afraid that she might have spoiled Madame’s plans. “What I mean is that there is no animosity between us.”

  “That is comforting,” said Madame, vaguely. “Yes, very comforting.”

  “Alexandra, we must be getting ready,” said Mr. Voronin, looking at his watch. For a family about to spend the day at the seaside, it seemed to Anna that they were very unhappy.

  “Yes of course Yuri. Tasha, Nicky, are you ready?”

  Ten minutes later, Madame and Mr. Voronin, Tasha and Nicky were waiting at the front door. “You run on ahead to Carmichaels, Anna,” Mr. Voronin said in his gruff tones. “Then the day is your own to do as you please.”

  “Very well,” said Anna, once again feeling that she was being got out of the way. “I hope you have a wonderful time at the seaside.”

  “What?” Madame looked perplexed. “Ah, I see Nicky has let you in on our little secret. We have always wanted to see the British seaside, have we not, Yuri?”

  “Yes, dear, we have.”

  “I’d best get going then,” said Anna, slipping between them and opening the front door.

  “Anna…” Madame started to speak.

  “Yes, Madame?”

  “We’re very fond of you, child. Always remember that.”

  “Alexandra,” Mr. Voronin said in warning tones.

  Madame glared at him, and it seemed to Anna that she was about to burst into tears. Perhaps, thought Anna, they had argued about her going with them, and it was Mr. Voronin who did not want her company for the day. She did not like to think she had caused upset between a husband and wife, so she merely smiled and said, “And I’m very fond of all of you, Madame.”

  Deciding not to say anything else, for fear of adding fuel to the flames, Anna skipped down the steps, waving as she walked up the street. She was surprised to see that the Voronins and Tasha were not waving back. They simply watched her until she was out of sight.

  Anna pulled her coat around her and shivered. The morning was cool, suggesting that the good days were over and autumn was just around the corner. She decided to walk to Carmichaels, even though it was across London. It would give the Voronins time to get out of the way. Then she would return and probably spend the day reading. She loved Nicky dearly, but like all children, he made great demands on her time. It would be a pleasure to sit and read a book without interruption.

  With that positive thought in mind, whilst at the back of her mind was the niggling feeling that something was terribly wrong with the Voronins, she made her way to Carmichaels.

  It took her over an hour to get there, by which time the sun was shining high in the sky and she had to take her coat off because it was so warm.

  To her surprise, Janek was standing at the entrance, and it seemed as if he was waiting for her. “You’d better come in,” he said, before she could open her mouth to speak. “Wait until we’re in my flat upstairs, before you
say anything.”

  Anna could only nod, dumbstruck by his attitude. For some reason it reminded her of the Voronins’ mood when she left them. “I have a letter for you,” she said, when Janek shut the door to his flat.

  “That might explain what’s going on,” he said. Anna handed him the letter.

  “What do you mean, what’s going on?”

  He put his fingers to his lips, whilst he opened the letter. Inside were two notes. One for him, and one which he handed to Anna without reading.

  Our dearest Anna, she read. Please forgive us for not being honest with you. For a long time we have feared having to return to Russia. We have come to realise there is only one thing we can do to escape that, but I am afraid it means going away to a place of safety for a long time. We thought long and hard about whether to ask you to come with us, but it seemed wrong that such a young girl should give up her freedom for us. Tasha has chosen to come with us, because she will be in danger if she does not. Please do not think badly of us for not including you in our plans. It was for your safety as much as for ours. We remain, as always your truest friends, Alexandra and Yuri Veronin.

  “They’ve defected,” said Janek. “Or at least they’re on their way to do just that.”

  “When I arrived, you said it would explain what’s going on,” said Anna, feeling as if she had fallen into a deep sleep and was in the middle of a nightmare. “What did you mean?”

  “Half an hour ago all your clothes and belongings were delivered here by taxi.”

  “What?” Anna put her hands to her face. “Oh, but I could have got them myself.”

  “It isn’t safe for you to return there, Anna. The Russian government will want to talk to everyone involved with the Voronins, including you. At least you’re safe here.”

  “Here? I cannot stay here,” said Anna. “I need to go and look for a job and a place to live.”

  “Then we will kill two birds with one stone. I’ll give you a job and a place to stay. In fact, that’s what Madame Voronina has asked me to do.”

  “Oh, but you mustn’t Janek. I don’t expect you to. I’ll go across the road to Miss Templeton’s and I’m sure she’ll find me something.”

  “How long is it since you’ve looked on the other side of this road?” Janek asked with a smile.

  “I … I don’t know.”

  “Miss Templeton is not there anymore. She hasn’t been for about three years. I think she married and went to live in the country. Her offices are now rented out to a firm of chartered surveyors.”

  “I see… Well there will be other agencies.”

  “Sit down, Anna and I’ll get you a cup of tea. You look unwell.” When she did not comply, Janek said in firmer tones. “Sit down, Anna.”

  Like a child, she obeyed him, sitting down on the plush leather sofa. It was just as well, because her legs had been about to give way. “I knew something was wrong,” she said, in a daze. “Why could they not trust me?”

  “I’ve told you, they knew that you’d be questioned.”

  “I would never have betrayed them.”

  “Anna, I’m not talking about before they defected, but after. You don’t know much about the Russian authorities, but I can tell you that I do. They are ruthless. Madame Voronin did the only thing she could do to protect you. She kept you in the dark, and then she sent you to someone whom she knew would take care of you. Probably because I had before.”

  “I don’t need to be taken care of,” Anna said, with uncharacteristic petulance. “I’m not a ten year old girl anymore, Janek.” She immediately regretted her outburst, but her sadness over losing a family she had come to think of as her own had made her tetchy. Even though she understood that the Voronins had not meant it that way, she could not help feeling hurt that they had not trusted her. She could at least have made her own arrangements about where to live and work, rather than have them rely on the kindness of Janek. It embarrassed her that once again she was seeking his help.

  “Strange,” said Janek, “I’d have sworn, from the look on your face that you were still running away from something.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  On the morning that the Voronins defected, Teddy and Izzy had really gone to the seaside. It was a long trip from Surrey to the East Yorkshire coast, so most of the day had been spent travelling by train. They booked into the first bed and breakfast establishment they found, deciding to begin their search for Mrs. Palmer and Mr. Stephens on the following morning. They had no idea where Mrs. Palmer and her sister had set up their hotel, as Teddy had not heard from them since the day they left Silverton Hall. He only knew that it was definitely in Filey.

  Teddy thought they might get lucky by asking the landlady of the place in which they stayed. “Do you happen to know of a bed and breakfast place run by two sisters?” he asked the landlady as they booked in. “Mrs. Palmer and … Oh what was the other one’s name? I know her first name was Elsie.”

  The landlady, who introduced herself as Mrs. Green, sniffed. “Deciding to move on already, are you?” she said.

  “Oh no,” said Izzy, hastily. “They’re old friends of ours and we just thought we might pop in.”

  “Seems to me,” said Mrs. Green, “that if they’re old friends, you’d know where you are.” Her eyes narrowed. “Are you two married?”

  “No,” said Izzy, firmly. “This is why we’re booking separate rooms.”

  “Well, just be aware that we want no funny business. This is a respectable establishment. Door’s locked at nine pm, so make sure you return on time if you go out this evening. I don’t make allowances. Breakfast is at eight am on the dot, not a minute earlier not a minute later. If you miss it, you look like eating out. And don’t come down early because you’ll be in the way. No smoking in the bedrooms.”

  “We don’t smoke,” said Teddy. “It’s bad for your health.”

  “And no cooking in the bedrooms either,” Mrs. Green snapped, ignoring him.

  It was a struggle for them not to giggle as they were shown to their rooms. “I’ve heard of prisons that were more welcoming than this,” Izzy muttered to Teddy as they climbed the stairs. After that, he dared not look at her, in case he burst out laughing.

  After a good night’s sleep, they sat down to a rather insipid breakfast, which was lukewarm at best. The other guests in the dining room sat staring into space as they ate, it being clear that Mrs. Green did not tolerate noise or frivolity of any kind. One young couple had a job keeping their toddler quiet. Regardless of the tense atmosphere, the little girl insisted on having the time of her life. Other guests smiled indulgently, probably wishing they could join in, but with one eye on the door in case the harridan Mrs. Green should return.

  “I’m surprised she’s still in business,” said Teddy.

  “Maybe they’re like us,” said Izzy. “Came here direct from the train and have regretted it since. She probably won’t let anyone leave. We’ll all be trapped here forever, eating soggy bacon and not daring to make a noise.”

  Teddy coughed, to hide another fit of giggles. Izzy’s pretty green eyes shone, and he noticed her shoulders shaking. “Even this place is fun with you, Izzy,” he said.

  “Yes, I’m having a good time too, Teddy. Shall we leave this awful breakfast and go to the Bronte Vinery instead?”

  “The Bronte Vinery?”

  “Yes, it’s a lovely café, in Cliff House, where the Brontes used to come and stay. They do a great breakfast which you eat sitting under the vines.”

  “Really?” Teddy lowered his voice. “I’d have sworn from reading all that misery in Wuthering Heights that they stayed here.”

  “Shh…” Izzy’s lips twisted as she tried to contain her laughter. “We’d better go before we get in trouble.”

  “Where are you going?” asked Mrs. Green, as they made their escape from the dining room.

  “We’re going in search of our friends,” said Teddy.

  “You’ve not finished your breakfast. That’s wast
e that is. How am I supposed to make a living here if people waste their food?”

  “We paid you for it,” said Izzy.

  “Of course,” said Mrs. Green, “You youngsters have soon forgotten the war, and the sacrifices we had to make. When there was rationing, no one wasted anything. Never mind. If you don’t eat it today, we’ll warm it up for you tomorrow.”

  “She has a point, you know,” said Teddy, when they were walking along the seafront, ten minutes later. “It was wrong to waste food.”

  “Yes, I suppose it was,” said Izzy. “But it was inedible, Teddy. I’ve got a tummy ache even from the bit I did eat.”

  “Yes, me too. I don’t know if I want to eat anything else at the moment.”

  “No, me neither. We’ll put off the vinery for another day. Let’s go and look for Mrs. Palmer. With any luck we’ll find her and she’ll have rooms we can stay in.”

  “There’s no rush, really,” said Teddy. “The longer we’re here, the longer I get to spend with you.”

  “Some of us have to work for a living.”

  “I suppose you think I’m a poor little rich boy,” said Teddy, sulking. “I can’t help the life I was born into Izzy, but I want to make things better. I want to help others. Can’t you at least give me credit for that?”

  “Hey, I was teasing. You’re alright, Teddy. One of the good guys, as they say in American films.”

  Teddy smiled, very quickly mollified. “So there’s a chance for me yet then?”

  “If you mean to do great things in the world, yes. If you mean with me … I’ve told you before, Teddy, I think you’re a lovely lad, but you’re three years younger than me, and still at school. Come back when you’re a bit more grown up.”

  “That’s as good as a promise. Unless of course you fall hopelessly in love with someone else by then.”

  “I’m afraid that’s something you’ll have to be prepared for. I don’t say it to be unkind, Teddy, so please don’t look so crestfallen. I say it out of kindness. Because it’s just as likely you’ll find a girl and completely forget about me. This is the way it should be at your age.”