Peace Comes to Honeyfield

by Anna Jacobs

  ‘I’m sure I trust you. I’m not sure I trust Jordan. I’ve never liked him.’

  ‘I think liking often has a connection with trust,’ he said in his quiet way. ‘Though not always. I suggest you suspend judgement on Captain Jordan.’

  ‘And on you?’

  ‘On me, too. Always keep something in reserve.’

  Which only made her trust him more, for some strange reason.

  Patrick unhooked the earpiece from the holder and waited for the operator to speak. That happened more quickly than he’d expected on a day like this, maybe a benefit of calling from Mr Cotterell’s house.

  He waited for the operator to put the call through to the hostel. He’d be interested to meet Georgie’s father, who sounded to be a remarkable man. Most chaps seemed to be nervous when dealing with important people, but they died as easily as unimportant ones in his experience and after what he’d been through, well, he doubted he’d ever be in much awe of anyone. Maybe only the King and Queen. And he’d not be likely to meet them!

  ‘Barford Hostel.’

  He recognised the voice. ‘Oh, hello, Thomas. Patrick Farrell here. Is Dennis back yet? … Oh, good. Can I speak to him please? I’m sorry to disturb you on such a day but it’s very important indeed. There’s a chance of a temporary job for him, you see.’

  ‘That’d be good. Hold on a minute, lad.’

  He smiled as he waited. The porter at the hostel was a tiny man, shrivelled by his many years. He called all the men staying there ‘lad’ and did everything he could to help them, winning their respect in many ways, because he was a practical, knowledgeable chap as well as kind.

  A breathless younger voice came on the line. ‘Dennis here.’

  Patrick explained. ‘It’s just a short job, few days probably, but they’ll pay well and maybe have enough influence to help you get a permanent job afterwards, or at least give you references that people will value.’

  ‘I’m in.’

  ‘What about Martin? Do you know where he is? Can you get hold of him and bring him to this address? You should both pack your clothes and leave any other stuff with the porter if you have too much to carry. And could you bring my things too?’

  He knew that like him, his friends had lost a lot of their possessions when injured, and didn’t own more than would fit into a small bag, but was trying not to embarrass them.

  Georgie had a thought and tugged at his sleeve. ‘Tell them to get a cab here. I’ll pay.’

  ‘Just a minute! If you can find a cab, grab it. Miss Cotterell will pay for it this end. She wants you here quickly. And remember this number. Telephone me here if anything goes wrong.’

  Dennis was not noted for lengthy speeches. ‘Must be urgent. All right. We’ll be as quick as we can.’

  Patrick placed the earpiece back on its hook and watched it swing gently to and fro for a few seconds before turning to Georgie. ‘They’re good lads, those two. Just so you’re not shocked: Martin had the side of his face blown away, so he’s badly scarred and one ear’s mostly missing. It’s a wonder he can still hear, but he can. His eyesight is still all right, too.’

  ‘It won’t worry me what he looks like.’

  ‘Good. And Dennis has some fingers missing on his right hand as well as a big scar across the side of his forehead. The hand doesn’t stop him firing a revolver accurately, but they decided he wasn’t fit to be trench fodder any longer and he didn’t complain.’

  ‘You’ve been pals for a while?’

  ‘Not that long. We met at the hostel, but I’d stake my life on them being trustworthy. It forms a bond, being in hospital does, then the hostel, especially for those of us without families. Who else is there to turn to but each other? You’ll be well protected with me and them, I promise you. They’ve got their wits about them, those two have, even though they do look a bit odd.’

  ‘I’m sure I’ve seen worse when driving men round London. That sort of thing happens to officers too.’

  ‘Yes, of course you will have. That’s all right, then. Um, I hope you don’t mind me asking, but would you have anything for them to eat when they get here? The food at the hostel isn’t up to much.’

  ‘Of course. I’ll go and check what’s available with Nora. She manages the provisions.’

  ‘I’ll come with you. And you’ve still got your revolver, haven’t you?’

  ‘Oh, yes.’

  ‘Better safe than sorry at the moment, eh?’

  ‘Much better.’

  The captain was in the kitchen, discussing the state of the nearby streets with Mathers, but there was no sign of Nora.

  Georgie turned to Patrick. ‘I won’t wait for the maid to return. I’m quite capable of making sandwiches.’ She went to inspect the pantry and got out some things for making sandwiches, brandishing a tin at him.

  ‘Thank goodness for tins of corned beef!’ she said to Patrick as she hunted out a bread knife.

  ‘You slice the loaf, I’ll butter it,’ he said.

  They began working together so efficiently it felt as if they’d done it before. This was yet another thing about her which took him by surprise, how she mucked in. Ladies from her background didn’t usually, not the officers’ wives he’d met, anyway.

  It was an effort not to let his eyes linger on her beautiful hair and soft womanly curves as they worked. He wouldn’t insult any woman by staring rudely at her body, but this one was a tidy piece, she was indeed.

  When Nora and Rosie came back to join them and offered to take over the food preparation, they went back to the sitting room.

  Georgie was annoyed by the way the captain looked down his nose at Patrick and offered only a patronising remark. She turned her back on him and talked directly to Patrick. ‘Should we prepare beds for your friends, do you think?’

  ‘Are we staying here?’

  ‘It’s what I’d prefer. Even if we do leave, which I’m not sure about yet, we won’t be able to go tonight. From the sounds of it, the streets are still full of people.’

  The captain joined in. ‘My instructions are very clear: you are to be taken to a place of safety as soon as possible. You really should leave this evening.’

  She pressed her lips together for a moment or two to stop herself from snapping at him. ‘Well, it’ll soon be dark and there are still crowds in the streets. Also, we’ll need to prepare the car and keep an eye on it overnight.’

  ‘I’ll send a mechanic to look it over.’

  ‘Mr Farrell is a trained mechanic,’ she reminded him.

  ‘I’d rather my chap checks the vehicle and you don’t leave till he’s done that.’

  ‘It’s not necessary and I’m not letting anyone near my father’s car unless I’m sure of them.’ She rang the bell to signify an end to this conversation.

  There was a tap on the sitting room door and Nora came in.

  ‘Did you want something, miss?’

  ‘Yes. We have two guards arriving shortly. Which rooms should we prepare?’

  ‘There’s only one spare bedroom in the servants’ quarters now, miss.’

  ‘At least one of us will need to be in the same part of the house as you,’ Patrick pointed out. ‘As close to your room as possible.’

  ‘We’ll look at the bedrooms on my floor, then. Come on. I’ll show you round and you can work out who will go where, since you’re in charge of security, Patrick.’

  The captain hesitated, then waved them away as if giving them permission to do that.

  ‘That man gets on my nerves,’ Georgie muttered as they reached the first floor.

  ‘He hasn’t won my liking, either. Enjoys ordering people round too much for my taste.’

  She began to fling open doors. ‘This is my room, my father’s room, and there are two guest rooms on this floor. It’s not a big house.’

  ‘Seems big to me.’

  She didn’t comment on that remark. ‘Which room do you want?’

  ‘I’ll take the one right next to yours, if that�
��s all right. I’ll ask Dennis to sleep near the car and Martin to sleep in the ground floor hall. I noticed a sofa there. We’ll all wake at the slightest noise, I promise you.’

  ‘Dennis could sleep in the car. He’d be more comfortable.’

  ‘You won’t mind?’

  ‘Of course not.’

  She took him up to the attic and showed him where the servants slept.

  ‘Rosie will probably think she’s in heaven with a room of her own,’ he murmured. ‘It was kind of you to give her a job.’

  ‘We need her help.’ She paused by the biggest bedroom in the attic. ‘I think Mathers might want to share the watch-keeping with you. He can be responsible for this top floor, perhaps. I know he has a revolver.’

  ‘Be better if you suggest that to him than me.’

  She didn’t pretend not to understand why he said that. ‘I suppose so. I’m not looking forward to going back to everyone keeping to their own class as the war effort winds down. I’ve met so many interesting people during the last two years of the war.’

  He couldn’t hide his surprise at that. ‘I don’t think everyone will go back to the old ways.’

  She chuckled. ‘I can’t see you kowtowing to anyone, for a start.’

  ‘I might have to, to get a job.’

  ‘Well, don’t kowtow to me. I can’t stand it.’

  His scowl vanished and a smile took its place. ‘I can’t imagine bowing and scraping to you … miss.’

  ‘See that you don’t … Mr—oh, it’s no good. I can’t think of you as Mr Farrell.’

  ‘Patrick?’ he offered.

  ‘Yes. And I’m Georgie.’

  ‘You’re sure? Then it’s agreed. Friendships can spark to life very quickly in troublesome times, I’ve found.’

  ‘If you’re lucky enough to find a new friend.’

  He nodded, then Mathers came to join them and they went back to discussing the arrangements for keeping watch after the captain and his soldier left.

  Mathers was another one who didn’t look down his nose at people, once they’d passed his scrutiny. He seemed a steady, quiet chap if Patrick was any judge, but not one to be made a fool of.

  When Jordan got back to the bureau, he was called in to Butterly’s office.

  ‘What’s the news on Cotterell?’

  ‘We’ve not seen or heard from him.’

  ‘Damnation, the man has a whole set of security records on key personnel that we can’t lay our fingers on. Bad enough that he got permission to do that, even worse that he’s now gone missing. Have you no idea what he’s done with them?’

  ‘I’m afraid not, sir.’

  ‘Well, when he comes back things are going to change, whoever I have to see to get official permission. What about the daughter? Where have you placed her?’

  Jordan sighed. ‘I’ve not placed her anywhere. She’s insisting on staying at home, so I’ve hired some ex-soldiers to guard her. She’ll be all right there and—’

  ‘I’m not sure I like that.’

  ‘It’s done now, sir.’

  ‘We’ll replace them with some of our own men as soon as things settle down tomorrow. Probably by mid-morning. Write down these men’s names in your notes.’ He waved one hand in dismissal.

  Jordan didn’t allow himself to frown until he was out of sight. Butterly didn’t like to be contradicted in any way and was a stickler for details, but he was in a strange mood today. Better not mention to him that Georgie Cotterell was going down to Westcott. It’d only send the major off into another tirade. The man liked to keep everything under his control, which was why he had trouble with Cotterell, who was only loosely attached to the bureau.

  Unfortunately, Jordan didn’t know the names of the two men who were coming to help Farrell. Oh well, he’d get them tomorrow. It might be rather later than mid-morning before he could find anyone to replace them with.

  Chapter Five

  The night passed peacefully, and though Georgie was woken a couple of times by noises outside, when she listened carefully, it turned out to be merely revellers passing the house. There seemed to be nothing disturbing the silence inside the house.

  The following morning, however, just as it was starting to get light, there was a tap on her bedroom door and it opened without whoever it was waiting to be invited to come in. She jerked upright in bed, reaching for the gun, but even before he spoke, she realised from the silhouette that it was Patrick.

  ‘It’s only me, Georgie. Can you come quickly and look at something?’

  ‘What’s wrong?’

  ‘I think there’s someone keeping watch on this house at the back. You can’t see him from here because your bedroom’s at the front, but you can see him from the window of the room I slept in. A few minutes ago, as it started to get light, Dennis looked out from the window of the former stables and saw a man hanging around in the back laneway. He nipped into the house to let Martin know and he came up to tell me.’

  Georgie was out of bed in an instant, slipping into her dressing gown and ignoring a slight feeling of embarrassment because this was so important. She didn’t wait for her slippers but remembered to pick up her revolver before following Patrick into the next room.

  They each stood behind the edge of a curtain, peering down at the back lane and yes, there was a man there, mostly hidden in a nearby gateway, but fidgeting so that not only did his shadow move but he showed parts of his body now and then.

  ‘Do you recognise that man? I don’t know how long he’s been hanging around, but I should guess he’ll have been there all night.’

  She squinted but couldn’t see clearly enough at that distance. ‘I think there are some binoculars in Father’s study.’

  ‘Can you fetch them? I’ll stay on watch here.’

  ‘Yes.’ She ran down the stairs, waving one hand to Martin in the hall. ‘Just getting something for Patrick.’

  The binoculars were where she’d remembered, so she snatched them and hurried back upstairs to her place near the window.

  It took her only seconds to adjust the focus on to the figure huddled in a gateway just along from where her father now parked a car rather than horses. She studied the man’s face carefully as he stared along at their stables. ‘I feel I’ve seen that man before, but I’m not sure where – maybe driving Father to work one day. No, not that. But where?’

  She shook her head. ‘Mathers is the one you should ask. He goes to the office with Father far more often than I do and would know all the people there. I usually wait for Father in the reception area. You haven’t heard Mathers go downstairs yet, have you?’

  ‘No. I’ll fetch him. You keep watching.’

  When he’d left, Georgie caught sight of herself in the wardrobe mirror and blushed to realise that her dressing gown had fallen open showing the lacy neckline of her nightgown, which was too low to be considered even vaguely respectable. She pulled it up and cinched the belt of the dressing gown more tightly, but didn’t take the time to get dressed yet; it was much more important to keep an eye on the watcher.

  Mathers arrived, also in a dressing gown, and while Patrick was showing him the man in the back alley, she rushed into her bathroom and flung on the clothes she’d worn the day before.

  When she rejoined Patrick, Mathers was still studying the figure at the rear of the house.

  ‘Do you recognise him?’

  ‘Sort of. One of the clerks from your father’s office, perhaps, or … No! I’ve got it.’ He snapped his fingers. ‘It’s the son of the caretaker there. He assists his father now and then, cleaning the floors and emptying the rubbish. We didn’t feel the need to check him out beyond making sure he was who he claimed, because that caretaker’s been with us for years and has been nothing but trustworthy.’

  ‘Is there any reason you can think of for the son to be watching this house?’

  ‘Of course not.’

  ‘Could he be a traitor?’

  ‘I doubt it. He can’t possibly have acc
ess to important information and he’s only at the bureau occasionally. But why is he keeping watch here? It doesn’t make sense.’

  ‘Who could have told him to do this?’ she wondered aloud. ‘And why?’

  ‘Money, I suppose, miss,’ Mathers said.

  Patrick continued to stare out of the window, thinking aloud. ‘They’ll continue to watch this place and if her father doesn’t return soon, Captain Jordan may come back and insist on taking Miss Cotterell away, claiming it to be “somewhere safe”.’

  ‘We need to get her away quickly without them noticing,’ Mathers said. ‘But how do we do that?’

  Farrell seemed to Georgie to stand taller, straighter, and his voice became crisper, more authoritative. ‘We’ll work something out, but first, let’s call Martin and Dennis upstairs to look at that chap through the binoculars so they’ll be able to recognise him again.’

  Mathers seemed a lot more accepting of Patrick and his friends than the captain had been, Georgie thought, and she’d trust his judgement. ‘I think the maids should take a good look at him too. When you’re not around, Nora has to answer the door.’

  ‘I’ll tell her not to do that on her own from now on,’ Mathers said at once.

  After the maids had seen the watcher, they got dressed and went to the kitchen to put the kettle on and start breakfast.

  Rosie came upstairs again a short time later, breathless and seeming excited. ‘There’s a pot of tea brewing in the kitchen, miss. Nora wants to know if you’re coming down as usual or whether I should bring up a tray.’

  ‘We’ll take it in turns to come down to save you the trouble,’ Georgie said.

  ‘If you can wait a minute or two,’ Mathers said, ‘I’ll get dressed then take over the watching here, while you two get something to eat.’

  He was frowning and she was sure there was something else on his mind, but what? Did he know where her father was? If anyone did, it’d be him.

  Patrick was left on his own with Georgie. ‘I meant what I said: you can’t stay here. I doubt these people will stop watching this place, even if we chase this chap away, because it’s their main link to your father.’