Peace Comes to Honeyfield

by Anna Jacobs

  Cole stopped dead and tugged at his sleeve, whispering, ‘Why is there a light when there ent nobody livin’ there? Well, they can’t be livin’ there, can they, because half of it’s fell down? And look, there’s a car parked behind it, a big one. You can just see its bonnet. What’s a big posh car doing outside a tumbledown cottage, eh? You tell me that, Mr T!’

  ‘We’d better check it out.’

  As the two men moved closer, following a narrow lane with a ditch to one side, the sound of low voices could be heard in the still night air, though not clearly enough to make out the words.

  Then another car drove towards the village from the north and to their surprise, turned into their lane.

  Cole vanished into the ditch and Tez only just managed to leap after him before the car drove past and stopped behind the cottage.

  ‘What d’you reckon is goin’ on?’ Cole whispered.

  ‘A German group called Siebenzeit is trying to cause trouble, my mother thinks.’

  ‘Germans? But we’ve won the dangy war.’

  ‘These are British traitors, people with relatives or interests in Germany. I’m not positive if it’s them doing this, mind. No one is. But it’s likely. The newspapers are already suggesting there will be a lot of tricky dealing going on behind the scenes as the various nations prepare for the coming peace negotiations.’

  ‘I still don’t understand what that has to do with Miss Georgie.’

  ‘Our best guess is that they’re intending to capture her and use her to force her father to act as an informer both before and during the coming peace negotiations. He’s bound to be at the centre of what’s going on. He’s a very important—’

  ‘Shh!’ Cole moved a few steps closer, listening intently. This time the voices carried more clearly because the newcomers were standing outside the ruined cottage. ‘They sound to be speaking the King’s English.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Why would they want to help the enemy, then, if they’re English?’

  ‘There’s been a lot of intermarrying between the Germans and the British upper classes over the last couple of centuries and sometimes even rich people can’t be trusted.’

  Cole didn’t say anything, just muttered a few choice swear words under his breath as they watched the two men. They were so muffled up against the cold that from this distance there was no telling whether they were young or old, tall or short.

  The number plate of their car must have been deliberately covered in mud, Tez thought, because neither the letters nor the numbers had been visible when the vehicle passed close to them, even though the moonlight was bright enough to have made them out. If they’d been able to see what its one or two initial letters were, they might have had some idea where the car came from. Though you couldn’t always tell these days, because with so many people having cars, the local licensing authorities simply added a second letter when the number got beyond 9,999 and started counting again. How was anyone to keep track of it all?

  Time seemed to pass slowly as they kept their eyes on the cottage. He pulled his pocket watch out and checked it every now and then. It was nearly half an hour before one of the men came out again and got into the back of the car.

  It drove away almost immediately but though they waited, no one else left the cottage and after a while the light inside winked out.

  ‘Don’t look like they’re intending to do anything else tonight, do it, Mr T?’

  ‘No. I’m not sure whether it’s worth staying here longer or not. What do you think?’

  ‘I’ll stay on a little while if you like, sir, and keep an eye on things, just to be sure.’

  ‘Don’t go causing trouble, Cole. We don’t want them to know we’ve found their hideout.’

  ‘I’ll be careful. You’ll want to get back to your wife, and anyway, you make a lot more noise than I do. I can get right up to that cottage if I have to without them hearing me. I’ll nip back across the fields and warn you if these sods look like attacking the old house next to yours tonight, you can be sure of that.’

  ‘They’ll not get into my house, whether I’m there or not. I have good locks and my wife has a gun – knows how to use it too. Just the sound of it being fired would bring our visitors running from next door. And if Bella screamed for help, all the neighbours would come running as well.’

  ‘Rare determined lady, your wife is, if you don’t mind me saying so, sir. She’d give ’em what for. Only it ent her as they’re after, is it, from what you say? It’s them other folk what’s stayin’ next door.’

  ‘I daren’t leave the back gate from my garden through to the orchard unlocked. You’ll have to find your own way back to Honeyfield House, if necessary.’

  Cole chuckled. ‘Bless you, sir, I know more than one way to get back there and no one any the wiser, I promise you. I’ll have a potter round the village before I go home. I want to make sure my wife is safe, too, because she don’t have a gun.’

  ‘I’d back your Sal against anyone who tried to attack her, gun or not.’

  Cole chuckled. ‘Aye. She’s a fine, strong woman, not one of them scrawny, wambly types. A proper woman, as gives a man something to hold in bed of a night.’

  ‘Yes. I’m sure she does. Thanks for your help.’

  ‘We all have to pull together, don’t we? Oh, and leave them clothes near your front gate. Someone will pick them up for me. Never know when they might come in useful, even though I don’t do no poaching these days, sir. My Sal won’t stand for it.’

  When Tez had left, Cole stayed where he was for half an hour or so, went to check that there was no sound from inside the end of the cottage that still had a roof over it, then left to prowl round the village. He knew it well enough to keep out of sight most of the time, in case someone else was about. But he didn’t meet anyone.

  He made a few stops en route to see certain people, tossing gravel at windows or knocking on doors in a certain way to wake them up, then having a quick word with the occupants.

  Mr Tesworth wasn’t the only one to have friends ready to help him, Cole thought as he left the last house, pleased by the responses he’d got. Satisfied he’d done his best for the moment, he ambled back home to Honeyfield House.

  Of course, Sal woke up the instant he opened the back door. Well, she would, wouldn’t she, because she wasn’t in their bedroom but dozing in the rocking chair near the still-warm kitchen range.

  ‘Don’t light a lamp, lovie,’ he warned.

  ‘Trouble?’

  ‘It’s brewing, yes. Mr T an’ me poked round a bit, found where them villains were hiding, which was in Sam Bunkle’s old cottage. When Mr T went home again, I let a few of my old friends know what was going on. Eh, he made a right old noise as we walked, he did. Poaching teaches you more about moving around quietly than them townies will ever learn.’

  ‘I thought we’d agreed: no more poaching.’

  ‘Bless you, I’ve no need to catch my food when I get fed so well here. But you don’t forget how to move quietly.’ He pulled her to him for a hug.

  She pushed away for long enough to say, ‘You will help keep Mrs Bella safe, won’t you? I’m rare fond of her, I am. Taught me to read, she did, when she first come here. I’d always wanted to learn.’

  ‘We’re all fond of her, and of her husband too. Nice chap, Mr T is. He don’t look down his nose at anyone like some I’ve met. No, you’ve no need to worry, love. There’s quite a few people who’ll be keeping an eye on her, yes, and on them London friends of theirs too.’

  After a moment’s thought, he added fiercely, ‘Mr T says these people attacking ’em are traitors, an’ such as them ent going to mess up my village. Now, are you coming to bed, woman, or are you going to sit here all night a-watchin’ the fire?’

  Chapter Twenty

  No one at Orchard View slept soundly that night. The men took it in turns to keep watch, but they saw no signs of intruders nearby.

  They breakfasted on bread and butter, with h
am and a boiled egg each – the latter thanks to Bella’s hens.

  Patrick hardly noticed what he was eating. He didn’t feel hungry because he’d had a fitful night’s sleep worrying about the ongoing problem of Georgie’s safety. He waited till everyone had taken the edge off their appetites then said, ‘Look, we have to decide whether to stay here in Honeyfield or move on and try to find somewhere safer, somewhere they’d never think to look for us.’

  Georgie didn’t hesitate. ‘I feel safest of all in Honeyfield. There’s something about the place that makes me happy. So I vote we stay here. We’ve got friends nearby who’ll come to our aid if there’s trouble and Bella says the neighbours would pile in as well if we yelled for help.’

  He looked doubtful, so she hurried on, ‘And there are the people at Honeyfield House. Wait till you meet them, Patrick. They’re such kind, caring people. We’d have help from Cole, I’m sure. He’s a big, strong fellow. And Mr Doohey and his dog would help out as well, if we needed him.’

  Dennis nodded but was clearly more interested in buttering another slice of bread and laying his last piece of ham reverently on it than in discussing what seemed obvious to him. He beamed down at his plate. ‘Eh, it’s been a long time since I’ve eaten such good food. I vote to stay here as well because we’ve already got allies here. It’s a nice village. I’d like to live here or somewhere like it if I could find a job. I’ve had enough of crowds and cities.’

  She was grateful for his support and his comment made her even more certain that she’d like to live here permanently.

  Martin simply nodded and grunted what sounded like agreement. She could see that he too was enjoying the ham.

  Rosie added her piece. ‘I like it here as well. But we’ll need to buy some more food today, whatever we decide to do. A lot more food, if we’re to keep you chaps satisfied, because the shops won’t be open tomorrow, remember.’

  ‘Is it Saturday already?’ Georgie asked in surprise. ‘What a week it’s been!’

  Dennis reached out for the final piece of bread on the central plate. ‘Shame to leave one piece to go stale. Haven’t had bread as good as this for years, except for one time in France when the captain found a Frenchie baker to do a batch of bread for our unit. Funny shape he made it, long and thin and crusty. Eh, it tasted grand.’ He smiled at the memory as he buttered the bread.

  Patrick looked at his companions. ‘I think we should stay here too, but I wanted you to have a say. So it’s decided. We’ll stay here till we get word from the captain or your father, Georgie. Should we drive into Malmesbury for the food to hide how many we are or buy it here, do you think?’

  ‘Buy it here,’ Rosie said immediately. ‘If these folk in the village are anything like the ones in my mam’s street, they’ll have a fair idea already of who’s staying in this house and why. And they’ll be more on our side if we buy food from the local shops and farmers than if we buy it from outsiders. Stands to reason.’

  ‘There are some nice people in the village shops,’ Georgie said. ‘I’m looking forward to meeting them again.’

  Patrick gave her a worried glance. ‘I don’t think you should leave the house at all. Rosie can do the shopping and one of us men will go with her.’

  ‘What? Even in the middle of the day? They’re not likely to attack any of us while we’re walking down the main street of the village in broad daylight, surely?’

  ‘They might risk a quick snatch if they spot an opportunity. It’s what I would be on the lookout for in their place, anyway. So I’m trying not to give them a chance.’

  ‘Well, I don’t agree. They can’t keep watch on this house every minute of the day and night without someone noticing them. And there are always people around in the village centre.’

  ‘Georgie, if what we suspect is true, these people will keep on trying until they succeed. You must never go anywhere on your own till it’s all sorted out – and that includes outside in this street, even. We’re not in the village centre here.’

  She gave him a pleading look but he shook his head.

  ‘They’ll probably still be planning to take you from the house during the night, so that’s the time we have to be most careful of all.’

  Her frustration escaped her. ‘In other words, I’d better not go outside and I’d better not sleep too soundly, either. Patrick, I’ll go mad penned up here.’

  His sigh was audible. ‘Well, perhaps you could walk along to the village shops with a couple of us in attendance. That ought to be safe enough. It’s only about three hundred yards.’

  He looked round and grimaced. ‘We’ve made this house as secure as we can but it’d still be easy to break into it.’

  ‘They’d not get in without making a noise,’ Dennis pointed out.

  ‘We hope not. But if they have someone good at picking locks, they may find a way to sneak in quietly. There aren’t enough of us to leave more than one on watch at a time during the night. I’ve heard tales from men I fought with about how easy it can be to break into buildings.’

  He turned back to Georgie. ‘We just want to keep you safe. Hanging around can be wearing, I know. Let’s hope your father will get in touch soon.’

  ‘I know you’re right to be careful, but I hate being idle. Perhaps I could put on some of those old clothes and help with the whitewashing?’

  ‘You don’t want to get yourself all mucky. Ask your friend Bella if she can lend you a magazine to read.’

  ‘I couldn’t sit still and read while you all work. I’ll help Rosie with the cleaning.’

  He opened his mouth to protest, then closed it again when she gave him a fierce look. He knew he’d pushed her as far as he could. She was an active sort of lass, which was another thing he found attractive about her – but unfortunately this made it harder to keep her penned up indoors with nothing to occupy her.

  When Tez came in from next door soon after breakfast and told them what he and Cole had seen during the night, Patrick knew his worries were well founded, though it didn’t comfort him to be right.

  ‘I hate to sit here and wait for them to act,’ he said.

  ‘I’ve been wondering if we should take you somewhere else. We could do that tonight, if you like,’ Tez offered.

  ‘They’d only follow us and try again.’

  ‘I think I’ve worked out a way to spirit you all away without them being any the wiser, and then I know exactly the place to hide you.’

  ‘Oh? Where?’

  ‘Honeyfield House.’

  Patrick frowned. ‘Everyone talks about it, but you can’t see it from the village centre, so it must be quite isolated. And anyway, from what you saw last night, we’d be sitting ducks if we tried to drive there, with only one way through the village. We know now, thanks to you and Cole looking round last night, that they’ve got two cars. It’s not impossible for them to have other cars at their disposal. They can’t be short of funds if they’re bringing in all these men.’

  ‘I can’t believe this is happening in England!’ Rosie exclaimed. ‘You’d think you’d be safe in your own country after just winning the war, wouldn’t you?’

  ‘I agree with Patrick,’ Dennis said. ‘If we leave here, they’ll see us going, however careful we are.’

  Tez gave them a smug smile. ‘The beauty of my idea is that you only have to get across to our house without them seeing you in order to escape. It’d be quite easy for you all to sneak across the back gardens on foot after dark and there’s a gate through our back wall from inside the summer house. It’s so well hidden that even if they searched the garden they’d probably not find it.’

  ‘What about our car?’

  ‘You’d have to leave that here, I’m afraid.’

  ‘And what’s on the other side of this gate?’

  ‘It opens into a walled orchard, a big one. The farmhouse isn’t close by, so it’s not overlooked by anyone. You just have to keep quiet and turn right, then walk along the perimeter walls to Honeyfield House and ent
er that the back way too. We’ll get Cole to wait for you outside our garden once it’s dark. He not only knows the way but he’d be a good chap to have on your side if it does come to a fight.’

  ‘I thought the big house was for women only,’ Patrick said. ‘Are you sure they’ll take in us men as well?’

  ‘I’m going to phone my mother this morning and I’m sure she’ll be able to arrange it. She’s on the board of trustees for Honeyfield House, you see. It all fits in very neatly, considering.’

  One after the other, they nodded, Patrick last of all. ‘Could be a good idea to keep them guessing for a while longer.’

  ‘I’ll come back to see you later, once I’ve spoken to my mother, just to confirm that it’s all right. She’s always busy, so I may not catch her straight away, but if I say it’s urgent, her housekeeper will get word to her.’

  ‘We might as well carry on working to pass the time,’ Patrick said.

  ‘We’ll need to do some shopping before dinner time,’ Rosie warned them.

  ‘Leave that till later.’

  Georgie helped Rosie with giving the kitchen and pantry a thorough cleaning while the men continued to throw out rubbish and broken furniture, working their way slowly through the house, room by room.

  The cleaning of the pantry and kitchen was slow and difficult because they had trouble heating enough water to scrub the floor and shelves in the couple of saucepans which were all they had to use. The kitchen range seemed to have a leak in its built-in water tank and when he gave permission for them to stay, Mr Perry had said it wasn’t safe to use.

  By late morning, both women were ready for a change of task.

  ‘The pantry’s clean now, so once it’s dry we can put our food in it.’ Rosie looked at Georgie anxiously. ‘We really ought to go and do that shopping soon because we’ve nothing here for our dinner, let alone our tea this evening. And we’ll have to cater for tomorrow, even if we plan to leave tonight, just in case something goes wrong, because the shops won’t be open on a Sunday. I’m happy to go and do it only I don’t have enough money to buy food for us all.’