Willow Grove Abbey: A Historical World War II Romance Novel (The Somerville Trilogy)

by Payne, Mary Christian

  “Yes, she has said that. And, in itself I suppose there’s nothing wrong with that outlook, except when it fails to take into account that what one person wants may spell total heartbreak for another.”

  “That’s the point. Let me know what you decide to do, and if you do talk with your father, try to keep calm. It isn’t healthy for you to put yourself in an anxious way about this. I know you are anxious and tense, but talking with your father always seems to make it worse.

  “I promise. I have my priorities straight. Isabella and me. The two of us. Anything that causes upset for our little twosome is not going to warrant my attention.”

  And then in the blink of an eye, Spence was gone again. However, that time it was very, very different than before. On 14 June, just two days after his departure, the Germans entered Paris. Paris had fallen! It was unimaginable. German soldiers were occupying that beautiful city. The German flag was flying over the Place de la Concorde! When I heard the news, it was mid-morning, and I telephoned my father at once. Without any preliminaries, I asked him what he knew of Edwina.

  “Sophia, I can’t speak of this on the telephone, he answered. But, I’m making a trip to London today, and if you’re to be at home, I’ll stop by and we can discuss it.”

  “Yes,” I answered, that will be fine. About what time do you expect to arrive?”

  “I should think somewhere in the early afternoon.”

  “Shall I have luncheon prepared for you?”

  “No... No, I’ll already have eaten.”

  “Right then, I’ll look for you about two o’clock.”

  “Yes, perhaps even a bit earlier.”

  “And, Papa?”

  “Yes?”

  I’m assuming that you do know something regarding the person we’re both concerned about?”

  “Yes, I do, Sophia. I’ll tell you everything when I see you.”

  Promptly at two-o’clock, I was standing at my window, looking out on Sumner Street, when I saw my father alight from our family’s Rolls Royce. Joseph was driving, and he left, probably with the understanding that he would retrieve Papa at a certain time. In a matter of moments the doorman rang, and my father was in my parlor. I sent Isabella on a play-date with a little girl who lived in our building, and Martha took her. I wanted to be able to speak freely, without interruption. Papa hugged me as he came in the door, and hung his coat on the hall tree.

  “It looks like we could have some rain,” he commented.

  “Yes. It’s an awfully dreary day,” I answered. “May I get you something? Coffee, tea, a drink?”

  No, nothing, Sophia. I’m fine.” We sat down across from one another, he on the sofa and I in the chintz chair. “So, what is the news of Edwina?” I asked, coming right to the point.

  “Right. It is a bit complex.”

  “With Edwina, everything is a bit complex,” I said, in a not altogether pleasant tone.

  “Well. There’s certainly some truth to that,” he smiled, ruefully. “In a nutshell, I have arranged for her to evacuate Paris.”

  “How on Earth have you arranged that?” I questioned.

  “I’ve made contact with a series of old acquaintances, who have agreed to help her. It’s taken a bit of doing. But, at the moment she’s in Madrid.”

  “Madrid?” I was very confused. “Why Madrid, and how?”

  “Sophia, there were only two options left open. One was a sea passage, if we could find a ship, which seemed unlikely, and would be hazardous, and the second was overland to Spain, still neutral but unfriendly to the English, after the Spanish Civil War. Edwina was able to join a member of the British Embassy staff, in Nice, and she set off in a convoy heading for Spain, and then Portugal. I negotiated an entry permit for her. They traveled on to Barcelona, where they rested for the night, and the following morning headed on to Madrid. That was this morning.”

  “What are the plans from there?” I rolled my eyes. I should have known that Edwina would find safe passage home to England. The entire situation was just too amazing. How many times had I begged Edwina to come home to England before the war began, and she ended up trapped? Yet, she would not listen, and what I had predicted had come true.

  “They will head for Portugal, where a high ranking government official has instructed that they should be picked up by flying boats off the Portuguese coast.”

  “My Lord, Papa. I’d say you’ve pulled off a miracle. How many people have high ranking officials in the government intervening on their behalf?”

  “I’m just fortunate that it all seems to have worked out.”

  “I’d say Edwina is the fortunate one. And, what of Dieter? Does he know where his wife is, and what her intentions are?” How really cruel of her, if he doesn’t. I know he’s German, Papa, and you know I never liked him, but I still find it inconceivable that she would just abandon him like this.”

  “Well, he cannot know. It is extremely important that this be kept secret. Of course, he’ll be livid when he learns that she is gone, but there’s little he can do about it. Once she’s safe on English soil, she’ll be all right.”

  “And where will she go, once she reaches England? She must have had the baby by now, for the Lord’s Sake!”

  “Yes. The baby was born in late May. It’s a boy, and she’s named him Christian. She calls him ‘Kippy.’ Rather a nice name, I think.”

  “For heaven’s sake, Papa, who gives a whit what she’s named her baby?” I replied, irritably. I didn’t care if she’d named the baby ‘Bubble and Squeak’. What a completely irrelevant bit of information that was.

  “I just thought it a rather nice name, Sophia. Nothing to get upset about.”

  “That may or may not be true. Has she mentioned to you that this baby may be yours? There could be a great deal to be upset about.”

  “Mine? My baby?” A slow smile spread over his face. He obviously fancied the idea. “Wouldn’t that be something?”

  “Yes, it certainly would be, Papa. You look like the mere idea of such a thing makes you happy. It makes me sick to even think about something like that.”

  “Why Sophia? That would make the baby your little half brother or sister. Don’t you think that would be lovely?”

  “No, I do not, Papa. He or she would be my illegitimate half-brother or sister. You’ve always cared about what people think. Would you want to label your own son or daughter a bastard? Why on Earth would you imagine that I would be pleased about such a thing? Edwina being the mother of my half brother or sister? It’s too disgusting, Papa. Where are your morals?”

  “Let’s not speak of this now, Sophia. I think the likelihood of that is slim, and I believe Edwina would have told me if that were the case. I’m certain the baby is Dieter’s. But, I don’t think she has any plans to stay married to him, and don’t believe she’s told him of the child.”

  “You know, I didn’t particularly like Dieter, but I think it’s sad, what she’s doing to him. Does she just intend to leave France and disappear from his life, and never even tell him that he has a child?”

  “She hasn’t much choice at the moment, Sophia. Her husband is an officer in the German army. We are at war with his country. All of this will have to be sorted out after this ghastly war ends.”

  “So where are she and this child going to make a home?” I asked.

  “I’m still working on that. She doesn’t want to go back to Bury St. Edmunds. Says she prefers London, but I’m not certain how safe London is going to be.”

  “What difference does it make what Edwina prefers? Haven’t you done enough, just getting her back here? Shouldn’t she now go home to her own family?”

  “Not necessarily, Sophia.”

  “But, why ever not?” And then it dawned on me. If Edwina were to return to Bury St. Edmunds, it would be much more difficult for him to see her, and to spend time alone with her. Also, Dieter might expect that she would return to her parents, and that could open another can of worms. “Ahhh. I see. You want her
nearby, so that you can see her whenever you wish. So, I suppose you’re thinking of setting her up in a flat or house here in London?”

  “Yes, I’m thinking of that, among other options.”

  “What other options?” I really was terribly afraid that I knew the answer to that question. I honestly believed Papa had gone totally bonkers, and I feared for his sanity.

  “I’ve thought about bringing her to Willow Grove Abbey.”

  “I knew it! Are you totally out of your mind?” I nearly screamed. “You cannot bring Edwina to the home you share with your wife. She’s the woman with whom you’re having an affair. Have you no conscience whatsoever? I know she doesn’t, but I gave you credit for more decency than this, Papa.

  “I would not do anything improper while Edwina was under our roof. God knows there’s plenty of empty space at Willow Grove. She could have an entire wing to herself, for that matter.”

  “I am aware that you have already ‘christened’ the house with your love, by sleeping with her when she was staying at Willow Grove Abbey after Isabella’s first birthday, when your glorious love affair began. Papa, you may be deluding yourself, but you’re not deluding me. I don’t care what you think you might or might not do, there is no way that the two of you could live under the same roof, without having secret rendezvous. In fact, knowing Edwina, I think she would rather like the idea of the intrigue. She would undoubtedly think it romantic.”

  “I haven’t decided anything with certainty, Sophia. The primary reason I came to see you, was to ask if you could put Kippy and Edwina up for just one night.... Tonight.... after they arrive in London. I know it’s asking a lot of you. But, I’d be eternally grateful if you could find it in your heart to do so.”

  “Papa, you must be joking? Why can’t she go to a hotel?”

  “I don’t want her to go to a hotel. I want to be able to see her, and cannot take the chance that someone might see us together entering or leaving a hotel. Also, I don’t want her to be alone and frightened in a city where air raid sirens have become a way of life. She needs to be with someone.”

  “Why does that someone have to be me?”

  “Because she loves you, Sophia. Always has.”

  “I have some awfully good cause to question that, Papa.”

  “I know that’s what you think, but I also know how she feels. It is a muddled up situation. I’ll admit that. But, it isn’t all her fault. Please Sophia, I beg of you, just let her stay with you for one night, and then I’ll have more permanent arrangements made.”

  “Why don’t you take her to Drew and Annie’s?”

  “I don’t feel comfortable speaking of this to Drew. Anyway, he’s not there, and I don’t think it would do to ask Annie to put her up. I’m sure that by now Drew knows of my relationship with Edwina, and of course, he’s told Annie. Being a man of God, I sincerely doubt that he would lend his support.”

  “And why should I be any different?”

  “Because you have always loved me unconditionally, Sophia.”

  “With the exception of Edwina, I suppose,” I replied, sarcastically.

  “In addition to Edwina,” he answered.” “Only two women in my life have ever loved me unconditionally. In that regard, you are the first. Edwina is the second.”

  “Papa don’t start talking about ‘unconditional love’ to me. Edwina is potty on the subject. But, it seems to me that it’s very one-sided. Where is the unconditional love for me? What if I said ‘no’? I want no part in any of this? You know that I don’t, Papa.”

  “I would love you just as much, Sophia. I would only be disappointed that you won’t help an old man enjoy the company of the two women he loves.” He was clearly enjoying the role of martyr, and he played it so exquisitely. I clearly recognized that he was being exceedingly manipulative. Even so, I finally gave in. I knew from the beginning that I would, and I’m sure he did too. In fact, I knew a lot of things I didn’t want to admit, even to myself. For instance, I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Papa would be spending the night at my flat on Sumner Street too.

  At four o’clock he left, and went to a pre-arranged destination, where he was to collect Edwina and her son. While he was gone, Isabella and Martha returned. I made the decision not to have Isabella in the flat when they arrived. I had no intention of muddying the waters by having to answer questions which I was totally unprepared for, from my three and a half-year-old daughter. In addition, there was the very real possibility that at some point in the future, Isabella might blurt out something about having seen Edwina and her Grand Pere at Sumner Street, to any number of persons, not the least of which could be her Grand Mere. But, where was I to send her? Then, I remembered Dr. Hausfater and his wife, both of whom adored Isabella. I knew I could count on them to help out. I rang them, and told them that I had a sort-of family emergency…Nothing to be alarmed about, but something that I would rather not have Isabella witness. I asked if they could have Isabella, and perhaps Martha, as overnight guests. They were only too happy to oblige. Within the hour, Dr. Hausfater arrived at Sumner Street and retrieved Isabella, Martha and an armload of toys. I thanked him profusely, and promised to collect them early the next morning. Isabella was delighted to be going on a sleep-over, and I felt immensely better about not having to be concerned about my little girl’s questions.

  Shortly before 8 o’clock, Papa, Edwina and Kippy arrived. I don’t know what I expected. Perhaps a bedraggled and travel weary young woman, dragging along a tired and grizzling baby. However, such was not the case. Edwina was wearing an understated, but elegant dress, in midnight blue. The ensemble had two clips at the neck, set with sapphires, buttoned sleeves and a gathered waist detail. Alligator accessories completed the look. She even wore high-heeled pumps, and long gloves, both of which complemented a wide-brimmed hat. The dress was a Maggie Rougf and the hat a Carolina Reboux, both well-known and expensive couture designers. Apparently, her taste in clothing hadn’t changed. She was carrying a beautiful baby boy, wrapped in a white cashmere blanket. He was very fair, with a good deal of hair, absolutely white in color, with Edwina’s blue-green eyes. It was impossible to know whether this was Dieter’s child, as he and Edwina had such similar coloring. I did not see anything of my father in the baby, but that could simply have meant that the baby was the image of Edwina. Papa entered the flat carrying two bags. “Where would you like us?” He asked. I was floored when he said ‘us’. He wasn’t making any pretense about the fact that he intended to spend the night at my flat, and to sleep in the same bedroom as Edwina. Didn’t either of them have any consideration for other people? I swallowed hard... swallowed the rage that I felt... but managed to recover my poise. I waved him toward my bedchamber. Then I quickly made the decision that I would move to Martha’s room for the night. There was no other alternative, as the only other bedchamber was Isabella’s. I would have left the flat completely, if there had been any place to go. I suppose I could have gone to a hotel, but I’m certain that would have been met with disapproval from my father, for my presence was definitely needed at Sumner Street, in case anyone were to drop by unexpectedly. Papa made straight-away for my bedroom, to unburden himself of the luggage, and I offered Edwina refreshment. She immediately said that she’d love a martini. I set about mixing it, and poured myself a glass of neat Scotch, which I seldom drank. Then I joined Edwina in the parlor.

  “Right... So, I hear you’ve had quite a time of it,” I said, sitting down near the fireplace.

  “Yes... Oh yes, Sophia. The roads were dreadful and packed with people, all trying to escape those damned Nazi’s. It’s pathetic to see what remains of the city of Madrid. The scars of the Spanish Civil War are still so evident. But, compared to Madrid, Lisbon was friendly and open, and there was plenty of food still, and very hospitable local people.” I was astounded that she was talking so nonchalantly about trivial matters. Edwina made it sound more like she’d just returned from a holiday tour of the Continent, than an escape from a fall
en Paris.

  “I’m sorry you had to go through this, Edwina. I remember warning you a good while ago that you were taking chances staying in France. I don’t know why you stayed as long as you did.”

  “I guess I just didn’t’ think it would happen... the unthinkable, you know. I never thought that Paris would fall. It’s still hard to comprehend.”

  Yes, well it has, and we’re truly at war, Edwina. What do you intend to do now you’re back in England?”

  “Norman Hartwell, Victor Stiebel, and Molyneux all have London design houses now. They’ve become part of a whole new generation of couturiers, and they’re always looking for talented newcomers. I’ve developed a good reputation, so I might be able to find work in one of their establishments.’

  “Yes, but Edwina, there’s a war taking place. I’m not certain how much fashion matters at the moment. Rationing is in effect, and it is going to become more stringent.’

  “Oh, darling, fashion will always be important to a certain class of women.”

  “I suppose,” I answered, still finding it hard to understand Edwina’s seeming inability to grasp what was going on around her.

  “Where is Isabella, the darling of all London?” she asked airily, holding out her glass for a refill.

  “I sent Martha and Isabella to friends for the night,” I replied, as I got up and poured Edwina another martini out of a pitcher. “I thought it best, under the circumstances.”

  “What circumstances. What do you mean?”

  “Edwina, quit acting so obtuse,” I answered, sounding like Mummy. In an irritated fashion, I continued, “You know exactly what circumstances. My father is about to spend the night here, in the same bedroom as my former school roommate. I don’t want Isabella to question that.”

  “Oh, I see. Aren’t you being a bit prim and proper?”

  “Edwina, this isn’t 1932 anymore. This is the real world. I am a mother, and so are you. A mother needs to think of things like that.”