‘She looked up and wagged her tail but is too exhausted to move. The children sat with her and she enjoyed that.’
*
He couldn’t believe how much Billy and Betty had changed in the time he’d been away. The boy was more articulate, unrecognisable from the child he’d been when he’d arrived from London. Betty was now talking and he found her mispronunciations and babble enchanting. They scrambled all over his lap and he was happy to have them there.
‘Come along, Billy, Betty, time to go to bed. Doctor Denny will be here tomorrow when you get up and so will the dog.’
‘All right, Auntie Mary, we’re coming. Can you tell us the story about Hansel and Gretel again, please? I like the bit about the horrible witch being cooked in the oven.’
Nancy kissed both the children and so did he. They went off chattering and laughing and he dreaded the possibility of having to tell them that their mother, however inadequate she’d been, had died. He hoped that wouldn’t be necessary but feared the worst.
‘Are you going to eat with me tonight, Nancy? I don’t think there’s any point in waiting for Simon. In fact, I think it quite likely he won’t be back tonight as there’ll be no transport.’
‘I told Mrs Stanton I wouldn’t be back until late.’
He was about to reintroduce the topic that had been interrupted by the arrival of his dog but thought it might be better to put this on hold for the moment.
‘Fred doesn’t seem a very convivial sort of person. Surely he can’t still be outside?’
She laughed. ‘He doesn’t like children, which is odd considering his wife’s a nanny. He’s converted the tool shed into his own domain. He’s got an oil lamp and a paraffin stove and a battered armchair. He doesn’t come in until after I’ve gone home. I don’t think he likes me very much because I’m expecting.’
‘Is he doing a good job outside taking care of the animals and so on?’
‘You’re going to have plenty of bacon when those pigs are slaughtered, that’s for sure. There seems to be a constant stream of your neighbours coming in with buckets of slops to feed them.’
‘That’s all that matters then. That smells wonderful – I’m absolutely starving after all that tramping about the countryside.’
He glanced at the antique carriage clock that had been his wife’s, which still stood on the top shelf of the custom-made dresser. It had been three hours at least since the ambulance had left. This had to be good news as if she’d died Simon would have let them know at once.
Jill had rearranged Simon’s appointments for the afternoon and he’d offered to take morning surgery himself if necessary.
He was just on his second helping of fruit crumble and custard when the telephone rang shrilly in the hall. Nancy was on her feet but he shook his head. ‘I’ll go; finish your pudding.’
16
Nancy watched the door, knowing she’d be able to tell from his expression whether it was bad news. Since he’d made that ridiculous suggestion that they marry she’d been in turmoil. There was nothing she’d like better than to be his wife but that was out of the question. Ma had drummed it into her that people like her shouldn’t marry above their station. It didn’t work out and in the end no one was happy.
She’d never meant to fall in love with him; didn’t even know when it had happened. He made her heart skip a beat when he just looked at her. She no longer thought of him as too old. But being in love with him didn’t mean she expected him to marry her and take on Tommy’s child.
He had more money to spend in a month than most people she knew had to spend in a lifetime. How was someone like her meant to live in his world? He fancied her – that was for sure – but that was because he hadn’t done it for three years. Once he’d got it out of his system then he’d realise he didn’t really love her; it was just sex he wanted, not a wife.
David came in and shook his head. Her good intentions vanished and she flung herself into his waiting arms. She’d scarcely known Violet so why was she crying? After a few moments she pulled away. ‘What are we going to do with the children? Will they be allowed to stay here?’
‘Come into the sitting room so Mary and Fred can eat their supper. We have to talk.’
‘The fire isn’t lit in there. I know you’ve got radiators, which keep the house lovely and warm, but I do like to see the flames of a night.’
‘I’ll see to it. Come through – don’t tell Mary until we’ve talked.’
Nancy knocked on the door that Mary and Fred used as their own front room and told them their food was on the table. David was pacing up and down. Whatever he had to say to her it wouldn’t be good news.
‘Good. Close the door, sweetheart, and come and sit next to me on the sofa.’
As soon as she was comfortable, he turned and took both her hands. She shouldn’t let him do that as it would make him think she’d changed her mind. There was no way on God’s earth that she was going to ruin his life by marrying him, however much she’d like to.
‘Violet was briefly awake before she died. She told Simon that she wanted me to take the children and raise them as my own…’
‘Of course she did – any mother would want you to be father to their children. That doesn’t mean you have to do it.’
His hands tightened and his eyes gleamed behind his spectacles. ‘I know that but I want to respect a dying woman’s wish. I can’t do it without you, sweetheart. You have to marry me, put aside your ridiculous ideas that you’re not good enough, because if you don’t the children will be taken away and God knows what will happen to them.’
‘You’re talking nonsense, David. Think about it. No man in his right mind would want to take on three little bastards and that’s what you’re suggesting you do. Not only that – you work in London and won’t even be here. How’s that going to work?’
He was unbothered by her outburst and when she tried to pull her hands away, he just hung on tighter. ‘I love you and I’m damn sure that you reciprocate my feelings.’ He grinned, making him look years younger, and despite her agitation she returned his smile. ‘That means you return my feelings in case you were wondering.’
‘Cheeky blighter! I knew what that meant. I’m learning loads of words every night from that dictionary you gave me.’
‘Why the hell are we talking about dictionaries? Listen to me, darling Nancy, meeting you was the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You’ve made me see the world in a different way, made me happier than I’ve ever been. I loved Julia but nothing like the way I feel about you.
‘Why should we both be miserable just because people we don’t know, and don’t care about, might think that us getting married is a mistake?’
She was about to answer but he leaned over and lifted her onto his lap. He closed his arms around her waist, making it impossible for her to wriggle free even if she’d wanted to. He smoothed his hands over her bump and the baby obliged by kicking.
‘See, this little one agrees with me. I always wanted a large family. I’ve no siblings, no cousins, aunts or uncles and have always dreamt of having a house full of noise and laughter and children.’
‘But a ready-made family? We’d start off with three and then quite likely have some of our own.’
‘I was planning on it. I might be a bit long in the tooth but I think I’ll make an excellent father.’
She relaxed against him and he kissed the top of her head. No one had ever made her feel so special; refusing to marry him was going to be harder than she’d thought.
‘It wouldn’t be right for me to say yes so soon after Tommy died. Ask me again next August and I’ll give you my answer then.’
She thought this was a good compromise and that he’d happily accept it, but she was wrong.
‘Absolutely not. Why on earth would you suggest such a ridiculous thing? If we’re married then this baby will be legally mine – he or she will never be considered illegitimate. By next summer some interfering busybody might well have
spirited away Betty and Billy.’
It was hard to think straight when she was sitting in his lap. Her body burned where it touched his and she just wanted to stop talking and make love with him. It hadn’t been like this with Tommy. Although she’d enjoyed being in bed with him it wasn’t the same.
‘Let me go. I don’t want to be on your lap. What if someone walked in and saw us? I’ve got my reputation to think about.’
His arms relaxed and he lifted her to the floor. ‘I’m sorry, I’m getting this horribly wrong, aren’t I?’ He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. She couldn’t bear to see him look so unhappy.
‘Trying to blackmail me into marrying you isn’t right. But, you’re not wrong about my feelings for you. I love you but I can’t be your wife. I really want to go to bed with you but I’m not going to.’ She held her bump protectively. ‘Wouldn’t be right in the circumstances. When the baby’s here that will be different.’
He smiled sadly and pushed his spectacles back on his nose. ‘Okay, we’ll put the question of us marrying to one side for the moment. Do you have any suggestions as to how we can solve the problem of the children being taken away?’
This time she sat on the floral-covered armchair on the other side of the room. ‘There must be hundreds of poor little buggers like these two. I reckon the authorities will be only too happy to leave them here and by the end of the war nobody will care where they are as long as they don’t have to deal with it. Leave well alone. Better safe than sorry.’
‘Are you suggesting we don’t even ring the WVS woman?’
‘Let sleeping dogs lie.’ She didn’t usually quote these old sayings and now she’d said three in a row. Maybe she could think of a fourth and make him smile. ‘All’s well that ends well, David.’
He caught on and grinned. ‘Don’t poke a stick in a hornets’ nest.’
‘There’s no smoke without fire,’ she replied with a giggle and pointed to the dying embers. ‘I’ll make us a nice mug of cocoa if you put a couple of logs on.’
The kitchen was empty and spotlessly clean. Mary always washed up after herself and Fred. They had their own radio in their sitting room and she could hear ITMA blasting out and the two of them laughing.
When she returned with the drinks there was a cosy glow coming from the grate but no sign of David. He must have gone to the downstairs WC. She put his cocoa on the coffee table and returned to the armchair.
Ten minutes later he still wasn’t back and she was becoming concerned about his absence. He’d been laughing when she went out and she was certain he hadn’t gone off because she’d refused him. She checked the downstairs lav, but it was unoccupied. Had he gone into the surgery for some reason?
She tried the communicating door and it opened. This was always locked after evening surgery so he must be in there. She stepped into the darkness. Why hadn’t he put the light on? ‘David, your cocoa’s getting cold. What are you doing in here?’
The door closed with a snap behind her. She heard the key turn. She couldn’t see a blooming thing. Then he was beside her and pulled her close.
‘I was waiting for you, sweetheart. I want to make love to you, show you how happy we could be together. Nobody will see us or hear us in here.’
She intended to say no but somehow the words wouldn’t come. He could go back to London and be blown up tomorrow. Look what had happened to poor Tommy when they’d both thought he was safe working as ground crew.
‘What about the baby?’
He was nibbling her ear, kissing her throat and her skin was on fire everywhere he touched with his lips.
‘I promise you, my darling, making love won’t harm your baby,’ he whispered between kisses as he drew her from the waiting room into the surgery, kicking the door shut behind him. How could he see when it was pitch-dark?
‘That blinking examination bed thing’s too small,’ she managed to say before she was incapable of speech.
‘There are blankets on the floor, sweetheart, if you’re ready to use them.’
There was no need to answer. Her hands found their own way to his shirt buttons but her fingers were trembling too much to open them. His laugh was deep and sent pulses of heat racing through her.
‘Let me take care of things.’ He released her for a moment and she heard the buttons popping off as he ripped the shirt apart. He’d already removed his jacket and tie. Then her smock was gone, her elasticated slacks followed and she was in her knickers and bra.
He didn’t have to ask her to lie down as her knees gave way. She crumpled to the floor shivering with excitement and anticipation and she heard him kicking off his trousers.
Then he was beside her. His vest and pants had gone and her own underwear followed.
*
Afterwards David held her in his arms and knew that his life had changed forever. The ten years he’d been married to Julia were a pale imitation to the love he had for this beautiful, intelligent, lively young woman who was now curled contentedly in his arms.
‘Our cocoa will be cold,’ she murmured against his chest.
‘You can warm it up again later.’ Why in God’s name were they talking about cocoa at a time like this? ‘I apologise for ambushing you, sweetheart. I’m only here until tomorrow morning and…’
‘Don’t say it, don’t even think it. Even if we can’t be together officially, there’ll never be anyone else for me.’
He wasn’t going to argue with her. Whatever she thought, eventually they would marry but until then he’d settle for what she was prepared to share with him.
This time he would make love to her more slowly. He wanted to be sure she had as much pleasure from it as he did.
An hour later the cold finally drove them from the floor. They found their clothes by the light of his desk lamp and she laughed when she saw the state of his shirt.
‘Pass me my smock, I’m blooming freezing. You should have put the electric fire on first.’
He chuckled. ‘Next time I’ll do so.’
‘Who says there’ll be a next time?’ This was intended to be a teasing comment but she gulped and turned away.
‘Don’t cry, my love – nothing’s going to happen to me. We’ve been given a second chance at happiness and the Man upstairs wouldn’t be so cruel as to snatch it away.’
‘I was told when I was a nipper that God sees everything – I hope He didn’t just see what we did.’
Having now got his trousers buttoned he reached out and held her against his naked chest. ‘One of the ten Commandments is that we should love each other.’
She giggled as he’d intended. ‘I’m sure God wasn’t thinking of this when he wrote that on those tablets. I’m ready – get yourself decent and I’ll do the cocoa.’
He bundled up the blankets and returned them to the store cupboard and then checked there was nothing out of place in his surgery for the eagle-eyed receptionist to spot tomorrow. He doubted that Simon would notice, but Jill certainly would.
This brief interlude on his own had given him time to question his relationship with his wife. What they had shared in bed was best described as pleasant, but what he’d just experienced with Nancy was genuine passion, real love.
To his amusement she was sitting in the armchair sipping cocoa as if nothing untoward had occurred, as if they hadn’t been making passionate love half an hour ago. Her cheeks were still slightly flushed and there was a definite glow about her. He felt ten foot tall and happier than he ever had in his life.
Her smile was blinding. ‘Let’s hope you don’t bump into Mary or Fred looking like that. I can’t think why you bothered to put your tie on when you’ve got no buttons down the front of your shirt.’
He pulled the front down and tucked it firmly into his waistband and then did the same with his tie. ‘There, is that better?’
She was openly laughing at him and he wanted to snatch her up and kiss her breathless again. He scowled and dropped into the sofa, knowing that his pretence hadn�
��t fooled her for a moment.
‘I don’t suppose there’s any crumble left? I could do with a snack after all that exercise.’
Her response was to stick her tongue out and roll her eyes. He joined in her laughter. The shared moment of happiness ended when Polly barked and the kitchen door opened.
‘Oh God, Simon’s back. I don’t have time to change my shirt.’
‘He’s a man – he won’t notice. I expect you want to talk to him. I’ll make you both a sandwich and then head off to the vicarage. I’m always here by seven and nobody’s up then.’
He choked on his cocoa and was still spluttering when Simon walked in.
‘Nancy’s making me something to eat. I was lucky – an ambulance was needed in the next village and they dropped me off the end of the road. It’s bloody freezing outside. Nothing airborne again tonight.’
David had been about to explain why Nancy was still there but decided it was none of Simon’s business and would only draw attention to the fact if he mentioned it.
‘Take a pew; you must be knackered. Have you got anything new to tell me?’
‘Not really. I took the liberty of contacting the local undertakers on your behalf. I thought you wouldn’t want the poor girl to have a pauper’s funeral.’
‘Good show, exactly what I should have done myself. The funeral can be held at the local church and she can be buried in the churchyard.’
‘There was a nurse and a doctor present when she said that she wanted you to be guardian to her children. It will stand up in law if you want it to.’
‘Nancy thinks it better not to alert the authorities to the change in their circumstances. I don’t think it need make any difference to you. Violet ignored them and I doubt she’ll be missed.’
Simon sighed. ‘Rotten thing to say, but you’re right. It makes no difference to me as, to be frank, I had nothing to do with my own children until they were old enough to have a sensible conversation. Probably the reason they scuttled off to join the army at the earliest possible opportunity.’
The East End Girl in Blue Page 16
