A Stranger in Honeyfield Read online

  ‘Miss Cotterell is not taking any phone calls either.’

  ‘Is there to be a memorial service?’

  After a hesitation the maid said yes.

  ‘Could you tell me when it is to be held, then?’

  ‘I’m sorry. I couldn’t take it on myself to do that, miss. Invitations have already been sent out to those who are involved.’ She put the phone down.

  Bella stared at the earpiece in shock, then hung it back on the ‘candlestick’. It had been four days since the letter from Captain Tesworth arrived and she hadn’t received an invitation. Surely they wouldn’t – they couldn’t be so cruel as to exclude her?

  When she sat down and thought about it, she grew angry. Which was better than weeping.

  But only just.

  Chapter Two

  Aaron Tesworth, better known as Tez, let out a long, shuddering sigh as he stared down at the bandaged hand, feeling dizzy at the speed with which it had happened. Two of his fingers gone, just like that. He looked up at the doctor, noting the lines of weariness on the poor man’s face.

  ‘What will happen to me next?’ he asked.

  ‘We’ll send you back to England and they’ll assess the damage.’

  ‘And what do you think they’ll say?’

  ‘It’s not for me to—’ He broke off. ‘Unless you’re left-handed, you may have a chance of getting a desk job in the army.’

  ‘I am left-handed. Very much so. The teachers were unable to eradicate the fault.’

  ‘Ah. Then you’ll very likely be given a medical discharge – an honourable discharge, of course. If you ask me, you’re one of the lucky ones. How long have you been serving?’

  ‘Almost since the beginning.’

  ‘Then you’ve definitely done your bit. Go home, Tesworth. Find a nice woman to marry and get on with your life.’

  A voice called, ‘Doctor! Come quickly!’

  ‘Good luck.’ And he was gone.

  Tez sat staring down at the heavily bandaged hand.

  When he looked up, a nurse was standing beside him.

  ‘Let me find you a bed, Captain.’ She gently eased him to his feet. ‘Lean on me.’

  ‘I can walk by myself, thank you.’ But he did feel light-headed and distant as he followed her to a small tent with INJURED OFFICERS written on the canvas in wobbly capitals.

  An orderly came forward to take over from the nurse. With impersonal efficiency, he showed Tez which bed to use. ‘They’ll probably ship you out in the morning, sir,’ he said as he helped Tez to bed. ‘If you give me directions to your tent, I’ll retrieve your belongings and make you more comfortable. Tomorrow, once we’re sure of the time, I’ll help you get ready to leave.’

  And that was it. As suddenly as that, Tez’s war had ended. And he was never, ever coming back to Verdun. He’d lost too many friends here, as well as his two smallest fingers on his left hand.

  Unlike poor Philip, he would be able to carry on with his life. If he could think what to do with it. To lose two fingers was fairly minor, but the doctors weren’t sure yet how well that hand would function, whether it might have nerve damage and be fairly useless. He might have to train his stupidly clumsy right hand to take over.

  In the middle of the night, delayed pain woke him abruptly and it took all his willpower not to cry out. As it began to ebb, it occurred to him that he might, with a bit of luck, be back in time for Philip’s memorial service.

  It would be good to say a last farewell to his best friend.

  Bella hastily wiped away the tears as Matron came into the storeroom. ‘Sorry.’

  ‘What are you sorry for, Jones? Grieving? You have a right to do that.’

  ‘I was crying because I can’t find out when Philip’s memorial service is to be held.’

  The older woman grew still. ‘Hasn’t his family invited you?’

  ‘No. And they must be deliberately keeping it quiet. There are no notices in the papers that I can find. They haven’t answered my phone calls, though I’ve got through to a maid each time, so they must know I’ve called.’

  ‘Leave it to me. I know a few useful people.’

  It was kind of Matron to try to help, Bella thought listlessly. But what was the point? She’d still have to get to Upper Westcott and the village wasn’t on a railway line, so was difficult to reach without a car.

  She went off for her lunch break, but couldn’t force any food down, just sat stirring it about on the plate.

  One of her fellow drivers peered into the room, then came rushing across to her. ‘Matron wants to see you straight away, Jones. You’re to hurry.’

  Bella ran across the rear yard to Matron’s office, expecting to have to drive an emergency patient to a London hospital for life-saving surgery. It wouldn’t be the first time.

  Matron looked up from her desk. ‘Ah! There you are. I’ve found out that your fiancé’s memorial service is to be held this afternoon.’

  ‘Today! Then I’ve no hope of getting there in time.’

  ‘On the contrary. I’ve got you a lift there and back. One of our newly arrived injured officers is a friend of your Philip and is going to the service, representing his mother, who knows the Cotterells. Her chauffeur is coming down from London to drive him there and back. They live in Gloucestershire, near Malmesbury, don’t they? He’ll be happy to take you as well.’

  ‘Who is it?’

  ‘A Captain Tesworth.’

  ‘He’s here? Philip spoke of him often, called him Tez, said they’d been friends since school. What sort of injury has he suffered? Wouldn’t he be better in an ambulance?’

  ‘No need for that. He’s lost two fingers but is otherwise all right. He’s just come here so that we can keep an eye on the hand. They can save the rest of his fingers as long as the hand doesn’t get infected. The doctor prefers to have someone who knows first aid with him, says he’s still in shock about his injury.’

  ‘I’d better go back to my lodgings and change quickly into more suitable clothes.’

  ‘I think you should go as you are, proudly wearing the uniform of someone serving her country. An ambulance driver’s blue uniform and cap may not look as pretty as a nurse’s uniform, but you ask the men whose lives you’ve helped save what they think of your work.’

  Bella’s confidence was boosted by these bracing words and she managed a misty smile. ‘Thank you, Matron.’

  ‘Good girl. Remember, you can hold your head up in that uniform whoever you’re facing, however snootily they behave. Go and tidy yourself up, then wait at the front of the building for the car. It’ll do you good to get a bit of sun on your face.’

  It was only after Matron had gone back inside that it really sank in that she would be facing a hostile group of Cotterells again. She wasn’t looking forward to that.

  Bella had been sitting on the wall waiting for only ten minutes when a car drew up. An orderly came to the front door to see who it was.

  The chauffeur got out and called, ‘Captain Tesworth’s car.’

  ‘I’ll bring him out,’ the orderly called back.

  In other circumstances she’d have been happy to meet Philip’s best friend and thank him for writing to her. Was his injury enough to keep him out of the war? For his sake, she hoped so.

  ‘Captain Tesworth is giving me a lift,’ she called.

  ‘Miss Jones, is it? Right you are.’ The chauffeur hurried round to open the rear door for her just as the captain appeared at the top of the steps.

  ‘Help the captain in first. I can get in on my own.’ Bella opened the other door and took her place on the rear seat behind the driver. Her companion nodded to her as he was helped in. He looked white and weary, poor man, and his left hand was heavily bandaged and in a sling.

  ‘Thank you for letting me share the car, Captain.’

  ‘My pleasure.’ He leant against the seat back, his head slightly turned towards her. ‘I’m Aaron Tesworth.’

  ‘Yes. But everyone calls you Tez.’


  ‘Did Philip tell you that about me?’

  ‘Yes. He thought a great deal of you.’

  ‘And I of him. So you’re Bella. You made him very happy.’

  ‘He was a wonderful man. He made me happy too.’

  They both fell silent as the car pulled away, remembering Philip.

  ‘I’m glad I could help you get to the service today. I hope you won’t hold it against me that I had to send you the bad news.’

  ‘I was grateful that you did. His family hasn’t been in touch with me at all.’

  He looked at her in shock. ‘You mean – they didn’t even let you know about him being killed?’

  ‘No. Philip must have told you they don’t approve of me.’ When he nodded, she added, ‘That was putting it mildly. They were openly hostile at the family gathering, presumably to put me in my place.’

  ‘I’m so sorry.’

  ‘Thank you. I’d better warn you that when I telephoned the maid told me the service is by invitation only … and I haven’t been invited. So there may be a fuss when I turn up. But if you let me out of the car in the village, I can walk the rest of the way, so that you’re not involved when I push my way in, and then you can pick me up on the way back.’

  ‘I wouldn’t dream of it. We’ll walk into the village church together, though I’m more likely to need to lean on you than to be able to offer you the support of my arm. But I can offer you my moral support, if needed. That at least I can do.’

  ‘I don’t want to damage your relations with your family’s friends.’

  ‘The Cotterells aren’t close friends of ours, never have been, which is why Mother is sending me in her place. It was Philip and I who had the close friendship.’

  The captain sighed and leant his head back against the seat. ‘Sorry. I’m still a bit woozy. This injury only happened a couple of days ago, or was it three?’

  ‘Well, I’m not in the mood to chat, so why don’t you rest quietly for a while?’

  ‘I think I will.’

  As he fell asleep, his head settled gently on her shoulder and she left it there.

  Philip had done that a few times, so tired when he came home on leave that with the best will in the world, he hadn’t managed to stay awake all night and enjoy every minute of being with her, as he’d intended.

  She had to fight to hold back the tears those memories brought, but she’d promised herself to show no weakness in front of the Cotterells, so she blinked furiously and refused to give in to the raw anguish of her grief.

  As the two of them entered the church an usher moved forward with a list in his hand. ‘May I have your name, sir?’

  ‘Tesworth.’

  He crossed it off and turned to Bella.

  She was proud of how calmly she said it. ‘Miss Jones, Captain Cotterell’s fiancée.’

  His look of horror was unmistakable. ‘But … but …’

  Captain Tesworth grasped her arm firmly with his good hand. ‘Miss Jones is with me.’

  ‘I’m afraid Miss Jones hasn’t been invited to the service today.’

  Just then three other officers joined them in the vestry.

  Tez turned to greet them. ‘Just in time, chaps. Did you know, they’re trying to turn away Philip’s fiancée, who is, apart from her relationship with him, also serving in the VADs as an ambulance driver?’

  They stopped short and gaped at her and then at the usher, who was bright scarlet now.

  ‘Is there some problem?’ A tall, thin man came across the back of the church to join them.

  Francis Filmore, Bella remembered, Georgie’s fiancé. He looked even more snooty today. And was his breathing always a bit raspy?

  It took him a minute to recognise her, then he said harshly, ‘You were not invited to the service, Miss Jones. Kindly leave at once.’

  The four officers glanced at one another then at Filmore. Their scornful glances seemed to ask why he was not in uniform.

  ‘Are you really trying to turn her away?’ one demanded.

  ‘She hasn’t been invited.’

  ‘She shouldn’t need a formal invitation. She’s his fiancée, dammit.’

  ‘His mother doesn’t recognise that relationship, especially now.’

  More glances and the four of them moved to form a protective circle round Bella.

  ‘Come and sit with us,’ one of them said. He turned to move to the front of the church, but Filmore continued to bar the way.

  It happened so quickly that Bella could never afterwards quite work out how it’d been done, but suddenly Filmore was lying on the floor and the four officers were shepherding her past him.

  There was a gasp of outrage from the front of the church and Adeline Cotterell stood up. Georgie remained seated beside her mother, tugging at her arm and looking unhappy.

  ‘You! Jones woman! You were not invited!’ Mrs Cotterell shouted.

  A gasp ran through the congregation.

  ‘I have invited her,’ Tez said loudly.

  ‘But she isn’t—’

  Mrs Cotterell broke off, flinching as the four officers reached a pew three rows behind hers and stood glaring at her.

  ‘If she leaves, so do we,’ Captain Tesworth said loudly. ‘But I’ll make sure people know about your petty and spiteful behaviour.’

  After a few more moments of silence, Mrs Cotterell turned her back on them and sat down without another word.

  ‘This pew suit you, Miss Jones?’ one of the officers asked.

  Bella nodded, concentrating on holding up her head and not betraying how humiliated she felt by this reception.

  The red-haired officer followed one of the men into the pew, speaking loudly as he gestured to Bella to join him. ‘Miss Jones should really be sitting at the front with the rest of the family. Still, we’re not responsible for other people’s bad manners, are we?’

  She slid along the pew after the two officers, leaving Tez to take the aisle seat. Philip would have wanted her to be with him for the final farewell, she told herself. That was what mattered.

  Mrs Cotterell’s voice rang out equally loudly. ‘The impudence of it! Such a vulgar young female! We can all guess how she trapped my son.’

  The other guests had been murmuring to one another, but none of them had made any effort to intervene.

  Georgie mouthed ‘Sorry’ to the newcomers before turning back to her mother. There was the sound of a low-voiced argument between the two women.

  Where was Philip’s father? Bella wondered. Surely he ought to be here today? Philip had said his father was engaged in important war work, but in London, not in France, so surely he could have come here for a short time.

  ‘Are you all right, Miss Jones?’ Tez asked gently.

  ‘Yes. And thank you, Tez. I mean Captain Tesworth.’ Bella heard her voice wobble and couldn’t go on with her apology.

  ‘I prefer my friends to call me Tez, and I hope I can count you among them now.’

  She smiled and nodded, then turned to the other side to say, ‘I’m more grateful than I can say for your help today, gentlemen.’

  ‘I can’t believe they’d insult someone who’s serving her country!’ The red-haired officer was still speaking so loudly he must have wanted to be heard.

  A few people turned from the other side at the front to stare at her and the whispering began again. From the staccato nature of some sounds, more arguments were taking place.

  ‘Ah! There are the others.’ Tez got up and beckoned to two men in uniform who’d just entered the church. Before they sat down in the pew behind his, he quickly told them what had been happening.

  With looks of outrage towards the front of the church, they each turned to Bella and loudly offered her their condolences on her sad loss.

  ‘Bit of luck that enough of us are on leave at the moment to attend,’ one of the newcomers said. He had a livid scar across one cheek and looked exhausted, but when there came the sound of someone else arriving from the rear of the church, h
e turned round then got to his feet. ‘I’ll go and have a quick word. You stay there, Tez, old chap.’

  By the time the service began, eight men were sitting around and behind Bella, which was a great comfort. She bowed her head and prayed for Philip’s soul, then, as the service ended, she prepared to listen to the eulogies.

  Spencer Cotterell moved to the lectern at the front, speaking woodenly, mouthing platitudes but not offering any anecdotes or expressions of affection for his brother.

  ‘And now—’ the minister began, moving towards the front again.

  But Georgina Cotterell got up and moved to stand at the lectern before anyone could stop her. ‘I want to share my own thoughts about my dear brother with you all this one last time. Being a twin is something very special, and no one knew Philip as well as I did. He would have been glad to see you all here today, especially his fiancée, Miss Jones, who made him so happy in the months before he died.’

  Her mother rapped a silver-headed walking stick on the wooden floor to gain her attention. ‘Georgina, come back here this minute. You’ve said more than enough.’

  She shook her head and continued, ‘I’m proud of his military service, but I shall miss Philip all the years of my life. We were—’

  Filmore stood up and moved purposefully towards her, one arm outstretched. ‘Come along, Georgina, there’s no need for this. You’ve said your piece. Do as your mother asks.’

  For a moment she stared at her fiancé and you could have heard a mouse breathe in the church, so quiet had it become. Then she held up one hand, palm outwards to stop him going on. ‘I haven’t finished.’

  He glared at her, looking questioningly towards Mrs Cotterell.

  ‘Come and sit down, Georgina,’ she called. ‘Stop making a spectacle of your grief. Leave that to those who know no better.’

  Georgina clutched the lectern as Filmore once again tried to pull her away. ‘Sometimes you have to stand up and be heard.’

  She had to kick him in the shins to make him let go of her and she shouted the next words at the congregation. ‘What I’ve seen today, the shocking way Miss Jones has been treated, has made my mind up for me. It is an insult to my dear, brave brother not to have invited his fiancée to his memorial service. And I can be no less brave than he was, so I’m about to take an important step, to which you can all bear witness.’