A Stranger in Honeyfield Read online

  She didn’t take his arm, nor did she look towards her daughter again, just turned to her son and clutched his arm as she left.

  Filmore looked thoughtfully in the direction his former fiancée had taken before following them.

  Harry put an arm round Georgie who was weeping again. ‘I’ll see you’re all right.’

  She nodded and let him take her to his car.

  As he helped her in, he said, ‘You stood your ground bravely, old girl. You’re stronger than you think.’

  ‘I was pretty feeble at first and look at me now, crying like a baby.’

  ‘You aren’t used to standing up to your mother. She’s a fearsome old witch. I can just imagine her riding a broomstick.’

  That brought a genuine if brief smile to her face.

  ‘I’ll drive you to my sister’s now. I shall have to go back to France soon, so can’t always guarantee to be available.’

  Tez watched them leave. ‘Harry’s had a thing about Georgie for years. Maybe now he stands a chance. When he asked permission to court her, the old witch sent him off with a sharp refusal. He wasn’t, apparently, wealthy enough. And anyway, she said Georgie already had a chap courting her. She wouldn’t tell him who and you can see why.’

  ‘I don’t know anything about Mr Filmore, except that Philip detested him.’

  ‘He isn’t well thought of, however good his birth and breeding are supposed to be. He’s scrabbling a bit for money these day, from what I hear. I can’t imagine why Mrs Cotterell approved of him as a suitor.’

  ‘Maybe she’s scrabbling for money too and they’re going to divide Georgie’s money between them.’

  He stopped walking for a moment to stare at her and say thoughtfully, ‘You may just be right about that.’

  Within minutes, Mrs Tesworth’s chauffeur was driving her son and Bella back to the hospital. Tez slumped against the seat, closed his eyes and sighed. ‘Sorry. I’m not usually so useless.’

  ‘You’ve done amazingly well, Mr Tesworth, and—’

  ‘Do call me Tez. Philip always referred to you as Bella, but I think Isabella is a lovely name, too lovely to shorten, so if I may, I’ll call you that.’

  ‘I gather no one calls you by your real name.’

  He grinned. ‘No. Definitely not. It means “exalted or on high”, you know, which is not what I feel like at any time, I can tell you.’

  ‘I’ll call you Tez, then. I can’t thank you enough for all your help today. I’d like to thank the other men, too, but I don’t even know their names, except for Mr Lewison.’

  ‘I’ll thank them for you. They were glad to come to your aid, I know. What you’re doing, driving ambulances, is really important and to see you treated so badly upset us all.’

  They didn’t talk much during the rest of the journey. Bella had said a final goodbye to Philip, which she’d wanted to do, and that eased some of the pain. But she’d made enemies today, she was sure.

  Well, she need have nothing more to do with the Cotterells except for Georgie, who was just as nice as Philip had said, and who looked so like him, even to having some of the same gestures, that it hurt.

  Bella managed to have two more chats with Tez at the hospital while his case was being sorted out. She was able to speak to him about Philip more easily than to other people, because they had both loved her fiancé and because he was such a nice chap.

  To her amusement he continued to call her Isabella and she found that she liked it. It seemed like a symbol of the new phase in her life.

  When she went into the ward one day, however, she found only a stripped bed and no sign of Tez.

  She went to see the ward sister and was told that he’d been sent to his mother’s home in London to finish recovering under the supervision of a London specialist.

  ‘Did he leave a message for me?’

  ‘Not that I’ve seen. Sorry, dear. I’ve only just come on duty. If I find any note from him I’ll give it to you, don’t worry.’

  It seemed strange that he’d leave without a word, but Bella knew how abruptly patients could be moved from one place to another. At least after their first chat he had given her his card and told her, ‘If you ever need help, any kind of help, don’t hesitate to contact me. Or my mother, since you don’t seem to get on with your own. Mine is a great person. She’s been organising a lot of war work. She’d help you.’

  ‘I’ll be all right, I’m sure. After all, I’ve still got a job, haven’t I? But thank you for the offer.’

  He’d studied her, head on one side. ‘You aren’t looking well.’

  ‘I’m a bit tired.’

  ‘More than a bit, I think.’

  She shrugged.

  She’d keep the card but she hoped not to need any help. She could go on working and supporting herself, as she had done since she left school at fourteen. She would prefer to stay here because she’d made friends among the staff, had a kindly landlady and found the nearby countryside beautiful for long walks. But a VAD could be transferred at a moment’s notice, and as long as there was a war going on, she would always do her duty.

  It surprised her when she continued to feel tired, though, more tired than she could ever remember. She even fell asleep sometimes during her breaks. And her stomach was upset, just a little. She’d been sick a few times.

  If that had been happening in the mornings she’d have worried, because everyone knew what that meant. But it was in the evenings she felt nauseous, so it must be something else. If it didn’t clear up, she’d ask Matron if she could see a doctor.

  It took Georgie a while to stop crying as Harry Lewison drove her away. Her whole world seemed to have fallen apart. She’d said a final goodbye to her twin, broken off her engagement and completely alienated her mother, who would hold a grudge about that unless she apologised and agreed to marry Filmore – which she’d never, ever do.

  She’d alienated her elder brother too, but she and Spencer had never had much to do with one another, so that didn’t worry her. She and Philip had puzzled over his behaviour all their lives. It was as if he’d hated the two of them from birth, though why he should do that when he was the eldest and he would inherit Westcott not them, they’d never been able to work out.

  It seemed terrible to have no close family to turn to. Terrifying.

  Harry pulled over to the side of the road and reached out to hold her hand. ‘Chin up. I’m quite sure Penny will take you in.’

  ‘Your sister always was kind. It’s not that. I just don’t know what I’m going to do with my life now. I’m going to need some sort of home of my own, aren’t I? You can’t live with other people for ever. Only I’ve never lived on my own, can’t imagine what I’d do with myself all day.’

  She tried but failed to sound amused as she confessed, ‘I don’t even know how much houses and flats cost, let alone how to do housework. The maids have always seen to that. Once I left school, my mother kept me dancing attendance on her and doing – you know, the social stuff, making calls and entertaining visitors, fetching and carrying for her.’

  ‘Penny will help you adjust, I’m sure. M’sister’s a capable woman.’

  ‘We were quite friendly at school, but I’ve only seen her a few times since then and not at all lately. When I think about it, that was my mother’s fault. Why didn’t I realise what she was doing, separating me from my real friends, pushing me at Francis when I got lonely?’

  ‘Philip used to worry about you and her. He said distance and listening to other chaps talk about their families had made him realise the tricks she played for getting people to do as she wished, especially you. She can be quite charming when she wants to, he said.’

  ‘Yes. And I’ve always been told it’s a daughter’s duty to obey her parents. I wonder what my father will say about all this? If I ever see him again, that is. He may take her side.’

  ‘I doubt it, from what Philip said. I heard he’s doing some rather important war work for the War Office.’

 
; ‘It’s not that which is keeping him away. He’s hardly had anything to do with us and he hardly ever comes home. I bet it’s been less than a dozen times that we’ve seen him. And on the rare occasions when he does return, he sleeps in a separate bedroom to Mother and goes out for most of the day. He never talks about his work, either, so I haven’t the faintest idea what he does.’

  ‘He’s quite an important person.’

  ‘Other people have told me that. But Mother doesn’t go to see him in London. In fact … she speaks of him as if she hates him. Do you think he hates her? And us because of her being our mother?’

  ‘Give yourself time. I dare say you’ll understand all sorts of things better now.’

  Silence wrapped them both. He was a nice chap, but she hoped this didn’t make him think she was attracted to him in that way. She’d never met anyone she’d been truly attracted to – or perhaps never been allowed to meet anyone suitable.

  ‘Will you write to me and tell me how you’re going?’ he asked suddenly.

  ‘If you like. Penny and I can send you joint letters.’ She could see that he was disappointed in her response, but he was too polite to say so.

  As they drew near his sister’s house, she said, ‘Thanks for being so kind, Harry.’

  He gave her one of his warm, puppy-dog smiles. He wasn’t good-looking, not with that plump face and pale skin. It was more important to be kind, she felt. She didn’t know what she’d have done without his help today.

  She would write to him, but she wouldn’t encourage him to come courting her.

  Penny came to the door to greet them and stopped in surprise. ‘Georgie Cotterell! My goodness, is that really you? I was so sorry to hear about your brother.’

  Harry put his arm round Georgie’s shoulders. ‘We need your help, old girl. There’s been a bit of a kerfuffle after Philip’s funeral and Georgie’s now homeless. Let’s go inside and we’ll tell you all about it.’

  When they’d finished their tale, Penny said firmly, ‘About time you struck out for your independence, Georgie. I’m so glad you’re not going to marry that horrible man.’

  ‘I didn’t realise when I got engaged how much people dislike him, or how vicious he can be. My mother made it all seem a very happy thing and it put her in a good mood, so I went along with it. She can be charming when things work out as she wants. Only usually she doesn’t do things to make other people happier, just to suit herself.’

  Harry sighed. ‘Sit down, stop nattering and get to the point. Can Georgie stay here? If she can’t, we’ll have to go and find a hotel and—’

  ‘Of course she can stay here, you fool!’ Penny told her brother then turned to Georgie. ‘Actually, I’ll be glad of the company. Edward goes away for months at a time and it can be very lonely out here in the middle of nowhere. I do wish he hadn’t joined the navy. But then he’s probably safer on a ship than in the trenches, though sometimes I wonder. So many seem to have been sunk lately.’

  Georgie asked, ‘Are you sure it’s OK for me to stay? I’m afraid I’ve been forced on you. And I don’t even have any clothes. I’ll have to buy a few bits and pieces.’

  Penny gave her a hug. ‘Yes, very sure. And I can lend you a few things.’

  ‘I can’t tell you how grateful I am.’

  And then she was weeping again, it was all too much.

  ‘The poor girl’s emotionally exhausted,’ Penny said and swept her off to bed calling, ‘Go and put the kettle on, Harry.’

  Chapter Four

  In June, a month after the memorial service, Bella received a letter from Mr Marley’s law firm. It was from another lawyer who said he was dealing with the estate of Philip Cotterell in Mr Marley’s absence. She had been left something in his will. Mr Shadwell apologised for the delay but said he’d had trouble finding her. Could she please come to see him in the company’s rooms in London?

  She reread that paragraph in puzzlement because the Cotterells and Mr Marley knew perfectly well where she was. She hesitated to contact this new lawyer, didn’t want to stir up the pot of Cotterell family hostility again. After all, she didn’t need anything. At least, she hoped she didn’t.

  But after thinking it over, she decided that if Philip had wanted to leave her something, she should abide by his wishes. And if these lawyers or any family member treated her scornfully, well, it was only words and she knew she’d done nothing to be ashamed of.

  Fortunately the lawyer’s rooms were in London, so she could get there quite easily by train. Once again, however, she had to go and ask for time off.

  ‘I’m sorry to be such a nuisance, Matron, but I do think I ought to find out what Philip’s left me.’

  ‘Of course you ought. Anyway, there are other drivers available at the moment, with that new intake of VADs, so it will only mean you cancelling one day’s duties. Why don’t you go tomorrow?’

  ‘Thank you.’ Bella stood up to leave.

  ‘Please sit down for a moment. I’ve been meaning to speak to you about something else.’

  She waited, hoping she wasn’t going to be transferred.

  ‘You’ve not been looking well since the memorial service, Jones. Are you still upset about how you were treated by the Cotterell family?’

  ‘Angry, more like.’

  ‘Hmm. I’m told you’re not eating properly and you look to me as if you’ve lost weight. Do you have any other symptoms?’

  Bella hesitated. ‘Well …’ She explained about the unreasonable tiredness she’d been feeling for a few weeks and the evening nausea.

  Matron gave her one of the penetrating looks for which she was famous. ‘Could you be expecting?’

  Bella could feel herself flushing and chose her words carefully. ‘I thought people were sick in the mornings when they were, um, having a baby.’

  ‘Were you on familiar terms with Mr Cotterell? Is a baby a possibility?’

  Bella could feel her cheeks grow even hotter. ‘Well, yes.’

  ‘And have you missed your monthlies?’

  ‘I might have. I’ve never been very regular, so it’s hard to tell.’

  ‘Well, if there is a baby on the way, it won’t show for a while yet so if you’re able to keep on working, I shall say nothing about it and you’d do well to save your money.’ She gave Bella a wry smile. ‘In the old days you’d have been dismissed on the spot for even a suspicion of immorality, but war changes things, at least it does in my book. The men need comforting, not by casual encounters but by warm relationships with women who love them. And you were engaged to be married. This was not just a chance encounter.’

  ‘Thank you. I only ever went with Philip, I promise.’

  ‘I believe you. So we’ll wait a week or two and see if you have any further symptoms. In the meantime, go and see what your young man has left you, and let’s hope it’s money, because you might need it.’

  Bella had half an hour before she needed to return to duty so went and sat in the small chapel they’d created in what had previously been a sitting room in the country mansion.

  Was it possible? Was it really possible?

  Suddenly she hoped fiercely that she was carrying Philip’s child. It would be wonderful to have such a legacy from him, absolutely wonderful. And she’d find a way to manage. She’d always been careful and had some money saved already.

  For the moment she would put the thought of a child firmly to one side. The important thing now was to find out what Philip had left her and see if there were any last wishes to carry out for him.

  The following morning Bella took an early train to London. She decided to wear her uniform again, because people like the Cotterells would be scornful even about her best clothes. She couldn’t imagine any of the family would be there for this meeting, though, thank goodness. They’d not be interested in minor details like her legacy.

  The offices were in what had once been an elegant house in a Georgian terrace a few streets away from the station. Although she arrived just before the
time given, she was kept waiting for half an hour.

  When a young clerk at last came to fetch her, he took her to yet another waiting area, which he said was outside Mr Shadwell’s office. He mustn’t have realised that she could see down into the foyer if she got up and paced about, which she did because she was angry that no one had even apologised for keeping her waiting.

  What she saw down in the foyer made her suck in air in a sudden whoosh, because Spencer Cotterell was there, shaking hands with a plump, youngish man who was very smartly dressed. Spencer looked pleased with himself as he strolled out of the building, triumphant even.

  She didn’t trust Philip’s brother, and especially not with that expression on his face. What was he doing here at the same time as her? She doubted it could be a coincidence.

  Her fears were confirmed when the youngish man proved to be Mr Shadwell. He walked right past her into his office without acknowledging her presence by more than a disgusted glance. Five minutes later an office boy showed her in.

  The lawyer didn’t rise to greet her, only gesturing with a cursory wave of the hand to a hard chair on one side of the desk. He proceeded to speak to her in a patronising tone, as if she were a particularly dim-witted child. ‘Please tell me if you don’t understand anything, Miss, um, Jones.’

  ‘I speak reasonable English.’ With an effort she kept her tone mild.

  He blinked, looking surprised, then shook his head a little as if dismissing the very idea of her words being sarcastic and carried on in the same patronising tone. ‘I believe you regard Philip Cotterell as your fiancé, even though the family has not recognised the relationship.’

  ‘I was his fiancé.’ She held out her hand with the diamond engagement ring on it. ‘Which is why he gave me his grandmother’s ring and introduced me to his friends as his fiancée. I can get several officers to swear to that on oath, if you don’t believe me.’