Always in My Heart (34 page)

And then suddenly the ferret made a dash for freedom. She shot between the girls’ feet, along the landing, and down the stairs. Sarah was almost knocked flying as the dog gave chase, swiftly followed by Ronan and Peggy.

Cordelia Finch caught sight of them standing in bewildered amusement on the landing and her little face split into a broad welcoming smile. ‘You must be Sarah and Jane,’ she said rather unsteadily. ‘Oh, how wonderful. How simply wonderful.’

The tears sparked in her eyes as she held her arms
open in welcome. ‘Come and give me a hug. I’ve been waiting so long to meet you, and I’m so glad you decided not to stay in South Africa.’

They tentatively hugged her, aware of brittle bones and unsteady feet. She was very tiny and aptly named, for she was as delicate as a little bird. ‘It’s lovely to be here,’ murmured Sarah, ‘and to meet you at last. I hope our father’s telegram didn’t put you to too much trouble, only he didn’t have anyone else to turn to.’

Cordelia dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. ‘Silly old woman, aren’t I?’ she managed, ‘but it’s so lovely to see you – and of course you had to come to me. You’re family, and family has to stick together in these troubled times.’

‘Everyone has been so kind,’ said Jane.

Cordelia twittered as she dabbed her eyes and tried to pull herself together. ‘I don’t know what you must think of us,’ she giggled. ‘Ron’s ferrets were bound to cause trouble sooner or later – but goodness me, we’ve had some fun trying to catch them.’

‘How many are there?’ asked Jane, looking warily about the room.

‘Two,’ said Cordelia. ‘We’ve yet to find Dora,’ said Cordelia, ‘but I suspect she’s found a nice warm dark corner to hide in. Harvey will sniff her out, never you mind.’ She looked up at them, her little face radiant with happiness. ‘Let me show you your room, and then we can go down and see what’s happening. Poor Ron is no doubt getting a terrible lecture from Peggy, and I really should share the blame.’

She led the way down to the first landing and headed for a door which stood ajar at the far end. ‘It’s the best room in the house,’ she said, ‘and I’ve made it all nice and fresh for you.’

The three of them came to a halt as Cordelia pushed the door open to reveal two single beds and a long furry body stretched out contentedly in the shaft of sunlight that fell across one of the bedspreads. They had found Dora.

‘We’ll just shut the door on her and leave her to it,’ murmured Cordelia. ‘Ferrets have sharp teeth, and Ron will know how to handle her properly.’ She grinned up at them. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll make sure everything’s clean again before you go to bed.’

Jane giggled. ‘What fun,’ she said as she took the old woman’s arm and steadied her down the stairs. ‘I had a pet lizard in Malaya, and she used to sit on my dressing table and chirrup at me, but I’ve never seen a ferret before.’

‘It’s never dull around here,’ said Cordelia as they reached the hall. ‘I just hope you’ll forgive our rather rude welcome.’

‘It was certainly different,’ laughed Sarah, ‘and Peggy seems very nice when she’s not being confronted by runaway ferrets and hurtling dogs.’

‘She’s an absolute treasure, and I’d be lost without her,’ Cordelia replied.

‘That’s exactly what she said about you,’ said Jane happily. She giggled as she heard Peggy telling Ron exactly what she would do to him if the ferrets got
out again. ‘But I don’t think Peggy regards Ronan as a treasure at this very moment,’ she added with a twinkle in her eye.

‘They adore one another really,’ said Cordelia as she led the way across the hall to the dark and rather cluttered kitchen. ‘Ron and Peggy are the glue to this household now Jim’s been called up, and although there will be a lot of shouting and name-calling, it’s always followed with laughter.’

She paused in the doorway and looked up at them. ‘This is a house full of love, girls, and everyone who has made their home here would defend it to their last breath. I do so hope that in some small way it will compensate for the loss of your own home.’

Sarah simply nodded, for she could feel the tears gathering. Nothing could compensate for home and family and the assurance that her parents and Philip had survived the fall of Singapore. But this large house and the friendly people who lived here were doing their level best to make them welcome, and she would see to it that she and Jane fitted into this new and strange way of living.

Peggy was stomping up the cellar steps as they came into the kitchen. ‘Honestly, I don’t know what you must think of us,’ she said crossly as she placed the kettle firmly on the hob. ‘What with ferrets and dogs and daft old men traipsing their muddy boots about my house, I’m amazed I’ve managed to stay sane.’

‘Flora’s in her cage,’ said Ron as he tramped into the kitchen still wearing his wellingtons. ‘I’d better go and
find Dora before there are more ructions.’ He grinned at Sarah and Jane. ‘To be sure, ’tis a house of chaos – but we’re pleased you managed to get here all in one piece.’

‘Dora’s in the girls’ bedroom,’ said Cordelia. ‘When you’ve caught her and put her away safely, you can put clean pillowcases on and find another bedspread.’ She waggled a finger at him and tried to look fierce. ‘And if I find one dropping or puddle anywhere, you’ll get a poke from my walking stick.’

‘Ach, to be sure,’ he sighed, his eyes downcast, ‘the divil must be laughing, for it seems I’m to be a martyr not only to me moving shrapnel, but to a house full of bossy women.’

‘Take those boots off before you go a step further, Ronan Reilly,’ warned Peggy, her mouth twitching with laughter at his woebegone face. ‘And you’ll clean every bit of mud from my floors before you get a drop of tea.’

Sarah slipped off her coat, hat and gloves and settled beside Jane on one of the hard chairs that surrounded the table. There was a strange sort of slippery cloth over it that felt rather rubbery under her fingers, and there seemed to be more of it in a different pattern on the floor. The kitchen was like nothing she’d ever seen before, with its dark, heavy dresser, the black range, stone sink and mismatched armchairs. But despite the clutter and the lack of any real light coming through the heavily taped window, there was a glow eminating from the range fire and a warmth of homeliness about it.

Sarah smiled at her sister. They would be all right here with Peggy and Great Aunt Cordelia until it was time to return home to Malaya.

Peggy couldn’t face another night alone in that big bed even though she was bone weary, so she’d settled in front of the range and let Daisy sleep on in her pram in the corner of the kitchen.

Hearing Jim’s voice on the telephone had been wonderful but it had also depressed her, for it meant he was too far from home to be able to come back on any leave he might get, and that their enforced separation would continue. And yet she had to be thankful he and his brother wouldn’t be sent overseas, and could only pray that the Army didn’t change its mind for once. She’d heard of other husbands being sent off at a minute’s notice to the heart of some fly-infested battlefield, and didn’t want the same happening to Jim or Frank.

She gave a deep sigh, then took another sip of her tea. Lord only knew how Jim was getting on if he was being made to repair bridges and railway lines. He hadn’t done a stroke of labouring since the previous war and had grown soft after sitting in that projection room for years. At least Frank was hardier, but they would both find it tough having to obey orders again.

She leaned back against the cushions and stared into
the glowing fire. Cordelia had gone to bed happier than she’d seen her in a long while, and the two girls had seemed to get along just fine with the others – especially with Suzy, who talked just as posh and appeared to be surprisingly knowledgeable about the Far East. During the course of the evening, Suzy had revealed that her grandfather had made his money out of the tea plantations he’d once owned in Ceylon, and that she’d actually been born there. Her mother’s delicate constitution had brought them back to England, but she could still remember the vividness of the green tea bushes, the colourful saris of the women pickers, and the way the clouds would hang over the nearby mountains of Kandy.

Peggy had noted she wasn’t the only one to be amazed at how little they knew about Suzy and her family. She’d always just been Suzy: a hard-working, cheerful young nurse who had become a stabilising influence for the more rambunctious Fran, and had never caused her a moment of worry. Peggy smiled. It just went to show how easy it was to take things at face value and not see beyond to the hidden depths of the people she’d thought she knew so well – and it made her wonder whether there was more to Fran.

She stared into the fire, enjoying these few moments to herself. Ron had taken Harvey out for a last run and everyone else was in their bedrooms, so the house was still but for the usual creaks and groans of old timbers and pipes. There had been a couple of warning pips earlier, but they’d come to nothing, so there had been
no mad dash for the Anderson shelter and they’d had a peaceful evening.

Half an hour later the cellar door creaked open and Harvey came in panting. After slopping water all over the floor from his bowl, he flopped down at her feet in front of the fire. Ron kicked off his boots and padded over to pour himself a cup of tea before he checked Daisy, who was still asleep in her pram.

He sank into the second armchair and eyed her from beneath his shaggy brows. ‘You should be in bed, Peggy,’ he said gruffly as he blew on his tea. ‘You look worn out.’

‘It doesn’t help matters when ferrets are let loose and someone traipses mud all over the house,’ she said without rancour.

‘Aye, well, I’ve said I’m sorry,’ he muttered before slurping his tea. ‘It will not be happening again.’ He set the cup aside and reached into his pocket for his pipe. ‘Our new lodgers seem pleasant enough,’ he said as he packed the pipe with tobacco. ‘And Cordelia’s certainly perked up since their arrival. But they’re going to find it hard to settle in after coming from the other side of the world.’

Peggy smiled. ‘They certainly will,’ she agreed. ‘D’you know, Ron, they’ve never cooked a meal, or done laundry – or even had to buy groceries? They had servants to do everything – even drive them about. It’s not going to be easy for them with so much to learn.’

‘Sarah seems capable enough,’ he replied. ‘She told me she worked in her father’s plantation office, so she
has some skills. But Jane … I get the feeling she’s a wee bit too young for her age.’

Peggy nodded. ‘I got the same impression, and Sarah certainly keeps a careful eye on her. I suppose it’s their posh upbringing and the life they led out there – but Sarah’s very sophisticated for nineteen and is already engaged. It’s all very strange.’

‘Things are different in the tropics,’ said Ron, who’d never travelled further than the trenches in France and Belgium. ‘I expect it’s got something to do with all that heat.’

She smiled as she hunted out her packet of cigarettes. Heat probably had very little to do with it, and she suspected it was more to do with money and class and the fact they were white. There was an old lady she’d once known who’d lived in India for years, and she spoke as if she had a plum in her mouth too. Her tales of Colonial rule had painted a rather dubious picture of life in the tropics, and her snobbish attitude to the natives and those white settlers she deemed beneath her, had really turned Peggy against her.

At least Sarah and Jane didn’t seem to hold the same biased views, for they’d appeared to be genuinely upset when they’d talked about the death of their Burmese driver and having to leave their Amah behind. She couldn’t begin to imagine what they’d gone through to get here, or how they were coping with the worry over their parents.

She lit a cigarette. ‘I’ll have to take them into town tomorrow to register them officially as lodgers, and then
go with them to the bank and the Labour Exchange, and introduce them to the local tradesmen. Sarah’s old enough to be called up, and Jane seemed keen to do something towards the war effort – though goodness knows what practical use she might be considering she’s never had to lift a finger before now.’

‘They’ll find their way,’ said Ron around the stem of his pipe. ‘But don’t try to rush things, Peg. They’ve got a lot to get used to, and not knowing what’s happened to their parents must be a terrible worry.’

‘Yes, it must be absolutely bewildering for the pair of them,’ she agreed. ‘We’ll just have to do our best to make sure they fit in. I want them to be happy here, Ron, for their own sake as well as Cordelia’s.’

The room was in total darkness due to the heavy blackout curtains which Peggy had insisted must be drawn before any light went on. But despite the exhaustion she felt after the long and confusing day, and the comforting warmth of the stone hot water bottle at her feet, Sarah lay awake long after Jane had fallen asleep.

The worry about getting here and finding Cordelia had drained her almost completely, and she’d thought she would be able to relax a while – but now she had other things to fret about. Jane might be slowly recovering, but would she be able to find her feet here, and how would she cope if she was called up? What sort of work could she possibly do? She was barely out of the schoolroom, had been pampered and spoiled by their parents and Amah, and protected from everything
that might upset or harm her. She was ill-prepared for life in general, let alone some job in a factory or on a farm.

Sarah turned onto her side, her mind in a whirl with all the new sights, sounds and experiences she’d been bombarded with over the past months. Their arrival in Cliffehaven was only just the beginning of a whole new life, and she was daunted by the thought of how much there was to learn – and how Jane was going to cope with it all. Peggy would help, she was sure, for she’d proved to be a lovely little woman with a firm hand on the reins of the household, and a no-nonsense, practical approach to everything which was very reassuring. And then there was Ron, who she suspected had a sharp mind behind those twinkling, mischievous eyes, and would no doubt do what he could to help ease them into the way of life here.