Angelique (41 page)

I don my coat and walk with him to the large warehouse where he stored his automobile when he flew to England. He reveals his concern. “I didn’t like to say anything in front of the others but this Major Doomsday appearing on the scene is more serious than I admitted. He will certainly have someone spying on us now.”

Alarmed I ask. “But you have done nothing wrong have you?”

Gunter replies. “Adam you know I am involved with the world peace movement and the Jewish home state organisation. Both these are reason enough for British Intelligence to take an interest in my life. I am not worried on my own behalf. I have been living with their threats and interference for years. But it could now involve you and your family because of my association with you.” Shocked by his revelation I ask him. “What do mean by threats Gunter? I know he threatened me in Paris but he never carried them out when I invited him to do his damndest.

He was all bluff in my opinion.”

Gunter replies. “I wish it was that easy Adam, the Major and his very powerful colleagues would dearly like to see me and many of my friends disappear off the face of the earth. We are definitely thorns in their backsides. I have had a long association with him over many years.

To give him credit he has even changed his name to Doomsday as a clear warning to me the gloves are now off. My peace movement connection won’t bother them so much since the war has ended. It is my activities in the demand for a Jewish homeland that will be activating his renewed interest in me. All I am trying to warn you Adam is to be careful. If anything suspicious occurs for example if anyone you don’t know approaches you with questions about me. In fact if anything out of the ordinary occurs, let me know immediately please.”

Gunter’s warnings leaves me in a quandary, how will I know what to expect, is he really fearful for his very life? I have never lived in his shadowy world of intrigue before and don’t particularly want to be there now. It wouldn’t have bothered me so much when I was single and carefree. I now have a family to consider and don’t mind admitting his warnings scare the pants off me

We leave Gunter to drive his own vehicle back to the HOTEL OSCADA. Paul has brought my Rolls to transport us back to the depot. From there after seeing Harry I will decide my itinerary for the next week. I am sitting alongside Paul in deep thought contemplating Gunter’s warning when we approach the Gabrielle depot we have recently purchased. I request Paul to stop the car. What a change has taken place since I last saw the place. The site has been cleared of all signs of the transport depot ready for the construction of the planned number of houses. Marcel has been busy. I am glad he kept to our agreement to finish the house by the lake using our new construction company before beginning this next assignment. When I remark on what progress they have made. Paul assures me that Marcel didn’t take any workers away from the Lake House, he utilised the workers from the depot to clear the site. I query. “Where are they now then?” He informs me. “They all decided to retire since they cleared the site.”

I remark. “Oh I thought we may be able to use them in Le Havre, we always appear to be short of experienced drivers.” Paul replies with a laugh. “You never met the Gabrielle men did you Adam? The youngest one was nearly seventy. I heard they only stayed on at work because of the war. The old men would only drive the steam wagons and the horse drawn carts anyway. They weren’t interested in driving any of the modern vehicles.” I enquire. “Where are the steamers and wagon’s then? They are not cluttering up the Le Havre depot are they?”

Paul answers hesitantly. “You better see Harry about those. As far as I know the three steamers are in a warehouse in the docks. The wagons and horses have been sold to farmers.”

I reply. “Hmm that’s interesting. Paul have you had any word of when you take over the stables and house at the chateau?” He advises me. “The last time I spoke to Louise she reckoned it will be about June next year before everything is finalised. To tell you the truth Adam the funeral and wedding business have taken off in a big way. I don’t have much time to drive the trucks anymore. Yvette doesn’t drive the coaches either she was having trouble climbing aboard.

To be honest I don’t want to risk anything while she is pregnant. I don’t even want her near the horses at this time.”

“How are you managing on your own?” He discloses something that pleases me a great deal. “The young trainee mechanic Frances, Billy brought from the chateau? He is helping out when I’m busy and I require the two coaches. He is a natural mechanic. Billy has taught him well and he is also great with the horses. I have to tell you Adam that boy is a Godsend.”

When we arrive at the depot as Paul climbs out of the vehicle he informs me. “Before I forget and you get involved with Harry, you are invited to dinner tonight. Yvette is cooking a special meal for you. An English roast beef dinner with all the trimmings. Will you be at our place about seven o’clock this evening?” His invitation throws me momentary. “Er, er. Yes of course I’ll be there. I shall look forward to it.” Oh Lor! I hope her cooking has improved. He also invites Bill who promptly declines the invitation. Bill thanks him for the invite and explains he has to be back aboard his ship to oversee the loading of his cargo. Lucky man! Maybe Yvette’s reputation as a cook has spread as far as the shipping fraternity.

I leave the Rolls at the depot and walk home collecting a few items of shopping on the way. Apprehensively I arrive at Paul and Yvette’s place about quarter to seven clutching a bunch of flowers and bottle of their favourite wine. To my astonishment I am greeted warmly at the door by Yvette. Unbelievably she gives me a hug, a kiss on the cheek and utters “Welcome home dear Adam.” I have a whiff of a very expensive delectable perfume. This is a scent I have detected on a previous occasion but can’t for the life of me remember where. She then leads me by the hand into the one large living room. For this occasion they have transformed it into a splendid dining room. The table is already set for three, it looks terrific and would do credit to Mr Humphreys table in England. The silver and crystal sparkle in the candle light, snow white linen adorns the table. They have done wonders to their apartment in such a short time I congratulate them.

It feels so homely now, on my last visit it was Spartan very much a bachelor’s residence.

Paul is opening the wine as he greets me I am ushered to my seat at the head of the table by Yvette.

The dinner is a great success the food is wonderful the roast beef is cooked to perfection the conversation is enjoyable. I no longer feel the need to choose my words in Yvette’s presence. She appears to be a completely changed woman. There is no more bullying of Paul, no more catty remarks. In fact she is the perfect hostess. Pregnancy evidently suits my dear Sister in law thank goodness.

I can’t wait until I tell Denise about her transformation. About midnight after a splendid evening slightly the worse for the drink I retire to my lonely apartment over the coach house.

Before going to the depot in the morning I decide to stroll over to the cafe to see my old friends and have breakfast. As I pass what was Oscars house Collette is closing the front door. He is dressed immaculately in very fashionable ladies clothes. He greets me like a long lost friend and drops in alongside me “Oh! Hello Adam dear so you are home from jolly old England, are you? How is that gorgeous Wife of yours doing? I heard she went over to join you is she home as well?”

Keeping my head down I reply in a kind of Mumble. “She is in England now she will be over there for Christmas. My Wife is doing very well, thank you.” He reveals where he is going.

“I am on my way to that lovely cafe for brecky. Where are you going my Dear?”

If I had not been aware of his strange profession, and his real sex and the fact he is attired in such an extraordinary manner. I would have been thrilled to be associated with such a delightful person. As it is I am ashamed to be in his company in case he is recognised for what he is. Especially as it appears I am accompanying him. I am about to make an excuse and take the next turning going in the opposite direction to the cafe. Then I change my mind I lift up my head up and say to myself. Sod everyone else’s opinion. This person has shown me nothing but kindness and has never tried to proposition me in any way. Who am I to judge his strange lifestyle? I have read somewhere that through history many of our greatest artists, performers, even soldiers adopted a similar way of living usually in private but nevertheless they have.

The ancient Greeks after all considered it a part of everyday life and they ruled the known world. Collette links my arm when I inform him.

“I am also going to the cafe for breakfast and I would enjoy your company, if you don’t mind?” It is at that moment when I am close to him I have the whiff of the very same perfume I had when Yvette greeted me last night. What a coincidence Yvette and Collette wear the same perfume. To my surprise we get along famously he is a fund of funny stories nothing rude either. We have ordered breakfast when Collette asks. “Oh yes Adam did you enjoy your dinner last night?” Collette is evidently a regular patron by the remarks the staff make.

One of the lads from the OSCADA depot enters he greets everyone present including Collette. From the back chat between them Collette is evidently popular with most of the drivers and the staff.

I very soon discover there is an exception however. The door swings open I recognise three of our drivers entering the cafe in the mirror over the bar. Two are English one is French. One of the English drivers sees Collette sitting opposite. He evidently doesn’t recognise me from the rear. He complains to the cafe proprietor in a loud voice.

“What’s that bleeding great puff doing in here? This place is for real men not Nancy girls, should I chuck the bugger out for you Raymond.” His English mate Reg attempts to quieten him. “If I were you Tony lad I would shut up, Collette’s alright.“ As I begin to stand to confront the man Collette reaches over grasping my wrist he restrains me and says in an equally loud voice. “Don’t you bother with the likes of him Adam. I have dealt with his type on many occasions before. It is usually the ones with loudest and biggest mouths that are latent homosexuals.”

Collette stands he tidies his dress and hair in an exaggerated manner and confronts the angry driver. “Now my little friend do you have a problem with me? Would you like to go outside where we can have a nice little chat and settle our differences once and for all?”

The driver grins at his mates and readily accepts the invitation. They leave together. Reg tells his mate. “Tony does not have a clue who he has to reckon with, he’ll be sorry he upset Collette, take my word for it.” Within minutes Collette returns alone, he takes his seat opposite me and asks. “Now where were we before we were so rudely interrupted?” Reg the driver asks with a laugh. “What have you done with Tony Collette?” Collette replies. “Oh! Hello Reg. Your friend Tony is hanging about outside waiting for you.”

I have to have a look where the stupid Tony is. When I go outside accompanied by the two drivers and Raymond we find Tony suspended from the tall iron railings. Collette has evidently lifted him up and allowed the fence spikes to hook the back of his jacket.

His mates laugh at his predicaments and lift him down.

Reg says. “I did warn you Tony.” He adds further information about my breakfast companion.

“I knew Colin when he was in the Army he was only the undefeated regimental wresting champ. Come on Tony let’s get you back to work before you get into any more trouble with that big gob of yours. We have no time for brecky today thanks to you.”

The three drivers head back to the depot. I return to my seat inside the cafe and rejoin Collette. She takes up the conversation where she left off. “You were going to tell if you enjoyed your dinner last night Adam?”

I am astounded he knows my business. “How did you know about my dinner Collette?”

He enlightens me. “I should do. I cooked it for you. You arrived a bit early and very nearly caught me. I was hiding behind the door when you came in and slipped out when you went into the sitting room,” His revelation throws me for a moment until I realise why Yvette has become such a good cook in such a short time. I conclude it was his perfume I detected not Yvette’s.

I exclaim “Well I’ll be buggered.” Collette replies with a laugh. “Not a good thing to say in present company Adam.” I enquire when we finish laughing. “How did you and Yvette come to know each other?” Collette explains. “We are in the same sewing circle we have become good friends. It came up in a conversation the other day.

Her husband Paul, he’s a nice boy. He thought it only right that they should invite you to dinner when you arrived back in France. She was worried about her cooking ability so I have been giving her cookery lessons. I was a Sergeant cook in charge of the Officers mess during my army service. It was right up my street so I offered to help her out and cook the dinner while she set the scene so to speak. By the way did you like the settings on the dinner table?” I remark.

“Yes they were magnificent. Paul must be earning and spending quite a bit since I left on my trip.” Collette confesses. “Actually the silver and crystal even the table cloth and napkins are mine. They are the spoils of war Adam my friend. We captured a German General Officer’s bunker during the big push with the tanks leading the way. I found the goodies hidden in a chest. It was easy to nick them after all there was no one to claim the stuff, the Boche had long gone. When we were relieved and moved to the rear I had the chest transported back with us as kitchen equipment for the Officer’s use thereof. It wasn’t listed on any army inventory there were no records whatsoever. When I was demobbed the chest came with me as my personal belongings.” He smiles and adds. “You could say opportunity knocked and I opened the door. By the way there were a great deal more goodies than you saw on Yvette’s table last night.

I sold some lovely pieces to buy shares in the house of pleasure.”