Spoils of War (46 page)

‘Do you want the banns called next week?’ he asked as soon as the crowd was safely behind them.

‘Do you?’ She glanced timorously up at him from beneath the brim of her hat. ‘After what I told you –’

‘I think I should be the one putting that question to you after all the appalling things I told you about myself,’ he interrupted.

‘Nothing you told me has stopped me from loving you, Tony. But I would understand it if you wanted me to go back to Germany.’

‘I don’t deserve you.’

‘I see.’

‘Look, Gabrielle, I have some money. Not a lot, just my army gratuity and a few pounds I saved before the war. I was keeping it back to help us set up home. If you want to return to Germany you can have it.’

‘So you do want me to go back?’

‘No. I want you to stay here.’ To his amazement he realised he’d never meant anything quite so much in his life before.

‘To help your brother in the restaurant?’

‘To be my wife.’

‘In that case, perhaps we should call in and take another look at the rooms above the café on the way back to your mother’s house. Who knows, maybe I could make them even more comfortable than they already are.’

He gripped the hand she’d tucked in the crook of his elbow. ‘Angelo said you must be mad to even consider marrying me.’

‘Perhaps I am mad – just a little bit.’ Her face fell serious. ‘We will be happy, Tony?’ It was a plea more than a question.

‘We will be happy,’ he replied, hoping that after everything she’d been through and everything he had put her through, she’d take his words as he had meant them – an absolute promise.

The short walk between Tyfica Road and the Taff Street end of Penuel Lane was becoming familiar to Charlie. If it hadn’t been for thoughts of Alma and what she was suffering behind the brave face she’d adopted to conceal her feelings he might have almost enjoyed it. A single knock at the side door brought Mary down with Theo. The boy was holding a ball almost as big as himself.

As Charlie lifted Theo on to his shoulders he glanced up. Alma was standing at the window, she moved back when she saw him looking at her but there had been time for him to read the expression in her eyes.

‘Mam says I’m going to meet your new wife and my big brother, Daddy. And that my big brother might teach me to play football if I ask nicely.’

‘You brought your ball in case.’

‘Mam bought it for me. She said I can leave it at your house so I’ll always have something to play with there.’

‘Won’t you miss it?’

‘No, Mam bought two and my brother can look after this one for me.’

So like Alma, Charlie thought. She had promised him she would do all she could to bring Theo up to respect him and his new wife and had even included Peter.

‘Right after we’ve eaten some very special biscuits you and I and your brother Peter will go down the park to see who can teach who how to play football. But after all those games with Uncle Evan and Uncle Andrew I have a feeling that it is going to be you who teaches us.’

‘Please, come up to the house with me,’ Bethan begged as Alma drew away from the window. ‘We can get out that box of knitting patterns and –’

‘Thanks, Beth, I know you mean well but I really would prefer to stay here.’ Alma picked up a basketful of darning and carried it closer to her chair.

‘Theo won’t be back until seven. Mary’s coming with me to visit her sisters. I hate to think of you sitting here all alone.’

‘Alone sounds good after the madhouse of the shops all week.’

‘So you can think about Charlie.’

‘I can’t stop thinking about him, Beth. And I’m better off alone with my thoughts here than I would be making you, Andrew and the children miserable on my account. I know you want me to be angry with Charlie …’

‘Only because of what he’s putting you through. I can’t believe how insensitive he’s being. Asking you to allow him to take Theo to meet Masha.’

‘And Peter – don’t forget he’s Theo’s brother and probably the only one he’ll ever have. I saw him, Beth. You were right when you said he looks just like Charlie and Theo.’

‘He doesn’t behave like either of them.’

‘William was in here yesterday. He not only said Peter’s a genius with car engines but he has the making of a good bloke. And you know Will. Coming from him, that’s high praise.’

‘It doesn’t matter what I think of Peter. I’m being overruled at every turn. Liza is convinced she’s in love with him.’

‘Surely she hardly knows him?’

‘I tried telling her that, she wouldn’t listen. She insists something happened between them the moment they looked into one another’s eyes. Along with love at first sight, there was even mention of the ballroom scene in
Cinderella.’

‘It can happen that way, Beth.’

‘Perhaps, but that doesn’t mean Peter is right for her. He’s only sixteen – a child – and he’s different …’

‘If he is different from other sixteen-year-olds it’s because of the camps. You know what Charlie was like when he came back. No matter what I did, I couldn’t get close to him. It says something for Liza that she’s been able to reach Peter.’

‘It’s more likely he’s been able to reach her,’ Bethan retorted drily. ‘She’s already decided to tell Angelo that she can’t see him any more.’

‘I know I’m biased, but Peter is Charlie’s son and if he has half Charlie’s sense of duty and honour and a tenth of his capacity for love, Liza will be fine.’

‘How can you say that when Charlie has left you?’

‘Because he gave me the happiest years of my life, because he loved me and because he never lied to me. I have my memories and the knowledge that he still loves Theo and me, and will care for us until the day he dies. I wouldn’t exchange those few years we shared for a lifetime with any other man.’

‘Don’t you ever think of him now, sitting night after night with Masha, living with her, sleeping in her bed – making love to her? If I cared for a man as much as you care for Charlie the thought would drive me crazy.’

‘She is his rightful wife.’

‘And old and weak before her time,’ Bethan murmured, unthinkingly.

‘Beth!’

‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that the way it came out. It’s just that you and Charlie belong together.’

‘And if Masha died tomorrow or thirty years from now he wouldn’t come back to me.’

‘You just said he loves you.’

‘He does and he has always been totally honest with me. When we met the guilt he felt over losing Masha had almost destroyed him. Even after searching all over Russia for her for four years he remained convinced that he had abandoned her. I tried to persuade him it wasn’t true but I never succeeded. When we married I knew that all he offered – all he could ever offer me – was the small part of him that wasn’t Masha’s. I realised that, yet I grasped it because I loved him and I didn’t want to live without him. But when Huw broke the news that Masha was alive I had no choice but to accept that it was over between us. Charlie belongs to Masha, has always belonged to her. All I was able to do was borrow him for a while. And for that I’m grateful. So, please,’ she turned to Bethan, ‘don’t feel sorry for me, or wish Masha anywhere but well and in Charlie’s house because he gave me more happiness than any woman has a right to expect.’

‘And now?’

‘I have Theo, the business, my memories.’

‘And the future?’

‘That is my future, Beth. Please, accept it, because I have.’

‘Liza!’ Angelo beamed at her as she walked into the café. ‘I thought you weren’t off again until Thursday.’

‘I changed with one of the other girls.’ She didn’t tell him that the short notice coupled with it being a Sunday had cost her two extra shifts. ‘I was hoping you’d be here.’

‘Unfortunately, for the day, but I can get the cook to take over for an hour.’

‘I’d appreciate it if you would.’

‘Something wrong?’

‘I have to talk to you.’

‘You’re not –’

‘Please, Angelo, not here. Can we go to the park?’

‘Give me five minutes.’

‘I’ll meet you on the bridge.’ Unable to sit and look at him a moment longer she turned and fled.

Charlie and Theo were chanting nonsense rhymes and laughing as they rounded the corner of Tyfica Road. Charlie looked ahead and saw Huw and Peter standing waiting at the foot of the steps. He pointed out Peter to Theo, then froze as three men in uniform stepped out of a car parked in front of his house. He recognised one of them, a slightly built, foreign-looking captain with dark hair and skin.

Suddenly he realised why he’d been feeling uneasy. It wasn’t the house, or even his separation from Alma, devastating as that was. It was something far worse. The fear of losing control over his own and his family’s lives, just as he had sixteen years before.

‘You don’t have to talk to them.’

‘Yes I do, Huw. Peter, take Theo,’ lifting Theo from his shoulders he handed him to his brother, ‘into the kitchen and introduce him to your mother. Then ask Mrs Lane to make tea, or would you gentlemen prefer coffee?’ He turned to the officers.

‘We’ve travelled some distance so coffee would be most welcome, Feo,’ Captain Melerski answered flatly, but politely. He looked to his companions. ‘I would like to talk to Captain Raschenko alone.’

‘Peter, the kitchen,’ Charlie prompted.

‘Not until I know what’s going on,’ Peter bit back belligerently.

‘And none of us will find that out until I’ve had a chance to talk to Captain Melerski. Perhaps you gentlemen would like to wait in here.’ Charlie opened the door to the dining-room as Peter capitulated and carried Theo into the kitchen.

One of the officers looked to the captain. ‘Captain Melerski …’

‘It’s quite all right –’ Charlie checked the man’s insignia – ‘Lieutenant. I have no intention of bolting anywhere.’

‘Captain Raschenko and I are old friends, we have a lot of catching up to do,’ Edmund Melerski murmured.

‘We are here –’

‘I know why we are here, Lieutenant, and I am the senior officer present.’ The captain held the dining-room door open, closing it firmly when the lieutenant reluctantly joined his companion.

‘Police Constable Huw Davies,’ Huw introduced himself. ‘Do you mind telling me what this is about, sir?’

‘I have some confidential information for Captain Raschenko.’

‘Shall we go in here?’ Charlie opened the door to the parlour. ‘Huw is a friend, Edmund,’ he explained as Huw followed them into the room. Taking one of the chairs that flanked the cold, empty fireplace he sat back and waited, just as he’d done the night Huw had brought the news that Masha was alive.

Setting the briefcase he was holding on to the chaise longue, Edmund paced to the window as Huw moved a chair protectively close to where Charlie was sitting.

‘Feo, I don’t know where to begin. When they asked me to do this I refused. Then they warned they’d ask someone who didn’t know you to come here and I thought that would be even worse …’

‘Sit down, Edmund.’

The captain obediently took the chair opposite Charlie’s but Huw noticed he was unable to look Charlie in the eye. ‘It’s the Yalta agreement, Feo. The Allies have made a lot of concessions to the Soviets.’

‘When do they want me back?’

‘Immediately. It’s happening everywhere, even America. The Soviet Government has supplied the allied countries with lists of Russian citizens known to be living abroad. Some of the people left during the revolution in 1917, but the Soviets are demanding immediate repatriation of every one of their nationals, irrespective of how many years ago they left Russia or how long they’ve lived in their adoptive countries. The Allies signed the agreement in the hope of avoiding future difficulties with Stalin. There is no doubt that it is legally binding and all the signatory countries regard it as so, but that doesn’t mean nothing can be done in your case. You have friends, Feo. A lot of friends prepared to help you in any way they can. Just say the word and we’ll –’

Huw frowned as comprehension dawned. ‘Are you saying that the Russians want Charlie to go back there? After taking his home, his wife, arresting him … ?’

‘Huw, thank you for trying to help, but nothing you say will alter this situation.’

‘You can’t go back, Charlie. You’re as Welsh as I am now. You fought for us during the war. You’re married to Alma …’

‘A bigamous marriage,’ Edmund reminded him sadly. ‘Feo, why didn’t you take out British citizenship when you jumped ship in Cardiff dock before the war? The Soviet Government would still want you back but at least we could have put up a better legal argument for keeping you here.’

‘Because I was an illegal immigrant. Because I didn’t want to draw attention to myself and risk being sent back. Because I just wanted to get on with what was left of my life as best I could.’

‘We looked at every legal angle when we got the demand. There are no loopholes.’

‘And Masha?’

‘A Soviet national. We might be able to put up an argument for you on the basis of your war service but not her.’

‘Peter?’

‘He is your son. His name is on the list of Russian nationals for repatriation, but he is not important in the scheme of things. It is you they want. We both know what you did in the war. It is your knowledge, your training and your expertise they are after.’

‘How soon is immediate?’

‘There’s a Russian ship leaving Cardiff dock on the morning tide tomorrow. They want you on it.’

‘In God’s name, Charlie!’ Huw leaped to his feet. ‘You can’t possibly consider going. You have to fight this. You -’

Ignoring Huw, Charlie looked to the captain. ‘You have bargaining powers?’

‘I can contact my superior.’

‘There is a telephone in the hall. Tell them Masha and I will leave with you – quietly – without causing any trouble, but only on condition Peter is allowed to remain behind as a future British citizen. Tell them – tell them I need someone to look after my business interests and act as guardian to my British-born son.’

‘Feo, your friend is right, we could fight this.’

‘As you’ve pointed out, I could, but not Masha, and I’ll not leave her to face Soviet justice alone a second time. We’ll meet our Russian destiny together but not Peter. You said he’s not important to them. Please, Edmund, for the sake of our friendship do whatever needs doing. The boy deserves a future he can believe in.’