Whispers of Love (8 page)

Christabel mentally rehearsed her story to make sure that she made it clear that she had not in any way collaborated with the young German. Every detail, however, went out of her mind when she entered the office the military police had taken over, and she recognised the sergeant sitting behind the desk as Dennis Williams, one of her former patients.

‘Nurse Montgomery!' He stood up and leaned across the desk to shake her hand.

‘You're looking well, Sergeant Williams. Are you fully recovered?' she asked, smiling up into his dark eyes.

‘As a result of your nursing I am quite fit again,' he told her with a mock seriousness that had them both laughing.

Convincing Dennis Williams that Karl had followed her was simplicity itself. He was so relieved to have information about the missing German that he didn't question her story.

‘And you say that as far as you know he simply disappeared when you reached the Exchange.
Are you quite sure that he didn't follow you? You see, he might be hiding somewhere near your home.'

‘I suppose that's possible,' Christabel agreed. ‘You don't think he's dangerous, do you?' she asked worriedly.

‘I hope not, but, you never know, these Huns can be crafty devils. Are both your parents at home?'

‘Yes and my younger sister. Oh dear, if he causes any trouble or hurts any of them, I'll feel so guilty!' Tears misted the intense blue of Christabel's eyes as she gazed up at him.

‘Try not to worry. We'll soon have him back in custody now that we know where he might be,' Dennis promised. ‘I've got a vehicle and a team of men outside and we'll go straight to your home and make a thorough search of the neighbourhood. You'd better come along with us; I'll need directions on how to get there. Do you have to ask Sister Speakley for permission, or are you ready to leave right away?'

‘I had better inform her about what is happening, as I am supposed to be on duty in about an hour.'

 

It was a bumpy ride in the army truck, but sitting in front next to Dennis, reminiscing about the people they'd known when he'd been a patient, Christabel was barely aware of any discomfort.

Their exchange of gossip didn't keep her from worrying about what might be happening if
Karl had followed her home and was hiding out nearby.

‘Now where would he most likely go?' Dennis cut across her thoughts. ‘Think carefully. From what you've told me, he's wearing a stolen uniform, impersonating a British officer. He's in a strange place and knows no one. Is there anywhere in your garden where he could hide? If so, he might have taken refuge there and if anyone confronted him, concoct some story about losing his memory and wandering off from the hospital.'

‘It is possible he could be hiding in our summer house,' Christabel agreed. ‘What if he's not there, though?'

‘Aah, then we will have to see what your family can tell us. We'll also check the railway station to see if he has tried to get away by train. After that, we'll search every street in the vicinity and between your home and the hospital. If we have to do that, then I will alert the local police and get more troops drafted in so that we can widen the search area until we do find him.'

‘That could take days!'

‘Then let's hope he's skulking in the summer house. I'll get my men to look there first,' he said as he parked the truck. ‘Can we get into the garden without disturbing your family?

Karl Blume had reacted true to form and had taken refuge in the summer house. When Christabel let Sergeant Williams and his two
men in through the side gate and Karl found the doorway barred by two military policemen, he tried to make a run for it.

The shouts and commotion aroused the entire household; Lilian came running out of the back door with their dog, Prince, beside her. Sensing danger, the huge black and brown Alsatian bounded down the garden and within moments had the German's arm clenched between his teeth.

‘Will one of you get this animal off me?' Karl shouted, looking from Christabel to Lilian, his voice edged with panic, as he tried to free himself from the grip of the snarling animal.

‘Christabel, what are you doing back here? What is going on?' her father exclaimed as he came rushing from the house followed by her mother who looked scared to death. ‘We thought you had gone back to Hilbury?'

Without waiting for her to reply, he called Prince to his side and then, squaring his shoulders, stepped forward to where the two military police were now holding Karl while Dennis was fastening handcuffs on to his wrists.

‘What the devil is going on here?' he demanded. ‘Why are you taking this man prisoner, sergeant? What's he doing here?'

Dennis stood to attention and saluted smartly. ‘Your daughter has helped us locate this man,' he explained. ‘It seems he followed her when she left Hilbury and has been hiding out here ever since.'

‘Good heavens. Is he dangerous?' Basil asked in alarm.

‘Well, he's a German prisoner of war, sir. He doesn't appear to be armed in any way but, for all we know, he could be a spy,' Dennis said gravely.

‘I see.' Basil stroked his chin thoughtfully. ‘Is there anything further we have to do, sergeant, or will you deal with him now? I'd like to take my two daughters inside, away from all this commotion,' he added as he began to shepherd Lilian and Christabel away from the scene.

‘You've nothing to worry about, sir, we're taking him away immediately. Nurse Montgomery will have to accompany us. She will be needed to give evidence.'

‘Oh dear, surely that isn't really necessary,' Mabel intervened. ‘I think poor Christabel has gone through quite enough . . .' her voice trailed away as Sergeant Williams fixed her with a steady stare.

‘I understand your feelings, ma'am,' he told her politely, ‘but rules are rules in the army. I am sure you appreciate that, sir,' he added, turning to face Christabel's father.

‘Yes, yes. Of course. You must do as you think necessary. You have transport?'

‘Yes, sir, parked in the road outside the front of your house. We'll take the prisoner and make him secure while you say goodbye to your daughter.'

‘Can we offer you some refreshments before you start on your journey, sergeant? Tea and a plate of sandwiches, perhaps?' Mabel offered.

‘That would be most acceptable, ma'am, but I am afraid duty calls. Some other time perhaps.'

‘Fine action on your part, my girl,' her father applauded, his hand resting heavily on Christabel's shoulder for a brief moment as they stood on the doorstep.

‘I was only doing my duty,' she murmured.

The righteousness in her father's voice lingered in her thoughts as they drove away. Aware that Karl Blume and the two military policemen were only separated from her and Dennis by a coarse canvas sheet, she remained silent as they drove back to headquarters.

‘Wait here, this shouldn't take long,' Dennis ordered as he pulled up at the barracks, killed the engine, and jumped down.

‘You mean you don't really need me to give evidence?'

‘I'll let you know after we've booked the prisoner in,' he told her as he walked round to the back of the truck.

Christabel looked at Dennis questioningly when he rejoined her ten minutes later.

‘Now that's all finished with, I think we should celebrate,' he said as he let in the clutch and roared out of the camp.

‘Where are we going?'

‘I know a restaurant where you can still get
steaks,' he told her. ‘It's a bit of a dive, noisy and smoky, but the grub is out of this world. I don't know about you, but I'm starving,' He reached out and squeezed her hand. ‘We'll start the evening there, OK?'

The food was everything Dennis had promised it would be. He drank beer and she sipped at a glass of well-chilled white wine. The noise was overpowering and made conversation almost impossible.

They danced once. Dennis held her in a bear-hug to try and protect her from being elbowed and jostled, but it was much too claustrophobic for enjoyment.

Eventually, they left the restaurant. It was a pleasant early spring night and as they strolled back to where they had parked his army vehicle, Christabel felt as if she was suspended in time. The street was thronged with soldiers and civilians, men and women, all intent on finding enjoyment, but she felt as if she was not part of it, merely an onlooker.

‘You don't have to report back to Hilbury Hospital until tomorrow, do you?' Dennis asked softly as their vehicle came in sight.

‘No . . . not really.' She looked at him, startled.

‘Shall we find somewhere to stay the night?'

Her breath caught in her throat and she wondered if she had heard aright.

‘Together?'

‘Why not? Come on, there's a war on. Snatch a little happiness while you can. You're not
going to tell me you're one of those shrinking violets, who leads a man on and then dumps him,' he challenged. ‘It's not as though we've only just met,' he added persuasively when she made no answer.

‘And I suppose you know of a quiet little hotel where they ask no questions?' she said with a trace of cynicism.

‘Of course I do!' he whispered confidently as he pulled her into his arms.

As his mouth was about to take possession of hers, Christabel placed her fingers over his lips and pulled away, shivering slightly. She liked Dennis Williams but she only wanted him as a friend. Memories of being in Philip's arms and their passionate lovemaking the night before he'd sailed still dominated her thoughts and she shook her head.

‘Perhaps I'd better take you back to Hilbury,' he said in a hard voice as he released her and, squaring his shoulders, stepped back. He fished around in his pockets for his cigarettes and held out the packet to her. When she shook her head he selected one and lighted it. ‘So do you want to tell me what it is I've done wrong?' he asked as he exhaled a cloud of smoke.

He listened in silence as, hesitantly, she told him about how her fiancé had been drowned at sea only a short time before they were due to be married.

She gave only the briefest of details and said nothing at all about the baby she had given up
for adoption; that was still something that filled her with such remorse that it was too raw to talk about to anyone other than Lewis.

When she'd finished, he dropped the remains of his cigarette on the pavement and ground it out with his heel, then he put his arm round her waist and drew her close.

‘There's a war on, Christabel,' he said softly, pushing her hair back from her face with his free hand and kissing her on the brow. ‘It must have been a dreadful ordeal, but you can't go on living in the past for ever. You can't plan for the future, either, because there may not be one, so why not live for the moment? Why not let us enjoy the pleasure of each other's company while we can?'

Christabel smiled to herself as she read the note that had been handed to her by the army orderly. It was from Dennis to say that he was starting a week's leave on New Year's Eve and asking if he could he meet her.

The nurses at Hilbury had drawn lots to decide which of them should have time off over Christmas and who would wait until New Year. Christabel had been disappointed when she'd found that, once again, she would not be sitting down with her own family for the ritual meal of turkey and plum pudding. Christmas had always been so much more festive in their home than the New Year celebrations.

She'd consoled herself with the thought that Christmas 1915 wouldn't be the same at home this year because although Lilian would be there Lewis would be absent.

It had come as a shock to all of them that he'd been called up for service and had opted for the Navy. After he'd finished his training at Portsmouth he'd been posted to the
SS Kilbraid
and was now somewhere at sea.

Christmas at Hilbury Hospital had been more enjoyable than she had envisaged it would be.
They had made decorations to hang in the wards by cutting up wrapping paper and discarded document slips into narrow strips to make paper chains.

They had put up sprigs of holly and mistletoe and decked out a fir tree with baubles made from cardboard and cotton wool. At the very top, they had pinned a huge star cut from a piece of metal which they'd polished until it shone like silver.

Now that she had the added bonus of knowing she would be celebrating New Year with Dennis, she tried to decide whether she should take him home and perhaps even invite him to spend some of his leave with her family.

She'd only been home twice since the debacle with Karl Blume and she wondered if her father still regarded her as ‘brave' and Dennis as something of a hero. Or, more important still, whether her mother's invitation to Dennis to come and see them again still held good.

She had seen Dennis several times since then, but only very briefly, and always in the company of other people. Remembering the night he had wanted them to spend together brought her out in a cold sweat. Whenever she thought about it, recalling how disappointed he'd been by her refusal, she wondered if it would be better if she had nothing more to do with him or, for that matter, with any man.

Peggy was the only one she could confide in and she'd been surprised that Christabel had
turned him down. ‘Others have affairs,' she pointed out defiantly.

‘Think of the risks, though. Supposing I became pregnant,' Christabel muttered.

‘You wouldn't if you took precautions,' Peggy mused thoughtfully as she brushed her hair.

‘What sort of precautions can you take?'

‘You've got me there,' Peggy admitted. ‘We never talked about those sorts of things at home. Our home was a bit like a nunnery; no one admits that anything like that goes on. Now you know why they believe in the Immaculate Conception,' she giggled.