Frith Hill Prisoner-of-War Camp, Camberley, Surrey
The camp in Surrey was much bigger than Les Blanches Banques in Jersey, but that wasn’t surprising, as she had expected things to be significantly different. She stood at the entrance gates, having just posted a letter to Phoebe letting her know she was no longer in Jersey and a little about the camp where she was now working.
She had been surprised by how much happier Otto was, now that he left the camp each day to go and work with two other men on a nearby farm. When he had first been given his work assignment, she had warned him to be careful of his leg, worried about him.
‘Celia, I enjoy being away from these barbed-wire fences and guards for hours each day, so I don’t worry much about my leg.’ He had smiled softly at her when she had started to argue and promised to be careful, just to keep her happy. ‘I can pretend that my life has some normality in it again.’
‘But you said you were a doctor before the war,’ she teased. ‘This work is nothing like what you were used to doing.’
‘I agree, but digging and planting a field is more normal to me than sitting around in a chair each day. I feel alive for the first time since I was captured.’
It cheered her to see his pale pallor being replaced by a golden tan and his blonde hair lightened by being outside in the sun. He was stronger and smiled much more often, despite still being held in a camp so far from his family in Austria. The only downside for her was that as Otto was no longer a patient at the hospital, she saw him far less than she used to. Now she had to rely on unexpected encounters, or times when she was able to be in the right area when he was delivered back to the camp each evening, or when he managed to find her in the grounds when she was going about her work.
‘How was it at the farm today?’ she asked when he stepped out from behind one of the wards as she passed the rear corner on her way to the stock room for supplies.
His hand grazed hers lightly and Celia felt the familiar sensations coursing through her body that she experienced every time Otto’s skin came in contact with hers. She looked down at their connected hands and wished she could take his properly in hers. Her eyes travelled up past his muscular, tanned forearms to where he had rolled up his sleeves above his elbows. The collar of his shirt was worn and grimy from a day’s work in the fields, but he looked happier than she could recall him ever being.
‘You’ve had a good day, I can see that much.’
‘It feels good to do work,’ he said. ‘I am now becoming used to the manual labour and my body does not hurt nearly as much as it did when I first began.’
‘I’m pleased. You look…’ Her heart raced as she stared at him and without meaning to, Celia sighed. She had never experienced wanting a man before meeting Otto. Now, though, her yearning for him was almost painful.
‘How do I look?’ he asked, his voice husky.
‘Perfect,’ she whispered. Unable to help herself, she glanced around and, happy to see there was no one nearby, took his hand and pulled him closer to the building.
His mouth dropped open in surprise. Then, looking quickly from side to side, he smiled, took her in his arms and kissed her.
She breathed in his musky scent, not caring that she might get dust on her pristine uniform, and ran her hands up his arms, relishing the feel of his muscles as she lost herself in his kiss. Hearing voices somewhere nearby, they jumped apart.
‘That was wrong of me,’ Otto said, looking angry with himself.
‘Why?’
‘You know why, Celia,’ he whispered. ‘I am being selfish. How can there be a future for us?’ He gritted his teeth. ‘However much we might wish for there to be.’
‘Don’t say that!’
‘Hush, someone will hear you.’ He pressed two of his fingers against her lips.
She took his wrist in her hand and pulled it down. ‘Then don’t say such things.’
Celia sensed his conflicting emotions. ‘I know why you said what you did, and I understand.’ She sighed. ‘I feel the same way too sometimes, but when you’re near me, like this, I can’t bear to think that we won’t have a chance to be together. We have to at least try, don’t you think?’
Otto took her face in his hands and stared into her eyes briefly before lowering his lips onto hers. ‘I am sorry. You are right. I mustn’t be frightened for us. We will try to make this work.’
‘Do you promise?’ she asked, wishing that she had the strength to let him go. Holding onto Otto like she was doing would probably end in one or both of them ruining their lives, and for what? For a pipe dream.
‘I do.’ Male laughter sounded closer than before and Otto tensed. ‘I must not be found here with you,’ he said, turning and hurrying away without a backward glance.
Celia took a calming breath and checked her hair was neat and her veil straight. She smoothed down her skirt and, satisfied that she was presentable, continued on her way to the supply room, her legs shaky from the illicit kiss she had just enjoyed.
‘Where have you been?’ Elsie asked when Celia arrived.
She stifled a groan to see her nemesis standing waiting to be served. Was she never to get away from the dreadful woman? The only negative part about being at the new camp was that Elsie had chosen to transfer there with her and most of the other nurses. It took all of Celia’s willpower not to show her disdain for the woman, who made sure to keep her in a permanent sense of unease. Life would be so much better here if Elsie Baker had chosen to stay behind in Jersey, Celia thought miserably.
‘I wasn’t aware you were waiting for me,’ Celia said scornfully.
Elsie looked Celia up and down slowly. It was as if she could sense Celia and Otto had been kissing, Celia thought, feeling uncomfortable under the other nurse’s scrutiny.
‘Is something the matter, Elsie?’
Elsie didn’t answer straight away and Celia suspected she was taking her time to unnerve her. It was working, but Celia had no intention of letting Elsie know that.
‘I’m not sure.’ Elsie studied Celia’s face. ‘You look different somehow.’
‘I do?’ Celia asked, feeling anger rising in her at the blatant attempt to bully her. ‘In what way?’
‘I’m not sure.’ Elsie suddenly gave Celia a broad smile. ‘Don’t worry though, I’ll work it out soon enough.’
Not if I have anything to do with it, you won’t, Celia thought angrily.