Sam settled himself more comfortably on the seat and was finally able to relax. ‘You’re right, Ruth, I’m worrying unnecessarily. Do you want to see what I’ve got here?’
He was clutching the cardboard box on his lap and despite the fact it had been more than half an hour since he’d bought these items, he could still feel the residual warmth from the meat pasties and mug of tea.
‘Yes, show me. Did you manage to get something suitable for the little ones?’
Rose stirred again and opened her eyes. ‘I thought I heard you say you had something edible in your box? I feel a bit better now I know we’re safe and my stomach is gurgling, which isn’t good for the baby.’
‘I’ve got just the thing. I’ve also got a mug of tea, which is still just about warm enough to be drunk.’
He carefully removed the tea, impressed that he’d managed to transport it without spilling more than a couple of drops. He grinned at Ruth, who was looking with interest, and handed the mug to her.
‘It’s easier for you to give it to Rose, I don’t want to wake up the babies.’
Every drop of the tea was consumed eagerly and then Rose ate a meat pasty and a jam sandwich with equal enthusiasm.
‘I can’t tell you how grateful I am to you both. Aren’t you going to have anything from that miraculous box?’
‘We had a massive breakfast not long ago,’ Sam said. ‘Also, neither of us will eat until we’re quite sure you and the children have had enough.’
‘Do you know if I’ll have time to use the loo at the next station? I’m surprised I haven’t had an accident already.’
Sam nodded. ‘Yes, the train will stop for ten minutes. Anyway, I’ll make sure it doesn’t leave before you’re back. Don’t worry.’
Ruth checked both girls were comfortable and then returned to her seat. ‘You don’t have to tell us, Rose, but I would like to know why you’re so desperate to get away from that man – is he your husband?’
‘I owe you that much, I suppose. Brian seemed the ideal husband, he was wealthy, worked in the Foreign Office and my parents loved him, as did I.’ Rose paused, her fingers clenched, but after a few seconds she continued. ‘Everything started to change after the twins were born. He became more demanding, insisted his old nanny took care of them, even though he knew I wanted to do it myself.
‘Initially I just thought it was because he loved me, but as he became more controlling, I realised he was jealous of our babies and didn’t want to share me with anyone else. He didn’t want me to see my parents or go out without one of those horrible men he employs trailing along behind me. Too late, I was seeing the true character of the man I’d married.’
‘Did he physically abuse you?’
‘It depends what you mean by that. He didn’t beat me, but he did push me, slap me occasionally if I annoyed him, but never hard enough to leave marks.’
‘How absolutely horrible for you,’ Ruth said sympathetically.
Rose, once started, wanted to tell them the entire story. ‘He ignored the twins and I only got to spend time with them when he was at work. Their nanny was too old to look after the babies once they were mobile and she was only too happy to let me take them as long as Brian didn’t find out. I think she’d been living in poverty and was determined to stay warmly housed and well fed for as long as possible.’
Sam wanted to know what had finally driven the young woman to flee. ‘Why did you leave today? What happened?’
Rose looked at him, her eyes wide, and he could see the fear in them. ‘He said this baby wasn’t his and that it would be taken away and adopted as soon as it was born.’
Ruth gasped. ‘No wonder you ran away. I think your husband sounds unbalanced. You’ll be much happier with your parents.’
One of the twins woke up and started to grizzle, interrupting the conversation. Ruth was there to comfort her and after being offered a portion of meat pasty, the little girl stopped crying and tucked in.
‘This is Iris and her sister is Lily. Iris has a purple ribbon around her wrist and Lily has a white one, otherwise I wouldn’t know the difference.’
Ruth, who had Iris on her lap, looked across at Rose. ‘How can you tell them apart when undressed?’
‘I struggle sometimes too! But Iris has a small birthmark on her back and Lily doesn’t. I’m hoping as they grow, their personalities will make it easier.’
‘We’ll be stopping soon, Rose, so you need to get your shoes on so you can use the WC.’
‘I think you’ll have to go with her, Sam, I’ll stay here with the babies.’
‘I’d be really grateful for your help, I’m not very steady today.’ The young woman shrugged. ‘To be honest, I’ve not been able to walk safely for the last two weeks. I was able to get a taxi to the station and a porter kindly allowed me to put the girls on his trolley, otherwise I would never have got here.’
Sam accompanied Rose to use the facilities and he didn’t have to ask the guard to hold the train for a few extra minutes as he took one look and nodded sympathetically.
‘Bless you, when my Beryl was expecting she was in and out the bathroom like nobody’s business. The train won’t go without you, madam, don’t you fret.’
The bloke obviously thought Sam was the husband and there was no need to disabuse him. Whilst he was waiting outside the ladies’ room, something that had been niggling at the back of his mind occurred to him.
He beckoned the obliging guard over. ‘Would it be possible for somebody to ring ahead and ask for a message to be given to a passenger?’
‘Not here, but at one of them big stations, yes. People what have missed the train can ask the stationmaster to transfer the message.’
‘Thank you, we were just discussing this and I said I’d find out the answer.’ Sam smiled and turned to take Rose’s arm as she emerged.
‘Off you go then, I don’t want to keep the train waiting if I can avoid it,’ the guard said.
Rose was just seated when the whistle blew and the train steamed out of the station. Sam needed to discuss something with Ruth that he didn’t want overheard.
‘Lily’s eaten her pasty and they’ve both had a drink of water and a few slices of apple. They still seem sleepy, Rose, do you think they’ll go down for another nap?’
‘Definitely. Come along, girls, we’re all going to sleep for a while. Mummy is very tired.’
The girls didn’t speak but they seemed to understand.
‘Here you are, cuddle your nice new teddies,’ Sam said and handed them over.
The toys were a huge success and the twins hugged and kissed them before happily snuggling down for a second time. He watched Ruth talking softly to them, tucking them in, even giving both of them a kiss and he was moved by the scene. She was going to make a wonderful mother some day and he prayed it would be to his children and not somebody else’s.
Rose was already asleep and he joined Ruth on her side of the compartment. ‘This Brian sounds a nasty bit of work. He might have rung the local police in Lincoln and told them that his wife was unstable and had kidnapped his children, or something like that.’
She stared at him. ‘My God, you’re right. They could be waiting at the station for them. What are we going to do?’
‘I think we’ll have to get off at Nottingham. If we book us all into a hotel, we can wait until her father can drive down and collect them.’
‘We’re both going to be late. As a sergeant you’ll probably get away with it, but I doubt that I will,’ she said.
‘You’re a bombardier now, love, gives you a bit of clout. With any luck, we’ll be able to report back before curfew. I don’t think it would help to tell them what we’re up to. We’d be told in no uncertain times that duty comes first and this is none of our business.’
‘I know that, but we can’t leave Rose and her babies until we’re sure she’s safe.’
They’d been talking quietly and every few moments he’d been checking that Rose was asleep. Time enough to tell her what they planned when they were approaching the station.
* * *
Ruth was happy to spend the time playing with the babies whilst their mother remained asleep. She was delighted that Sam joined in. They used the two teddies to tell stories and there were plenty of funny voices, silly faces and songs to keep the twins entertained.
‘We’ll be pulling into Nottingham in about fifteen minutes, so do you want to wake Rose?’
‘I’m still not sure we shouldn’t have told her we’re actually getting off at a different station,’ Ruth said.
‘The stations don’t have names, she’ll be none the wiser until we’re safely away from the train. We’ll explain then. Can you manage the two little ones if I take the bags and hold her arm?’
‘I can take care of the children as long as I don’t need to change their nappies as there aren’t any more in the bag.’ She had a tentative feel of the nearest bottom and nodded. ‘They’re a bit damp but nothing too disastrous. I don’t know about you, but I’m concerned Rose has slept through everything. I do hope she’s all right.’
‘Her father’s a doctor. What did she say his name was?’
‘Munson, but we still don’t know hers. We really ought to be able to tell the hotel her name,’ Ruth said.
‘We can ask her later. Dr Munson should be with her by this evening and can take care of her. All we’ve got to do is keep them safe for now.’
‘It’s occurred to me that we might be making a horrible mistake and just making things worse. What if her father is there, no sign of the police, won’t he think the worst? Could we be arrested for interfering?’ Ruth was worried.
‘Don’t be daft, Rose will tell them what’s what. Better to be safe than sorry, love.’
‘We don’t want to put too many eggs in one basket and a stitch in time saves nine,’ she said, just managing to keep her face straight.
He looked at her for a second and then nodded solemnly. ‘A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush and – blimey, I can’t think of any more.’
‘I’m sorry to tease, but you did say I was daft.’
The twins had soft button-up shoes and a set of leather reins each. Whilst he put these on, Ruth gently woke the sleeping woman.
‘We’ll be getting off soon, Rose, you need to sit up and put your shoes back on. I’ll take the twins and Sam will help you and carry the bags.’
‘I desperately need to pee. I assume that there’ll be a ladies’ room.’
‘I’m sure there will,’ Ruth said and glanced across at Sam, who nodded. ‘I expect Lily and Iris will enjoy toddling up and down the platform whilst you go. Then I’ll have to do the same before we leave the station.’
Sam put the bags down on the platform first then lifted the babies out and she jumped down and took hold of their reins. Next, he assisted Rose from the train and guided her to the building with the WC. The train had already steamed away by the time Ruth was back and they were making their way to the exit.
Nottingham station was busy, a fair number of passengers had alighted from the same train, which meant the ticket collector only gave their travel warrants and Rose’s tickets a cursory glance. This was fortunate as if he’d told Rose they weren’t at Lincoln, she might have panicked.
The interior of the station was smoky, noisy and crowded and at first Rose didn’t notice this wasn’t where she was supposed to be.
‘I’ve not been here for years but it really doesn’t look familiar. Have we got off at the wrong station?’
‘I’m afraid we must have,’ Sam said, taking his cue from her. ‘I’m sorry, I was convinced it was Lincoln. It must be Nottingham.’
Instead of being upset, she shrugged. ‘Don’t worry, I know this town well. There’s an excellent hotel we can wait at until my father arrives. Would you be kind enough to telephone the house? He’ll ring home when I don’t appear with the girls.’ She handed over a piece of paper with the telephone number on it.
‘Be happy to. Now, direct us to this hotel, we could all do with a decent cuppa and a bun.’ Sam smiled at Ruth, and she nodded. Better to lie than worry Rose with the real reason they’d not remained on the train.
Rose suddenly grimaced. ‘Actually, I’m so glad we got off early. I’m think I might be going into labour.’
Ruth exchanged a horrified look with Sam. This was the worst possible news.
To her relief, the twins were able to walk without stumbling and seemed solid on their feet. Maybe they were older than she thought. She didn’t know a lot about babies. It was Rose who was having difficulty and Sam now had his free arm firmly about her waist. If this hotel wasn’t close, Ruth feared they wouldn’t make it without mishap.
Perhaps if she talked to Rose about her delightful daughters, this might help. ‘How old are your girls?’
‘They’re eighteen months – Iris is five minutes older than Lily. I just pray I’m not having twins again this time. Brian wouldn’t let me see a midwife or doctor as he said it didn’t matter because the baby or babies would be put up for adoption as they weren’t his.’
‘Why ever would he think that?’
‘He insisted that he’d used protection, but I know that at least twice he didn’t.’ Rose stumbled and Sam barely managed to keep her upright.
‘Less talking, concentrate on moving your feet and not falling over, Rose,’ he told her. ‘Ruth, I can see the hotel just at the end of this road. Can you carry the babies and get there quickly and see if they’ve got a wheelchair. We’re going to need it.’
She didn’t argue that the children were too heavy but scooped them up, and with one on each hip she jogged, much to their delight, the remaining distance, arriving red-faced and breathless in the large hotel foyer. The concierge immediately hurried towards her.
‘We need a wheelchair – their mother’s heavily pregnant and about to collapse further down the street.’
‘If you’d care to sit on the sofa with the children, miss, I’ll make sure that their mother arrives safely.’ The middle-aged, grey-haired man snapped his fingers and two uniformed young men appeared with a wheelchair as if they’d been waiting somewhere for just this summons.
Ruth produced the teddies which she’d tucked into her uniform jacket. ‘Look, girls, your teddies have come too. They need a big cuddle after all the rushing about.’
She handed over the toys and the children cooed and kissed them and then began to babble in what sounded like complete nonsense, but they seemed to understand each other. Her aunt had once told her that twins could develop their own private language.
Another man in a tailcoat was approaching. He looked even more important than the concierge. ‘Could you please make an urgent telephone call? The details, name and number are on this piece of paper. Please ask Dr Munson to get here as fast as he can.’
She handed him the paper Rose had given her and he read it, nodded and strode back to the imposing mahogany reception desk. She heard him making the call and prayed that Rose’s father would get the message. Then something dreadful occurred to her. They’d got off the train half an hour before it was due to arrive in Lincoln. Dr Munson would still be waiting and not even know his daughter and granddaughters needed him so desperately.
‘Stay where you are, Lily, Iris, I just have to speak to the kind man behind the desk. I won’t be a moment.’
They looked up then resumed their babble and weren’t upset when she dashed across the acre of Axminster carpet. ‘Excuse me,’ she said to the man behind the desk. ‘Could I also ask you to call the nearest local doctor? Dr Munson might not be here soon enough.’
‘Soon enough? Are you suggesting that his daughter is about to give birth? Would it be better to take her to the hospital? We don’t have the facilities here for delivering a baby.’
Ruth glared at him. ‘Don’t be ridiculous. If you get the doctor, and a midwife if there is one, all that’s needed is a room, towels and hot water. A hotel is the perfect place to have a baby if you can’t be at home.’
He looked about to argue the point, but at the same moment the operator answered his call and with considerable reluctance he asked for another number. Ruth waited, glancing constantly over her shoulder at the twins, whilst this second call was connected. She heard him ask the doctor to come at once and to bring the midwife if possible. He replaced the receiver and turned to continue his protest, but Ruth didn’t allow him to speak.
‘I must have somewhere quiet for those two, so we’ll need adjoining rooms. Their mother can have one and I’ll go in the other.’
As he hesitated, she leaned forward. ‘I’m sure you don’t wish me to make a scene, but I can assure you that I will if you don’t do what I want immediately.’
She turned her back on him and stood tall, praying this would convince him she was prepared to start yelling for somebody to help because he wouldn’t.
The twins saw her and started to wriggle off the sofa. Ruth ran across and was just in time to prevent them from tumbling to the carpet, not that they would have come to harm as that would have been a soft landing.
‘Right, you two, your mummy will be here in a minute and we’re going to find a lovely room where you can play.’
The manager arrived at her side, looking a little more conciliatory. ‘Corporal, Dr Otter is on his way. Billy over there is going to take you up to your rooms and I’ll bring the expectant mother. I can see that she’s just arriving. Is the sergeant her husband?’
‘No, Sergeant Johnson is my boyfriend. We only met this family on the train and are acting as good Samaritans until her family arrive.’
Leaving him to mull over what she’d told him, she took a little hand in each of hers and led the toddlers across to the lift. Billy grinned, closed the lift door behind them and pushed and pulled the appropriate levers.
The room they’d been given overlooked the main street but was spacious, well-appointed and more than adequate. There was a bathroom that was obviously shared with the adjoining room, which was even better.
She removed the toddlers’ reins, shoes and socks in order to let them run around barefooted, when there was a knock on the door. ‘I’m coming, just a minute.’
When she opened the door, a smart woman in a navy-blue dress marched in, followed by two chambermaids carrying baskets. ‘I’m Mrs Rigby, the housekeeper here. I’ve brought clean nappies, towels and so on for the children. I’ll have tea sent up in half an hour. I’m going to prepare the room for their mother.’
‘Thank goodness. I don’t really know much about looking after toddlers.’