16

Rose had hoped for some time to prepare before Ben arrived to meet her at his mother’s apartment in London. As it was, she opened the door to be greeted by the seductive sight of a champagne bottle being uncorked, and her husband approached to greet her with two champagne saucers filled to the brim.

‘Careful,’ she shrieked as he tried to kiss her, fearful of tipping her drink all over Lady Diana’s luxurious Persian rug. She put both glasses down on a side table, then returned to where he held out his arms to her. ‘I can’t stand you being away from me for so long. Can’t you hurry up and finish this war, so we can settle down and never leave each other for at least the next fifty years?’

‘Believe me, I’m trying,’ he whispered into her hair as he ran his hands down her back, gripping her hips as he pulled her even closer. Slowly he pulled up the dress she’d chosen especially for their meeting, exposing her new stockings and suspender belt. Rose thanked God she’d worn her best underwear and not saved it for when he took her out to dinner. Ben was a caring and thoughtful lover, and she savoured his touch as he tried to ease her dress over her head. ‘Why so many buttons?’ he asked in frustration.

‘I could ask the same of you,’ she replied breathlessly, trying to unbutton his uniform shirt.

‘It’s not good,’ he said, swinging her over his shoulder and heading for the bedroom Lady Diana kept at their disposal. There they spent the next few hours getting reacquainted in the best way they knew.

Later, Rose raised her head from the pillow and looked at the clothes strewn across the room. ‘So much for my plan to greet you in my new negligee and seduce my returning hero,’ she sighed, running her fingers through the soft hair on his chest.

‘You could go outside and we could start again if you like?’ he suggested, gazing at her nakedness.

‘I’d frighten the doorman,’ she chuckled, pulling a sheet up to cover her breasts.

‘Don’t tell me you are embarrassed?’ he smiled gently, pulling back the sheet. ‘I’ve dreamt of this moment for months and want to gaze at your beauty for ever.’

She took his hand in hers and kissed each fingertip. ‘You think I haven’t? I’d like to retain a little mystery, if you don’t mind.’

‘Mystery be damned,’ he growled as he playfully tore away the sheet and took her into his arms once more.

‘But I thought you’d booked a table for dinner?’ she asked, pretending to be shocked at his advances but in the end succumbing, as keen as he was to continue their lovemaking.

‘The table’s booked for the whole evening,’ he mumbled into her ear. ‘There’s nothing we need to rush out for.’

The sound of sirens filled the air.

‘You shouldn’t have tempted fate,’ Rose sighed. ‘Come on, let’s get down to the cellar, but put some clothes on first.’

‘To be continued,’ he said ruefully as he reached for his trousers.

‘I never expected to be dining on cheese on toast washed down with champagne,’ Rose said that evening, once the all clear had sounded and they returned to the apartment.

‘Food of the gods,’ Ben sighed as he topped up their glasses. ‘You can wear your dancing shoes another time, when I have leave for more than twenty-four hours.’

‘And my new nightdress . . .?’

He looked up at the clock as its hands moved towards midnight. ‘There’s still time, if you’re keen?’

‘Give me five minutes,’ Rose grinned, grabbing her suitcase from where it had been left in the middle of the lounge floor and hurrying to the bathroom.

‘Can I help?’ he called after her.

‘Not this time, but perhaps later,’ she replied, looking round the open bathroom door towards him and raising her eyebrows suggestively before disappearing as she started to sing, ‘I’m in the mood for love . . .’

‘It’s not five minutes since you came home,’ Rose said, trying not to look sad; she didn’t want Ben’s last memory of her to be of a weeping wife. ‘I don’t even know where you’re heading off to,’ she added, straightening his tie and picking up his cap from where he’d left it on the sofa. ‘Write as soon as you can?’ She gave him a gentle kiss.

‘I’m sorry I can’t tell you where I’ll be. It was so much simpler when I was seconded to the Ministry of Food, but now . . .’

‘Just stay safe . . . do it for me. No heroics. If anything happens to you, I’ll never forgive you – do you hear me?’

Ben smiled. He knew better than to argue with his wife. ‘I promise, and now I must go, as my driver is waiting for me in the lobby. Knowing him, he will be pacing the floor. Goodbye, my sweetheart,’ he said, pulling her close for one last hug. ‘Ruth will be back later today, if you need company.’ Ruth had very decently agreed to stay with a friend the previous night, to give Rose and Ben some privacy. ‘We had the chance to have a few words before you arrived.’

‘That was kind, but I doubt I’ll see her as I must get back home; I’m on duty tomorrow.’

Rose watched the door close behind him. She’d promised to be brave and so she would, she thought, fighting back tears. I’ll go find Anya and take her out to lunch, she decided as she went to pack her suitcase, ready to catch the late train home to Ramsgate. She stopped to look at the crumpled bed before straightening the covers. ‘So little time . . .’ she said out loud, before scolding herself. ‘Think to the future and forget the present,’ she muttered, seating herself at the ornate dressing table and peering into the mirror. ‘I’m so lucky to be loved.’

After leaving Lady Diana’s apartment, Rose hurried along the Strand towards the Lyons restaurant, where she was sure she’d find Anya working on the second floor. She’d attended the same training rooms herself when she had first been promoted to manageress, which seemed a lifetime ago now.

After stepping back to allow diners to go ahead of her, she turned right through two swing doors and, not waiting for the lift, almost skipped up the two flights of stairs. Seeing Ben, along with their night of passion, had certainly put a spring in her step. She’d best calm down, she told herself, as Anya would be sure to notice a difference in her and ask questions. She was as sharp as a knife at times. With Henio being missing for so long it wouldn’t do for Rose to be talking about Ben being home for his short leave. She wouldn’t wish to hurt her Polish friend when Anya was working so hard.

‘How may I help you?’ a receptionist asked as Rose entered the door to the training rooms.

‘I’m Rose Hargreaves, manageress of the Margate teashop. I wondered if I could speak to Mrs Anya Polinski? She is here training the Sallys,’ Rose said politely.

The woman looked at a list on her desk and frowned. ‘If you would excuse me for one moment, I’ll check; please take a seat.’

‘Thank you,’ Rose smiled. She sat on one of the comfortable armchairs at the side of the reception area. A group of women passed through, wearing the dark blue Sally uniform: it was like the Nippy uniform, but without the apron or smart cap. Even though Anya had only been gone for just over a week, Rose was looking forward to seeing her face. She missed Anya’s quick wit and the way she kept the counter section of the teashop in order. Anya was such a reliable member of her staff. What would she do without her? She stood up as the receptionist returned.

‘I’m awfully sorry, but there must be some mistake,’ the woman said. ‘Mrs Polinski isn’t working here.’

Rose frowned. ‘Are you sure? I received the letter from head office myself instructing Anya – Mrs Polinski – about this appointment; she’s been here for nearly ten days now. May I speak to the manager, please?’ she asked.

‘Of course,’ the woman replied, picking up a telephone and dialling a number. Rose turned away, not wanting to appear rude and listen in.

After a hushed conversation, the woman replaced the receiver. ‘My manager will come out to speak with you in a moment,’ she said to Rose. This time, she was not smiling.

Rose nodded her thanks and decided not to sit down again. A tight knot was forming in her stomach as she started to wonder what had happened. She knew she had the correct address; she recalled telling Anya about the building and this part of London. Come to think of it, Anya hadn’t seemed very interested. Whatever had happened to her? Rose prayed her friend hadn’t been caught up in an air raid. She could be lying in hospital somewhere, unconscious or, God forbid, something worse . . .

She jumped as someone spoke to her. So deep in thought had she been, she hadn’t noticed a grey-suited man entering the room.

He held out his hand. ‘Mrs Hargreaves, I am pleased to meet you. I’m Percival Montgomery. Let’s talk in private.’

Rose shook his hand, but fear was gripping her so hard that she could hardly walk as he led her down a narrow hall to an office.

‘Please take a seat. Can I offer you any refreshment?’

‘Tea would be nice, thank you,’ she said, trying to think why his name was so familiar. Of course: his had been the name on the letter that had been sent to her requesting Anya attend the training school.

They made small talk about the weather and her journey to London until a tea tray had been brought in. ‘Will you be mother?’ he asked.

‘Of course,’ she replied, before realizing in dismay that her hands were shaking uncontrollably. She did her best to pour but was horrified as tea spilled over into the saucers. ‘I’m so sorry,’ she said, replacing the silver pot on the tray. ‘You must think I’m an awful Nippy if I can’t do a simple task like pouring tea. It’s just that I’m so worried about Anya – Mrs Polinski. I can’t understand why she isn’t here. Do you know anything about this? Could she have been injured in an air raid?’

Percival Montgomery looked uncomfortable and twisted his fountain pen between his fingers. ‘This is rather difficult . . .’

Rose felt her temper rising. ‘Please, just tell me, as I must think of her son. You know her husband is missing in action? This could make her little boy, Alexsy, an orphan.’

He raised his hand to stop her talking. ‘Please, Mrs Hargreaves: Anya Polinski is not dead and neither is she injured. Well, not to my knowledge. I’m not at liberty to tell you anything, but believe me, she is doing a service for our country, and that is all I know. If I knew any more than that, I would not be at liberty to say.’

Rose was confused. ‘Mr Montgomery, I am not going anywhere until I know what has happened to Anya,’ she said, crossing her arms across her chest and giving him a stubborn look.

‘Mrs Hargreaves . . . Rose, please don’t make this difficult for me.’

‘Oh, Mr Montgomery, believe me, I am going to be extremely difficult if I don’t find out where my friend has disappeared to.’

He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and mopped his brow. ‘I can only direct you to where you may be able to find more information, and that is to speak to your family. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a meeting to attend. Please stay and drink your tea,’ he said, getting up and leaving the room as fast as he could.

‘I don’t want tea – I want answers,’ she called after him. After waiting for a while, she decided to go back to the apartment and use Lady Diana’s telephone to speak to her mother. Surely Flora would know what to do.