Two days later, Georgina yawned as she opened her eyes and stretched her arms above her head. She’d become accustomed to Charlotte’s sofa, though her sleep remained restless. After all, the police could come crashing through the door at any time and knowing that a copper lived just across the landing didn’t help either. She’d feel more relaxed once she knew for sure that Charlotte had him onside. Even when she had managed to doze off, her sleep had been punctured by horrific sounds and images from Holloway. She knew that place would forever haunt her dreams.
‘Good morning. Did you sleep all right?’ Charlotte asked, fetching her a cup of coffee and turning on the wireless. They had the wireless on all day to drown out any sound of their voices.
‘Yes, fine,’ Georgina lied.
She pushed herself up on her haunches as Dog jumped on her lap and tried to lick her face.
‘Get down, Dog,’ Charlotte chastised the mutt, then looked at Georgina. ‘Sorry, it’s habit. He’s your dog, I shouldn’t be telling him off.’
‘Don’t be daft, it’s you who’s looked after him. And you’re right, he shouldn’t be on the sofa,’ she said, easing the dog down. ‘Are you looking forward to your date tonight with Tim?’
‘No,’ Charlotte answered but Georgina didn’t believe her. The girl’s cheeks had flushed red and she’d averted her gaze from Georgina’s eyes.
‘Yes, you are, you fibber,’ she teased.
‘No, I’m not. The last thing I need in my life is a man, and even worse that he’s a copper. I’m only going out with him to use him, like you told me to.’
‘If you say so,’ Georgina answered and threw the blankets off before pushing herself off the sofa. She glanced in the mirror over the mantel and could see the sleepless nights were beginning to show on her face. Dark circles ringed her eyes and her complexion looked dull. She couldn’t even brighten herself up with a bit of red lippy, she thought, as her eyes fell on her dungarees draped over the back of an armchair. Not that it mattered. She wasn’t out to impress anyone. Her only focus was to see her children. ‘I hope Johnny comes round today. If not, you’ll have to go and fetch him,’ she told Charlotte. Now that she had her fake identity papers, she was keen to get Johnny to drive her to Wales.
‘I’m pretty sure he will, and hopefully with some money for me too.’
‘Are you struggling?’
‘No, not at all. The rent from Miss Gray and Lord Hamilton is more than I need to live on.’
‘Good. And how is Dina coping?’
‘No idea. You know her, she won’t talk to me, not that I blame her. She’s quite chummy with Lord Hamilton and cleans his flat for a couple of bob.’
‘I suppose I should let her know I’m here. As weird as the woman is, she’s always been loyal and trustworthy.’
‘If you say so, but the fewer people who know you are here, the better.’
Georgina knew that Charlotte was right, but being confined was getting hard and she hoped Johnny would turn up today.
*
A couple of hours later, Georgina heard a car pull up outside and looked through the net curtains, hoping it wasn’t the police, and was pleased to see it was Johnny. She smiled as she watched him swagger to the door, cigar in hand and in his usual fur trimmed coat. She found it comforting to see that some things hadn’t changed and couldn’t wait to watch the expression on his face when he set eyes on her.
Johnny knocked on the door as Charlotte came through from the kitchen, her face ashen.
‘Don’t look so worried, it’s only Johnny.’
‘Thank gawd for that,’ Charlotte muttered and went to let him in.
‘Don’t let on that I’m here. I want to surprise him,’ Georgina called. She sat casually on the sofa but her excitement was mounting. Johnny had been her right-hand man and she’d openly admit how fond she was of him.
He strolled into the room, the smell of his cigar wafting in with him. As he removed his hat, his eyes set on Georgina and he gasped, stepping backwards in surprise.
‘Hello, Johnny,’ she said, her face beaming with delight.
‘Pinch me, Charlotte… am I dreaming?’
‘No, Johnny, you ain’t dreaming,’ Charlotte replied, chuckling.
‘Miss Garrett, I never thought I’d see the day!’ he said, walking towards her now with his arms outstretched.
Georgina rose to her feet and returned his embrace, albeit briefly. ‘You’re looking pretty dapper, unlike me, dressed like a workhand.’
‘It don’t matter what you’re wearing, you’re still a sight for sore eyes. Why didn’t you tell us they were letting you out early? We would have picked you up and arranged a party. Cor blimey, wait ’til the rest of ’em hear you’re back. They’re gonna be chuffed to bits.’
‘Slow down, Johnny, I didn’t get let out early.’
‘What are you on about? You’re here, ain’t ya?’
‘Yes, but not with permission.’
‘Bleedin’ ’ell, have you escaped?’
Georgina nodded her head and Johnny looked impressed. ‘I don’t know why I’m surprised. In fact, I’m surprised you didn’t break out sooner,’ he said and guffawed.
‘I had to wait for my chance.’
‘What’s the plan now? Are we setting up business again? You know I’ll be more than happy to work for you and so will some of the blokes.’
‘Not just yet. I need to see my children first. They’re in Wales and I want you to drive me there. We’ll set off first thing in the morning.’
‘Anything you say, Miss Garrett.’
‘In the meantime, Charlotte can make us a cuppa and you can tell me all about what’s been going on and everything you know about The Top.’
Georgina listened intently but Johnny didn’t impart much more information than she already knew. ‘And you’re sure that it was him who killed David and Victor?’ she asked.
‘Yeah, I’m sorry but I’m convinced The Top is behind it. I don’t see how else he could have just walked in and taken over. I reckon it was all planned when Mr Maynard was laid up in hospital. The Top attacked when he saw his opportunity.’
‘Don’t you think it’s strange that no one knows anything about the man apart from the fact that he’s Irish and has connections with the IRA?’
‘Fuck knows, Miss Garrett. I did some digging and from what I can make out, the geezer used to sell to David and wanted a cut of the London action. Only he wanted a bigger cut than Mr Maynard was prepared to offer. So he took the fucking lot. Now he’s got a few familiar faces round him. Slugs knows him but he ain’t saying nothing.’
‘Blimey, there’s a name I haven’t heard of in years. Do you think Slugs would talk for money?’
‘No, I doubt it. He took a bullet for the man so I doubt he’d be persuaded to talk, even for a good handshake.’
‘What about his protection? Surely one of them could be bought?’
‘I don’t think so, Miss Garrett. They don’t seem like the talking sort, if you know what I mean.’
Georgina was left to ponder The Top while Johnny told her about turning over the illegal brewing company.
‘This is for you, Charlotte, and your cut, Miss Garrett,’ he said, offering her a wad of notes.
Georgina looked at the cash. She needed it. She needed every penny she could get her hands on, but she hadn’t earned this money. ‘Thanks, Johnny, but that’s yours,’ she said.
‘No,’ he protested, ‘Rules are rules. You always get a cut of any jobs.’
‘I used to get a cut.’
‘I’ll leave it on the side for you,’ Johnny insisted. ‘I’ve gotta get going now but I’ll be back first thing. Cor, I can’t wait to tell the others you’re back.’
Georgina didn’t need to remind Johnny to be careful about who he spoke to of her return to Battersea. Her most trusted man wasn’t stupid and she knew he wouldn’t put her at risk of being captured by the authorities. And she had to admit, though she’d thought she wouldn’t get involved again with heading up the criminal gang, the idea of it thrilled her. If she was honest with herself, she was in dire need of the money too. Being on the run wasn’t going to be cheap. She’d need cash to buy favours and silence. But, for now, she just wanted to hold Selina and Alfie close to her.
*
The wireless on the sideboard blared out. Charlotte wished she could switch it off and tried to ignore it, but it was impossible not to hear the news bulletins of soldiers, invasions, cities and countries under attack. The assault on her ears would trigger the horrendous memories she’d sooner forget. She thought of the kind fire warden she’d encountered, his head blown off, and how she’d had a one-sided conversation with him. God, it was awful. She shook her head, trying to shake the image away, and pulled a brush through her hair before pinching her cheeks to give them a bit of colour.
‘You look lovely,’ Georgina said, sitting on the sofa behind her.
Charlotte stared at her reflection in the mirror. ‘No, I don’t. I look plain and boring. I dunno what Tim sees in me,’ she said, thinking out loud.
‘Well, for someone who isn’t interested in going out with him, you seem to be worrying quite a bit about what you look like.’
Charlotte turned away from the mirror and threw herself onto the armchair. Georgina had a point. If she wasn’t bothered about Tim, why did she have butterflies in her stomach? ‘I’m just nervous ’cos I don’t want to mess it up. If I get this wrong, you could end up back behind bars.’
‘That’s not going to happen and you’re not going to mess it up.’
‘Thanks,’ she answered, grateful for Georgina’s confidence in her.
Her stomach flipped at a sudden knock on the door. It wasn’t time for her date, so she guessed it was probably her upstairs neighbour. ‘That’ll be Lord Hamilton. Brace yourself, he’s quite a character.’
‘Are you sure we can trust him?’
‘Yep, he’s always wanted to meet you, and when it comes to the law, he’s as dodgy as the day is long.’
When Charlotte ushered him into the front room, she could see Georgina was trying to keep a straight face. In his burgundy, silk house coat, cream cravat and curled moustache, he looked like he should be walking the corridors of a stately home.
‘Miss Garrett, what an absolute delight to finally meet you,’ he said, sweeping across the room to take her hand and hold it to his lips. ‘I’ve heard much about you.’
‘Likewise,’ Georgina answered, ‘Charlotte talks very highly of you.’
‘I’m flattered but I can assure you that her gracious compliments of me are unfounded. You, on the other hand, are far more beautiful than I had imagined. And I must say, I’m terribly excited to be in the presence of such an accomplished woman and one who has defied the authorities. That, my dear, deserves a toast and I’ve brought you a bottle of the finest champagne.’
Charlotte held the bottle aloft for Georgina to see before going to the kitchen to fetch glasses. She didn’t have any champagne flutes, tumblers would have to do. And she only had two glass tumblers but didn’t mind drinking her champagne from a cup.
Back in the front room, Lord Hamilton and Georgina appeared to be getting on well. He was telling her his usual tales of rubbing shoulders with royalty and Georgina was pretending to be impressed.
Charlotte popped the cork and poured the champagne, hoping that a glass of bubbly would calm her nerves about her impending date with Tim. She glanced at the clock again. Only fifteen minutes to go.
‘You look as if you’re going somewhere?’ Lord Hamilton questioned with a raised eyebrow as she handed him a glass.
‘I am,’ she answered.
‘She’s going on a date with PC Timothy Batten,’ Georgina told him.
‘Goodness gracious me! Well, this is a day full of surprises!’
‘I’m only going out with him ’cos Georgina thinks it would be a good idea.’
‘Oh, I see,’ Lord Hamilton said thoughtfully, ‘Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.’
‘Indeed,’ Georgina agreed and held her glass in the air, asking, ‘What are we toasting?’
‘To new friends and freedom,’ Lord Hamilton said and they all clinked glasses.
The knock on the door came sooner than Charlotte had expected and Dog bounded towards it, barking. Charlotte gulped down the champagne in her cup. The bubbles caused her to loudly belch as she gathered her coat and bag. Glancing over her shoulder as she went towards the door, she saw Georgina with her finger over her lips, reminding Lord Hamilton to be silent.
After dragging Dog back into the front room and closing the door, Charlotte drew in a long breath ready to greet Tim. ‘Hello,’ she said, shyly. ‘I’m ready to go.’
‘You’ve left the wireless on.’
‘Yeah, it’s company for Dog,’ she answered quickly, pulling her coat on and shutting the front door behind them with urgency. She walked past Tim and out onto the street where he caught her up and marched alongside her.
‘You must be hungry, you seem in a hurry.’
‘Sorry,’ she said and slowed her pace. ‘It’s cold, a brisk walk warms you up.’
‘Yes, it does, but I’m used to being out on the streets in the cold.’
‘Where are we going?’ she asked, realising she could be walking in the wrong direction.
‘I wasn’t sure what you like, but as it’s one of the meals that Churchill hasn’t rationed, I thought fish and chips.’
‘Smashing, my favourite, especially from Shooters. They cook their chips in beef dripping and you can buy a bag of crackly bits.’
‘Oh, I was going to take you to a little restaurant on York Road but if you prefer to go to Shooters?’
‘No, the restaurant will be fine, I’m sure,’ Charlotte answered, a little anxious but looking forward to the experience. She’d never been in a restaurant before. She’d had hot chocolate once in a café with Daphne, a posh woman who’d later turned her nose up at her. Another memory she tried to push aside.
The temperature outside was rapidly cooling and Charlotte picked up her pace again, Tim keeping up beside her. ‘It’s chilly this evening,’ she said, pulling a pair of knitted gloves from her coat pockets and shoving her hands inside them.
‘We might have a white Christmas.’
Charlotte looked up at the sky and though the sun had set, there wasn’t a star in sight, masked by the clouds. Not even the moon offered any illumination on the blacked-out streets of London. ‘Maybe,’ she mused.
‘Are you going anywhere for Christmas?’
‘No, probably not,’ she answered. She knew she wouldn’t be welcomed by her mother at Molly’s farm. But now Georgina was home, she had no desire to go to Kent anyway.
‘I’ll probably go to my sister’s. She does a good spread, even with the rations. You could come too, if you like?’
‘Oh… thanks, but I’ll be fine at home. Lord Hamilton will insist on keeping me company. He did last year. In fact, we had quite a hoot.’
‘I’ve only met him briefly in passing and haven’t seen Miss Gray yet. The other lady, the blonde one, I saw her out of my window but we haven’t spoken.’
‘You’ll be lucky to get more than a few words out of Dina. We’re a funny bunch in that big house, a right mixture.’
‘I know you said you’d changed your mind about me moving out but I still don’t know if I feel right about staying, not when I know there are families desperate for housing.’
‘I hope you will,’ Charlotte said and, strangely, she felt sincere in saying it.
‘If you really want me to stay, then I will,’ he said and looked down at her.
Their eyes met and she felt those butterflies again. You’re only using him she reminded herself. Don’t fall for a copper.
‘Have you always wanted to be a policeman?’ she probed.
‘No, not at all. My dad pushed me into it. He was a copper but got injured and had to leave the force.’
‘Oh, blimey. How did he get injured?’
‘You probably won’t remember it but it was when the police station got blown up.’
‘I remember hearing about it,’ she answered, cringing inside. Georgina had never admitted it but it was rumoured that she’d been behind the explosion. This wasn’t going well. Tim was unlikely to want to help protect Georgina if he had an inkling that it was her fault his dad had been hurt.
‘It killed a few policemen but they never caught the bloke who did it. I suppose my dad was lucky to have only been injured… unfortunately.’
‘What do you mean, unfortunately?’ she asked, thinking this was sounding more promising!
‘Oh, nothing, I shouldn’t have mentioned it.’
‘But you did. Don’t you get on with your dad then?’
‘No, far from it. He’s not a nice man, Charlotte. Suffice to say, since joining the force I’ve heard things about him that I couldn’t repeat in front of a lady.’
‘You can tell me. I ain’t no lady.’
‘No, I couldn’t and I wouldn’t want to. I’m ashamed of him and the heinous things he’s done. I’m just glad my mum isn’t around anymore, God rest her soul. I dread to think what she must have put up with from him and whatever she knew about him went with her to her grave. Now, let’s change the subject, I’d rather not talk about him. What about you… how did you come to look after that big house?’
Charlotte’s mind raced for an answer. She couldn’t tell him that Georgina owned it but Mr Harel had arranged for the name on the deeds to be changed to her son’s, Alfred Hearn. But she was saved from finding an answer when they heard bells from vehicles racing towards them from behind.
Tim stopped to look. ‘I wonder what’s going on?’ he said as several fire brigade engines passed and two police cars. ‘It must be a major incident.’
‘I dunno, Tim, but I don’t like the look of this,’ she said, her pulse quickening.
The vehicles sped in the direction they were walking and Charlotte had the urge to turn around and run home. ‘We should head back,’ she said, ‘Something’s not right.’
‘I might be needed. Come on, let’s hurry,’ he replied, grabbing her hand and dragging her along.
Charlotte snatched her hand away from his. ‘No,’ she shouted. ‘There’s something bad going on up there. I want to go home.’
‘Please, Charlotte, I can’t turn my back on people who may need my help. Let’s just go and see what the problem is. I’ll look after you, I promise.’
Against all her instincts, she reluctantly rushed towards where the vehicles were going, all the while questioning her sanity. The engines and cars had stopped on the corner of a side road and even in the darkness, Charlotte could see a large crowd had gathered.
‘What’s happened?’ Tim asked a bystander.
The man animatedly explained, ‘They’ve found an unexploded bomb behind the wall of the factory there. Gotta be at least a five hundred pounder. It ain’t a Satan but it’s a big ’un.’
Charlotte, terrified at the news, tugged on Tim’s arm. ‘Please, take me home,’ she said, panicking.
‘It’s all right, Charlotte, the bomb disposal unit will be here soon to deal with it. But let me help clear all these people away, just in case the thing goes off.’
The thought of standing so close to a bomb and being caught up in the blast was too much for her to bear. ‘Please, Tim,’ she begged, tears streaking down her face now.
He grabbed her shoulders firmly. ‘Just do as I say and everything will be fine,’ he told her and led her along the road and into a shop doorway. ‘You’ll be safe here. Just wait ten minutes for me. I’m going to move those people on and then I’ll be back. Understand?’
She nodded, her imagination running havoc – she was now too petrified to move or speak. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block the awful memories from flooding in, and when she opened them again, Tim was gone. Closing her eyes again, she counted out loud. ‘One… two… three… four…’
The sound of more vehicles with their bells ringing loudly passed her. ‘Five… six…’ Men yelling ‘Stand back, stand back.’ ‘Seven… eight…’ She never reached nine. A terrific booming noise filled the air and she felt a gush of air lift her skirt. Her cheeks stung as fragments of flying debris hit her face. Charlotte’s legs gave way and she dropped to the ground, fear rendering her unable to open her eyes. She was on her knees, trying to scramble back to her feet but her legs had no strength to support her and she staggered sideways, dropping back to her knees. Still with her eyes closed, her nostrils twitched at the smell of explosives, fire and burning bodies. And then the waft of brick dust and plaster began clogging her nose.
‘No, no, no,’ she screamed, well aware of the devastation she would see if she dared to open her eyes. She recognised the stench of death in the air. And the screams of pain from women and men with mutilated bodies. The harrowing shout of a mother looking for her child. The muted cry for help from under rubble. Her body violently trembled uncontrollably from head to toe. She heard a long, tormenting, low howl and realised it was coming from her own lips.
‘Are you all right, miss?’ A man’s voice in the madness asked and she felt hands around her waist, pulling her to her feet. Still, she refused to open her eyes.
‘Miss… miss… are you hurt?’
She managed to quieten herself and shook her head.
‘Come, sit here,’ the voice said.
She was led a few steps and could hear the sound of shattered glass underfoot. The man lowered her down, onto a doorstep, she assumed. ‘You’ll be all right here,’ the kind voice said.
Charlotte dropped her head into her hands, and after a while she noticed a damp feeling on her fingers. Pulling her hand back, she slowly opened her eyes to look at it and saw blood on her blue woollen glove. She pulled off the glove and touched her head again, this time wincing at the sharp pain. And then she remembered… Tim. He’d gone back to help clear the crowds. A new wave of panic washed over her and she jumped to her feet, scanning the horrendous scene down the street. Plumes of smoke and dust were glowing red and orange, lit by the flames of the fires. People were running in all directions, some limping slowly, others gazing at the destruction in shock.
With trepidation, she staggered forward, desperately seeking sight of Tim. Please, let him be alive, she prayed, edging closer to the horror.
‘Tim… Timothy…’ she shouted but her voice was hoarse and lost in the sound of the roaring fires. ‘Tim… Tim…’
She saw a familiar looking figure silhouetted against the glow of the fires. He’d scooped up a child and was heading towards an ambulance. Relieved he was alive, she intuitively knew it was Tim and rushed over.
Buildings had crumbled. Men and women were standing on the wreckage of piles that were once houses, moving bricks one by one and passing them down a line. The despair of what they might discover under the fallen debris was etched on their blackened faces. Charlotte tried not to look and focused on Tim. She called his name again but he couldn’t hear her. As she neared the ambulance, she saw him rush back to another burning building and watched in awe of his bravery.
Someone placed a blanket over her shoulders.
‘Let me take a look at that, miss,’ he said, pointing to the wound on her head.
She’d forgotten about her injury. ‘No, I’m fine, thanks,’ she said, her eyes fixed on Tim.
He came towards the ambulance again, this time with his arms supporting an elderly woman. As he drew closer, he looked up and when he saw that she appeared unhurt, he smiled. The ambulance driver took the elderly lady and Tim pulled Charlotte into his arms.
‘Thank goodness you’re ok,’ he said, holding her close.
Charlotte was glad to be in his arms and felt herself crying.
‘It’s all right,’ he soothed, stroking her hair. ‘Christ, you’re shaking. I’ll take you home now.’
They walked back slowly, hand in hand, neither of them speaking, both dazed from the bomb blast.
As they turned onto Alexandra Avenue, it was Tim who broke the silence. ‘I’m sorry I dragged you into this tonight.’
‘You don’t have to apologise. It’s your job. You wouldn’t be much of a copper if you didn’t want to go and help people.’
‘Thank you for being understanding. I don’t suppose you’ll want to go out with me again?’
‘Why would you think that?’
‘Because I didn’t listen to you when you asked me to take you home.’
‘I saw what you did, Tim. I saw you rush into that burning building with no regard for your own safety. You saved that old girl. Of course I want to go out with you again, you silly sod, but perhaps next time we can just get a bag of chips from Shooters?’
‘Good idea.’
Charlotte felt him squeeze her hand a little tighter. Before now, the thought of a man touching any part of her body had left her feeling sick to her stomach, but there was something about PC Batten that felt natural and she enjoyed the feeling of her hand in his.
They were just outside the house when the front door flew open and Lord Hamilton came rushing out. ‘Charlotte, oh, Charlotte, we’ve been so worried about you,’ he said, frowning at the blood that had trickled down the side of her face. ‘You’ve been hurt!’
‘It’s fine, just a graze,’ she said, smiling wanly.
‘We heard the blast. One of the neighbours said a bomb exploded along from York Road.’
‘Yes, that’s right.’
‘Come inside, dear, out from the cold and let me pour you a brandy.’
Charlotte shot him a frantic look, worried he’d forgotten they were harbouring a wanted woman.
‘And you PC Batten. You appear to have done a spiffing job of looking after Charlotte. I should imagine you’d be grateful of a brandy too?’
‘I wouldn’t say no,’ he answered.
As they walked into Charlotte’s flat, she held her breath and crossed her fingers, hoping Tim wouldn’t spot any sign of Georgina being there. Her eyes flitted around the front room and fell on the two tumblers and bottle of champagne.
‘Sit down, by the fire. I’ll pop upstairs and get the brandy,’ Lord Hamilton said.
Tim waited until Charlotte had taken off her coat and sat in one of the armchairs. He hovered over her and, looking at the dried blood on her face, said, ‘I’ll get a bowl of warm water to clean you up.’
Charlotte leapt to her feet. ‘No,’ she snapped, panicking. Georgina could be hiding in the kitchen!
Tim looked taken aback.
‘Sorry, my nerves are a bit jangled. Just sit down, Tim. My head is fine, I’ll clean it up in a minute.’
He sat in the chair opposite and leaned towards her as Dog rested his head in her lap.
‘We were lucky tonight. I don’t know how I came out of that unscathed. And I can’t tell you how pleased I was to see you standing there. The whole time I was helping people to the ambulance, all I could think about was you.’
Charlotte felt herself blush and looked down at Dog.
‘I’m sorry, I’m making a fool of myself and embarrassing you.’
‘No, it’s nice. I felt the same. I was so worried that something awful had happened to you. Gawd, the relief I felt when I saw you!’
Lord Hamilton swanned back into the room carrying a half-full bottle of brandy. He took the two tumblers to the kitchen and returned with a drink for them both.
‘What happened out there?’ he asked Tim.
It was Charlotte who answered. ‘A bloody big bomb went off, that’s what happened. It was horrible, really horrible, but Tim here was a right hero.’
‘I’ve no doubt, a strapping young police officer like yourself.’
‘No, I wasn’t a hero. I did what anyone else would have done.’
‘Take no notice of him, Lord Hamilton. He was a hero and I saw it with my own eyes. He ran into a building that was on fire and pulled out an old woman. She would have burned to death if he hadn’t rescued her.’
‘Well done, young man!’
Tim looked across to Charlotte and smiled awkwardly at her which made her stomach flip again, but she didn’t want him to be having this effect on her.
‘I say, you must both be exhausted. Now, drink up, PC Batten. I shall draw Charlotte a hot bath and then we shall leave her to rest.’
‘Yes, of course,’ Tim said and gulped down the brandy, pulling a face when he’d finished.
As he stood up to leave, Lord Hamilton handed him the bottle. ‘You can have another before bed. It may help you to sleep.’
‘No, thank you,’ Tim said, passing the bottle back. ‘I’m not really much of a brandy drinker and I have to get up early tomorrow.’
‘Well, thank you for bringing Charlotte safely home. When we heard the explosion, you can imagine what went through our minds.’
‘We… who’s we?’ Tim asked.
Charlotte saw Lord Hamilton was unnerved by the question and quickly interrupted, ‘Him and Dog.’
‘Yes, Dog and I were terrified,’ Lord Hamilton said, sounding believable.
Tim said goodnight, and when he left the room, Lord Hamilton closed the door behind him. Charlotte was left wondering what on earth she’d been thinking! No matter how much she admired Tim’s bravery, or the feelings he’d evoked in her and the feel of her hand in his, first and foremost, the man was a policeman and she had to keep that in mind. Or else Georgina could end up being arrested and if that happened, she knew she’d never forgive herself.