‘I was going to ask for a real drink, but I’ve no option but to have coffee as you’ve ordered it. What made you choose this hotel for our meeting?’

  ‘It has an excellent reputation, and I’m sure you didn’t expect somewhere like the Savoy.’

  He smiled. ‘Of course I didn’t, this is charming and old-fashioned. I’m sure I’m going to enjoy my lunch.’ He leaned forward, intending to put his hand on hers but both of them vanished under the table. This wasn’t going how he’d hoped.

  ‘Shall we talk now or wait until we’ve eaten?’

  ‘After lunch. The pies will be ready and brought out immediately.’ For the first time her smile was warm. ‘Don’t look so disgruntled, Ralph, I know this isn’t somewhere you’d have come from choice but I promise you the food’s excellent.’

  ‘I’ll have to take your word for it, but just being here with you makes this a special occasion as far as I’m concerned.’

  The ancient waiter tottered up, pushing a trolley. The food was plated, not something he was accustomed to. In his opinion the waiter should have used silver service so one could select the vegetables one wanted and the quantity.

  At least it smelt appetising and there was a jug filled with aromatic gravy placed between them. This was followed by the coffee jug and the other paraphernalia associated with this.

  ‘Good God, are we to serve ourselves? Why didn’t that wretched waiter pour our coffee for us?’

  She raised an elegant eyebrow. ‘I think we’ve established, Ralph, that you’re not at the Savoy. Things are different in the country and better for it in my opinion. Don’t worry, I’ll pour the coffee for you. Do you want me to cut up your pie as well or can you manage that on your own?’

  He couldn’t prevent a flash of anger at her impertinence. How could this girl have changed so much in the few weeks since they’d been together? She’d never spoken to him like that before or poked fun at him, and it dawned on him that persuading her to do as he wanted was going to be a lot more difficult than he’d anticipated.

  ‘No, thank you, darling, I might be twelve years your senior but not so old I can’t cut up my own food.’

  She laughed, even when he was angry with her the sound still sent waves of desire flooding through him.

  He surprised himself by enjoying the meal, clearing the plate, and the apple crumble and custard that followed was equally acceptable.

  ‘I apologise for my doubts, that was one of the best lunches I’ve had in a long time. Mind you, I’d have preferred a decent glass of claret rather than coffee to wash it down.’

  ‘I’m glad you enjoyed it, I certainly did. I’m sure you noticed that the waiter addressed me as Miss Roby. I still daren’t use my own name in case anybody recognises me. I’m absolutely not going through that a second time.’

  ‘If my wife won’t divorce me and you won’t have your name on the petition then we can’t get married. I love you; don’t you want to be my wife?’

  ‘No, I don’t, I certainly did when we were together but since being apart from you and living here, things have changed. I’m going to join one of the services voluntarily, the WAAF or the WRNS, or I’ll be conscripted into the women’s army or something equally awful next year if I don’t sort out something for myself.’

  She’d no intention of telling him about her real plans, she didn’t trust him not to interfere in some way.

  ‘Are you mad? Conscription for women doesn’t come in until next December. If you agreed to be named in my petition, then I’d be free in a few months and we could be married.’

  ‘Being married wouldn’t stop me being conscripted, Ralph. Women with small children are exempt but I don’t intend to be one of those.’

  ‘Are you telling me that you don’t want children?’ He tried not to sound as horrified as he was but from her expression he failed.

  ‘Not every young woman wants children. Obviously, if I was married to the right person then when the war’s over that would be different. I intend to do my bit, not sit at home doing nothing useful.’

  He dropped his napkin in disgust and stood up. ‘I don’t know you any more, Lucinda, you’re not the lovely young woman I fell in love with and I’m not sure that I want to marry you.’

  She looked at him, not cowed by his harsh words but calm and confident. ‘Excellent, because I’ve already told you that I certainly don’t want to marry you. Meeting you today has just confirmed my decision that having an affair with you was a mistake – I intend to put it in the past and get on with my life.’

  For the first time ever he was speechless. When she smiled at him as if he was a simpleton, he wanted to throttle her.

  ‘Goodbye, Ralph, I’m sorry you had a wasted journey. I really could have told you this in a letter, but I wanted to see you one more time to be sure.’

  ‘I won’t forget this meeting, Miss Somiton, I hope you don’t come to regret treating me so disrespectfully.’

  When he reached the door, by some miracle there was a waiter holding out his garments. He shrugged into his coat, tied the belt, rammed his hat on his head, his gloves on his hands and strode out.

  What he thought had been love for Lucinda had turned in an instant to something else entirely. She wasn’t going to get away with rejecting him, treating him as if he was of no account. If he couldn’t have her then he was going to make sure nobody else would want her. He had powerful friends and intended to use them.

  His lips thinned. His first job would be to ruin her name with those who took on girls for the WRNS or the WAAF. His second would be to ingratiate himself with his wife and persuade her that being reconciled would suit them both. Leone was still young enough to produce a couple more babies and maybe one of them would be a boy.

  No one crossed him and didn’t live to regret it. Lucinda would be no match for him. When her pathetic little life began to fall apart, she’d not know why, not realise he was behind it. He’d sit back and watch the destruction, pleased she’d got her comeuppance.

  11

  Emily and the boys escorted Penny and Doris to the riverside mid-afternoon. It got dark early, and the ferry wouldn’t be running once the shipyard workers were finished for the day. On the way back, Sammy saw Lucinda cross the road in front of them back from wherever she’d been in Colchester.

  ‘Hey, Lucinda, we’ve got everything ready to dress the tree. We’re waiting for you,’ he yelled, causing a baby being pushed past them in a pram to scream and an old lady on a bicycle to veer dangerously towards the hedge.

  Not stopping to apologise, he took off and flew into Lucinda’s waiting arms. Emily smothered her giggle, not wishing to offend the mother or the elderly cyclist, and even George smiled.

  ‘No manners at all, he deserves a good spanking,’ the old lady said loudly.

  ‘I’m sorry, ma’am, he’s just excited to see our cousin who’s been away,’ Emily said.

  The mother had soothed the baby and walked on without comment.

  ‘Let’s run, Emily,’ George said. ‘It’s perishing, or taters, as Doris would say.’

  They raced to the front door and arrived in a heap and a tangle of arms and legs just as it opened. Mummy was holding Grace and the baby screeched and waved her chubby arms about.

  ‘What a lot of noise, you three. Hurry up and come in so I can close the door, the wind’s icy.’

  ‘Sorry, Mummy,’ Emily said, and her brothers echoed her. ‘We’re excited to be doing the tree. Lucinda’s never done this before and it’s Grace’s first time too.’

  ‘Lucinda, as this is your first time decorating the tree, why don’t you put the angel on the top?’ Mummy said later. ‘Grace can do it next year as I’m certain she couldn’t manage it this time.’

  ‘Are you sure? I’d love to but I don’t want to tread on anybody’s toes.’

  George grinned. ‘You’ve done that several times already, so go ahead, we want you to. We’ve all had a turn – Sammy did it last year.’

  With due solemnity, Lucinda stretched up and pushed the angel with the wonky wings on top of the tree. Emily sighed. She was so lucky to be living here surrounded by her family and to have two best friends just across the river.

  ‘I expect you’ve noticed our angel is far from perfect,’ she said. ‘George trod on it when he was little, but we still love it. Putting it up’s a family tradition.’

  ‘We won’t switch on the lights until we’re all here. Is the table laid in the dining room, boys? Daddy will be back at any moment and I like things to be ready for him.’

  Emily headed for the kitchen. Lily had left a Woolton pie, potatoes to roast, carrots and cabbage to boil, ready for tonight’s meal. Pie with no meat wasn’t as tasty as one with rabbit or chicken in it, but a precious onion made into gravy would make the meal tickety-boo.

  The pie and parboiled potatoes went in the hot oven in the range, and she put a saucepan of water on to simmer for the carrots. When they were done, she’d fish them out with a slotted spoon and put the cabbage into the same water but for less time.

  Grandma had taught her how to cook vegetables so they weren’t soft and tasteless. Thinking about her grandma and grandad, and the proposed family visit after Christmas, made her come to a surprising decision.

  She went in search of her mother to put the idea to her – she didn’t want to mention it to her father unless Mummy approved.

  ‘I went to stay with them a few weeks ago and I said my goodbye to Grandad then. I think George and Sammy would be better off without me there; it wouldn’t be fair for me to come again. I’d like to stay here with Lucinda, if that’s something you think acceptable.’

  Emily braced herself for a rebuff but got the opposite. ‘I’m so proud of the young woman you’re turning into, darling girl, your father and I would never have suggested you stay behind but in the circumstances I think it would really make things easier for George.’

  ‘How long will you be staying? I’m perfectly capable of getting myself to school and back if you’re not back when term starts. That’s another thing, I don’t want to miss any more lessons.’

  ‘We can’t stay as long as you did, but will be gone for a week, maybe a day or two longer. The Admiralty surveyor working at Vospers shipyard will manage both whilst we’re away. If we leave the day after Boxing Day, which would be the soonest anyone would bring the car down from London, then we should be back before term starts.’

  ‘It’s going to be strange having everybody together again after almost half the school relocated to somewhere in the country. It was a relief Miss King’s keeping us scholarship girls together, I’m not exactly sure which form we’ll be in, but we won’t be separated as we were originally.’

  Lucinda wandered in with a large box of Liquorice Allsorts and handed them to Emily.

  ‘I promised I’d try and get something for tonight so here you are.’

  ‘Golly, how did you manage to get those? I hope we don’t have to keep them for Christmas, having some tonight would be absolutely super.’ Emily looked hopefully at her mother who laughed.

  ‘Shall we compromise, my darling girl, eat the top row and then put the box away until Christmas Day? That’s only four days away, after all.’

  ‘I need to get back to the kitchen. It’s almost completely dark so I’m sure Daddy will be here at any moment.’

  Lucinda smiled apologetically. ‘I promise I’ll come and help you dish up but I need to speak to Elizabeth first.’

  Emily politely closed the door behind her, knowing it was a grown-up conversation. George and Sammy had completed their task and the dining room looked splendid, the fire crackling in the grate, all the cutlery in the right places for a change.

  ‘We’re going to sort out the Monopoly box, Daddy said we couldn’t play again until we’ve done it,’ George said.

  ‘It wouldn’t be in such a mess if you hadn’t tipped everything on the floor when you lost last time,’ Sammy said.

  ‘I don’t like losing.’

  ‘Nobody does, George, but remember you’re on your last warning. If you do something silly again you won’t be allowed to play with us,’ Emily said.

  His cheeks flushed. She shouldn’t have reprimanded him. He was still a bit overwrought and threatening him had been absolutely the wrong thing to do.

  ‘There’s something I need to tell you. I’m not coming to Kent, I went last time and you had to stay at home, so our parents have decided it wouldn’t be fair if I came again.’

  This wasn’t exactly true, but it did the trick. George relaxed and his colour returned to normal.

  ‘Are you really fed up about that?’

  ‘No, I had my turn and now you and Sammy can see where our father grew up, play with the dogs, spend time with our grandparents.’

  ‘You’re a good egg, Emily, I know it was your suggestion. I don’t deserve to have such a lovely sister,’ George said and his eyes glittered.

  ‘You deserve to have everything wonderful in your life as we all do. Can I tell you something a bit sad and a little bit happy?’ The boys nodded. ‘Grandad will be pleased to see you, but he doesn’t get up now, it’s as if he’s getting ready to go to heaven. Grandma will be sad too, but when he does go, she’ll come back to live with us permanently.’

  ‘Crikey, that’ll be good, Grace will have to stay in the box room if she does come,’ Sammy said.

  ‘Lucinda might well be leaving here in a few weeks if she gets into the ATA. I don’t think she told you she’s hoping to join them and to be collecting and delivering fighter planes for the RAF eventually?’

  This had their full attention. ‘No, she didn’t tell us. What’s the ATA? I don’t think I know anything about it.’

  The boys followed her into the kitchen and sat at the table. She told them what she knew about this association whilst she dashed about doing the final preparations for the meal. Emily was proud that Lucinda could fly an aeroplane and would be doing something so important to help the RAF.

  Ralph wasted no time in setting his plans in motion. Three hours after his disastrous meeting with his erstwhile mistress, he was stepping out of a taxi outside his palatial family home.

  Whatever Leone thought about the matter, she couldn’t stop him living with her – the estate and house belonged to him – if the thousands she’d brought to the union were safely in his hands then he’d not need to ingratiate himself. Her money remained hers, apart from the household expenses which she paid. She was pretty enough, but had no sparkle, no wit, and talked of nothing but the children, fashions and the deprivations she was suffering because of the war.

  The only reason the marriage had lasted as long as it had was because she was content to remain in the country which allowed him to do as he pleased in London. God knows why she’d kicked up such a stink about Lucinda, how she’d even known about this affair was a mystery to him. Someone must have seen them together at a nightclub or a party and rushed off immediately to inform on him.

  His two equally dull daughters, Cynthia and Sybil, would be with their nanny so no danger of them interrupting his conversation with their mother.

  Only visitors entered through the front door, family used the garden door which was where he headed.

  His wife had two little snappy dogs, he loathed them, and they knew that if they got within his reach they’d be unceremoniously kicked aside. This didn’t stop them yapping and barking from the other side of the large entrance hall.

  Leone appeared, her expression uncertain, her smile nervous. ‘Ralph, I didn’t expect you this weekend.’

  ‘I know, I should have telephoned to let you know I was coming. I have had time to think, my dear, and now understand why you did what you did. You made things difficult for me, but I forgive you. I was at fault, I’m hoping we can put things right between us and leave that unfortunate business in the past.’

  He’d hoped she’d look delighted, rush into his arms but she did the reverse and retreated several steps.

  ‘I don’t know, Ralph, a few weeks ago you were demanding a divorce, telling me you loved this Lucinda Somiton and wanted to marry her. You said some horrible things to me.’

  ‘I did, and I apologise for that. Understand, Leone, I am not a man who is used to being thwarted. This girl was no more important to me than the others. If you hadn’t made the matter public the affair would have been over and we could have continued as usual.’

  ‘I’m not sure if that’s supposed to make me feel better or worse, Ralph. I’m not sure that I want to be reconciled, to be forced to live with a serial philanderer who cares nothing for me or our daughters.’

  This was hardly the place to hold such a private conversation and he herded her into the drawing room and closed the door firmly behind them.

  ‘I want to try for a boy, Leone, secure the title and estates for us. When Hugh dies everything comes to us but without a son it will eventually go to some remote second or third cousin.’

  She was listening with more interest now and from nowhere he thought of the clincher. ‘I’ve not been well since the debacle and visited a doctor in Harley Street. He sent me to a cardiac consultant who informed me that I have a rare and complicated heart malformation. I could have a fatal attack at any time.’

  ‘Oh, my word, Ralph, how absolutely dreadful. Have you told Hugh?’

  ‘God, no, I don’t want to worry them. According to the chap I saw I might go on living a perfectly normal life for many years so why tell him? It also means that we’ve got time, if you agree, to have another baby and pray that it might be a boy, not just for my sake but for the family.’

  ‘This is all a dreadful shock, I’m not sure I can go through the heartbreak of you having another affair. I’d rather live as if I was a widow than go through that again. You think you were humiliated, can you imagine how I felt?’

  Ralph stepped in and gathered her close. He stroked her hair, her back, murmured encouragement and loving words and she relaxed against him. She’d always been easy to manipulate, unlike that bitch Lucinda.