Page 90 of The Stranger in Room Six
‘No,’ corrected Olive. ‘That’s a very intelligent question. At some point in your labour, you’ll need to push but not until the midwife tells you to.’
‘Don’t worry her,’ said Beryl, who had stopped laughing.
‘I’m not. Am I, Mabel?’
Actually, she was, but Mabel didn’t want to say so. ‘I feel a bit tired now. Is it all right if I lie down?’
‘Of course, love. Off you go.’
But as she went upstairs, she heard them fretting. ‘I know you’re trying to sound calm in front of Mabel,’ Beryl said, ‘but I can see you’re terrified.’
‘I just keep thinking of Kitty.’
‘This is different. You won’t be delivering the baby.’
‘Because I’m no good as a midwife?’
‘I didn’t say that.’
‘But it’s true, isn’t it?’
Mabel’s letter to Antonio was brief that night.
I am terrified about giving birth. What if it all goes wrong? Please answer or come and find me. My address is at the top of the letter. Dearest Antonio. Don’t abandon me. Ask the commander for compassionate leave. I need you. I have a bad feeling about this.
The Stranger in Room Six
So little old Mabel got pregnant by the enemy! A teenager and not married, either. It couldn’t get much worse in those days.
This complicates matters, I have to say. No one mentioned a child. What if they’re behind all of this? Grown up and causing havoc?
Luckily, that’s not my problem. All I have to do is pass on the information.
‘You did well,’ I tell Belinda.
She looks uneasy. ‘I don’t like betraying her confidences,’ she says. ‘I’ve given you enough, haven’t I? I want to stop now.’
I shoot her one of my ‘don’t you dare’ looks. ‘But you can’t, can you, Lady Belinda? You’re in too deep. Besides, we still need to find this list of names. Like I said, this is a matter of national security.’
She sets her chin in the way she used to in prison. ‘But it isn’t, is it? Otherwise, they wouldn’t be employing someone like you. I think you’re working for someone else. Someone shady. The question is, who? And why do they care about this list of names? What has it got to do with Mabel?’
‘You’re asking too many questions.’
‘I just want to know the truth, Mouse.’
‘Oh dear, Lady B. Do I need to teach you a lesson?’
Then, before she can answer, I raise my crutch and whack it into her left shin.
59
Belinda
The next day I return from A & E at the local hospital after being X-rayed and bandaged up. Almost immediately, I am called to Mabel’s room. ‘Where have you been?’ she demands petulantly. ‘I had another carer today who couldn’t be bothered to chat.’
‘I hurt my leg,’ I say. ‘Luckily, it isn’t broken.’
‘How did you do that?’
