Page 99 of The Stranger in Room Six
‘Yes. After the war, some people on that list were tried and brought to justice.’ I decide not to repeat what Mouse said about certain traitors being quietly stabbed in a back alley.
She shudders. ‘How horrible.’
Now for the tricky bit. ‘Did your aunt or the Colonel ever say anything about a list?’
‘No,’ she says firmly.
‘So you don’t have it in your possession?’
‘Belinda!’ She laughs out loud. ‘Whatever makes you think that?’
‘I just wondered,’ I say, my hopes plummeting.
‘Mind you,’ she says, ‘there are plenty of other stories I can tell you about the war that might help your research.’
I sit forward in the hope she lets something slip. It’s not that I think she’s lying about the list but maybe she has it without knowing. Mouse’s boss seems certain it was in the family, at least at some point.
A bell rings suddenly, signalling the staff meeting. ‘I’m sorry but I have to go now. We’ll chat more tomorrow.’
She clutches my arm. ‘Please don’t.’
‘I have to, Mabel.’
‘Come back tomorrow,’ she says imperiously. ‘I want you to take me to the stables where I used to ride Foam. We can talk there. How I loved burying my face in his mane and telling him all my secrets. In fact, I’d tell them to you now if you weren’t going.’
Is she playing me? She can’t know I’m being blackmailed, surely? Hopefully she’s just trying to persuade me to play more of this ‘I’ll tell you my secrets if you tell me yours’ game.
Still, I can’t help but worry that Mouse really will hurt Mabel.It’s not just that I’ve already got enough blood on my conscience. It’s because I genuinely care for this courageous little old lady.
The following morning, I wheel her down to the stables and she begins.
Part Four
68
Mabel
1943
The leaves in the Morrab Gardens were turning burnished gold. Slowly they began to fall, one by one. ‘It’s nearly your time,’ said the midwife when she came to the cottage to examine her.
Mabel was now far too big to fit into her normal clothes. The sisters found her some loose-fitting smock dresses.
‘I made them myself for …’ said Olive, trailing off.
But Mabel guessed. ‘You made them for Kitty,’ she said, giving her a comforting hug.
Olive patted her hand. ‘I know we haven’t talked about what’ll happen after your baby’s born. But I hope you know that you are always welcome to stay here.’
‘Yes,’ chirped Beryl. ‘In fact, I’m going to stay on even longer to have more time with my sister. We’ll both be able to help when the baby comes.’
‘Thank you for being so kind. Aunt Clarissa said we’d decide what to do when the time comes but nothing has been arranged.’
Then she gasped, realizing what she’d just said.
‘She’s youraunt?’ The two sisters stared at her. ‘I did wonder why Lady Clarissa was so generous,’ said Beryl slowly.
Mabel burst into tears; the relief of finally being able to be honest was overwhelming. ‘I’m worried she might try totake my baby away because she doesn’t want anyone in the village to know about it.’
