Page 16 of The Stranger in Room Six
The dogs, who’d been sitting by her side hoping for a slither of bacon (there’d been a shortage in London after rationing started) leapt up and ran into the hall.
‘Shhh,’ said Frannie, running after them. ‘You’ll wake the mistress and then there’ll be hell to pay.’
Mabel followed. A woman stood on the doorstep in a large floppy hat and skirt down to her ankles. She was carrying a woven bag and in it were some eggs.
‘Here you are, love,’ she said to Frannie.
‘Thanks, but the missus hasn’t left me any money and I can’t disturb her.’
‘What’s new? You can bring it with you when you come home tonight.’
Then her eye fell on Mabel. ‘Is this the maid then?’
Maid? She wasn’t a servant.
‘That’s her, all right.’
Both spoke as if she wasn’t present.
‘Condolences for your loss.’ The woman took off her hat.
‘My mother isn’t lost,’ said Mabel firmly. ‘Nor is my sister. They’re missing but they’re going to be all right.’
‘Let’s hope so, love.’
Then she glanced back at Frannie. ‘I suppose you’ve been left in charge of her on top of your other duties?’
Frannie nodded. ‘Me and Cook.’
‘That’s something.’ Then the woman turned to Mabel with a friendly smile. ‘We’re making camouflage nets this afternoon if you want to join us.’
‘What are they?’ asked Mabel.
‘Nets to hide buildings from Hitler. The idea is that his devil pilots look down and think it’s just shrubbery or trees. Don’t they have them in London?’
Mabel shook her head.
‘Well I never. Anyway, school starts next week. You’ll like that. You can meet some others your age instead of being all alone here.’ She glanced disapprovingly up at the staircase and the dark forbidding portraits lining the walls. ‘You’ll be our first evacuee in the village. Mind you, I expect there’ll be more before long.’
School? Mabel had never been to school before. She’d had a governess, Miss Butler. Where was she now? She might be standing on their doorstep – or rather the rubble that used to be their doorstep – wondering where they all were. Perhaps Mama and Annabel had turned up there too, dishevelled and confused but still alive. She couldn’t stay here any longer, she had to find them.
‘Where’s the nearest station?’ Mabel asked.
‘Sidmouth,’ the woman replied. ‘It’s a good forty-minute walk from here, though. Why?’
‘I just wondered,’ she said.
‘Right. Well, I’ll be seeing you later, love. Look after the maid.’
‘I’m not actually a maid,’ said Mabel hesitantly.
‘Bless you. It’s what we call girls around here. It’s a term of affection. It can’t be easy moving somewhere new after everything you’ve been through.’
Then she hugged Frannie, and Mabel felt a terrible aching chasm inside her. ‘Is that your mama?’
‘If you mean my mam, yes.’
A wave of jealousy swept over her. Frannie must have sensed it because she surprised Mabel by taking her hand. ‘Come on, let’s go down to the sea. It will make you feel better. It always does.’
