Page 5 of Neighbors at War

‘I hadn’t expected to be stuck here but my appendix decided to almost rupture just before I was supposed to leave. So, to my eternal frustration, I was recuperating in hospital after an appendectomy, knowing my contemporaries from college were proudly serving our country while I was stuck at a desk doing nothing useful.’

So that’s why he’s still on the island, she thought, sad that he had missed out on doing as he had hoped. She began to try and reassure him, but he closed his eyes and shook his head. Opening them again, he gave her a gentle smile.

‘Ignore me. I forgot myself for a moment.’

‘It’s fine.’

‘No. I mean it, Peggy. I get resentful sometimes. If I had left when I expected I would never have met you.’ He smiled and took her into his arms, pressing his lips softly against hers before pulling away. ‘Sometimes fate has plans for us we don’t see coming.’

Wasn’t that the truth, she mused.

Chapter Three

HELEN

Helen stood at the entrance of the large house with its stone pillars topped with griffins on each side and waited for the soldier on duty to come out, check her papers and let her enter the property. Looking up at the imposing stone house, she knew she should be grateful for her job. And she was – she would just rather not have to work so close to Nazi officers.

A grumpy-looking sentry walked up to her, and Helen waited silently as he inspected her Occupation Identity card, before opening the metal gates further to allow her into the grounds.

‘Is everything all right?’ Mrs Jeune, the cook, asked as Helen entered the large kitchen at the back of the building, having made her way along the labyrinth of corridors to get there.

‘It’s fine.’

‘Your aunt any better today?’

Ordinarily Helen wouldn’t have shared her aunt’s personal information, but the cook and Aunt Sylvia were friends, and Helen liked Mrs Jeune despite her stern ways.

‘Not really,’ she admitted miserably. She removed her coat and hat, walked through to the small room next door to hang them up and collect a clean apron. She slipped the apron straps over her head and returned to the kitchen, tying them behind her back. ‘She’s a bit worse, to be honest, but she has finally been to see a doctor.’

Cook focused on turning over a large joint of meat, basted it, replaced it on the metal tray it was lying in and put it back into the enormous stove. ‘That’s good news. I’m sure Sylvia will do what she thinks best in the end.’

Helen wasn’t sure what she meant but knew Cook didn’t like to be questioned so said nothing. ‘Where would you like me to start?’ she asked, aware Cook expected everyone to help ensure all the meals were served on time.

‘Dulcie’s in the scullery. See if she needs any help then come back here and start cutting up the mushrooms and tomatoes for their breakfast.’

‘Good morning, Dulcie,’ Helen said, smiling at the slim girl. Dulcie was sixteen, three years younger than Helen, but she appeared older – perhaps, Helen guessed, because she had a difficult life. The girl could be tetchy at times and had taken a few months to get used to Helen working there, but mostly she was kind and Helen always liked to help her whenever she could.

‘Morning.’

The sulky reply wasn’t unexpected, and Helen went to stand next to her. ‘Cook thought I might be able to help you with a few things.’

Dulcie cocked her head to one side to indicate several pans drying on the draining board. Helen picked up a tea-towel and one of the pans, then noticed Dulcie glance at the doorway and put a wet finger up to her lips. ‘Cook was called in earlier to prepare something for a load of ’em. They’ve been ’ere most of the night chatting about something,’ she whispered.

Helen frowned. ‘Poor thing.’ She knew Cook already worked long hours, without being made to come in any earlier. She was always there when Helen arrived, and when she left. Helen wondered how she kept going. ‘She can’t have much time at home.’

They heard the kitchen door open and the sound of Mrs Edwards’ heeled shoes upon the tiled floor. The housekeeper was insistent on everything she overlooked being impeccable. Helen liked her, but sometimes found the woman’s high standards a little difficult to keep up with.

She finished wiping the final pan and set it down on the side. ‘I’d better get out there and start that chopping.’

‘Ah, there you are, Helen,’ Mrs Edwards said, when Helen entered the kitchen. ‘You and Dulcie will be serving lunch today.’

Dulcie? Helen was used to occasionally having to wait on the officers with other girls, but never with Dulcie. She knew without seeing her face that she would be horrified to hear this.

‘What about the other girls who serve in the dining room?’ As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she knew she should have kept her thoughts to herself. Mrs Edwards’ frowned. ‘That is to say… ’

Mrs Edwards’ gaze fell on her and then she turned to Cook and gave her a pointed look before addressing Helen. ‘Since you seem so curious, dear. Marie and Jeanette are both unwell and won’t be returning until tomorrow or the next day.’

Helen hated to think she had upset the woman who had given her work. ‘I’m sorry for speaking out of turn, Mrs Edwards. It won’t happen again.’