Always in My Heart (35 page)

Sarah rolled over onto her other side and snuggled beneath the lovely soft blanket. She’d forgotten how comfortable a real bed was after so many weeks of sleeping on a lumpy mattress in the bowels of a ship, and she revelled in the downy pillow and the reassuring weight of the eiderdown. Beach View Boarding House might be a bit run-down and shabby, and not at all what she was used to – but no one could deny that the atmosphere was homely.

Great Aunt Cordelia had been a revelation after encountering her sister Amelia, and it was obvious that she’d been overjoyed to see them. She was a sweet old dear, and Sarah could see that Jane had taken to
her just as much as she had. It would be fun to have a grandmother-figure at last, for she’d never met Sybil’s parents, who lived in Western Australia, and had been born long after Jock’s mother had died. She closed her eyes and thought about their first day at Beach View.

Lunch had consisted of boiled egg sandwiches and plenty of tea, and once their hunger was sated, they’d been properly introduced to Flora and Dora. Jane had taken an instant liking to them, but Sarah wasn’t at all sure she trusted them not to bite. Having never had a dog before, they were both a bit wary of the over-excitable, bouncing Harvey. However, he seemed to like his tummy being rubbed and as long as he didn’t try to lick her face, Sarah rather took a shine to him, and to scruffy old Ron, who clearly adored his animals despite calling them ‘eejit, heathen beasts’. She smiled at the memory and let her thoughts wander to the rest of the day.

They had returned to the kitchen after meeting the ferrets, and had settled down with Cordelia to look through her box of treasures. It had been interesting to see the old photographs and hear about their grandfather’s family, even though Cordelia couldn’t really remember much about Charles – and she and Jane had been happy to fill in the blanks for her and talk about their life in Malaya. But the memories of home were still so raw that it had proved quite hard not to break down and cry – and Cordelia had seemed to understand this, for she’d swiftly changed the subject and asked them about their journey on the
Monarch
.

And then the other girls had come home and the mood had lightened considerably as Fran regaled them with stories of dances and parties, and Rita told them about her motorbike and what fun it was to drive a fire engine when she wasn’t involved in the dirt-track races she organised. Then Suzy had told them of the time they’d painted their legs with cold tea and drawn a pencil line down them so it looked as if they were wearing nylons.

There had been some teasing chatter over a delicious supper of stew and potatoes – mainly aimed at Suzy and her boyfriend Anthony, who was Peggy’s nephew. Fran had then treated them all to a hilarious parody of Anthony’s mother, with only a nod of apology to Peggy, who didn’t seem to mind at all that her sister was being made fun of.

Sarah smiled into the pillow. The three girls were all very different, but had certainly made Sarah and Jane welcome. If it had been Malaya there would have been whispers behind hands, watchful eyes and probing questions into their father’s profession and their mother’s pedigree before they were accepted – or rejected as ‘not quite the thing’. It was the one aspect of Malaya and Singapore that Sarah had found abhorrent. Not being the daughter of an Army bigwig or a wealthy, well-connected businessman or government official meant she’d never been accepted as one of the social elite. Not that she’d wanted to be. She couldn’t stand the cattiness and the snobbery of it all, and preferred to be amongst people who didn’t put on airs and graces.

These girls were friendly and jolly and seemed to accept them without reservation – and it was marvellous that Suzy had a similar background and could relate to so much of their lives in Malaya. She and Suzy had taken an instant liking to one another, and as they chatted and laughed together, Sarah had begun to feel a little easier about fitting in.

Her thoughts turned to home and Philip as she pressed her engagement ring to her lips and silently sent up a prayer for his and her parents’ safety. She was about to embark on a new life in a different sort of world, and she could only keep faith that they too had found some sort of sanctuary.

Breakfast was a noisy, bustling affair with Harvey trying to beg scraps as Ron slurped his tea, Daisy yelled for her breakfast, and the other girls raced about getting ready to go on duty. Sarah eyed them enviously, for they had a routine – somewhere to go and something important to do in the battle to win this awful war.

Peggy seemed to notice this and patted her hand. ‘We have a lot to do today,’ she said, ‘and you’ll be rushing about soon enough, so I’d take it easy while you can.’

‘But what sort of jobs can we do, Peggy?’ asked Jane as she scraped the merest hint of the horrid margarine on her brown toast. ‘Sarah will be all right – she can type and run an office – but Mummy and Daddy said I was too young to give up my schooling just yet.’

Sarah looked at her sister in surprise, for it was clear she’d also been worrying about the part she would have to play in this new chapter of their lives.

‘I’m sure there are lots of things you can do,’ said Peggy. ‘What do you like best?’

‘Sums, figures, puzzles, that sort of thing,’ Jane said vaguely. ‘I used to be very good at riding and looking after horses, but Mummy and Daddy wouldn’t let me ride again after my accident. But my writing’s getting better, so perhaps I could learn to type or something.’

‘And what accident was that, Jane?’ asked Cordelia quietly from the other side of the table.

‘I fell off my horse and she kicked me in the head by mistake,’ said Jane matter-of-factly. ‘But I don’t have headaches any more and things are a lot clearer in my mind than before, so I think the doctors were wrong, and I’m getting better.’

‘You’ve certainly proved that over the past couple of months,’ said Sarah into the awkward silence. ‘I think it’s done you good to get out of the schoolroom and have a taste of real life for a change.’ She smiled at her sister. ‘I’m sure there are lots of things you could do, Jane. Don’t worry about it.’

Peggy had finished feeding Daisy and was now bathing her in the kitchen sink, where every kick and splash sent water flying as she gurgled in delight. ‘If you like doing sums and things, I’m sure someone will be only too delighted to take you on,’ she said as she wrestled Daisy out of the sink and wrapped her in a soft warm towel. ‘What with so many men being called
up, banks, post offices, small business and accountancy firms must be crying out for help.’

Jane’s eyes widened in delight. ‘Do you really think so?’

‘I don’t see why not. I’m not much good at that sort of thing myself,’ Peggy admitted, ‘but my nephew Anthony could certainly give you a few tests to see what you can do. He taught maths and physics at the local private school for boys. He got a double first at Oxford, so we’re all very proud of him. If he agrees, he might write you a reference, which would help no end.’

‘Would he?’ Jane’s eyes sparkled. ‘That would be fun. When can I see him to do the tests?’

‘Anthony is a busy man, but he’s coming to pick Suzy up tonight, so we’ll ask him then. I’m sure he won’t mind taking half an hour out of his evening – they’re only going for a drink.’

Sarah saw the excitement in her sister’s face and silently blessed Peggy for her kindness. There was little doubt that Jane would shine in the tests, and with a good reference, she would find it much easier to get the sort of work she’d feel comfortable with.

Peggy was unaware of the goodwill radiating from both girls as she swiftly put a clean nappy on Daisy and then dumped her in Jane’s lap. ‘Finish drying her off and then get her dressed for me, while I clean up this mess and have a cup of tea. Her fresh clothes are on the sideboard.’

Sarah watched in trepidation as Jane cuddled the
baby and carefully dried all the little creases around her arms and legs, talking all the while and smiling down at her as she slowly pulled on the tiny cotton vest and grappled with the knitted leggings and cardigan. Jane was proving to be quite expert at handling babies, and Sarah breathed a sigh of relief.

‘You seem to know what you’re doing,’ said Cordelia with a smile of approval.

‘I had lots of dolls to play with,’ said Jane, ‘and I’ve always loved babies.’ Her bright smile faded. ‘I was so looking forward to Mummy’s baby, but I suppose it could be a long, long time before I get to see it now.’

‘Oh,’ said Cordelia, her little face clouded with concern. ‘I didn’t realise your mother was expecting. How very worrying for you all.’

‘Well, you can look after Daisy for me until we can find you something more interesting to do,’ said Peggy firmly. At Jane’s wide-eyed pleasure, she grinned. ‘She’s not always that easy to deal with,’ she warned. ‘She has a bit of a wilful way about her, and can cry loud enough to drown out the air-raid sirens when she’s unhappy about things.’

Jane cuddled Daisy and kissed the dark curls. ‘I’m sure she’s absolutely perfect all the time,’ she murmured.

‘Shows how much you know about babies,’ said Peggy and laughed. ‘Come on, we have a lot to do today and time is wasting.’ She finished clearing the table and put everything on the draining board. ‘We’ll do that when we get back.’

‘Ron and I will do it,’ said Cordelia. ‘You see to my girls – that’s the important thing.’

Sarah gathered their coats, handbags and gas-mask boxes together while Jane carefully tucked Daisy into the pram. Once everyone was ready and they’d kissed Cordelia goodbye, she helped Jane get the pram down the front steps.

‘Can I push the pram?’ asked Jane.

‘Be my guest,’ said Peggy as she pulled on her gloves.

Sarah walked beside Peggy as Jane proudly pushed the pram along the pavement, and when she caught the older woman’s eye, she smiled her silent gratitude. Jane was feeling useful – probably for the first time in her young life – and the happiness that brought was worth a fortune.

They were introduced to Fred the Fishmonger and Alf the butcher, and then to Ray the ironmonger, whose shop was a treasure trove of all sorts of weird and wonderful things they would have loved to rifle through and explore. But they weren’t allowed to linger, for Peggy had warned that the Labour Exchange and Billeting Office got very busy early on, and if they didn’t want to spend most of the day sitting about, they needed to get there as it opened.

Sarah was amazed by the length of the queue already waiting outside the Labour Exchange, and it was at least an hour before it was their turn to be seen and Peggy could register them for their ration books and clothing coupons. There were lots of forms
to fill in, and this took another half an hour.

The Billeting Office was even worse, and they spent two hours sitting about waiting until they had more forms to fill in. Finally Peggy was given the official document so she could claim her allowance from the Government, and they left the musty-smelling office with a sigh of relief, and headed further down the High Street to the bank.

Sarah explained to the woman behind the counter why she was there, and within minutes the manager, Mr Duffy, came out to greet them. Peggy stayed with the pram while they went into his office and sat down in leather chairs.

Mr Duffy was a rather pompous, portly man of late middle-age who peered at them through such thick-lensed spectacles that his pale blue eyes were magnified to an almost alarming degree. ‘I did receive your father’s telegram, and the notification from his bank in Singapore,’ he said as he steepled his fingers beneath his double chin. ‘Unfortunately no funds were able to be transferred before the fall of Singapore, and until the situation has been resolved with the Japanese, there can be no further transactions.’

‘So there’s no money,’ said Jane flatly.

‘I didn’t say that,’ he replied. He pulled a folder towards him and opened it. ‘Your grandfather opened this account many years ago for your father, and there are some funds in the account, which have gathered interest over the years. But it is hardly a fortune.’

‘How much is there?’ asked Sarah.

‘A little over five hundred pounds,’ he replied, pushing the statement towards them.

‘But that’s a lot of money,’ breathed Jane.

‘Not if we’re stuck here for several years,’ replied Sarah, trying hard to swallow her disappointment. She pushed the statement back across the desk and opened her handbag to fish out the precious envelope her father had given her the night before they’d left Singapore. ‘I have over five thousand Malay dollars here,’ she said. ‘Is it possible to exchange them for English pounds?’

‘I’m afraid not,’ he replied, his expression rather mournful. ‘You see, the Japanese have brought in a new currency, and the Malay dollar is no longer viable.’

‘But apart from two five pound notes, it’s all the money we have,’ gasped Sarah. ‘Father gave it to me only two months ago. Surely you could exchange it for sterling after all the years our family has had an account with you?’

His expression was implacable. ‘I’m very sorry, Miss Fuller, but I am not authorised to deal in untradeable currency.’

Sarah battled to keep the tears from falling as she shoved the envelope of useless money back into her handbag and closed it with a snap. He didn’t look a bit sorry, and she was damned if she was going to let him see how upset she was.

‘I could arrange for you to have a small loan,’ he said. ‘The bank is always willing to lend to our loyal customers, and the interest rate is quite good at the moment.’

‘I don’t think that would be a sensible idea at all,’ she muttered as she got to her feet. ‘Good morning, Mr Duffy,’ she said stiffly as she was forced to shake the rather unpleasantly damp, limp hand.

Without waiting to see if Jane was following, she wiped her hand down her coat and marched out of the horrible little man’s office, straight past a startled Peggy and out onto the pavement. She was so angry and upset that she lit up a cigarette and puffed furiously on it, not caring that her mother would have been appalled at her doing such a thing in the street.

‘Jane told me what happened,’ said Peggy as she came to console her. ‘Never mind, you’ll have enough to keep you going until you can get a job.’