A Wife's War Read online

  Across the room from her, Naomi seemed equally disappointed by the lack of any word. ‘When Mrs Bratton said that you were here, I hoped to learn that you’d seen him.’

  ‘’Fraid not. Although it is partly on Lawrence’s account that I’ve come.’

  Continuing to stare out through the window but listening keenly, Kate heard Naomi shift her position on the sofa.

  ‘Oh? Do explain.’

  ‘Well, you see, I feel I owe you an apology.’

  ‘An apology?’

  Carefully, she, too, sat more upright; this sounded interesting.

  ‘That night last summer – the night of your mother’s party, I behaved… well, I behaved appallingly—’

  ‘Yes, but Aubrey, you’ve already apologized for that—’

  ‘I did offer you an apology, yes – although in truth only because Mamma was standing over me, demanding that I do so. Since then however, being so far away from… loved ones… being over there at the sharp end, so to speak, well, let us just say that it has the effect of magnifying one’s regrets and focusing one’s thoughts upon matters left unresolved. And so, if for no other reason than to put my mind at rest, I should like to apologize, sincerely this time, for the way I behaved. I should also like to say, somewhat belatedly I do concede, how delighted I am that you married Lawrence.’

  Waiting to hear how Naomi would reply, Kate frowned. Mr Aubrey’s apology sounded genuinely made, so, why the niggle of doubt? Was it because, in her experience, men like Aubrey Colborne rarely did anything unless they somehow stood to gain by it? Although, quite how coming all the way down to Woodicombe could be of benefit to him, she couldn’t imagine. In which case, it had to be much as he’d said: being away from home had led him to regret his behaviour, and now he was making amends. Well, good for him.

  ‘Thank you, Aubrey,’ she heard Naomi reply. ‘Let us now consider the matter laid to rest.’

  ‘Most gracious.’

  ‘So, tell me,’ Naomi picked up again a little while later, ‘what plans do you have going forward? How long are you on leave? Of course, tonight—’ In the corner of the room, Kate knew what Naomi was going to say next. ‘—you shall stay here with us. I’m afraid there are few comforts to be had and very little to drink. But there will be a bed and a hot bath.’

  ‘Then I accept your kind offer.’

  ‘Kate—’

  Kate, though, was already on her feet. ‘Yes, ma’am.’

  ‘Would you please make up a guest room? And, while I appreciate that this is rather short notice, please go down and ask Edith to stretch supper to another serving.’

  ‘Yes, ma’am.’

  ‘And it goes without saying that this evening, we shall dine up here.’ Turning back to Aubrey, and by way of explanation, Naomi went on, ‘Whilst I have been here on my own, I have taken to dining with Kate in the staff parlour – much cosier than sitting alone at that vast dining table. Although please, I beg you, not a word to Mamma. No point sending her apoplectic as well.’ Returning her attention to Kate, she continued, ‘Do apologize to Edith for the lack of notice and tell her not to fret too much. We don’t need a banquet. I’m sure Aubrey will be grateful for anything hot and wholesome.’

  ‘Ra-ther.’

  ‘Good. Then that’s settled. You shall sing for your supper though—’

  ‘Oh yes?’

  ‘—by telling me what it’s like in France. And by describing your heroics.’

  ‘I don’t know about heroics. Merely a case of doing one’s duty.’

  ‘Well, you must have been doing something brave to have got shot in the arm!’

  ‘If you say so, my dear lady. If you say so.’

  Slipping from the room, Kate smiled. Unless it was all a very clever act, Mr Aubrey really did seem a reformed character. Perhaps, then, some good had come from this wretched war after all.

  * * *

  Laughter? Goodness, something was making Naomi laugh; that was a pleasing thing to hear. Of late, her manner had been rather subdued – what with Mr Russell being unwell and then having to traipse all the way down here to sort out the purchase of the house for him. Odd, nevertheless, that the thing to lift her spirits should be the surprise arrival of Mr Aubrey – who still hadn’t actually said why he had come.

  It was after breakfast the following morning and, although she had cleared the table around them, Naomi and Aubrey had yet to stir from it.

  ‘If only that was how it worked,’ she overheard Aubrey remarking. ‘The rather sorrier truth of the matter is that we take a few hundred yards of countryside from them, whereupon they launch a raid and recover some of it. We dig in and defend; they take their eye off things; we attack their positions and recover what we lost. Meanwhile, back at HQ, the generals pronounce it a great success, even though all either side has to show for their effort is the ground they started out with.’

  ‘You make it sound like a game of chess,’ Naomi remarked with another light laugh. ‘A rather trying one at that.’

  ‘I’d say that’s about the measure of it – a game of strategy waged in the mud.’

  ‘By the way,’ Naomi said, ‘you still haven’t told me exactly how you came to be shot.’

  Out of their sight, Kate kept quite still. It was something she, too, had been wondering about, it being gratifying to think of there being a hero in the family.

  ‘I haven’t, no,’ Aubrey replied. ‘And I’m afraid I’m not truly at liberty to do so, either. All I can say, is that under orders one day, we were out reconnoitring a position when one of my men heard a noise. Naturally, I went forward to investigate, signalling the men to remain where they were. Next thing I know, there’s a sharp sound like a crack and then a sensation I can only liken to having my lower arm engulfed by flames. Of course, by the time I’d got my wits together, the blighter who’d shot me had fled.’

  ‘Was it a German spy, do you think,’ Naomi asked, ‘creeping about to see what you were up to?’

  ‘My dear lady,’ Aubrey replied, his tone filled with the sort of indulgence one would more normally reserve for a child, ‘you make it all sound so terribly daring, whereas the reality is rather different. But yes, I believe it was indeed a German scout. Coming upon our party, no doubt quite by chance, he probably let off his weapon – more through fear than anything else – before hot-footing it back from whence he came.’

  Unexpectedly, Kate shivered. How awful to think of Germans creeping about, spying upon brave British soldiers. It was an underhand way to carry on. And sly.

  ‘Fortunate, I suppose, that he only caught you in the hand—’

  ‘Just missed my wrist, actually, but yes, those were my very words when they carted me off to the field hospital. Let me do my job, I said. It’s no more than a scratch. But no, when they saw the scale of the wound, they insisted upon sending me back to Blighty. Go home and get yourself fighting fit again, was the order.’

  ‘And does it hurt? Are you still in pain?’ she heard Naomi ask.

  ‘Now and again. But one tries not to grumble. Others suffer far worse. Far worse.’

  Purposely trying not to think about Mr Aubrey’s injury, Kate nevertheless found her mind picturing a bloody wound. What a nasty thing for a man to have happen to him. She could only pray that nothing similar would ever befall Luke. Luke. Oh, how she missed him!

  Across the room, the conversation continued.

  ‘I must remember to tell Lawrence when I next write to him—’

  ‘Well…’

  ‘He’ll be so relieved to learn that you are all right.’

  ‘…actually, I’d really rather you didn’t mention it,’ Aubrey said. ‘If word gets out that I’ve been talking about operations, even just to you, a rather dim view might be taken.’

  Then she, too, Kate found herself thinking, must guard against letting slip what she had just overheard; it would be all too easy to relay such a conversation without thinking of the consequences.

  ‘Oh. Yes. I suppose so,’ N
aomi agreed.

  ‘In fact, it’s probably safest for now that you don’t mention having seen me at all,’ Aubrey went on.

  ‘If you think that would be for the best.’

  ‘I’m afraid I do. Shame and all that – having to keep it a secret – not that I was ever one to brag.’

  ‘I do understand,’ Naomi assured him.

  ‘You know, it’s rather good fortune you were down here,’ Aubrey remarked a moment later. ‘I couldn’t have wished for a finer place to rest up for a day or two.’

  ‘Aubrey, I’m glad to have been able to help out. After all, we’re family now, with all that entails.’

  ‘With all that entails, yes.’

  ‘Besides, I suppose you will be back out there soon – maybe even see Lawrence for yourself,’ Naomi continued.

  Kate listened with interest. Despite the cheering effect Mr Aubrey seemed to be having upon Naomi, she did hope he wouldn’t be staying too long; up until his arrival, she had been looking forward to returning to London.

  ‘Possibly. Although I shan’t know much until I’m called before an assessment board,’ Aubrey replied. ‘Ought to be quite soon now, I should think, which is just as well because this whole business of being on leave has turned into something of a shambles. One finds oneself sent home to recuperate only to discover that an almighty bungle somewhere along the line has left one without pay.’

  Trying to digest what Mr Aubrey had just said, Kate frowned.

  ‘They haven’t paid you?’ she heard Naomi remark. ‘But that’s extraordinary.’

  Unwittingly – and unseen – she nodded her agreement. What a disgraceful thing to have happened.

  ‘It would seem they have temporarily lost track of me,’ Aubrey explained.

  ‘Goodness. Can you not speak to someone?’

  ‘I have. Thus far it has brought no remedy.’

  ‘Then how are you managing for money?’

  ‘Well… that’s just it. I find myself in a bit of a bind.’

  ‘How unforgivable of the army to put you in such a position!’ Naomi remarked.

  ‘I couldn’t agree more.’

  ‘No, truly. It is unforgivable.’

  Equally enraged, Kate held still and continued to listen.

  ‘Look, Naomi, one doesn’t like to ask – Lawrence being away and all that – but I don’t suppose you could find your way to helping a fellow out, could you? One doesn’t need a vast sum – just enough to get one back on one’s feet. I shall of course repay you the moment it’s all sorted. In fact, if you have a telephone—’

  ‘Yes, but of course,’ Naomi was quick to reply. ‘Uncle Sidney only recently had one installed in the study. Telephone from there. And of course I shall help you out. Lawrence would never forgive me if I left you to go penniless. What a dreadful embarrassment for you. Once we’re done here, I’ll go upstairs and fetch my handbag.’

  ‘That’s terribly decent of you. Then I shall telephone forthwith.’

  ‘And perhaps, once you have, you might like to accompany me on a little stroll around the gardens. Considering Mr Channer has been left to cope all on his own, he seems to be doing a splendid job. They’re looking quite lovely.’

  ‘I should be delighted to. And so, if you will excuse me, I shall see if I can place that call.’

  Having sat silently in the corner of the room throughout their exchange, Kate now let out a sigh – in part from relief but also from frustration. How terrible for Mr Aubrey to find himself without money, especially with him having been shot and wounded in the service of king and empire. And how fortunate that, after the events of last summer, Naomi bore him no ill will and was prepared to help him out.

  Perhaps she shouldn’t have been so quick to suspect his motives for turning up after all. She was often told that she was too quick to judge a person. Well, she would think badly of him no more. From now on, given all the poor man had been through, she would go out of her way to be nice to him.

  * * *

  ‘Do you know, Naomi, I do believe the air down here agrees with you.’

  It was the following afternoon – a fresh and blowy one – and, having spotted Naomi and Aubrey returning from taking a stroll, Kate had gone to wait in the hallway in readiness to relieve Naomi of her outdoor jacket and hat.

  ‘You could be right,’ she heard Naomi reply as the couple came in through the porch. ‘The air here is certainly a good deal less filthy than it is in town.’

  ‘Difficult to imagine it being any worse,’ Aubrey remarked, smoothing a hand over his oiled hair. To Kate’s mind, the shorter styling of it suited him. ‘But I rather meant – and please, forgive me if I’m speaking out of turn here – that it appears to be lending you a fetching bloom, a radiance, if you will. And that, I can only attribute to the sea air.’

  When Naomi gave an embarrassed little laugh, Kate guessed she hoped to lead Aubrey away from the more likely reason behind the bloom to her cheeks.

  ‘Did you hear that, Kate? Apparently, I look very well; the sea air suits me.’

  She smiled. ‘For certain it does, ma’am. Mr Aubrey’s not wrong there.’

  ‘Indeed,’ Aubrey Colborne picked up again, ‘is it possible that next time I am on leave, I shall find that you have decamped down here permanently?’

  Accepting Naomi’s hat from her, Kate sincerely hoped not. The more she saw of Woodicombe, the less she wanted to be there any longer than was absolutely necessary. Already she missed the liveliness of London – and the way that no one there knew your business or criticized you for it.

  ‘I think it unlikely,’ Naomi replied to Aubrey’s question, and Kate exhaled with relief. ‘I do like it here; it’s quite lovely. When Papa said he thought he might do Uncle Sidney a favour and buy the place from him, I must confess to being delighted. That said, I don’t believe I’m cut out for a life so far from town. I fear I should miss Selfridges and Liberty’s rather too much.’

  When Aubrey laughed, it was a deep and spontaneous sound that seemed to rumble up from inside of him. ‘Never say never,’ he replied.

  Having divested herself of her outer garments, Naomi met Kate’s grin with raised eyebrows. ‘Shall we take some tea?’ she turned back to Aubrey to enquire.

  ‘Tea would be delightful.’

  ‘Kate, would you—’

  ‘I’ll see to it, ma’am.’

  From then on, Kate noticed that Naomi and Aubrey seemed to adopt a sort of routine. Depending upon the time of day, she would come upon them engaged in some or other pastime, Naomi either concentrating deeply or, just as often, laughing helplessly.

  ‘My dear lady,’ she discovered Mr Aubrey explaining one evening, a game of chess underway in front of them, ‘please desist from calling it the horse. Those pieces are your knights.’

  ‘I know,’ Naomi replied. ‘But to my mind, a horse with no rider is simply a horse. Besides which, what sort of knight would ride his mount this way and that in such indecisive fashion – especially into a battle?’

  ‘A useful one. Remember what I told you?’

  ‘Um…’

  ‘A knight’s unique way of moving means that he is at his most useful when near the centre of the board: a knight on the rim is dim. Yes?’

  ‘If you say so.’

  Then there was the afternoon when she came across the two of them on the terrace, seated together on the bench under the window, Mr Aubrey holding out a book from which they appeared to be reading alternating parts.

  ‘Methinks, mistress, you should have little reason for that. And yet, to say the truth, reason and love keep little company together nowadays.’ For a while, she had remained where she was, able to make next-to-no sense of whatever it was they were reading. ‘Tell me again why I’m playing the part of Bottom,’ Mr Aubrey had broken off to ask.

  ‘Because I am Titania, of course,’ Naomi had replied with a giggle.

  ‘Not because I am the ass…?’

  In an altogether more sombre mood, there was also
their daily study of progress on the front line, as reported in the Telegraph. Indeed, it was through overhearing their discussions in this regard that she came to understand how battles were raging far more widely than just Flanders and France, as she had come to suppose.

  ‘So, Mesopotamia,’ Naomi commented on this particular morning, bending over the newspaper laid out on the table, ‘is where on this map?’

  ‘Here,’ Aubrey pointed out. ‘And this is the Tigris Valley, with Baghdad… there.’

  Witnessing the respect and patience with which Mr Aubrey answered Naomi’s questions, Kate thought him precisely the sort of company for which, in the absence of Mr Lawrence, Naomi had begun to have need.

  After dinner that evening, though, when she peered into the drawing room, it was to find Naomi standing alone, her eyes cast out through the opened-back French doors.

  ‘Kate, come here,’ she greeted her, her voice little more than a whisper. ‘Come and listen.’

  At that moment, from across the lawn floated a refrain of rich and melodious birdsong. Hearing it, she smiled. ‘It’s a nightingale, ma’am.’

  ‘I thought as much. We used to hear them sometimes in the grounds at school. Such a wistful song, isn’t it?’

  ‘It’s wistful because he sings to woo a lady nightingale,’ she replied to Naomi’s observation. ‘The cock birds return from overseas before the hens so as to compete with each other for the best nesting places. Then, when the females do return, the cock birds must sing their hearts out in the hope of winning one of them as a mate.’

  Briefly they remained motionless, each hoping for the singing to resume, their patience rewarded when into the stillness came another rapid succession of notes: some reminiscent of a man’s whistle, some more suggestive of a flute; some vigorous, some soft, some almost pleading. Gradually, the lament built to a crescendo before, without warning, coming abruptly to a halt.

  ‘Bravo,’ Naomi whispered into the velvety silence that followed, her hands clasped in front of her. ‘How I wish Lawrence could have been here to hear it.’