‘I rather thought you might know …’
‘Not a thing.’Then in response to Honor’s silence, ‘Truly, nothing.I left at dawn and he was perfectly alright then.’
‘Well, it seems there are enough of his things missing – his shaving brush and razor, cufflinks Fritzi had given him – that it seems likely he has gone, rather than that an accident has befallen him.So Fritzi says he will go back to Cambridge, and that perhaps Albert will arrive there.Keeps saying,He is not a servant, he is free to come and go, but not at all as though he believes it.’
‘And you don’t think we should wait and see …?’
‘See what?He’s not afriend, Doris.Just a sort of companion.Whatever Fritzi may say.Whatever you might say.’
‘I?I say nothing.’
‘Perhaps he is the type who needs to let off steam from time to time,’ Honor said.‘The way young men do … Honestly, darling, I don’t care at all about Albert.’She came closer.‘But I fear this means something bad for you.You don’t know what he knows about you, or suspects of you, and who he might say it to.That’s also why I want to go to London.So you can meet whoever it is you meet, and tell them.But you shouldn’t go back to Berlin, Doris.I’m certain about that.’
‘We’ll see,’ Doris said.‘If I must, I must.And anyway, I must go and collect the rest of my things.And Hannah’s violin.I cannot leave that.’Then, ‘Last night … have you really made up your mind?About leaving Chips?’
‘I have, although I won’t do it straight away.’Honor was silent for a minute.She looked out at the misty grey garden.‘You’d never think that only yesterday we were huddled in the shade, complaining at how hot it was.How quickly and thoroughly yesterday is scrubbed away.’
‘What changed your mind?’
‘Who, actually; not what.Rose.’
‘Rose?’
‘Yes, by being all dutiful and patiently wifely …’ She laughed.‘Nothing could have shown me what I do not want more clearly than that.But also Maureen.Looking at her last night, with Duff.The way she played the piano because he asked her, when Maureen hates to do anything she doesn’t do well and won’t ever do anything anyone asks, unless she makes them beg.And yet she got up and did it without any fuss at all.They argue so viciously that it’s terrifying.And yet, when they make up … There is something rather splendid about it.I think I should have a chance to know what that’s like.’
From downstairs they heard the sound of Chips talking to Andrews: ‘… I will go up after lunch, you may follow with the luggage later.’He was excited, his voice loud and busy.Doris leaned a little closer in to Honor and said, ‘Nero green,’ in a whisper.Which made them both laugh so hard it was another minute before Honor said, ‘I suppose I’d better start to pack.’
Crossing to her room, Doris met Maureen.She was humming under her breath, the Bach concerto she had played the night before.
‘You look pleased,’ Doris said.
‘Oh, I am,’ Maureen assured her.‘What a jolly few days it has been.’
‘Has it?I’m not sure anyone else agrees.’
‘Duff does.’She smiled lazily.‘Now, anyway.And I don’t need anyone else to agree.’
Chips came along the hallway towards them.‘There is something missing from the drawing room,’ he said irritably as he bustled past.‘A glass stork.Murano.Rather valuable.Andrews has just told me.He thinks it was the maid, but I am certain Elizabeth has taken it.I shall have to confront her, otherwise Andrews will certainly sack that girl.’He was moving on when Maureen, having stared at his back for a long moment, called after him.
‘You might as well know, I broke that stork.So you needn’t go confronting or sacking anyone.’
‘You?’Chips stopped and turned.‘Why didn’t you say anything?’
‘I’m saying it now, am I not?Frightfully silly little thing anyway, with those long blue legs.Just waiting to be broken.’And she carried on down the hallway, still humming Bach.
Doris shut the door behind her.She hadn’t touched a thing but already her room looked different.Withdrawn.She began piling clothes neatly into her case.It didn’t take her long.
She looked out the window.The Kennedys’ motorcar – long and low – had been brought around and Rose and Kick stood beside it.Kick wore the same jersey and skirt she’d had on that morning, but Rose had changed into a pink linen suit.Duff lounged in the doorway, smoking.As Doris watched, he dropped his cigarette onto the gravel, ground it out with the toe of his shoe and crossed to the Kennedys.He shook hands solemnly with both, saying something to Rose that made her smile.Behind him, one of the footmen bent and picked up his cigarette butt.
Fritzi stood to the left of the front door, alone.Undecided.He started to make a move towards the Kennedys but stopped when he saw Duff reach them.He hovered, his indecision plain to Doris watching from the window.The ambassador and Chips came out then, and together they walked past him.Chips’ hands were moving excitably and Doris was certain that, should she pull up the window, she would hear the words ‘…new Rolls…’
Fritzi made as though to follow them but again he stopped.Stayed where he was, ignored by the group around the motorcar.What was it Duff had said?Things have changed…
Brigid came around the side of the house then with a basket of cut flowers.She looked at the Kennedys but went to Fritzi and took hold of his arm, giving it a little shake.She said something to him that made him laugh.He took the basket from her and brought it towards the front door while she went to say goodbye to the Kennedys.He moved more easily now.With relief, Doris thought.The relief of someone who has been given something to do.
One Year Later
1939
