‘I wish I knew that to be the case.’ He summoned a shaky smile for her. ‘You see, it is not only Tadeusz who wrestles a guilty conscience.’
‘While the squadron leader who sent you up there drinks brandy and cocoa in bed, no doubt,’ Bobby said, scowling. ‘I wish you’d reconsider making a report against him.’
‘I wish to rejoin the fight, Bobby. I wish to free my country from the Nazi tyrants. I do not want, to borrow an English expression, to be rocking any boats. If I was an Englishman and a Christian by birth it would be different. Perhaps I would be listened to and my complaint taken seriously. But this, I’m afraid to say, is not the case.’
They were interrupted at that moment by the matron, who came over and clapped her hands at Bobby.
‘Now, Miss, you ought to be long gone,’ she said, tutting. ‘An hour, I said. You must have been here an hour and a half already. The sergeant here needs his sleep just as much as his comrade, even if he is in better shape.’
‘Oh, pfft. Nonsense, Matron,’ Piotr said, flicking a hand. ‘I feel fit enough for the Olympics. I could take a gold medal from Jesse Owens this afternoon, if you would only give me some running shoes.’
‘Fit enough you may feel, my lad, but now you’re going to take your medicine and have a rest before Cook brings in the evening meal. Say goodbye to your friend.’
‘Goodbye, Bobby.’ Piotr shook her hand. ‘You will come again? Next time we will talk of more pleasant things, I promise. Perhaps you may bring me your magazine to read. I should like to see what it is that you write.’
Bobby smiled. ‘I’d like that. Thank you, Piotr. I’d love to come again.’
‘And do not forget your promise,’ he said, jovial once more as he waved farewell. ‘When I am well enough to be at home, you will come to visit and meet Jolka and Tommy. The doctors say it may be less than six weeks until I can leave. And then we shall all be as jolly as if the war was already won, yes?’
‘I’m looking forward to it very much.’ And she was surprised to find, after the depression she’d been languishing in since Charlie’s departure, that this was true.
Chapter 32
‘What are you up to?’ Bobby’s dad asked her when he came back from a Sunday morning out to find her sitting in the parlour at Cow House Cottage, writing in her notebook. ‘Writing your life story?’
‘No, I’m writing a draft of that article Reg sent me over to Sumner House for,’ she said without looking up. ‘The one about the crash.’
He started unbuttoning his coat. ‘You’re not working on a Sunday, lass?’
She shrugged. ‘There’s precious little else to do. It’s too hot to be out in the sun for very long. At least it’s cool in here.’
‘You’ve been spending far too much of your time working since that Charlie Atherton went to war.’
She smiled. ‘I seem to recall that before he went to war, you were always lecturing me about spending far too much of my time with that Charlie Atherton.’
‘Still, you know what they say about all work and no play.’
‘You’ve been working on a Sunday too, haven’t you?’ She nodded to his shoulders. ‘I take it you haven’t suddenly developed a hunchback.’
He shrugged off his coat and dislodged a dead hare that had been draped across his back. ‘A man’s family needs to be fed, even on the Lord’s day.’
‘You’d have been better off coming to church with me and the girls than going out poaching.’
‘You’re making a right old habit of that these days, aren’t you?’
‘The Parrys ought to have someone take them to St Peter’s, since they’re not rightly Methodists. Besides, I feel like I need it these days. You know, since…’
‘Since your young man left.’ He sighed. ‘I suppose I should’ve kept it up, after your mam died. I was angry, I reckon, when we lost her. Didn’t have much to say to Him upstairs. Happen I’ll come along with you next week.’
She nodded to the hare swinging from his fist. ‘To confess your sins?’
‘Nay, it’s no sin to keep your kith and kin fed. It’s a man’s job. He’ll take my part on Judgement Day, lass, don’t you worry.’ He took the hare through to the kitchen to string it up in the pantry, then came back and took a seat by her. ‘Why’s Reg working you on a Sunday this time then?’
‘He isn’t. I started it of my own accord.’
‘What for?’
She shrugged. ‘Keeps me from brooding. Besides, we’ll have little peace around here after Captain Parry arrives this afternoon. I should probably take advantage of the quiet.’
