‘Our Jake wouldn’t do that,’ Lilian said. ‘He’s always been a good lad.’
‘Well, he did,’ the sergeant told her shortly. He narrowed one eye. ‘You’re certain he hasn’t been here?’
‘Absolutely positive,’ Lilian said, with so much conviction that even Bobby half believed her.
‘Hmm. Any other family in the neighbourhood?’
‘There’s only our father, but he and Jake are estranged so there’s no chance he’d go there,’ Bobby said, significantly overstating the difficulties in her father and Jake’s relationship. ‘He might go to our sister-in-law in Bradford – that’s our other brother Raymond’s wife. He’s fighting in North Africa.’
She was hoping this might get rid of them. If Jake were to turn up while the men were here they would haul him away, still unmarried, and probably lock him up for a few months as punishment. There would be no guarantee he’d make it out in time to legitimise his baby. The sergeant was still eyeing them narrowly, however.
‘All right,’ he said at last. ‘We’ll be going now. But I ought to tell you, madam, that if your brother hasn’t returned to his barracks within seven days of going AWL, it’s likely steps will be taken to have him classified a deserter. That’ll mean a courtmartial and up to two years in the nick. You might pass that on, if he does turn up.’
‘I will. Thank you.’
‘What happens if he does return within seven days?’ Lilian asked.
‘Loss of privileges and maybe a spell in the glasshouse, but nothing more serious.’ The sergeant fixed her with a knowing look. ‘Best thing you can do is persuade him to get back as soon as he can and hope his CO deals lightly with him for a first offence. That’s if you hear from him, of course.’
‘Of course,’ Lilian said sweetly. ‘But I doubt we will. Goodbye, Sergeant.’
The policemen departed, and Bobby leaned against the door.
‘I think he knew we were hiding something,’ Lilian said.
‘I’m sure he did, but he seemed to be telling us he was leaving it in our hands. Is he still out there?’
Lilian went to the window and flicked aside the curtain.
‘No, they’re walking up the road,’ she told Bobby. ‘There’s an army Tilly parked at the top. It looks like they’re really going.’
‘We’d better hope they don’t run into Jake on the way.’ Bobby shook her head. ‘Honestly, wait till he gets back. I’ll bloody kill him!’
‘What could he have been thinking?’
‘I suppose he was hoping to get the wedding over with and back to his camp before they classed him as a deserter.’
‘Wedding? What wedding?’
Bobby sighed. ‘You’d better sit down. There’s been… a development.’
‘Oh, the poor lad,’ Lilian said feelingly when Bobby had filled her in. ‘I suppose the army wouldn’t give him leave so he took matters into his own hands. His CO’s bound to be lenient when he knows the circumstances.’
‘Let’s hope so, but we need to get him married and back there first,’ Bobby said. ‘I hope Charlie was able to arrange it. I really don’t think Jake will go back to his barracks until he’s married. He and Kathleen are worried to death the baby’s going to be born illegitimate.’
‘No wonder you look tired,’ Lilian said, with a concerned look. ‘Tell you what, let me take Kathleen tonight, then you and Charlie can have your bed. We’ve got a spare room, and I’d like to get to know her. I know how scary it is to find yourself in that position.’
‘She might appreciate that. She seems an isolated little soul, with her family all back in Ireland.’
‘How old is she?’
‘Twenty-one, I think, same as Jake. She’s ever so sweet.’
‘Tony’s going out to some Home Guard thing so it’ll be just me, her and Annie. And if our Jake kips on your settee, that keeps things respectable until they’re married, doesn’t it?’
‘If you really wouldn’t mind,’ Bobby said. The idea of having no one in her bed tonight but Charlie was very appealing.
‘Of course not. Let me pick Annie up from Mary and get the nursery room ready, then you can send her over. I’ve not got much food in though.’
