Dorothy’s worst fears were confirmed when she heard thudding sounds from inside the building, followed by screams of pain.
Tears flowed down her cheeks as she was dragged back to her cell and away from Dr Archie for the last time.
CHAPTER 25
Singapore
Thursday 4th April, 2019
Annabel was so engrossed in her grandmother’s story that she didn’t hear James come into the room.
‘How are you getting on?’ he stage whispered, setting down a tray on the table in front of her.
Annabel started, as if woken from a trance. ‘Gosh, sorry, I was miles away!’ She put the papers down on the table, careful to keep them in the right order. ‘Oh lovely, thanks,’ she added as James poured her a glass of chilled white wine.
‘No problem.’ He smiled. He poured his own glass, took a handful of crisps from the plate on the tray and settled in the armchair opposite. ‘So, what have you found out so far?’
‘It’s quite a story,’ she sighed. She took a long sip of wine. ‘You’re not going to believe it, but Dotty was a POW! Her evacuation ship was bombed by the Japanese and she ended up in Changi Jail.’
James stared at her, his mouth dropping open in surprise. ‘And she never said anything about it? Wow, that is quite a turn-up for the books!’
‘But that’s not all. She wasn’t on her own in there.’ Annabel paused and reached forward for some crisps.
James gave a snort. ‘Well no, of course she wasn’t – that place was absolutely packed to the rafters! Totally overcrowded and completely unsanitary. Hundreds died, you know. It’s a wonder that your grandmother made it out alive!’
‘Yes, I know,’ Annabel agreed, then took another sip of wine. ‘But what I meant was she had company. James, she had a baby in there with her.’
He raised his eyebrows at this. ‘A baby? Whose baby? I thought you said she couldn’t have children?’
Annabel took a deep breath to steady herself. ‘Well, brace yourself. It turns out that the baby was my father, Noel,’ she said. Hearing it out loud brought the harsh reality sharply into focus. ‘And there’s more.’ She gave a sad smile. ‘My father wasn’t Dotty’s son. He was the illegitimate son of Douglas Llewellyn and his mistress, an Italian woman called Maria Pemberton, née da Costa.’
James’s mouth formed a perfect O and he was momentarily shocked into silence. Then, seeing the tears in her eyes, he came over and sat next to her, putting a comforting arm around her shoulders. Instinctively, Annabel leaned in against him.
James blew out hard. ‘Well, that’s a lot to take in! How are you feeling?’
She sniffed and was grateful when James handed her a tissue from a box on the table.
‘Well, I suppose I’d already started having pretty strong suspicions that Dad wasn’t Dotty’s biological son. But to have it confirmed like this . . . ’ She sniffed. ‘To be honest, I don’t know how I’m feeling. I was always so close to Dotty. To think that she wasn’treallymy grandmother, well . . . ’ Her words trailed as the tears began to stream down her cheeks. She dabbed the soggy tissue at her eyes. ‘Sorry . . .Everything just seems a bit topsy-turvy at the moment,’ she managed, in between sobs.
James wrapped his arms around her and held her close. ‘Shh, there now,’ he soothed, stroking her back. ‘Dottywasyour grandmother, even if not biologically, there’s no question about that. This really doesn’t change anything, you know. And you might not have inherited her genes, but you certainly inherited her character and her strength. The way you’ve picked yourself up after everything that’s happened recently and come halfway across the world to do this. Honestly, you’re pretty amazing, Annabel.’
She gave a watery smile and looked up at him. There was such intensity in his dark brown eyes. She was suddenly aware of his body, up close against hers, warm and firm. She breathed in his cologne and her pulse quickened.
‘I know everything feels hard right now,’ he continued, gently wiping the tears from her cheek. ‘You’re still grieving, but youwillget through this. If Dotty’s tale is anything to go by, it’s clear that you Penrose ladies are made of strong stuff!’
He smiled down at her, his hand still caressing her face. Overcome with emotion and a sudden, urgent longing, she reached up and touched his cheek. Their eyes locked and, after a brief nod of encouragement from Annabel, his lips were on hers. Gently at first, then with increasing intensity, as he explored her. She wrapped her arms tightly around him and melted against him, savouring every sensation. He tasted of wine and minty freshness and, wrapped in his strong arms, she felt safe.
After a few minutes, Annabel pulled him down so they were lying together on the sofa. He nuzzled her neck and she chuckled softly. ‘Who would have thought it, all those years ago, back at uni?’
James paused and looked at her. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, us . . . being like this. You barely had the time of day for me back then; I was sure that you hated me!’ She laughed.
James turned serious and Annabel worried that she had clumsily killed the mood that she’d been so enjoying. He looked her straight in the eye.
‘Hated you? You’re kidding, right? Don’t tell me you didn’t know?’
‘Know what?’ Annabel propped herself up on an elbow, her brow furrowing. James mirrored her position, so they were now facing each other.
