Chapters (52)
- Cover
- Margaret Dickinson
- Dedication page
- Contents
- Part One
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Part Two
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Sow the Seed
- Note
- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
- Copyright page
‘Could you use another pair of hands?’ she volunteered. The older of the two women turned to face her and Kate drew in a sharp breath.
She was staring straight into a face she knew. An older, more lined face, but there was no mistaking the gentle features of Miss Ogden.
Twenty-Five
Was she never to be free of that dreadful place, was her first shocked reaction, but when the initial surprise had subsided, Kate realized she was actually quite pleased to see Miss Ogden again.
‘You don’t remember me, do you?’
Miss Ogden was smiling apologetically. ‘I expect you’re one of our girls, but you do change so much . . .’
Kate took off her cap and her glorious auburn hair tumbled down to her shoulders.
Miss Ogden gasped. ‘Oh! Oh – now I know.’ She reached out with hands that trembled slightly. ‘My dear Kate. How are you? Oh, I am pleased to see you.’
‘’Ow about a cuppa, darlin’?’ a rough voice broke in and, distracted, Miss Ogden’s hands fluttered without purpose. ‘Oh, yes – er – of course. I’m sorry.’
Behind Kate another group of soldiers had joined the queue, swelling the demand for tea. She slipped behind the table and stood next to Miss Ogden. ‘Here, let me help.’ Immediately her hands deftly caught up a cup and held it under the tap of the urn. ‘Where are you heading, soldier?’
The man grinned at her, showing yellow and misshapen teeth. He tapped the side of his nose. ‘Can’t tell you that, darlin’. You might be a bloomin’ spy!’
Kate laughed gaily. ‘Ya think this uniform’d be a good cover, do ya?’ Without thinking, she had lapsed into her native dialect.
The man guffawed. ‘I take it back. With an accent like that, you’re one of us, all right.’
‘Thanks.’ Kate grinned back, knowing he meant it as a genuine compliment.
For the next ten minutes the three women worked side by side, and when at last the flood had subsided to a trickle, the other helper handed Kate a cup of tea. ‘Here you are, me duck, you’ve earned that.’
Kate accepted it gratefully.
‘You go and ’ave a sit down with yer friend, Elsie. I can manage the rest of ’em.’
‘Well, if you’re sure, Mabel . . .’ Miss Ogden said tentatively.
“Course I’m sure – and take yerself a cuppa as well.’
‘Oh, I’m so pleased to see you,’ Miss Ogden said again, as they sat down in the waiting room together, their hands round the cups and sipping the hot tea. ‘You look wonderful and that uniform suits you a treat. I’ve often thought of you over the years and wondered . . . You had such a rotten time. I’ve often felt guilty I didn’t do more.’