Foxden Hotel (The Dudley Sisters Saga Book 5) by Madalyn Morgan (ebook reader ink txt) 📕

The hospital won’t let her go home of course, it’s far too soon. Even if the baby hadn’t been premature it would be too soon.’

‘There isn’t anything wrong with her, is there?’

‘With Margot?’ Ena laughed.

‘No, the baby.’

‘She’s perfect. You said yourself, it’s because she was early that the doctors are monitoring her, Margot too. Hospitals keep new mums and babies in for a week, even if they go full term. Margot knows that. She’s worried that, because Natalie was three weeks early, they’ll make her stay in hospital until the date she should have been born.’

‘Natalie?’

‘Yes. Natalie Elizabeth Goldie. Elizabeth’s after you.’

‘Natalie is after Natalie Goldman, and Goldie is the name of her dancer friend who she helped escape from David Sutherland in the war. I wonder if Bill had a say in choosing the baby’s name?’

‘I don’t think he cares what she’s called. He’s so happy, he’d agree to anything.’

‘He’s a lovely man.’ Bess poured two cups of coffee and took them over to Ena who was sitting on one of the easy chairs by the unlit fire. ‘And what about your lovely man?’ she asked, putting their cups on the small coffee table and sitting down in the chair opposite.

A frown crept across Ena’s face. ‘I don’t know. He and Inspector Masters are somewhere up north on a job. That’s all he could tell me.’

‘As soon as there’s anything to report, I’m sure he’ll telephone you.’

‘That’s the worrying part. Henry always phones to let me know where he is.’ She picked up her cup and took a drink. ‘I shouldn’t be telling you this, but if I don’t tell someone I’ll go out of my mind with worry. You mustn’t say anything--’ Bess shook her head. ‘Sorry, I know you won’t.

‘They’re hunting down Hawksley’s associates; the chain of command that’s in place along the route to South America. It’s a massive organisation of seemingly innocent businessmen who are Nazi sympathisers. They each bring something different to the group. Some have safe houses, others are forgers, or arrange the forging of documents like birth certificates and passports. Many speak foreign languages. There’s even a couple of high-powered bank managers among them who are able to hide large amounts of money to dish out when necessary.

‘If MI5 and the Metropolitan Police are successful in capturing these people, the organisation will be shut down forever. If they don’t succeed, and they’re caught-- Well,’ Ena inhaled deeply, ‘it doesn’t bear thinking about. Fascists are not the kind of people to say “Gotcha, now be good lads and skedaddle.”’

Ena pushed herself out of her chair and stretched. ‘I need some fresh air. Blow my worries away. I’ll walk down to see Mam. Bill’s parents are going to the hospital this afternoon, so shall I tell her that we’ll take her in tomorrow or Tuesday?’

‘Yes. Bring her back with you, will you? Claire was going to tell her to come up for lunch when she called in with Aimee. I’ll make a start on this week’s book-keeping while you’re gone.’ Ena left the office and Bess went over to her desk. She took a pile of receipts from one drawer and the accounts ledger from another. But before she had time to take out her pen, Ena was back.

‘Bess, there’s someone here to see you?’

The look on Ena’s face told Bess that she was shocked by the arrival of the unexpected visitor. Bess flashed Ena a questioning look, but before she had time to introduce the person with her, Katherine Hawksley stepped cautiously into the room.

‘I’m disturbing you,’ she said nervously, her eyes flitting from Bess to the paperwork on her desk.

‘Not at all, Miss Hawksley.’ Bess made a wide arc with her arm dismissing the papers. ‘Accounts are my husband’s domain. I was only filling in time. It can wait.’ Bess walked round the desk and offered Katherine Hawksley her hand. The young woman shook it. She was trembling. ‘Won’t you sit down, Miss Hawksley?’

Katherine perched on the edge of the chair that Ena had vacated, and Bess returned to the chair that she had been sitting in.

‘I’ll leave you two to talk,’ Ena said, opening the door.

‘Would you take Nancy with you to Mam’s, Ena? Tell Frank not to worry about the accounts. And tell Jack to take a message if anyone rings for me.’

Smiling goodbye to Bess and including Katherine, Ena left the office, closing the door firmly behind her.

Katherine Hawksley sat with her head down and picked at the edge of her handkerchief. She was physically shaking. ‘It’s chilly today,’ Bess said, taking a box of Swan Vestas from the shelf at the side of the fireplace. Striking a match, she put the small blue flame to the newspaper beneath the kindling in the grate. The paper caught instantly, igniting the dry wood, and Bess soon felt warmth emanating from it. ‘Would you like a hot drink?’ Bess asked, replacing the matches. Katherine shook her head.

Katherine leaned nearer to the fire and stretched out her hands, while Bess busied herself pouring a cup of coffee, which she took back with her. After taking a couple of sips, Bess put the cup on the shelf next to the box of matches. Whatever it was that had brought Katherine Hawksley to see her at the hotel, against McGann’s wishes, must be important Bess thought.

‘Feeling warmer, Katherine? I can call you, Katherine, can’t I?’ With her gaze fixed on the flames devouring the wood and licking around the coal, the girl nodded. ‘And you can call me Bess.’

‘Bess,’ Katherine repeated.

Bess didn’t want to push Katherine for fear she would clam up, but she could tell by her troubled expression that the poor girl was weighed down by something painful that she needed to get off her chest. ‘Would you like to tell me what