Together We Stand

Now the mystery was solved, could Henry and Tanni make a life together?

HENRY pulled the Ford up as close as he dared to the burning cottage and jumped out, racing across the fields, followed by Tanni and Madeleine.

As they reached the front door, they saw that several of the neighbours had arrived, followed by an elderly man carrying a ladder.

“Mari’s in the bedroom,” he said breathlessly. “She’s too afraid to jump or to throw the baby down to us. Her only chance is for someone to go up and get them.”

“I’ll go,” Henry said, taking one end of the ladder and placing it against the wall next to the window where he could see Mari leaning out as far as she dared, baby Alice held out into fresh air.

“You’ll have to hurry,” one of the women called. “Mari’s saying there’s smoke coming in under the door to the room. Once it gets through . . .”

“I’ll be as quick as I can.” Henry shook the ladder to make sure it was secure, and raced up towards the trapped woman and child.

He could feel the heat coming through the stones as he climbed higher.

Halfway up, there was a shriek as part of the back of the house collapsed, sending further flames rushing into the night air.

“Take Alice,” Mari called. “Please take the baby.”

Henry took the little bundle, glancing in despair at Mari, who was clutching the window frame as the roar of the fire increased behind her. It would be minutes before she would be engulfed in flames.

“Here, I’ll take Alice,” Tanni called right behind him on the ladder.

With relief, Henry passed down the precious bundle.

“Hurry,” he called. “It looks as if the roof could collapse any moment. Tell the rest of them to stand back as far as they can.”

With Tanni safely on her way, he climbed as high as he could, helping Mari through the window and on to the ladder.

“I’ll guide you down. That’s it, slowly but surely. We’ll be down in a minute.”

They had nearly reached the ground when he felt the ladder shake, and heard Madeleine call a warning.

Henry leapt the last distance on to the ground, catching Mari in his arms as the roof above them collapsed, sending the ladder crashing into the grass.

“The sooner we get out of this the better,” he muttered, following Madeleine as they all hurried away to where the others were waiting.

“It’s all right, Mari. Your baby is safe,” Tanni assured the woman as Henry placed his burden carefully on the ground.

Mari was immediately wrapped up in blankets and hurried towards the nearest house that was a safe distance from the flames.

The buckets of water being passed from hand to hand by the neighbours were making very little difference, but the flames were already dying as the fire began to burn itself out.

“That’s too much of a coincidence,” Tanni said as

people began to disperse, coughing and spluttering, back to their homes. “I spoke to Mari a few days ago, and she was going to ask her grandfather about the picture wagon.

“Someone could have seen me go in and known why I had gone to see her. This could be my fault.”

“It’s not your fault,” Madeleine said. “No-one could know this was going to happen.”

“In which case,” Tanni began, glancing to the neighbour’s cottage a short distance away where Mari and her baby were being sheltered, “I think she needs protecting.”

“My thoughts exactly,” Henry agreed. “I don’t like the idea of leaving her here, and she could be bringing danger to her neighbours and the kind people who are helping her. The only thing to do is to take her back with us.”

“Perfect,” Madeleine said. “Mari can stay with us until her husband returns and she has some kind of protection.”

“I think we should see the inspector as soon as possible,” Tanni added.

****

In the event, there was no need to make the journey to the police station in Llandudno. Inspector Williams, accompanied by Evan, was waiting for them as they arrived at the Bron Derw guest-house.

“I heard the excitement,” he said as Tanni and Madeleine helped Mari from the car. “I thought I might as well meet you here.

“Doctor Humphries came along to see if there was any patching up to be done.” He frowned as Mari wearily stumbled towards the door. “I think you might have a patient, Doctor.”

“I’m not hurt,” Mari said. “But my baby . . . I’m worried about the smoke.”

“Of course,” Evan said gently. “Don’t worry, Mrs Jones. I’ll make sure you and your baby are as well as can be.”

While Madeleine acted as nurse in the comfortable little room on the first floor that was to house Mari until a new home could be found for the little family, the inspector followed Tanni and Henry down to the kitchen, where they built up the range and put the kettle on to boil.

By the time Evan and Madeleine returned, accompanied by Mari with Alice peacefully asleep in her arms, they were sitting in front of the fire, cradling cups of tea.

“Now, then,” the inspector began as Mari settled in an armchair next to the fire. “I’m afraid I need to ask you all some questions.”

“Surely this can wait,” Evan said, frowning. “Mrs Jones has had quite an ordeal. She must be exhausted.”

“My apologies, Mrs Jones,” Inspector Williams replied gently.“i won’t be long.”

“I can’t.” Mari bent over the baby, rocking her. “I can’t.”

“What can’t you do, Mrs Jones?”

“I can’t tell you anything.” She looked up in distress. “My grandfather –”

“Don’t you worry,” Inspector Williams said, leaning forward and patting her arm reassuringly. “The first thing I did when I heard about the fire was to place a guard on your grandfather.” He nodded towards Tanni. “And on Miss Phillips’s family.” Mari burst into tears. “They’ll think it’s me. They’ll think I said something. I’ll never see him again.”

“Who might you never see again?” the inspector asked. “It wouldn’t be your husband, would it?” Mari gasped.

“How did you know?” Inspector Williams clicked his tongue.

“I wouldn’t say know, exactly. More like a guess.”

“You mean he’s dead?” Mari whispered, turning pale.

“There’s been nothing to suggest anything of the sort. But if you want to help him, Mrs Jones, you need to tell me what it is – or who it is – you are afraid of.” Mari swallowed.

“He told me that my husband had been arrested as a spy –”

“A spy?” Tanni exclaimed, horrified.

“But he’s not, miss. All he wants is to come home to us. He’s not interested in governments or spying.”

“But worth Mr Mcgovern threatening you,” the inspector said, frowning.

“Yes, I . . .” Mari bit her lip.

“It was Mr Mcgovern.” The inspector smiled. “Well, well. What might be his interest, then?”

“This is my fault,” Tanni said. “I should never have got you to ask your grandfather, Mari. It has to be something to do with the picture wagon. All of this has.”

“I rather think it might,” Inspector Williams agreed thoughtfully. He smiled at Mari. “You look all in, Mrs Jones.

“Perhaps you would like to retire, since Mr Gillingham and his sister have offered you their hospitality.”

“I must go, too,” Evan put in. “I dread to think what my mother is imagining.”

“Of course, Doctor, and thank you for your assistance.” Inspector Williams smiled. “And try not to worry about your husband, Mrs Jones. I’m sure this can be cleared up.

“It’s bound to be a misunderstanding of some kind. Your husband will be home in no time.”

He waited until Madeleine and Evan left with Mari, then turned to Tanni.

“Now, Miss Phillips, I should instruct one of my men to escort you home. But first of all, perhaps you would like to tell me what it was you were all bringing to show me?”

“Of course!” Tanni scrabbled in her pocket. “I’d forgotten.”

She pulled out the canister and placed it on the table.

“We found it in the picture wagon.”

“It contains a roll of paper,” Henry explained.

“With what looks like code,” Tanni added.

“Code?” The inspector looked from one to the other. “That is interesting. I have a feeling the Secret Service might be interested in this.” He took the canister in his hand. “I shall have this sent to them straight away.”

“I hope that’s the end of it,” Tanni said with a shiver. “I hate all these secrets.”

“Well, this is the best chance we’ll have of finding out,” Inspector Williams replied.

****

“Do you think she will be all right now?” Madeleine

“I have a feeling the Secret Service might be interested in this”

asked as she and Evan left Mari preparing for bed. “She looks terribly pale.”

“I’ve no doubt she is physically well,” Evan assured her. “Thank goodness your brother got them out when he did.

“At least neither of them has breathed in too much smoke, and they have a place to stay. Heaven knows what might have happened otherwise.”

“I don’t like to think about it,” Madeleine said, shivering as she accompanied him to the front door.

He paused.

“I hope this hasn’t made you eager to return to New York?”

“Not in the least. I have made such good friends here, and I have loved helping Tanni and working with the suffrage ladies.

“I thought I had freedom in New York, and in many ways I had less restrictions. But here I find I have a sense of purpose. I suppose it has become my home.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” he replied with rather more enthusiasm than he had intended. He coloured slightly. “That is, my mother will be pleased.”

Madeleine followed him as he turned hastily away.

“And you, Evan?” The slightly forlorn tone could not, whatever the consequences, be resisted. Evan swung round, his hand grasping hers tight, as if never to let it go.

“I will always be glad to see you, Madeleine. Dear Madeleine. You must know how I feel about you, and if only . . .” He sighed. “My only regret in my chosen profession is that I would have so little to offer you.”

“Offer me?” She frowned. “To be truthful, Evan, I was rather hoping you would offer me yourself. Anything else would be superfluous.”

He did his best to remain rational.

“But Madeleine, much as you were kind to Mari, I can’t imagine you spending your life as a dutiful doctor’s wife, or a nurse.”

“And neither can I. But if you agree to me working for my living in the way that I choose, perhaps, between us, we might be able to afford to employ a nurse to replace my lack of any interest in the profession.”

“You would consider that?”

“Why ever not? It’s the practical solution.” Madeleine gave a mischievous smile. “Though, given the choice, I might stipulate that she is at least twice your age and with a loving husband and family at home.”

Evan laughed.

“Dear Madeleine. You know perfectly well that would never be necessary. I will never have eyes for any other woman. I’m sure a nurse of the most respectable nature can be arranged.”

“Good.” They smiled at each other, suddenly shy and uncertain what to say.

“I’d better go,” Evan muttered regretfully, releasing her hand. “Mama has enough worries trying to get the tearooms opened without thinking I might have been led astray.”

“Don’t worry, Evan,” Madeleine said. “I have a feeling your mother is more than up to the task.”

He smiled, and drew her into his arms.

“I shall always be thankful she taught me to love spirited and independent women. I can’t imagine my life without one,” he added softly, drawing her even closer.

****

Gwendolyn returned a few weeks later to sort out the tearooms before the promised reopening.

“It will be good to get back to normal,” she said to Tanni as they swept out the studio all ready for the following day. “It was good sea air out there on the pier, but I’m grateful to be back inside before the autumn beings.”

“Me, too,” Tanni said. She was thankful to be back in the familiar studio, preparing it to open again. At least that way she could keep her mind occupied and push away the uneasy thoughts creeping in.

Inspector Williams was no nearer to finding the intruder, and she could see that, despite their happy preparations for Madeleine’s wedding to Evan in a few weeks’ time, she and Henry were still uneasy.

Mari was growing stronger, but still tearful at the prospect of never seeing her husband again. Tanni wished that the inspector would get the results of the coded piece of paper.

It seemed like an eternity since he had taken the precious capsule in person to the offices of the Secret Service in London.

He’d said it might take some time to break the code, but they had heard nothing since.

Maybe it was too old. Maybe it would never be broken, and the picture wagon would never give up its secrets. Maybe they would always live in fear.

She looked up as the bell to the front door jangled and several of the volunteers came in. At least the tearooms would soon be up and running again.

With a sigh, Tanni made her way to the office where Gwendolyn had just finished sorting out her papers.

“Excellent,” Gwendolyn said as Tanni arrived at the door. “We’ll be up and running in no time, and it appears for all Andrew’s shilly-shallying there is no obstacle to my standing for election to the council.”

“Except for the studio,” Tanni said.

“The studio? Good grief, child. No-one believes that to be lacking in propriety.”

“I don’t mean that,” Tanni said, biting her lip, her unease ever since she had returned to the tearooms hardening into a certainty.

“I can’t stay here, Mrs Humphries. You have been wonderful, and I can’t think of any better place to be, but supposing the intruder is never caught? I know it’s something to do with the picture wagon.

“Every moment I’m here I place you in danger. Who knows what might happen next?”

“Nonsense, my dear. We’ll face this together, whatever it is.”

Tanni shook her head. “It could jeopardise your campaign for the council if things start happening at the tearooms. And supposing other houses are burned down?” Tanni sighed. “I’m putting the Gillinghams in danger, too.”

She straightened her shoulders.

“It was very kind of Mr Samuel to give me his beloved picture wagon, but the price is too high. I’m going to ask Mr Gillingham to destroy it.”

“And the cameras?” Gwendolyn asked gently. “They were also a gift to you from Mr Samuel, and there’s a new one waiting for you to replace the one that was stolen. As a gift from the tearooms.” Tanni blushed.

“I’ve put them both in far too much danger as it is.” She swallowed. “I couldn’t bear it if something happened to them.”

There was a moment’s silence, broken by a knock on the door.

“Come in!” Gwendolyn called.

“I had better go,” Tanni murmured. “I’m sure you can find a replacement to use the studio, and the new camera.”

“Good grief!” Gwendolyn hadn’t heard a word.

Her eyes were on the door, which was opening slowly, with all the appearance of stealth.

Gwendolyn grasped the largest book to hand, motioning to Tanni to stand clear.

“Well, come in, whoever you are. But be warned, we are armed. And I don’t intend to take prisoners.”

“It’s all right.” Tanni caught the frightened face appearing round the door, and shot off after the figure disappearing back down the stairs. “Edith, it’s all right. Mrs Humphries didn’t mean it.”

“I don’t want to be a prisoner.” Edith sobbed.

“I said I don’t take prisoners,” Gwendolyn roared from the office. “Now come back up here, you silly girl. I hope you know you’ve quite some explaining to do.”

She came to a halt as Tanni reappeared, holding Edith’s wrist and pulling her gently but firmly behind her.

“Goodness, girl,” she added in a gentle manner. “What on earth has happened to you?”

Tanni did her best not to stare, but the grubby and bedraggled figure following her unwillingly into the light of the office bore very little resemblance to the elegant young woman who had once been Edith.

“Are you hurt?” she asked anxiously, catching Edith’s arm as she swayed.

Edith shook her head. Gwendolyn took one look at her tear-streaked face and hurried to support her.

“Fetch Dr Humphries, will you, Cassie?” she called to the girl sweeping the landing on the floor below. “And tell him to hurry.”

“I don’t need a doctor!” Edith exclaimed.

“You’ll do as you’re told, young woman. I thought you had gone abroad with your grandfather?”

“I couldn’t. I didn’t mean this to happen. Truly, Mrs Humphries, you have to believe me. I didn’t mean it.”

“I’m sure you didn’t,” Tanni said, helping her to a chair.

“And I didn’t mean

anyone to get hurt, Tanni. I swear. It sounded so thrilling, and I’ve never done anything important with my life, and I wanted to prove I’m not just a silly girl.”

“I never thought you were,” Gwendolyn replied. “Nor did I,” Tanni said. Edith burst into tears. “The man I was to marry – he wasn’t rich or handsome, or anything my grandfather had told me. I knew that the moment I saw him.

“He wanted a wife to stay at home, and Grandfather wanted me to be a prisoner for the rest of my life in a country far from home. I couldn’t do it.

“I remembered what you said, Mrs Humphries, and I knew the moment I stepped on that boat to go to Ireland my life would be over.” She hiccupped. “So I ran away. I can’t go back, and I have no means of support. I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

Gwendolyn’s expression softened.

“My dear, you are young. You can’t be expected to have acquired the wisdom of the ages. If you had, what on earth would you do with the rest of your life? It would be a wasteland of smugness and boredom.”

Edith gave a watery giggle.

“I knew I should have listened to you, Mrs Humphries. I knew I shouldn’t have done wrong.”

“No, of course not, my dear.”

“But supposing they find me . . .” She bit her lip.

“Just one moment.” Gwendolyn pulled open the door. “Cassie?”

“Yes, miss?” Cassie’s voice came from below.

“Good, you haven’t left yet. Can you step into the police station and ask the inspector to come this way? I would do that first, before you fetch the doctor. And hurry.”

“Yes, miss,” Cassie called and there was a rush of footsteps as she raced out of the front door.

Gwendolyn returned to the office.

“You don’t have to speak to them, my dear, but I think their presence is advisable.” She cleared her throat. “I know it’s difficult with families.”

Edith sniffed loudly. “It’s all right, Mrs Humphries. I’ll tell. I don’t care any more. I was so scared when I saw he had a pistol. I didn’t think he’d try to hurt Tanni or Madeleine. But he’d have killed them if he’d caught up with them on the roof.”

“But he didn’t,” Tanni said.

“I thought he was so dashing.” Edith sighed. “Grandfather said he had hired him as there was a secret no-one else could know.”

“What was the secret?” Tanni demanded, ignoring Gwendolyn’s warning gesture.

“I don’t know. They wouldn’t tell me. Only that it was to do with Grandfather, and if anyone found out, he could be killed, and the family would lose all their money.” Gwendolyn sighed. “My dear girl, you need a serious education, rather than having your nose in one of those cheap novels from the lending library.

“Now listen to me. You tell the inspector all you know. You could well save Tanni’s life if you do.”

“He won’t put me in prison?”

“I very much doubt it, my dear. What would be the point?”

Fear shone in Edith’s eyes.

“But where am I to go?” “You are coming with me,” Gwendolyn said firmly. “You are clearly a young woman who needs taking in hand.

“You can work at the tearooms to earn your keep, and I shall oversee your education, and make sure you learn a useful skill.”

“Yes, Mrs Humphries,” Edith said meekly. She swallowed. “I’m afraid I’ve come to the conclusion that my grandfather may not be a very nice man.”

“I rather suspect you are right, my dear.”

Edith bit her lip.

“I should have realised before. Grandfather hired that man to look for something. I overheard them talking last night. That’s when I knew I had to escape.

“They were trying to find something that could link Grandfather with Mr Samuel, and your father, Tanni.”

“With my dad?” Tanni exclaimed.

Edith nodded. “Grandfather said it was something that could lead him to the gallows, and send the family to ruin.” She swallowed hard. “He said he’d killed once already to prevent it from being found.

“I suppose he’d have killed me, too, if I hadn’t done what he’d told me.”

“Fear can make a man do strange things,” a voice said from the door.

Edith gave a muffled shriek as the inspector made his way inside.

“I met Cassie on my way here,” he explained. “The results of the paper you found, Miss Phillips, confirm what we had expected.

“The journalist who went to the Crimea with Mr Samuel, and who was nursed at Scutari with Mr Phillips, had rather more profitable motives, I’m afraid.

“He changed his name when he went back to Scotland, but there is no doubt that your grandfather must have been desperate to find that coded message, Miss Mcgovern.

“Turning double agent and spying for the Russians was treachery enough. The fact that he has continued his career over the long years since the ending of the war is even worse.”

“You’ll be all right now, Edith,” Tanni said reassuringly.

“You’re a brave woman, Miss Mcgovern.” Inspector Williams nodded. “But you’ll be safe now. Your grandfather won’t return.

“He knows he has been exposed for what he is, despite all his efforts to silence anyone who might damage him.

“I suspect when he heard that Mari Jones survived the fire he realised the game was up. He must have known the government would not rest until he had been identified.”

“And Mari’s husband has paid the price!” Gwendolyn exclaimed.

“Not quite, I’m thankful to say. We’ve managed to locate him. It took a while, but we’ve found him. Our colleagues in Russia have no wish to cause a diplomatic incident.” He eyed the ceiling. “He should be home in no time.” He cleared his throat. “Now, Miss Mcgovern, I need to ask you a few questions. Tanni and Mrs Humphries will stay with you, and there’s nothing to worry about.”

“Yes.” Edith nodded tearfully. “I promise I’ll tell you everything I can.”

****

“Well, at least that’s something to start with,” Inspector Williams said to Tanni as they finally left an exhausted and tearful Edith to Gwendolyn, who was busily sweeping her away with a promise of a hot bath and a warm bed.

“Do you think you’ll find Mr Mcgovern?” Tanni asked, accompanying him along the front towards the pier.

“Who knows? But one thing I’m sure of, he won’t get away with this. They rarely do.” He came to a halt. “Thank you for accompanying me, Tanni. I didn’t think you’d want this discussed in front of anyone.

“You might want to tell them one day, when you and your mam are ready. But for now I’d keep it to yourselves. Just until the dust settles.”

Tanni swallowed. “Dad.”

“Yes.” He turned to face her. “Given the facts, Tanni, I can only come to the conclusion that your father did not take his own life.

“Mr Samuel was incapacitated for a long time from his wounds. He rarely left his room for the last years of his life. He would never have met Edith’s grandfather.”

“But you think Dad

recognised him?”

“I’m sure he did. From what I can learn, it seems Mcgovern moved his family and his business here expressly to retrieve that message in any way he could.

“He must have left it in the picture wagon, and never been able to go back to find it. It didn’t matter while Mr Samuel was alive, but once he was dead . . .”

“Someone might have stumbled on it.”

“Exactly. Or at least the fear would always have been there. He was planning to stand for Parliament at the next election. He had the money and the influence.

“I’ve no doubt he would have been successful, and very useful to his masters – his real masters, that is. One hint of what he had once been would have destroyed all that.

“I’ve no doubt that, if recognised, he would have been ruthless. I am certain that your father knew that, Tanni, and that he died trying to protect you.”

“Thank you,” Tanni whispered, swallowing back the tears.

He patted her hand. “I wanted you to know as soon as possible.” He smiled. “I’m afraid I must leave you. I’ve a manhunt to organise, and Mari’s husband to bring home on the first boat possible. But I shan’t leave you alone.”

He nodded to where Henry was waiting.

“Henry doesn’t know anything you do not wish to tell him, but I did warn him he might find himself required to restore a young lady’s spirits.

“In any way he might see fit,” he added, as Henry joined them. “Now, if you’ll excuse me . . .” “Tanni?”

Tanni said nothing, but careless of the astonished gazes of passers-by, she stepped into his arms. Henry held her tight. “I’m all right,” she said at last, freeing herself and taking his arm. “I’ve just had a shock, that is all.”

“The inspector warned me you might.”

Tanni smiled.

“He’s a wise man.” As they made their way to the pier, she tightened her arm in his. “I thought I would only bring you danger. I thought I had lost you.”

“You could never lose me, Tanni. I want you to remain exactly as you are.”

“I can’t accept your camera.” “Camera?”

“The one you bought to replace Mr Samuel’s.”

“Oh.” He coloured. “I might have known you would guess. But you’ll accept the camera, Tanni. I insist.” He grinned.

“You can’t refuse me, because that’s the last command I will ever give you. Although I will request that you marry me.”

Tanni came to a halt. It was a moment she had dreamed of.

“Henry, have you thought this over? I’m not going to be a comfortable sort of a wife for anyone, however much I try. It’s just not in my nature.”

“I’m certain! What I’ve realised these past months is that what I need is a wife who will drag me into all kinds of scrapes, from photographing Mrs Humphries’s campaign to rattling around the countryside in Mr Samuel’s wagon, delighting all of Snowdonia with the miracle of photography.”

Tanni laughed.

“I wouldn’t expect you to accompany me.”

“And I wouldn’t dare insist,” he replied. “Though I would like to share some of your adventures.”

“I can’t think of a better companion,” she replied.

Henry pulled her into a secluded corner out of the wind and the prying eyes of passing visitors.

“Then marry me, Tanni. I love you. I can’t imagine a day without your smile or the sound of your laugh.

“I can’t think of any fate better than to share my life with you, whatever that might bring.”

Tanni smiled, happiness flooding through her.

“The answer is yes,” she replied, reaching up to meet his kiss.

The End.