It had been two days since Christmas Day and nearly four since she had seen Patrick's sheepish face as they stood in the passageway at the side of the house. Peter. Peter was in London. London! How she wished she had not had to ask Patrick under duress but, against her better nature and that annoying voice in her head, she had to know. She had read Patience's letter four times over and it had been passed between her and Delia so many times that anymore and the ink would have been worn away.
Now, as for a day or two Mater's celebrations had pleasingly waned she and Delia were sitting in the front room, quietly passing an early morning as they read and embroidered. The letter had brought about a peace for both to know that Patience was as well as she could have been and that she was in London too for a while! Could Chummy persuade Mater to let her see her? Even for just an hour? Mater still had no inclination that Delia was the person she had referred to so many weeks ago as this 'deviant'.
All of a sudden Chummy sneezed.
"Bless you" Delia whispered, with a smile before she paused, perusing the other's face. She gently put her task on her knee. drawing a needle through the fabric on which she had been working. "One must say you do not look well, Chummy. Not well at all".
"Just a touch of a head cold, nothing to worry about" Chummy replied with a jolly smile, typical of her to dismiss any worry that anyone else may have for her health, wellbeing, anything... In truth she felt really rather awful; breathless even climbing the stairs and it was more than simply a sniffle.
Delia was about to respond further, perhaps suggesting moving to a warmer room or to stoke the fire, when there was a polite knock on the door, followed quickly by Trixie bearing a tea tray. "Oh, Beatrix that is most wonderful, thank you!" Chummy exclaimed.
"It's no trouble Miss" Trixie replied, putting the tray down. "Would you like me to pour Miss?"
Chummy shook her hear. "No. Thank you though. We will manage". How she could not bear other people waiting on her hand and foot. It was so unnecessary. Trixie bobbed a curtsey before her Mistress had a question. "How are you enjoying London?"
Trixie breathed. Her anticipation to come to the City from the vast open spaces of Somerset had now waned significantly. "It's quite alright for short times Miss", Trixie replied, seeing both other women smile. In truth she was looking forward to going home. "It's a little busy for me".
"Well one would not disagree with you, Beatrix" Chummy responded, feeling a cough rise in her chest. She placed a hand over her mouth.
"Are you quite alright Miss? Would you like me to ring for the Doctor?" Trixie asked. She did not look well at all.
Chummy shook her head. "No, thank you. It is just a tickle".
"Well if you need anything Miss, Miss Busby, just ring for me", Trixie said, smiling at Miss Browne's quiet companion who was seated opposite her.
"Thank you Beatrix. We will", Delia replied, concerned for Chummy too.
Trixie dropped another curtsey to both of the Misses, which at that second she heard the door bell jangle. "I'll go and answer that Miss".
A minute or two later, she reappeared with Gregory two paces behind her, leaving him, Delia and Chummy alone. So this was Miss Browne's suitor, she thought as she closed the door. Evangelina had been right – he was old enough to be her father! He was quite handsome though and seemed to have a twinkle in his eye.
"Miss Busby" Gregory said with a smile, stretching out a hand to her. "How nice to see you again after meeting you for the very first time on Christmas Eve!"
"Gregory don't..." Chummy responded, trying not to laugh as she knew it was start off a coughing fit. Thankfully, no-body at Mater's party had guessed that they had met before and both had put on a rather good act of innocence. Delia also saw he was only speaking in jest and she took his hand to which she received a kiss.
"Miss Busby, I wonder if I might have a moment alone with Camilla?" he asked.
Delia smiled. "Yes of course". She took up her embroidery and, closing the door behind her, let them be.
Chummy sat down again and he took up her spot across from Chummy. "It is only a flying visit. One just wanted to give you this..." Gregory said, handing her an envelope once he was sure there was nobody within hearing distance. "I exchanged contracts on it today".
"The new house?" Chummy replied, pleased and peeling away the seal.
Gregory nodded. "An hour's drive out of London at best. It was rather speedy but the seller is moving abroad and they wished to settle on the property sooner rather than later. I will expect you to visit us. The details are all there and just say the word and I will collect you".
"I will" Chummy responded, briefly reading the address as that cough bubbled up again.
"You do look awfully grey" he said, seeing her distress. He leant over and placed his palm on her forehead. "You are positively hot as well. A temperature one thinks".
"One does feel a little unwell, one would admit", Chummy responded, taking her handkerchief from her sleeve and gently placing it against her mouth. No, she had been right the first time – she felt terrible; her head pounding in rhythm with her pulse and that breathlessness within her chest.
"Well," Gregory began, "one was going to ask if you would care to take a drive out to Sutton with me but one wonders now whether one should? I have a belated Christmas present to collect for Louise and one might need some assistance. A second pair of hands..."
"Oh?" No matter how ill Chummy felt she would admit she was intrigued.
"Mmm..." he responded, sitting back. "Roberta is presently distracting Louise from where I have gone as she knows full well the office is closed today! She has already asked me ten times why one was going out without her!"
"Very well then" Chummy replied. A touch of fresh air would probably do her the world of good and she had dared not tell Mater she was not feeling herself. She would have Dr Simpson out in a split second and confine her to bed for a week. "If ones does though..." she paused.
"You would like a favour or two in return?" Gregory smiled. Chummy nodded slightly embarrassed but he was the only one she could trust with this particular secret.
Three hours later they were sitting in his car at the top of a nondescript, dank terraced street in Limehouse.
Gregory looked across at her and smiled at the sight of her holding up the spoils of their visit to Sutton. Louise's belated present successfully collected. The small dachshund puppy suddenly licked Chummy's face and he heard her laugh. "He is such an absolute sweetheart" she said. "One is sure Louise will simply adore him! It was a wonderful idea."
"One thinks one should have purchased one for you too", Gregory laughed, adjusting the collar of his jacket as he sat. "Another belated Christmas present!"
"You already brought me this brooch which you did not need to do" she said, placing a hand on the ruby and diamond crescent that adorned her coat, "and besides one doubts Mater would let a dog into the house. It was terrible enough when Patrick's nephew Timothy visited and brought his new kitten with him. He was carrying it round in his pocket but Mater acted as though it was carrying the Black Plague..."
Gregory gave an apprehensive smile. On the trip to Sutton she had explained to him why she needed his assistance. "Are you absolutely sure of this?" Gregory asked, the mood suddenly turning serious from the over enthusiastic puppy now seated on her knee. He saw her nod and realised he was not going to turn her away. He knew too well of loves and friends lost and it would seem that this was the case for Camilla Browne too. "Which house is it?" The terraces, in various states of disrepair, were lined up endlessly with people crushed into as much a space as possible.
"The third one from the end on the right it should be" she replied. She dare not say that she had been snooping in her father's papers in his study late one night to find the address she needed.
Gregory saw a look on her face that, with the experience of the world that he had, he recognised immediately and he had to ask the question."So is one to take it that is where your heart lies?"
Chummy sighed, not surprised at the question. "One which can never bear any fruit". It may have been a reference to Patience or Peter; she was not quite sure. She paused for a moment. "Do I have your permission?" No, it was about Peter.
Gregory frowned. "You do not need my consent. I have no hold over you Camilla apart from wishing to be your friend."
"It almost feels as though one does" she responded. "You have been so good to me and this friendship we have. Most people think there is more to it than there is... and as someone I know genuinely cares for me, one needs your permission". She had more respect for him than perhaps any other and she truly felt as though he did have to give his consent after all.
"Until half past" he replied, not intending to be anything but clear. "Otherwise one will be knocking on that door and removing you bodily from the house. One thinks it might be quite the sight if I rescue you and sling you over my shoulder like some form of ridiculous romantic hero..." If anything it made him feel more at ease to joke about it all.
"Thank you" she whispered, handing over the puppy before removing herself from the vehicle and careful to take her purse with her. She did not hear Gregory's comment to the beast that now held in his hands. "So, what we getting ourselves into then little Titus, eh? What are we getting ourselves into?"
As she walked down, the street was quite quiet. The snow had turned to a dirty slush as she carefully picked her way down the street, cautious of slipping underfoot.
She reached the door in question and before she could talk herself out of it, she raised her hand and knocked. A moment later she saw the door open. "Oh!" Chummy responded, looking down and seeing the small figure before her. "I was looking for Peter".
"I'm Peter" the little boy replied.
"Oh!" Chummy said again, wondering for a moment, about to say if there was someone else called that there when a red haired woman flew down the hallway towards them.
"Peter!" Winifred said, pulling the boys hand away from the door. "Come away, what we have told you about answering the door to strangers?!"
The boy ran off and Chummy smiled politely at the woman. "One is so sorry," she said. "I was looking for Peter Noakes". She could see the other woman was surveying her fine clothes and the fur coat she wore.
"That's my brother. He's my brother; assuming you want the older one that is" Winifred responded, immediately suspicious of who this person might be. You didn't see people who talked like she did around here. "What do you want him for?"
"He..." Chummy started, slightly put aback at the tone of Winifred's voice but persevering. "He used to work for my parents. One would like to speak to him, if one could?"
"The Browne's eh?" Winifred responded, stepping back and letting her into the house. "Hope you are not here to cause trouble".
Chummy did not answer her question as she was shown into the sitting room to wait in apprehension for Peter.