Chapter 1.
Colonel Siegfried Farnon paced the small, windowless room. He'd been told nothing, simply whisked away before dawn from a comfortable bed in Scarborough and the expectation of returning home to the woman he loved in Darrowby and to the life he'd built for himself at the end of the last war.
As he paced, like a caged beast, he muttered to himself, "I am a bloody fool," over and over again.
He had not been required to serve. At 48, he was past the maximum age for the National Service requirement. Besides that his was an exempted profession. By all rights he could have stayed home. As he paced and chafed at his predicament he knew he should have stayed home.
Something had driven him to volunteer, however. Was it the shame he felt as young men he knew and respected, including his partner and his younger brother, were relentlessly fed into the maw of war? Yes.
Behind that almost reasonable reaction lurked murkier reasons: his self-abignation of military honors he'd earned in the last war for what amounted, in his eyes, to near-murder; and there was his wounded pride. At the close of war, he had failed to save thousands and thousands of war horses from slaughter. England needed those horses. He had fought for them, using everything at his disposal, including his honors. It was fruitless. The military valued the horses – and Siegfried Farnon - far below the cost of shipping the beasts home. Then, to rub salt in his wounded pride, he'd been ordered to participate in their destruction.
Now, he found himself under command again. He'd intended to preserve life by serving in RASC, delivering supplies to fighting men, rather than repeat the soul-killing experience of shooting other men face-to-face. He'd done that in the last war and hated the fact that he had a natural talent for it.
Added to those considerable misgivings, Siegfried Farnon was desperately, hopelessly in love. Twice in the past half-year, he had been within a heartbeat of consummating his love. He had been stymied, first, by the prior claim of an estranged husband of his intended, beloved Mrs Hall. Then, by twin full-length leg casts that made connubial bliss impossible.
Siegfried Farnon was a man suffering mightily from an unhealthy overabundance of unfulfilled passion. His single hope for relief, Mrs Audrey Hall, was in Darrowby, more than 200 miles away. She might as well have been on the moon. Worse, global forces were driving them ever farther apart. Siegfried could feel it. He'd been a bloody fool to have ever started down the path that led to this dingy, overheated, underlit, windowless room deep beneath Whitehall.
Finally, the door swung open and three men walked through it. Siegfried saluted two of the men – an Admiral and a General, both of far more exalted rank than himself. The third was a civilian whom he recognized - Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, Lord Halifax, the man everyone had expected to replace Neville Chamberlain as Prime Minister of England.
"At ease, Colonel Farnon," the General said, returning Siegfried's salute. "Take a chair. I understand you're just recovering from serious injuries on Namsos."
Siegfried sat. He didn't respond to the friendly remark. All he wanted was to know why the military felt it needed a veterinarian who had failed at Namsos, was pushing middle age, and only wanted to go home.
"This is Admiral Tovey, Commander-in-Chief of the Home Fleet. I am Field Marshal John Dill. Of course, you recognize Lord Halifax."
Siegfried stood to acknowledge the men, shook hands with Halifax and sat again, as ordered.
"You must be wondering why you are here," Dill continued. When Siegfried did not respond, he said, "Word is that you did a fine job off Norway. De Wiart had good things to say about you in his report to the Prime Minister."
Siegfried said nothing, but wondered furiously why De Wiart would report to Churchill about his Norway performance. Siegfried considered his performance off Namsos a debacle, a stinging personal failure. Ships had gone off half-filled. All he'd managed to do was to very nearly get blown to bits along with mountains of precious supplies that he had been responsible for delivering to the troops.
When Dill fell silent, Siegfried waited. He knew better than to speak, until he understood what these near-godlike men across the table expected of him.
Finally, Lord Halifax said, "I have accepted an Ambassadorial appointment from the PM. I'm going to America to smooth the way for future support. You are clearly an experienced soldier and an intelligent man. You surely grasp that Great Britain stands alone against the Nazis now that France has fallen."
Siegfried felt a cold knot in his chest. The fall of France seemed impossible and it was news to him. Strict isolation from developing world affairs had been part of his recovery. Doctor Ascoli had not wanted him to worry about anything, including the Fate of Western Civilization. But, France had fallen and Britain would face the Germans alone. So, here he was in a musty little room with three of the men most likely to lead the battle.
"Why am I here?" he asked. "What do you think I can do?" After the fact, he added a respectful, "Sir."
Halifax pursed his lips before answering. The military men deferred to the civilian and the silence dragged on, until Siegfried wanted to scream.
"Your single-mindedness, Colonel Farnon," Halifax finally began, "is impressive. Against almost impossible odds, you managed to offload more than 40 percent of the ammunition aboard the supply ships. You sent nothing superfluous, not even rations. Your foresight saved 5,500 men from becoming POWs. Do you realize that fact? Other RASC officers would have sent food, reducing the ammunition and, ultimately, handicapping our ability to hold off the Germans, until evacuation became possible."
"Furthermore, you are not shy," Dill added."You hounded your peers and earned several rather unflattering nicknames. Then, you went ashore, entirely on your own, infiltrated enemy patrols, and took personal charge of deploying ammunition. You were badly injured by enemy bombing and suffered terribly, I'm told, without medical care for almost two weeks before evacuation."
Siegfried looked from one man to the other and said again, "Why am I here, Sir?"
Admiral Tovey answered, "We know you are an unconventional sonofabitch, Colonel. You are also fit for polite society and, you proved in Norway, driven to meet mission objectives, despite damage to yourself or others. That's a rare combination. We have men who get things done, but they lack social skills. We have diplomats, but they don't like to step on toes. And, we have very few living men who have won the VC and Bar."
Halifax added, "Our American cousins need to be courted, Colonel. You can be charming and ruthless. So, I want you with me aboard the HMS King George when we sail in December. You have a months survivors leave coming. Put your affairs in order."
Chapter 2.
Siegfried pulled the bell cord at the front door of Skeldale House. It felt strange. It was his home, after all, but the last time he had just walked in unannounced, Mrs Hall had mistaken him for a burglar. He wanted no repeat of having his bell rung by her mighty cricket bat and he hadn't forgotten her threat to upgrade to his hunting rifle.
He rang again. Normally, Jess would be barking. Weren't there ten children living in Skeldale House? If so, where were they? On a cloudy, cold Sunday afternoon in November, where could everyone be? The shops were closed. Church was long over.
Siegfried walked to the back yard and saw, yes. The little black roadster was gone.
"Damnation," he growled. Then he entered through the back door and used the telephone to call Helen Herriot. She answered on the third ring, "Hello!"
"Helen, its Siegfried," he said. "Where is Mrs Hall, do you know?"
"In the high Dales, " Helen replied. "Up past the Dimsdale farm."
"On a cold day like this? You'd think they'd rather be home by the fire. Well, thanks Helen. Is James alright?"
"He's just fine, still in Scotland training, I think. Are you alright? You sound .."
"I'll be great when I find Mrs Hall. Thanks again."
Siegfried opened the cupboards. He'd counted on eating when he arrived. It had never occurred to him that Mrs Hall might not be at the sink or the stove, or in the livingroom with a basket of mending.
He was hungry and grinned when he found the shortbread tin and opened it. Then, on second thought, he tucked it under his arm and trotted out the front door and jumped back into the emerald green Rover. He fired the engine and drove at breakneck speed up well-remembered roads into the high Dales, past the Dimsdale place and beyond, searching all along the way for signs of the little black car.
He found it five miles farther on, parked just within sight on a grassy side path. He pulled in behind, stepped out onto the winter-killed native grasses, and trotted past the roadster and into the tight cluster of trees that hugged a small, burbling rivulet that wound through rocks and between massive willow roots, leading up and up, away from the farms toward the wild gorse that dominated the very tops of the high Dales.
Siegfried was soon winded and his left leg bothered. He'd been immobilized since April. Seven months had taken its toll. Still, he pressed on, eager to find Mrs Hall, certain she'd be somewhere up ahead.
Finally, a young boy's voice piped, "I see a soldier!"
Another youngster, this one a girl, screamed excitedly, "He's coming this way!"
Then, Siegfried stopped. Mrs Hall had stood up beside the stream. She wore Siegfried's old barn coat, held a fishing pole in one hand and a rather massive trout in the other. If he hadn't been about to weep with joy, Siegfried might have laughed.
Mrs Hall threw the pole in one direction, but forgot to drop the trout. Instead, she pelted toward him, fish in hand, leaping rocks and willow roots like a deer. Siegfried braced himself as she reached him, flung her arms around him, and hit him in the back with her freshly caught fish.
Siegfried absorbed her impact joyfully, lifting her off her feet and swinging her through the air, before burying his hand in her hair and kissing her thoroughly on the lips.
Audrey's response was complete abandon. She ran her empty hand into his hair and cried, "My God, you're home! Thank the Lord, you're back, safe and sound."
Siegfried laughed and found himself unable to say anything other than, "My dear, dear girl!" over and over, tears running down his face.
The children watched, astonished, as Mrs Hall flung her arms around the tall, gray bearded soldier. Sam was especially perplexed by the scene, his mum had never greeted his dad that eagerly. Jane, standing beside him, holding Audrey's abandoned fishing rod, rolled her eyes and said, "At least she didn't drop dinner."
Finally the adults seemed to realize that ten somber children were observing their reunion. Mrs Hall didn't quite let go of the stranger, but turned her head toward them and said tearfully, "This is my very, very good friend, Mr Farnon. He's the friend I visited in Scarborough."
Sam advanced manfully and stuck out his hand, "I am Sam Franks, Sir," he said. "Welcome home. These are my brothers: Joseph, Albert, and Erving, and my sisters: Jane, Lily, Alice, Jeanne, Ann, and Allyson."
Siegfried smiled, wiped his eyes and shook Sam's hand, saying, "I am so very pleased to meet you. Thank you for keeping Mrs Hall company, while I've been away. What are you all doing up here?" he asked halfway to Audrey, but also including the children.
Sam replied, "We're catching dinner." His three brothers puffed out their skinny chests with pride, as the providers for their family.
Jane added, "And picking watercress."
Other little girls piped in, "And finding pretty stones!"
Siegfried squeezed Audrey's hand and said, "I'm so glad I didn't miss all the fun." Then they trooped back up the stream and the children went back to their various endeavors.
Siegfried settled on a large knee-shaped root by the water's edge and pulled Audrey down beside him.
"Should you put that fish in the water to keep?" he asked.
Audrey's eyes widened. She'd forgotten she was holding a 24-inch trout by its lower jaw.
Blushing, she jumped up, pulled up her creel from between two rocks, and thrust the fish into the willow basket, before sinking it back into the stream.
Then she washed her hands and smiled a little smile, "I'm afraid I've smeared fish slime all over your coat."
"Yes," Siegfried confirmed. "Cats shall follow me everywhere. I couldn't care less. You can help me wash the scales from my neck later."
It was a subtle proposition, but Audrey reddened and her smile grew less chaste. "After the children go to bed," she said, "I shall be all yours, my dear Mr Farnon."
For the rest of the afternoon, Siegfried and Audrey sat, hand in hand with Siegfried's arm pulling her into the warmth of his military coat.
"I'm not home for good," he said sadly. "I am so sorry, Audrey."
"How long?" she said, snuggling deeper into his embrace.
"A month," he replied. "I'll be long gone before Christmas."
"Where?"
"That's the best news," Siegfried said with a smile. "I am going to America. I don't quite grasp why they want me, but Lord Halifax… I shouldn't be telling you this," he said suddenly.
Audrey nodded and said, "It's enough to know you'll be safe. Thank God for that, Siegfried." Then she kissed him. It was a long, tender kiss and the sweetness of it made his chest ache.
"I released you from your promise, Audrey," he said when he found he could speak without weeping. He gazed at her uncertainly and asked, "May I ask you again?"
Audrey lied, "I never got your letter. I have always believed you would be mine."
Siegfried hugged her tight and, then, after a long silence said, "I thought you gave that coat to Jess."
"She didn't need it anymore. The children have distracted her," Audrey replied. "I needed it."
"It smells like a dog has slept on it, my dear. Perhaps you should wash it."
"It smells like you on the inside," she replied happily. "I shall never wash it until you are home with me for good."
"I offer a compromise," Siegfried laughed. "Wash the coat and I shall wear it while I'm home. I shall get my smell all through the old rag and return it to you. Besides, my uniform coat stinks of fish."
Every now and then, one child or another would run up to show them a treasure. Sam caught another trout. His brothers each caught several rock sculpin, but threw them back when Audrey said they were not dinner fare. The littlest Franks, Allyson, brought Siegfried a rock, handing it to him with a shy smile. He made a fuss over its color, shape, and general beauty, and then after Allyson trotted off to rejoin her sisters, he confided to Audrey that he planned to keep it, always.
As the November sun slid down behind the tallest trees, the children wandered back from their adventures.
"Time to go, already?" Siegfried asked the children, frozen through.
"Yes," Jane answered, "tomorrow is a school day. We have to make dinner, eat, say our prayers, and be in bed by 8 o'clock."
Audrey piled the girls, the fish, and Jess into the roadster. Siegfried let the boys squeeze into the Rover and followed her down the winding mountain roads at a sedate speed. As he drove along he whistled the aria, 'When I was a lad,' from HMS Pinafore, thinking about the happiness ahead.
Siegfried pulled the Rover into its usual place by the back door and the boys piled out. Sam took their poles and stowed them in the shed. Two other boys took Siegfried by the hands and led him inside, as if he were a guest and might lose his way. Jess bounded alongside them, wagging her tail and bumping Siegfried's hand with her nose.
Inside, the kitchen was bustling with activity. Jane was cleaning fish at the sink. Ann was picking bits of weeds and sticks out of the watercress. Lily was setting the table. Jeanne and Alice were peeling spuds, and Allyson was arranging small stones on the mantel. Mrs Hall was nowhere in sight.
The boys took off their boots and coats and hung them neatly on hooks in the back Hall. Siegfried did, as well. Then he watched, smiling, as Sam fed Jess and Alan filled her water bowl.
Siegfried wandered into the office and then the living room, looking for Audrey. He found her coming down the stairs wearing a beautiful dark blue dress. She had loosed her hair from her usual bun at the back of her neck. It curled around her face and spilled over her shoulders.
Siegfried's breath caught when he saw her. She froze on the last step when she saw Siegfried staring at her, open-mouthed.
"You are lovely," he said, stepping close and wrapping his arms around her waist. "You take my breath away." Siegfried pressed his face against her, and she ran her fingers into his hair, causing wild curls. "I love you, Audrey. I need you with every fiber of my being. I'm in agony when we are apart. These past months have been unbearable."
Audrey bent and whispered, "I have to make dinner, Siegfried." Then she nibbled his ear and pressed her body against him, briefly, before slipping past and entering the kitchen.
Siegfried climbed the stairs and washed his hands and face, using very, very cold water. Audrey's proximity had caused an inconvenience that he could not display before a pack of children. The cold water helped, but he realized that he would have to think strictly pure thoughts, until 8 o'clock.
Dinner was tremendous. Siegfried had known Audrey was an exceptional cook, but after months away from home, it was a revelation to be fed by her again. The trout was done simply, fried to perfection in butter. The potatoes were merely boiled and dashed with parsley. The watercress was the perfect, peppery counterpoint to the fish. After dinner, coffee and shortbread was served, after Siegfried retrieved the tin from the Rover.
The Franks children all leant a hand with clearing the table and, by 7:30, Audrey and Siegfried had the dishes done, Sam and Jane had their siblings school books organized at the front door, and the Franks children joined Siegfried and Audrey in the living room where they enjoyed a half hour of watching the fire burn in the fireplace, while the radio played Granville Bantock directing his classical Celtic Symphony.
When the clock chimed 8 o'clock, the children kissed Audrey goodnight, one by one. Sam and Jane told Mrs Hall that she needn't bother tucking in the little ones. They would do it. She should entertain Siegfried.
The children trooped upstairs without a grumble and Siegfried shook his head in wonder. "You have this place running like a well-oiled machine. The children are happy, they lend a hand without a complaint. I am impressed."
"I did the same with you and the boys, Siegfried," she smiled. "People like to be well organized. I just set things up and the children naturally join in. It's human nature."
"The Royal Navy needs you in charge, my dear," Siegfried said, pulling her close. They sat for awhile, listening to the music and watching the fire. Then Audrey said, "Sleep with me tonight, Siegfried. I've given your bedroom away to the children."
Siegfried hugged her closer and said, "On one condition. You must promise to marry me in the next two weeks. I've only got a month, Audrey. Then I'm off to America."
Audrey leapt to her feet, grabbed her coat and raced out of the house. Siegfried followed in his shirt sleeves. He saw her disappear into the church and, mystified, he followed. Moments later, she reappeared, making a dash for the rectory. Siegfried followed. His left leg slowed him to a fast limp.
Before he reached the building, Audrey reemerged, dragging the Vicar by the arm. She intercepted Siegfried and explained as she hustled both men into the church. The village clock struck 10 o'clock.
"The banns, Siegfried, " she gasped. "The banns must be read on each of three Sundays before the wedding. Today's November 3rd. If the banns are not read before midnight, you'll be gone before we can be married."
As she explained, the Vicar had disappeared. He stepped back into view a moment later, wearing his robes and carrying a file. He thrust the folder at Siegfried and said, "Fill this in, both of you. I will start the Service."
Siegfried and Audrey sat in the front pew, hunched over the official forms for posting of the banns. The Vicar read more rapidly than Siegfried imagined possible. Meanwhile, he filled out his full name, birthday, residence, name, birthday and date of death of his first wife, names of next of kin, his father and mother's full names, birthdays, dates of death, places of birth, congregation, and on and on. Then he glanced at Audrey's progress and saw she had a completed form.
"How did you manage all this so quickly?" he whispered.
"I asked the Vicar for the form while you were still with Doctor Ascoli in Scarborough. I did this months ago, as soon as I arrived home, Siegfried. After all, I had said 'yes'."
Siegfried and Audrey sat holding hands while the Vicar praised the Lord and invoked his blessings much, much faster than his superiors would approve. Finally, at the close of the Service the Vicar said solemnly, "Audrey Alma Hall, Siegfried Arthur Farnon, please stand. Before this congregation and in the sight of God, is it your intention to be married in the church of Darrowby?"
Siegfried and Audrey replied, "it is."
The Vicar continued, speaking to the, otherwise empty church, "Does anyone here present know of any obstacle to this man and this woman joining in Holy Matrimony? Hearing no objection, the banns are hereby read for the first of three Sundays."
Then the Vicar kissed the Bible and swept down to the pew to embrace Audrey and wring Siegfried's hand like it was a pump handle.
The village clock chimed midnight.
Chapter 3.
Audrey led Siegfried up the stairs to her room. They moved quietly, afraid to wake the children sleeping in every bedroom, but two – Audrey's small, neat room and the large bedroom at the front of the house that had belonged to Siegfried and Mrs Farnon, until she died.
Siegfried followed Audrey into her room and frowned. He leaned close to her and murmured into her hair, "That is a very narrow bed."
Audrey smiled and whispered back, "There is a large bed down the hall that I am sure is quite comfortable. Here's the key. I will wait here for you to decide what you want to do."
Siegfried took the key from her hand, his heart hammering. He had not been inside Evelyn's bedroom since he had locked the door on the day of her death, and put away that key more than seven years ago.
He kissed Audrey and said, "I'll take a look." Then he went quietly down the hallway to the locked door, turned the key in the latch, and stepped inside. Weak light from a waxing moon spilled through the curtains washing the room in soft silvery monochrome. Siegfried stood in the doorway for a long moment, unable to move.
A slight wind lifted the curtain sheers, as if a window had opened. Siegfried shivered for no reason he understood.
"Evelyn," he said softly. "I did not think I would ever love again, not after I lost you." He took a tentative step into the room. "She is a good woman, far better than I deserve, and I love her. For reasons passing understanding, she loves me. But, I want … I need your blessing."
Siegfried held his breath, waiting, hoping for a sign, and feeling foolish. He was a rational man, after all, a man of science, not a mystic. When no sign came, he walked to the bed and sat.
"I shall never forget our last morning together," he said half to himself. "You were going riding. I had a full list of pig inoculations. There was an outbreak of swine influenza, so I didn't have time for breakfast. We said goodbye here. I never saw you alive again, Evelyn. After that day, I worked, I breathed, I ate, I slept, but I was not alive. I went through the motions. Tris needed me. Otherwise, I believe I would have laid down and died, just to be with you, Evelyn. Audrey put me back together, day by day, piece by piece."
"If you are here. If any part of you watches over me, then you know. Be happy for me. You would never want me to suffer, to spend my life alone. I want Audrey as my wife. I want her here, where you and I were once so happy. I want your blessing, Evelyn, please."
The hair on Siegfried's neck prickled and,, as waves of ethereal colors suddenly flooded the bedroom, he bolted off the bed. Siegfried stood, trembling and dumbstruck for a moment, before he gathered his wits and went to the northeast window. Outside, the Aurora Borealis played across the sky. Shimmering bands of gold and silver chased across the deep blackness of night, like flowing curtains caught in a cosmic wind.
Siegfried's voice shook as he whispered, "Thank you."
Then he snatched up his dead wife's abandoned slippers and night gown, stripped the blankets, pillowcases, and sheets from the bed, and carried everything down to the laundry room. Siegfried returned with fresh linens. He made up the bed with clean pillow cases, sheets, and a warm multicolored quilt that he knew Audrey admired.
He threw open all the windows, letting icy air sweep in to banish Evelyn's lingering scent. He swept makeup, jewelry, hair brush, hair pins, and combs from every surface into a waste basket. He set the basket in the hallway.
Tomorrow, he would empty the armoire and drawers, as well, and pull down the curtains and roll up the rug. If Audrey agreed, everything would go to the Church jumble sale. If she preferred, he would repaint the walls, buy a new rug, and curtains - whatever it took to make this room her bedroom.
Siegfried returned to Audrey's little room at the back of the house. She'd fallen asleep, curled up on top of the covers. He bent and scooped her into his arms. As she awoke, he said, "Hush. Shhh. Don't wake the children."
Audrey snuggled her head against his shoulder as he carried her down the hallway, the scent of her hair making him eager. Bands of color still played across the room, as they entered, painting it in hues of gold, then rose, and green. Siegfried rested Audrey on the bed. Without a word, she began to undress. She unzipped the side zipper of her dress, then unbuckled her belt, and unsnapped the closure at her throat.
Siegfried watched with a small smile on his lips. Audrey slid up her skirt. She pulled the dress off over her head. Then she laid back with a little sigh. Siegfried unsnapped her stocking tops from her garter belt and slid each stocking down her leg slowly, carefully. Audrey thought of how he used the same gentleness on his injured or frightened patients.
When Siegfried stopped for a long moment and just gazed down at her, Audrey began to tremble with anticipation. He sat on the edge of the bed, ran the tips of his fingers across her cheek. He leaned down and kissed her and, Audrey realized with a rush of excitement, that his hand was moving down past her waist and pushing her panties down her legs. She kicked them off. Aurey's body ached for him as Siegfried's lips followed his hand. He kissed her face, first, then her neck, her ribs, waist, belly, and then moved lower.
Siegried nudged Audrey's thighs open with his hand as he kissed lower, until he touched her in a way she had never before considered. His beard between her thighs was a revelation, his mouth on her there was sweet agony. The weight of him across her belly and hips made the sensation more intensely pleasurable than she thought possible.
Audrey lifted her hips to give greater access. Siegfried responded eagerly, bringing her rapidly to climax. She bit her hand, muffling a cry of desire.
As her sounds turned to contented gasps, Siegfried stood and stripped. The strange lights washed his bare skin gold and red.
Audrey saw raw need on Siegfried's face. His body was clearly hungry for her. Siegfried was magnificent and a little daunting. John Hall, the only other man Audrey had seen erect, had been a physical giant, muscular and athletic, but poorly endowed by comparison to Siegfried Farnon.
Audrey sat up, removed her bra, and dropped it to the floor. Siegfried sat beside her. Their bare thighs touched. He pulled her to his chest and murmured as he stroked her hair, "I have wanted you for so long, Audrey, so very long, but if you aren't ready…"
"I am more than ready," she breathed in his ear. "You are a beautiful man, Siegfried. Please, what are we waiting for?"
At that, he pressed her back onto the bed, took her hand in his and placed it on his member. "I will be careful. You don't want to become pregnant, not during a war."
Audrey caressed him slowly, but said "I am not a young woman, dear Siegfried, and I want your children. If we make our first child tonight, I will be so very happy. Please, let's try."
"Are you sure?" he asked as he slipped his hand between her legs, rubbing against her heat as she continued stroking him. He felt she was ready and he was beginning to lose the ability to think rationally.
"I don't want to leave you alone to raise a child, if … if ..." .
He changed tack, "There are other ways to enjoy each other, Audrey."
"No," she purred. "I mean, yes. I am perfectly," she groaned with pleasure as her need escalated, "… perfectly sure that I want your children. Please, please make love to me."
Siegfried slid down beside her and enfolded her in his arms. "Tell me to stop if it hurts," he said. "We can go slow." Calculating that Audrey might not had relations with a man since leaving her husband, Siegfried worried. He had asked Doctor Ascoli about possible complications. Ascoli confirmed that sex sometimes hurt in women over forty, and especially those mature women who had not been active sexually. On the other hand, the old man had pointed out with a smile, Audrey Hall was healthy and willing. Women in love seemed well able to enjoy sex, no matter what their age. Ascoli advised Siegfried to begin slowly and gently and to see how things developed.
Siegfried kissed Audrey again, then he knelt between her legs and lowered his body, holding himself above her. He hesitated, but Audrey wrapped her legs around him and pulled his hips down to touch hers. The sensation of their bodies melding was almost too much pleasure. Siegfried entered Audrey carefully with slow, tentative thrusts, drawing back slowly and then pressing slowly back, barely inside.
Siegfried's control almost slipped when Audrey's body clamped around on him Her thighs tightened around his waist, her ankles locked across him, pressing him to her as her hips rocked up to meet him, and her inner muscles tightened down his full length.
Audrey thrust up, eager to press him into her depths, hungry and insistent. Siegfried hung on, held back and fought his need for release as she sated herself. Finally, he felt her body go rigid against him. He opened his eyes to gaze down into her face. It was an exquisite mask of desire.
The vision tipped Siegfried over the edge. There was no more holding back. Siegfried gasped, "I love you Audrey," and he thrust faster and deeper. Then, Audrey moaned a throaty sound of pure animal pleasure, and she buried her face in his shoulder to muffle the sound. Siegfried let go and lost himself in the feel of her body against his flesh, grateful beyond words.
Chapter 4.
Audrey woke early and crept to her room, long before the Franks children were awake. She used the bathroom, brushed her teeth and washed, taking care to erase all external signs of the night before. Fortunately, Siegfried had left nothing but a lovely scent and a warmth inside that no child would see. Her eyes, however, sparkled. She would tell the children that she was happy because she was soon to be married.
After Audrey dressed and went downstairs, Sam Franks listened for awhile. He rose from his shared bed carefully, so as not to disturb Alan and Erving. Then he dressed and slipped out of the room, tiptoed down the hallway and rapped at the bedroom door where Siegfried still slept.
Siegfried heard the sound at the door. He reached for Audrey but, as he became fully awake, realized that she was gone. He collected his clothing and slung it over a chair. Hers, he tucked under the bedding.
Then he pulled on his pants and went to the door. Sam Franks glared up at him when Siegfried opened the door.
"Good morning, Sam," Siegfried said. "Do you need something?"
"We need to talk," Sam replied.
"Well, you better come in," Siegfried said, sensing that the boy was upset. After closing the door, Siegfried asked, What has happened?"
Sam glared at him for a moment, then stammered, "Mrs Hall is like a mother to us."
Siegfried nodded, holding his face carefully neutral.
Sam continued, "Anyone hurts Mrs Hall has me to answer to… see?"
"You care about her, Sam," Siegfried said. "I am so glad. I love her, too. We've been friends for years and years. Your sisters Jeanne and Allyson weren't even born when Mrs Hall and I met."
Sam stared at his bare feet, struggling to find words.. "I might be a better friend to her than you are, Sir," he said, looking Siegfried in the eye.
"How's that, Sam? Are you worried I'll hurt Mrs Hall?" Siegfried asked kindly. "I can't, Sam. You see, I love her."
Not to be put off, Sam replied, "You're going to war, ain't you?"
"Yes."
"Then you might die and where'd she be then, eh? A widow. Maybe with a baby. I know how babies get made and I know what you were up to last night. Did you think on that before you started messing her about?"
Siegfried nodded and said, "Would you like to sit down? I have, in fact, thought about that, Sam. You're a good friend to worry about it. Here's what we decided. Mrs Hall said she would marry me several months ago. But I was injured and not fit to do much of anything. I've just got away from all that and I came straight here from London. Yesterday, we had the banns read for the first time at the church."
"You weren't at church yesterday," Sam replied. "Lies won't make me trust you."
Siegfried rubbed his hair and said, "There was a special service the Vicar performed just for Audrey and me. I'll only have a month. It's just enough time, Sam. We'll be husband and wife before I leave. Furthermore, since you're worried about Mrs Hall's welfare, you should know that I've got this house free and clear, two cars, about twenty thousand pounds in the bank, and my veteran's life insurance should provide Mrs Hall with 200 pounds a year, whether or not she marries me."
Sam nodded and said, "That's okay then. She won't be left without a roof over her head if you get yourself killed."
Siegfried nodded. "If I do get killed, it's good to know she has a good friend like you, Sam."
Then Siegfried offered his hand, "Shake on it?"
Sam grinned and shook, before saying, "Come on then. Mrs Hall makes a good breakfast!"
Siegfried ducked into the bathroom just before the crowd of Franks children. He washed thoroughly and cleaned his teeth, considered shaving but, aware of the whining of little people on the other side of the locked door, he abandoned the idea. Besides, it was cold and would get colder still. He did a quick trim, brushed his wild curls into respectable submission, and relinquished the facilities to six little girls.
Siegfried trotted downstairs. It was a Monday. Audrey would bake today and he had the whole day ahead with her, at least until school let out in late afternoon. Something already smelled excellent in the kitchen. He followed the smell of frying sausage and found Audrey was carrying plates from the stove to the dining room table where twelve chairs were arranged around the mahogany table.
"The dining room?" Siegfried exclaimed. "We abandoned that practice years ago! Too far to walk, you said."
"I did," Audrey agreed, "but with ten children to feed, the kitchen won't hold us all."
Siegfried took the platter from her hands and said, "You sit. I will shuttle the food to the table for a change." He plunked the sausages on the table, missing the coaster, then turned and repeated the process with eggs, toast, jam, and a jug of milk. Finally, he brought the tea pot and sugar bowl. "Is that everything?" he asked, looking about.
Audrey gave Siegfried a wondering gaze that said 'What has gotten into you?' without speaking a word. "That's all," she said. Then, when Siegfried was seated and reaching for the eggs, and the children were all seated, she said, "For what we are about to receive, oh lord, we are truly grateful."
All the children said, "Amen."
Siegfried looked up through his lashes, his head still bowed, as if in prayer, and winked at Audrey. She blushed. Then she passed him the eggs, sausage, toast and jam, and poured him a cup of tea.
The children ate fast and there was little conversation. Siegfried wondered if that was a rule, or his oppressive presence was the cause. He ate in silence, too. Stealing glances at Audrey. Twice he caught Sam watching him watch her, but Sam just smiled and shook his head at the nonsense of adults.
When Audrey looked at the clock, she declared "ten minutes," and the Franks cleaned their plates and then each child carried their plate and cutlery into the kitchen. Audrey followed with the empty milk glasses and Siegfried juggled platters, tea pot, sugar bowl, and jam pot.
The children all kissed Audrey goodbye as they gathered their lunch bags and books. Then, they were out the front door and Audrey turned away from the door, walked down the hallway and threw her arms around Siegfried.
"At last," she said, smiling broadly. "I love having them here, but to be alone with you is heaven!" She kissed him, standing in the front hallway, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Siegfried grinned like a boy and said, "I am going to paint our bedroom. What color would you like?"
"There's no need," Audrey replied. "The room is lovely."
"Well,"Siegfried continued, "I want new curtains and a rug. Will you come help me buy them?"
Audrey realized then what was happening. "You want the room changed."
"Yes," Siegfried admitted. "You deserve nice things of your own, not hand-me-downs from someone else, Audrey. Let me do this for you."
She pulled him close and kissed him. "You are a lovely man, Siegfried Farnon. Let me get my bread started. Then can we stop by Maggie's? She's had no word from Tris. I'm worried about her. Seeing you will cheer her up. Then we can visit Helen and, after we have a chat, the shops will be open."
Siegfried sat in the kitchen and watched Audrey work. Her economy of movement had always amazed him. It was like a dance to watch her move from cupboard to table to stove and icebox. He blinked hard. He'd been such a bloody fool.