Derek didn’t comment. His mother had a beautiful home, when more than half of London was a bombsite. She looked well-dressed and well-fed. She was doing just fine.
“Derek, you must have some other clothes. Those look like rags. I know you like to pretend you are a common villager, but must you act like one? It would scandalize my friends to see you dressed like that.”
Derek looked down at his demob suit. “Courtesy of the government, Mother dear. The only suit that will fit me now.”
“Yes, you are far too thin, and you look so old.”
Derek lit another cigarette. The doctors had warned him about smoking so much. “Thanks, mother. Charming as always.”
“I say it as I find it. I am glad you are home. Now you get on with divorcing that common trollop of a wife and finding someone more suitable. Lady Lancashire’s daughter, Penelope, lost her husband in the war. Has two young boys but they are off to boarding school shortly. She would be perfect.”
“I have a wife, mother.”
His mother muttered something.
“Mother, Sally said you’d been to visit her. Something about selling Rose Cottage.”
“Well, I wasn't letting her have it. That cottage has been in our family for years and it's bad enough those Jewish brats had to live there during the war. But now, they will go back to where they came from and you can pay Sally off. It’s rather charming, isn’t it? Or at least it would be if that wife of yours hadn’t dug up the whole lawn and planted vegetables. The woman has no class.” His mother took a drag of her cigarette before continuing, “The village is much bigger than I remember. I met a wonderful woman, Jane Shackleton-Driver at the Women’s Institute. She lives on a large spread just outside of Abbeydale. She filled me in on your wife’s antics, during the war. Imagine carrying on with a man barely out of short trousers. Thankfully, Winston had the right idea and arrested the enemy aliens. They shipped him off before too much damage was done.”
“Heinz, or Harry as they call him now, was a sixteen-year-old boy on the run for his life. He is now serving in the British Army. I rather think he lied about his age to get in.”
His mother sniffed. “It’s not decent for a young widow to parade her by-blows for everyone to see.”
“You mean the children rescued by the Kindertransport?”
“Who rescued them? We have enough children in Britain already. Mrs. Shackleton-Driver had to take in five of them. Unruly lot they were, covered in lice and not one toilet-trained among them. Makes me feel faint to even think about it.”
Derek coughed to hide a laugh. He doubted his mother had ever felt faint in her whole life.
“I didn’t know Mrs. Shackleton-Driver took in refugees.”
“She didn’t take in foreigners. She took in some evacuees from London, the worst parts of the East End. She got rid of them fairly fast. Sent them back as soon as she could, and I don’t blame her one bit. Horrid little creatures.”
“The war devastated the East End. Sending those kids away probably saved their lives, not that that would trouble you much, Mother.”
She turned her glacial stare on him.
“Be careful, Derek. I’ll make allowances for your mood based on your considerable suffering in that camp. Now, sit down and tell me your plans. With Ronald dying, you’re now heir to a vast fortune. Give up this army business and take your rightful place in the business. Harold, you remember Harold Echols, he’s been with us for donkey’s years and will show you all you need to know. First, I will call your father’s tailor and have him make up some new suits. You can’t be seen in that.”
“What about rationing?”
“Darling, don’t worry about things like that. I don’t. There is always a way to secure what we need. We have no time to lose. Your brother’s remembrance service is next week. Then we have to go to collect his medal. They have awarded quite an honor to your brother.”
“I’m sure Roland would prefer to be still alive.”
He ignored his mother’s glare and excused himself on the basis he was tired.
38
As he walked to his room, his father’s old, manservant climbed the stairs behind him.
“Sorry, master Derek. These old legs of mine aren’t used to walking as fast as they used to.”
“I didn’t ring for you, Smith. Why aren’t you resting in the kitchen?”
“Your mother said I was to attend to you while you were in residence, Sir. Only, nobody told me you were coming, so apologies for not being here when you arrived.”
They had reached Derek’s old room by now.
“Not in there, Sir, I moved your things to Master Roland’s room. It’s yours now, being bigger and all.”
Derek didn't want his brother's room, or his inheritance. He closed his eyes. He knew what he wanted and that was Sally. Only, she came with two children and he didn't want those.
“Sir, are you all right? You look rather pale.”
“I’m fine, Smith. I should worry about you. You should have retired by now.” Derek waited, hoping the servant would tell him why he hadn’t. The man wouldn't return his gaze, his eyes shifting right and left. He called him by the name he’d used as a boy.
“Sam? Come in and sit down and tell me what’s really been happening since I’ve been away. For starters, you can tell me about the black market.”
Sam paled even more, if that was at all possible for a man who looked like he never went outdoors. He followed Derek into the room but only sat when Derek insisted.
Derek glanced around. The room looked like Roland had just left. All of his brother’s things were laid out in perfect position. If he opened the wardrobe,
