Chapter 21

January 1942

Lying on her bed staring up at the ceiling on the first day of the new year, Peggy thought of Tony and the beautiful brooch and reminded herself how lucky she was to have someone who cared so much about her. Someone she was falling more deeply in love with each day. She hoped he had enjoyed his family Christmas.

She thought of poor Helen, with a little boy to care for and distanced from her parents and brother, and was comforted to know that she at least had her Aunt Sylvia for company. Would Helen's life be any easier if she had a husband away fighting? Probably not. So many women were struggling to care for families on their own these days. It was soothing to know she herself had family to look out for her, just as she looked out for them. How difficult it must be for those without someone close to lean on, she mused.

‘Peggy, what are you doing up there?' her mother bellowed. ‘You'll be late to work if you don't move yourself soon.'

Peggy jumped off the bed, quickly pinned her new brooch onto the lapel of her jacket, then lifted the material to gaze at it. She slipped on her shoes, picked up her handbag and ran downstairs.

‘I'm here.' She took the sandwich her mother was holding out for her. It was neatly wrapped in greaseproof paper, as always. ‘Thanks, Mum,' she said, kissing her on the cheek as she pushed her lunch into her bag. ‘I won't be back late tonight. Have a lovely day.'

‘I will if I manage to find something decent for our supper,' Ida grumbled. Then, frowning, she turned Peggy round and pushed her gently towards the door. ‘Go. Your sister left ten minutes ago.'

* * *

She hadn't seen Tony all day but presumed he was being kept busy in meetings. It wasn't until after three that afternoon that her boss summoned her to his office. She had felt tension in the building for most of the day and dreaded what might have caused it.

‘Good afternoon, Miss Hamel,' Advocate Le Gresley said when she walked in holding her notepad and pencil. He didn't seem his usual cheerful self and a feeling of dread swept through her.

‘Is everything all right, Advocate Le Gresley?'

‘Please sit down, Peggy.' He sighed deeply. ‘I'm afraid something terrible has happened and I know I can trust you to keep the matter confidential until it's somehow resolved.'

She sensed by the gravity in his expression that it was about Tony.

He placed his elbows on his desk, his hands clasped together, and exhaled sharply. ‘I'm afraid my son has been arrested.'

Remembering her boss's insistence that employees do not forge personal relationships, Peggy struggled not to show her horror. She swallowed and focused on remaining calm. ‘What's he supposed to have done?' she asked, her mind racing about the risks they never discussed but she suspected he took on some nights when they weren't together.

‘I gather he was caught out after curfew.'

‘I see.' Peggy knew some soldiers, intent on showing their superiority to locals, liked to arrest people for minor infractions. ‘Surely they'll let him go with a warning for that, though?'

He pulled a framed photo towards him and studied it. Peggy knew it was a picture of Anthony and his mother. ‘If only that was all he had been doing.'

Her dread increased. ‘May I ask what?' She recalled their conversation on Christmas Eve and knew she had been right to sense he was planning something then. Why hadn't he been more careful? Why hadn't she pushed him to tell her more? But even if he had, she doubted she could have dissuaded him from doing what he felt was right.

‘He was caught with a couple of others near to where one of the workers had gone missing. I've discovered he's been questioned, but as he had the sense not to have anything incriminating on him, I'm hoping they don't take things further.'

‘Do you think they'll let him go soon?' she asked. She knew that if he was found guilty and sentenced to longer than three months, he would probably be transported to a camp in Germany. He shook his head slowly. ‘I doubt it. He's in Newgate Street jail now.'

She pictured the ominous Napoleonic prison just off Gloucester Street and suppressed a shudder.

He lowered his face into his hands for a second then looked up at her again. ‘I've requested permission to visit him as his lawyer.'

‘They don't know you're his father? Won't they become suspicious when they see you have the same last name?'

‘I had thought of that, but what else can I do? I need to do something.'

Peggy wondered why he didn't ask one of the other partners in the firm, but reasoned that to question him might be seen as overstepping her place. She needed to help in some way, though. She pushed aside thoughts of her mother and how angry she would be to discover Peggy had come to the attention of German authorities. She knew she would never forgive herself if she didn't do something to help the man she loved. ‘I could go to the prison for you.'

He stared at her in disbelief. ‘I'm not certain they would agree to let you see him.'

‘I'm your secretary, aren't I? And if they look up my name they might realise that I translate documents for them.' She saw his expression brighten slightly. It felt good to give him some hope. ‘We won't know if we don't try. It might work, then I could speak to him on your behalf.'

‘I'm not sure.' He stared at her as he mulled over her suggestion and Peggy willed him to agree.

She struggled to hide her desperation. ‘Please, let me do this. I want to help.'

‘It's Friday and I'm not sure we'll be able to do much for him until Monday anyway, but if we can secure his release sooner rather than later, I suppose it's worth a try.' He seemed to perk up slightly. ‘I'll draft a note for the Prison Governor. I need to speak to one of my colleagues first about how best to word the letter, so if you can come in tomorrow morning for a short while, I will have something ready for you then.'

Peggy left his office, nervous but relieved. Had she done the right thing volunteering to go? She had never been to the jail before, but this was for Tony. As the reality of what she was about to do sank in, though, Peggy's bravado began to weaken slightly. She only hoped she wasn't too late to help him.