Chapter 3

Helen stood at the entrance of the large house with its stone pillars topped with griffins on each side and waited for the soldier on duty to come out, check her papers and let her enter the property. Looking up at the imposing stone house, she knew she should be grateful for her job. And she was – she would just rather not have to work so close to Nazi officers.

A grumpy-looking sentry walked up to her, and Helen waited silently as he inspected her Occupation Identity card, before opening the metal gates further to allow her into the grounds.

‘Is everything all right?' Mrs Jeune, the cook, asked as Helen entered the large kitchen at the back of the building, having made her way along the labyrinth of corridors to get there.

‘It's fine.'

‘Your aunt any better today?'

Ordinarily Helen wouldn't have shared her aunt's personal information, but the cook and Aunt Sylvia were friends, and Helen liked Mrs Jeune despite her stern ways.

‘Not really,' she admitted miserably. She removed her coat and hat, walked through to the small room next door to hang them up and collect a clean apron. She slipped the apron straps over her head and returned to the kitchen, tying them behind her back. ‘She's a bit worse, to be honest, but she has finally been to see a doctor.'

Cook focused on turning over a large joint of meat, basted it, replaced it on the metal tray it was lying in and put it back into the enormous stove. ‘That's good news. I'm sure Sylvia will do what she thinks best in the end.'

Helen wasn't sure what she meant but knew Cook didn't like to be questioned so said nothing. ‘Where would you like me to start?' she asked, aware Cook expected everyone to help ensure all the meals were served on time.

‘Dulcie's in the scullery. See if she needs any help then come back here and start cutting up the mushrooms and tomatoes for their breakfast.'

‘Good morning, Dulcie,' Helen said, smiling at the slim girl. Dulcie was sixteen, three years younger than Helen, but she appeared older – perhaps, Helen guessed, because she had a difficult life. The girl could be tetchy at times and had taken a few months to get used to Helen working there, but mostly she was kind and Helen always liked to help her whenever she could.

‘Morning.'

The sulky reply wasn't unexpected, and Helen went to stand next to her. ‘Cook thought I might be able to help you with a few things.'

Dulcie cocked her head to one side to indicate several pans drying on the draining board. Helen picked up a tea-towel and one of the pans, then noticed Dulcie glance at the doorway and put a wet finger up to her lips. ‘Cook was called in earlier to prepare something for a load of 'em. They've been 'ere most of the night chatting about something,' she whispered.

Helen frowned. ‘Poor thing.' She knew Cook already worked long hours, without being made to come in any earlier. She was always there when Helen arrived, and when she left. Helen wondered how she kept going. ‘She can't have much time at home.'

They heard the kitchen door open and the sound of Mrs Edwards' heeled shoes upon the tiled floor. The housekeeper was insistent on everything she overlooked being impeccable. Helen liked her, but sometimes found the woman's high standards a little difficult to keep up with.

She finished wiping the final pan and set it down on the side. ‘I'd better get out there and start that chopping.'

‘Ah, there you are, Helen,' Mrs Edwards said, when Helen entered the kitchen. ‘You and Dulcie will be serving lunch today.'

Dulcie? Helen was used to occasionally having to wait on the officers with other girls, but never with Dulcie. She knew without seeing her face that she would be horrified to hear this.

‘What about the other girls who serve in the dining room?' As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she knew she should have kept her thoughts to herself. Mrs Edwards' frowned. ‘That is to say… '

Mrs Edwards' gaze fell on her and then she turned to Cook and gave her a pointed look before addressing Helen. ‘Since you seem so curious, dear. Marie and Jeanette are both unwell and won't be returning until tomorrow or the next day.'

Helen hated to think she had upset the woman who had given her work. ‘I'm sorry for speaking out of turn, Mrs Edwards. It won't happen again.'

Mrs Edwards' expression softened. ‘I'm sure it won't.'

The back door opened and an untidy man Helen recognised as the gardener walked in. He immediately removed his cap and it was clear from the look of concern on his ruddy face that something was dreadfully wrong.

‘What's the matter, Tommy?' Mrs Jeune asked, going over to him closely followed by Mrs Edwards.

He looked at Helen and Dulcie, who had joined them, then, seeming satisfied, puffed out his cheeks and closed the door behind him. ‘We have a problem and I'm not sure what to do about it.'

‘Helen, fetch Tommy a cup of strong tea,' Cook ordered. ‘Er, Dulcie, I'm not sure why you're hovering when you've got pots to wash. Get back to that scullery.'

Helen went over to the kettle and did as she asked.

‘It's the silver, Mrs Edwards.' His voice was low but Helen could still hear what he was saying. She wondered why the gardener was interested in the silver.

‘I thought it was safely put away.'

Helen realised by the tone in the housekeeper's voice that she didn't mean the silver was in a cupboard but hidden somewhere. Aware she needed to hurry up with the tea, she poured in a little milk and gave it a stir.

‘It is, but that's the problem. Him in the office called me in earlier and questioned me about hidin' things. I'm sure he could tell I was fibbin' when I said I knew nothin' about any treasures.'

‘I'm not sure what the problem is, though,' Cook said.

Helen carried his tea over to him and put it down on the table, then returned to the worktop and pretended not to be listening as she continued tidying up.

He groaned. ‘He's ordered me to have the veg patch dug up. By tomorrow first thing.'

Helen heard one of the women gasp.

‘We need to do something.' It was Mrs Edwards' voice and she sounded unusually flustered.

‘I know but there's a lot of stuff to move and I can't do it all by myself. What if I'm seen? I don't want to be sent away to one of those camps in Germany.'

Upset to hear the man's desperation, Helen went over to the table. ‘Maybe I know someone who can help,' she said, thinking of Peggy's boyfriend Tony. She didn't know him well but had overheard him reassuring Peggy one night outside their homes and suspected he was involved in acts of sabotage that had been happening on the island.

Three surprised faces turned to her, and she realised she was about to be told off for interrupting.

* * *

The day passed quickly and as Helen hurried home with Peggy's younger sister, Babs, who had kindly waited for her after dropping off some knitting to a friend of her mother's in Millbrook, she tried to think how to approach Tony.

Worried she might be seen as being rude, she said, ‘It's not often I see you out this way.' She knew that she and Babs went in different directions to get to their places of work.

‘I only had a half day at Boots today,' Babs explained. ‘Naturally, Mum took that to mean she could keep me busy with jobs for her.'

As Babs moaned, Helen waved the sides of her coat to try and cool down as they walked. Her skin was sticky with perspiration after the long day working in the kitchen and her nervousness at serving the German soldiers. She hated having to go into the dining room when they were there. She wished she had a thinner coat to wear on such a hot June day. Working in the kitchen had been bad enough but now they were walking quickly in the bright sunshine it somehow seemed even worse. Tomorrow she would go without a coat and simply wear her best cardigan.

As they chatted, Helen couldn't help thinking how much nicer it must be serving at one of the counters in Boots like Babs. Most importantly though, she was relieved to have someone to talk to and take her mind off having committed herself to speaking to Tony about the issue at the villa.

‘Isn't it funny?' Babs said in her usual bubbly way. ‘I work at Boots and you work for the lady who helped run it for years.'

Helen wasn't sure that was correct, but didn't like to argue. ‘I'm sorry I haven't been able to meet her,' she admitted. ‘She seems to have achieved a lot in her almost eighty years.' She tried to picture herself at Lady Trent's age and reflected that all she would like to have achieved by then was to be happily settled in a home of her own, with Bobby married and bringing up his own children. The thought made her smile.

‘What are you thinking?' Babs asked, nudging her and interrupting her thoughts.

‘I was only wondering what I might be like at eighty.'

Babs giggled. ‘You've got a long way to go before then, and a lot of living to do in that time.'

Helen wondered if those years would be spent here stuck on the island. As much as she loved it she hoped to have the freedom to choose whether to stay or leave. If the Nazis won the war then she doubted that choice would be given to her.

They reached their respective homes and Helen was relieved to see Peggy chatting to Tony. She had known Peggy and her sister for a year now but was always struck by how different their appearances were: Babs, the younger sister, was blonde and bubbly, while Peggy was tall and dark. It made Helen think of her own brother, Stephen. Her mood dipped at the thought of how he might have reacted to her running away without saying goodbye to him. She pushed away the upsetting thought.

Babs waved at her sister and Tony before giving Helen a brief hug. ‘I'd better go and let Mum know I've dropped off the knitting.'

Peggy gave Helen a questioning look. ‘Is everything all right?'

‘Not really,' Helen admitted quietly. She looked around and, seeing several people walking by, indicated her front door. ‘Would you and Tony come inside for a moment?'

They followed her in and, after Helen had been through to see her aunt and give Bobby a kiss, she returned to join them in the living room.

‘I was hoping to see you, Tony,' she said keeping her voice down so as not to alert her aunt to what was happening. She quickly explained the situation at work and how she was hoping he might know what to do. ‘Whatever it is must be done this evening, I'm afraid, because the veg patch is being dug up first thing tomorrow. I've been trying to think how to move it all somewhere safe but I haven't any ideas so far.'

She noticed that, instead of looking concerned, Tony seemed delighted to be involved.

He thought for a moment, then raised a finger. ‘I know exactly what to do.'

‘Already?' Helen and Peggy asked in unison.

He laughed. ‘Yes, I've heard of someone else doing exactly what I'm going to suggest.' He narrowed his eyes. ‘But we're going to have to go back there around dusk so it can be done this evening.'

‘We'll be cutting it fine if we want to be home again before curfew,' Peggy said thoughtfully. ‘These summer nights don't get dark until ten sometimes.'

Helen agreed. ‘I'll need to go spend some time with Aunt Sylvia and Bobby before I can go back.'

Tony frowned. ‘What makes you think I'll take either of you with me? This could be dangerous.'

Helen swapped glances with Peggy before addressing him. ‘I'm the one with the pass. I'll need to get access to the house on some pretext, then I'll be able to go and let you in through a hidden door in the garden wall.'

Peggy nodded. ‘Yes, and you'll need me to help move everything.'

‘No.' He shook his head. ‘I agree I need Helen's help, but not yours, Peggy. I'll not let you risk getting into trouble.'

Helen grimaced, knowing that her friend wasn't going to be told what to do.

‘I don't think that's for you to decide, Tony,' Peggy said before giving Helen a triumphant look. ‘Right, then, what time shall we meet outside?'

They arranged to meet up at nine-thirty.

‘Suits me,' Tony said. ‘I can go home for supper and will be back here so we can make our way there slowly and gauge how soon the sun will be setting.'

‘Yes, I'd better get home now, too.' Peggy rubbed Helen's upper arm. ‘I'm looking forward to doing this tonight.'

‘It does feel good to know you're fighting back somehow,' Tony said. ‘Even if most of the time the Jerries are oblivious to what's happening under their noses.'

Peggy sighed. ‘As long as it stays that way we'll be fine.'

Helen heard the fear in her friend's voice and felt the same way. ‘Thank you both so much. I know Tommy and Mrs Edwards will be very relieved to know we're going to help them.' Although nervous to be actively taking part in a blatant act of resistance, Helen did her best to hide her anticipation. ‘I'd better go and see how Bobby's been for Aunt Sylvia today. I'll see you both later.'