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  Doug eagerly shoved them forward, pointing out his calculations. Gertie studied them, soon working out that the only real costs would be in manpower. With Doug and Ellen doing most of the work she wouldn’t have to take on more staff, so that wasn’t a problem, and when it came to transplanting, perhaps she could drag Maureen from the house for a few hours a day to muck in too. There would be a limit to how much they could handle, but it would keep Doug and Ellen happy and occupied, that was the main thing. Doug especially needed to feel that he was contributing something to the success of the business and if the annuals made a profit, he would certainly feel he was useful.

  ‘All right, Doug, you’ve got my go ahead.’

  ‘Go ahead for what?’ Hilda asked as she carried in a large tray of tin mugs, pausing to give the carpenters their drinks first.

  Gertie waited until Hilda drew closer and, taking a mug from the tray, she said, ‘To sell annuals – but be warned, it’s going to keep both Ellen and Doug busy so you won’t get much help in the shop from now on.’

  ‘Me! Why will it keep me busy?’ Ellen asked.

  ‘Surely you don’t want your father to tackle this alone? It’s a really good idea, but it’s going to involve a lot of work.’

  ‘Yes, I suppose it will,’ Ellen agreed, ‘but I thought I was going to help you to select plant stock?’

  ‘There’ll be time enough for that too.’

  ‘All right then, I’m game.’

  Gertie turned to Hilda. ‘What about you? How do you feel about it?’

  ‘It doesn’t sound like I’ve got a lot of choice, but are you sure you can manage it, Doug?’

  ‘It isn’t exactly hard labour, so yes, I think I’ll be all right.’

  ‘I’ll get a nice long work bench set up, and find some decent-height chairs so you won’t be bent over. Percy can fill the seed trays with soil, and when they’re ready, he can put them in the greenhouse.’

  ‘Gertie, I’m quite capable of doing that,’ Ellen protested.

  ‘Yes, maybe, but we don’t want you exerting yourself.’

  ‘For goodness’ sake, you’re as bad as my mother. I keep telling her – and you – that I’m fine.’

  ‘You should be thankful that Gertie’s looking after you,’ Hilda snapped. ‘You wouldn’t find another boss who’d be as thoughtful.’

  ‘Don’t call me that,’ Gertie protested. ‘I don’t want you to think of me as your boss. We’re just one big happy family. And you, Hilda, can stop calling me madam. It sounds ridiculous.’

  ‘With the way you give out orders, what do you expect? You’re not in the army now, but it’s a wonder you don’t expect us to salute you.’

  Gertie knew Hilda was right and wanted to smile, but instead she forced a look of annoyance. ‘Only you would have the nerve to talk to me like that, Hilda.’

  Hilda flushed; her manner unusually contrite. ‘I’m sorry, Gertie. You’ve been so good to us, giving us all jobs and a lovely home. I’m grateful, really I am, and I won’t talk to you like that again.’

  Unable to hold it back now, Gertie laughed. ‘Hilda, stop it. This doesn’t sound like you at all, and if you must know, I wouldn’t change you for the world. I know I come over as bossy and need someone like you to bring me down a peg or two.’

  Hilda smiled, her manner back to normal as she said, ‘That’s just as well ‘cos I ain’t likely to change now.’

  ‘Good, and as for being grateful, let’s get one thing straight. I didn’t take you on out of pity. I took you all on because I wanted people working for me that I love and trust.’

  ‘Oh, sod it,’ said Hilda. ‘That means I’ll have to bring back those scissors I nicked yesterday. They’re nice and sharp too.’

  ‘Very funny,’ Gertie said, grinning as she lifted her mug to finish the coffee. ‘Right, Doug, you can get on with ordering what you need in the way of seeds and things, but I’m off now. Maureen will be back soon and I think you’re all going to love what she’s bringing with her.’

  ‘Why? What is it?’ Ellen asked.

  ‘She went to buy a puppy,’ Gertie said, seeing the smile that lit up Ellen’s face. Since Socks, Ellen hadn’t had a pet, and while in Somerset she had loved Bertie. Not that this puppy was a Jack Russell, instead it was a favourite breed of Maureen’s, but one that Ellen was sure to love.

  Maureen had been right in saying that paying them all a wage would be a drag on her finances, but Gertie wouldn’t have it any other way. She really did see them as her family – the family she had never had – and soon, in August, Ellen would be bringing another member into the fold.

  Chapter 43

  Ellen was holding Percy’s hand as they set off on a walk to explore more of the area, something they both enjoyed. They passed Val’s cottage and Ellen wished she could see more of her, but, working all day, six days a week, that only left Sundays and Percy liked them to spend it together.

  Val still intrigued Ellen, but as there hadn’t been many opportunities to chat, she knew little more about the spiritual gifts. It was a subject she and Percy had never discussed, but now she wondered what he thought about it.

  ‘Percy, do you believe in fortune tellers or anything like that?’

  ‘I can’t say I’ve given it much thought.’

  ‘Do you believe in God?’

  ‘In a way, but I’m not one for churches, hymns, praying and I just can’t see God as a man sitting on a throne surrounded by angels.’

  ‘Yes, but you said you believe in a way. What way?’

  ‘I look at nature. It’s so perfect, so ordered, unless man mucks it up, and I can’t believe it all came about by chance. There must have been some sort of huge, unimaginable force to create all this, but our minds just can’t comprehend it.’

  Percy wasn’t much of a talker, more a doer, and Ellen was surprised at the depth of his thinking.

  ‘So are you saying that because we can’t understand the enormity of this force, we’ve reduced it to a place called heaven and a God sitting on a throne?’

  ‘Something like that, but look, there’s a magpie in that tree. It’s a beauty. Just like you,’ he said, squeezing her hand.

  ‘All right, I’ll take the hint. You’ve had enough of this deep conversation, but thanks for the compliment, ’ Ellen said, smiling warmly. Percy was so sweet, so nice, and she enjoyed his company, yet she still couldn’t feel anything for him other than a deepening friendship. He deserved more, deserved a wife who could truly love him, but much as she tried, Ellen still dreaded the time when he would want a full marriage.

  ‘Gertie, take your feet off the sofa.’

  ‘Sorry, ma’am,’ Gertie said. ‘Honestly, I never thought I’d see the day when you’d become all houseproud.’

  ‘You know that from the moment I saw this place, I fell in love with it.’

  ‘I’ll admit the Georgian architecture is lovely, but it’s our home, Maureen, not a showpiece.’

  ‘I like it to look nice.’

  ‘Nice, yes, but there isn’t even a cushion out of place. Instead of mucking in with the nursery, you spend most of your time in here.’

  ‘That’s not fair. I’ve been helping out with the transplanting and enjoyed it too. It was nice to work alongside Ellen and Doug. I got to know them better and I feel closer to them now.’

  ‘I’m glad, but since then you’ve hardly done a thing. I need you working outside so I think it’s time we found a housekeeper. Now that Ellen’s married she won’t want the job, but we can find someone else.’

  ‘No, Gertie. I don’t want a strange woman around poking into our things, and as we only use one bedroom it won’t take her long to figure it out. If you can’t do without me working outside, couldn’t you take someone on to do that instead?’ Maureen appealed, looking close to tears.

  Gertie stood up and pulled Maureen into her arms. ‘There’s no need to get upset.’

  ‘But don’t you see; this is just what I mean. When we’re in this house it’s th
e only time we have any privacy and you wouldn’t be able to hold me like this with a strange woman around.’

  ‘Point taken. All right, I’ll take someone else on to work outside, but I was going to do that anyway. Ellen won’t be able to work for much longer.’

  ‘I envy her. I love you, Gertie, but I’ll never be able to have a baby. We’ll never have children.’

  Gertie tensed with fear. She knew why Maureen had wanted the puppy, a sort of replacement, but this was the first time she’d brought it into the open like this. If Maureen yearned for a child, what would she do? Would she leave her, find a man who could give her what she needed? Gertie crushed Maureen to her, the thought unbearable.

  Hilda smiled at Doug. ‘Well, love, only three months to go now and we’ll have our first grandchild.’

  ‘Without a spare room, it’s going to be a squash to fit a baby in.’

  ‘The cot will fit in their bedroom.’

  ‘It won’t be in a cot for ever. Maybe it’s time they found their own place.’

  Hilda shook her head against the idea. ‘They can’t afford it yet. Perhaps in a year or so.’

  ‘A year or so! They can’t wait that long.’

  ‘Hello, we’re back.’

  ‘Hello, love,’ Hilda said, pleased to see her daughter looking so happy. The marriage had worked out better than she’d dared to hope and it was clear to see that Percy thought the world of Ellen. A happy future stretched ahead of them, and one day she was sure there’d be more children, yet for now she was content to wait for the first one. She looked up at the angel and as always had a strange feeling that it was watching over them.

  Hilda sighed. She had so much to be thankful for now, but in truth most of it was down to Gertie. In fact, Gertie had been a true guardian angel, one who had brought them here, to this wonderful cottage.

  Their lives were already so different, all working together now, all happy, and the events in London becoming just unhappy memories. Oh Mum, Hilda thought, clutching the necklace. Don’t let anything go wrong again, keep us happy and safe. The thought crossed her mind again and she berated herself for being silly. Of course it hadn’t been her mother who had stood, unseen beside her all that time ago. Or had it?

  Chapter 44

  ‘I know Ellen had to stop work, Percy, but I miss having her around,’ Gertie said.

  ‘It’s just as well you put your foot down or she’d have carried on working right into labour.’

  ‘Yes, I know, but I expect she’s still complaining.’

  ‘A bit,’ Percy said as his eyes swept around the grounds. They had come a long way since March, and it was now August. In just five months the nursery had taken shape. Gertie and Ellen had ordered stock, some being sold, but most were held back for propagating. Young trees had been ordered too, including fruit trees, but, with limited space, not as many as they would have liked.

  Gertie had taken advice from a Ministry of Food inspector and, though reluctant at first, she had given over a large portion of the grounds to growing vegetables. There were still food shortages, and until they eased Gertie would sell what vegetables she grew to the Ministry at a fixed price. Another man, Harold, had been taken on, an experienced gardener, and the vegetable plots continued to thrive. It was interesting to learn about growing them, but Percy still looked forward to the time when they could concentrate solely on flowers.

  Maureen was walking towards them and Percy grinned. The Labrador puppy had put on a lot of growth, looking gangly now, and spotting them it bounded forward, tail wagging and tongue lolling as it reached them to bounce excitedly around Gertie.

  ‘You daft lump,’ Gertie cajoled as the dog reared up, planting both front paws on her chest.

  ‘Goldie, get down,’ Maureen ordered, but as usual the dog ignored her.

  ‘Down!’ Gertie commanded.

  This time Goldie obeyed and Maureen frowned, saying, ‘Why won’t she do that for me?’

  ‘You’re not firm enough, that’s why.’

  Percy hid a smile. When it came to firmness, Gertie had that in abundance, but he was used to her now. Underneath her brusque exterior he knew she had a heart of gold and not for one minute had he regretted coming to work for her.

  ‘How’s Ellen?’ Maureen asked.

  ‘She’s fine, but fed up with being at home.’

  ‘The baby will be here soon and then she’ll have plenty to do.’

  ‘Right, enough idle chatter,’ Gertie said. ‘Percy, check that the greenhouse is well ventilated and then make sure the outside plants aren’t showing any sign of pests, especially the roses. I’ve picked up another load of horse manure from the stables. Harold can tell you what he needs for the vegetable plots, and the rest can be bagged up for sale in the shop.’

  Percy nodded, head down now as he walked towards the greenhouse. The mention of stables had brought Billy to mind and his teeth were clenched. Sheila had given birth to a boy in July, his parents coming to see them to break the news. Percy had seen the look on Ellen’s face, and for the rest of that weekend she’d been quiet. Until then, Ellen had seemed happy and he’d convinced himself that she was growing fond of him, but after that doubts had set in. Did she still want Billy? Despite what his brother had done, did Ellen still yearn after him?

  The greenhouse was humid as Percy walked inside and he quickly opened more windows. The last thing they wanted was mould on the young stock and to make sure they were all right he checked them row by row, his mind still turning. Ellen was carrying Billy’s child, and what if the baby served as a constant reminder that his brother had been first – what if it looked like Billy?

  Sweat beaded his brow as at last Percy walked outside, fighting his feelings. Seeing Doug looking at a plot of roses, he tried to distract his mind and asked, ‘Is there a problem?’

  ‘I’m not inspecting them, just stretching my legs.’

  ‘Is your back playing up?’

  ‘It’s fine; in fact, it’s better than it’s been for a long time. What are you up to?’

  ‘I’ve got to check plants for pests and then bag up some horse manure for sale in the shop.’

  ‘Can I give you a hand?’

  ‘No, thanks, and anyway, if Hilda saw you doing any bending or lifting, she’d skin you alive.’

  ‘You’ve got that right, but what the eye doesn’t see…’

  ‘It’s up to you, but if your back’s feeling better the last thing you need is to strain it.’

  ‘I suppose I’ll just have to stick to sitting at the till, or propagating.’

  ‘If you ask me, building up stock is the most important thing and you’re doing that.’

  Doug smiled. ‘You’ve missed your vocation, son. You should have been a diplomat. Oh, well, I’d best get back to the shop.’

  Percy inspected the roses, thinking that if it wasn’t for his doubts about Ellen and the baby, he’d be a perfectly happy man. He got on well with Doug and Hilda; and though he didn’t mind living with them in the cottage, one day he hoped that he and Ellen would find a place of their own.

  He had dreamed of a full marriage once Ellen had the baby, children of his own, but now began to wonder if Ellen would ever see him as anything more than a friend.

  ‘Not long now, Ellen,’ Val said as the two of them sat in her back garden. ‘Our babies are nearly due.’

  ‘I hope you have yours first,’ Ellen said.

  ‘I doubt it. Your tummy looks lower and I think that’s a sign.’

  ‘Is it? I don’t feel any different – well, except for my bladder.’

  ‘My Bob can’t wait and the daft bugger suggested that I could move things along by going for a run around the village.’

  Ellen chuckled. ‘Run! I can hardly walk, especially in this heat.’

  ‘Yes, that’s what I told Bob. Mind you, I expect Percy feels the same.’

  Ellen feared the changes the birth of her baby would bring. Percy had been wonderful, she couldn’t deny that, but she still only t
hought of him as a friend. One thing still marred her happiness, and that was the thought of having to be a proper wife to Percy, something she dreaded and worried about in equal measures.

  ‘What’s up, Ellen?’

  ‘Oh, nothing,’ she lied. ‘I’m just a bit nervous about having the baby, that’s all.’

  ‘There’s no need. You’ll be fine, the baby will be fine and you’ll be in safe hands with Mrs Ainsworth from the village. She’s brought loads of babies into the world.’

  ‘Is that another one of your feelings?’

  Val shrugged. ‘I just know you’re going to be all right.’

  ‘I think you’re wrong about everyone having spiritual gifts. I haven’t got any.’

  ‘My mum used to say they need developing, but I must admit that as much as I tried, I never could do healing. She told me that her mother, my grandmother, could foresee the future, rather like that woman you told me about who had that vision about your dad.’

  ‘I used to go to church yet they preached against things like that. I was once told that it was an abomination in God’s eyes, yet there were spiritual things happening in the congregation.’

  ‘My mother had a natural gift for healing and she helped a lot of people. Surely that can’t be wrong?’

  ‘I don’t see how it can be and, to be honest, I’m not sure what I believe in now. There are so many religions, all preaching different things. How are we supposed to know which is the right one?’

  ‘I’ve no idea. My mum taught me right from wrong, encouraged me to help people and that’s all that matters to me. I believe in God, but in my own way.’

  ‘You sound like Percy and, as I asked him, what sort of way?’

  ‘I think we each have to find our own path. Yours once led you to the church, but mine didn’t. When the time is right you’ll find your path again, but until then it’s not up to me to lead you where you may not be meant to go.’

  ‘I know you’re twenty-five, but when you talk like that you seem so much older. You sound, oh, I don’t know, wise, I suppose.’