12
The road threaded its way through bare fields as the land ahead rose and changed. This was border country, and much of it lay hidden by a morning mist. Gradually, hedgerows were replaced by endless ribbons of gray drystone walls, and the few stunted trees were curved into submission by the prevailing wind. Although it was not raining, everything looked damp. The scattered villages, small and compact, were huddled in hollows, while isolated farmhouses sat shouldered into a protective hill. Thinly laid over granite, the soil was too poor for anything but grazing.
“I can tell we are way in the back of beyond because the road signs are still up. That means they’re not expecting the Hun any time soon,” Caitrin said as she gazed out of the side window, Hector having been allowed to drive again. She read the passing signposts aloud, “Bupton, Hoon, Snittlegarth, Whelpo. Impressive.”
“I’m glad we can impress you.”
“You have, and what’s impressive in your pocket?” she asked and laughed at his reaction. “Don’t look so embarrassed-English. I meant what firearm are you carrying?”
“Browning Hi-Power .40.”
“Which means you’re probably Parachute Regiment, commando, or SOE.”
Hector shot her a startled glance.
“It’s SOE. If you didn’t know Special Operations Executive existed, you wouldn’t have been surprised I knew. Top secret stuff, right?”
“I am saying nothing.”
“Which merely proves I am right. Don’t worry, I won’t tell the nazty Nazeez.”
“All right. What is your organization?”
“The Women’s Institute, the elite Welsh Virtue Division. Committed Baptist chapel-goers and expert long-range tut-tutters, every one of us.”
“You are without a doubt the most infuriating woman I have ever met.”
“Thank you. It took me countless years of hard work and sacrifice to reach that dizzy height,” Caitrin said and turned her attention to the map. “Your place is not on the map.”
“Look for Houndale. It’s the nearest village.”
Caitrin searched the map. “Got it. Right next to Callow. Fifteen minutes or so?”
“I’d say closer to twenty-five. It’s uphill, and Victoria’s not getting any younger.”
“When she’s towing Albert, what do you expect?”
“Stop it, or you’re walking the rest of the way.”
They stopped at a sub-post office in Houndale, and Hector went to a telephone box. He returned minutes later, looking worried. “I got no answer.”
“Perhaps that’s why,” Caitrin said and pointed to a newspaper placard outside the village shop that read: LONDON BOMBED AGAIN. MANY CASUALTIES.
“I’ll try again later.”
The road into Marlton ran alongside a brook for some considerable distance before turning a right angle toward the house. Built of gray stone in the lee of a hill and surrounded by trees, the house was smaller than Caitrin expected. Three people came to meet them as they stopped. A tall, elderly, slender man with an equally tall woman; and a smiling shorter, middle-aged woman wearing a tweed skirt and an Aran sweater. At her side was a dog. A beagle.
“That’s a beagle. One beagle. The beagle,” Caitrin said. “So where are the ten cocker spaniels?”
“What cocker spaniels?” Hector said.
“The cocker spaniels that made this car smell like a wet kennel.”
“Oh, you’re mistaken. I once loaned the car to my friend Jeremy who used it to transport his foxhounds to the hunt. Smelly creatures. I know nothing about cocker spaniels.”
Caitrin shook her head. “You are the most infuriating man I ever met.”
“Thank you. Took me countless years of hard work and sacrifice to reach that dizzy height,” Hector said behind a wide grin. “And his name’s Alfred. The beagle.”
“Wedding rings on or off?”
“As you wish,” Hector said.
“Off. It’ll be simpler, especially at bedtime.”
“Let’s go meet the family.” He opened the car door and got out.
“Bobby, how wonderful to have you home,” Hector’s mother said as she embraced him.
“Bobby?” Caitrin said.
“Mother, this is Caitrin Colline. We are working on a hush-hush project together.”
“Pleased to meet you, Caitrin. I’m Elinor.”
“Pleased to meet you, Elinor,” Caitrin said. “You called him Bobby? He’s got yet another name?”
Elinor laughed. “Not really, but he’s always been Bobby to me.”
