‘John Clayton. And thank you; it is a vital piece of machinery. As much so as a gun.’
John might have taken Earl’s hand, but his eyes were on Ruby when he spoke and she hated the warm sensation rising from the base of her neck to her cheeks. He always made her blush, even when she tried to control her feelings of attraction towards him.
‘Mrs Shadwell, and Tommy, I’ve come to apologise for my rudeness yesterday,’ he said, and held out his hand to Ruby.
‘John, I … um … yes, thank you, but I’m not M—’
An irritated Earl switched the conversation back to the camera before she could correct John about her being Tommy’s mother. ‘Yes, a lovely piece of equipment. You’ve met Ruby before?’ he asked.
‘Yes, we’ve met a few times. I took photographs of a bombsite and your wife pointed out I needed to be more sensitive; it was once somebody’s home.’
Ruby gave a brief shake of her head. ‘You caught me at a bad moment, and I’m n—’
‘Where in the world are you from, John? That’s an accent I don’t recognise.’ Earl draped his arm across John’s shoulder and guided him towards the community room. ‘Tea for our guest, Ruby,’ he said abruptly.
Another surge of irritation launched itself; she needed to get him away from John. Ruby gave a tut. ‘Earl, let the man sit and enjoy a cup of tea before you interrogate him. And, no matter where you’re from in the world, a cuppa is always welcome. John?’ She directed her gaze to John, who nodded. He wore a strange look on his face, and she longed for one of his smiles to break the awkward atmosphere between them. The heat in her body made her uncomfortable, and her thoughts confused her. Why on earth would she fantasise about a virtual stranger stroking her cheek, or touching her lips?
Then she remembered Tommy, and set about getting him away from Earl.
‘Tommy,’ she called softly when she reached the kitchen, and beckoned him to her. She bent to look into his face. She stroked a piece of his lank hair back behind his ear. His whole being screamed out for love and attention. For care and nurturing. Something told Ruby she was the person chosen to set him on the right path.
‘Run to my house. Stay there with Fred and Beatty. Tell them I said you are to stay the night. You can enjoy a bath and a bite to eat. I’ll tell your uncle you left – said you had something to do. Or tell him the truth, that you’re staying over for a treat.’
‘I can’t – ’e’ll kill me. You don’t understand. It’s best I do as ’e says. See you anover day.’ Tommy glanced over his shoulder, his nervous tension obvious.
And, before Ruby could argue, Tommy left the shop. She rushed after him, but watched as his scuffed shoes and skinny legs disappeared around the corner. She looked back into the shop, torn between wanting to chase after him and going inside to give Earl a piece of her mind. Her heart sank. Tommy might be frightened of his uncle, but she wasn’t and, although he made her uncomfortable, she was not prepared for him to take over her life as he had Tommy’s.
She strode with confidence back into the meeting room. Both men were deep in conversation. Earl turned to her. ‘You took your time. Where’s the boy?’ he said.
‘Gone to carry out your errand,’ Ruby said, her voice blunt and firm.
‘Our friend, John, is from Canada. Of course I know where it is, but you wouldn’t have heard of it,’ he said and sniggered, giving John a wink.
Earl’s patronising assumption infuriated Ruby, and she placed the teapot on the table a little harder than necessary.
‘As a matter of fact, I do know whereabouts in the world Canada is, and I know Queen Victoria chose Ottawa to be its capital city. I will confess I have no idea where that is, but I do know a little geography, thanks to having an education, much to the surprise of some people.’
Ruby bit back a triumphant smile which she suspected had a hint of smugness about it and John looked up, raising one eyebrow.
‘Ah, but you know very little about war, and the important part some of us play in it,’ Earl spat back.
‘I understand this war – possibly better than you, Earl. I’ve experienced the sharp point of the enemy’s intention,’ Ruby retorted, but stopped herself from saying any more when she noticed Earl’s knuckles whiten as he gripped his hands together. She wasn’t stupid enough to ignore he’d use them if provoked too much.
‘Mind you, I reckon you know far more than me, Earl. Being a travelled soldier and wiser to the ways of the world,’ Ruby said in a pacifying tone – one she’d heard her mother use on her father whenever his temper required dampening. Although it took a lot to make her father’s rise, Ruby noticed Earl’s temper never subsided. Each time she’d met him, he came across as an extremely angry person.
‘Yes, well …’ Earl said, and preened his top lip once again.
John smiled at Ruby. ‘You serve, Earl?’ he asked.
With a slight cough, Earl ran his finger around his collar. He sipped from the cup Ruby handed him.
‘I do. Not always in uniform, though. You understand?’ Earl winked and tapped the side of his nose.
The action made Ruby more curious about his business within the British forces, but she dared not aggravate him by asking questions. John could handle Earl, and she’d find out more by taking a back seat and listening to their conversation.
She moved into the shop and, as quietly as she could, she closed the door and turned the sign. Customers would be a distraction. She sat and listened.
‘Ah, Secret Service,’ John said, but Ruby picked up on a slight mocking tone. Earl did not.
‘Well, least said and all that.’
Ruby peered through the gap between the door and its frame, and cringed as once again he tapped his nose.
‘Silence is my code,’ John said, and mimicked Earl’s nose-tapping.
Ruby wanted to release a squeal of laughter. She walked into the room and, behind Earl’s head, she raised an eyebrow. John did the same. Earl preened his top lip and now, bored with listening to him hint about his secret life, Ruby daydreamed whether he’d be able to fire a weapon in between preening.
Earl made her jump back from her daydream by slapping his hand onto the table.
‘Enough about me. What about you and taking pictures? How does that contribute towards the war effort, John?’
This time, Ruby heard Earl mocking John. Something inside snapped; she could no longer bear hearing the snide remarks of Earl. She wanted to hear more about Jean-Paul Clayton, but dared not tread that road for fear of Earl’s ability to render her dumb and silent.
‘I take it you also have things to do. I have to close shop. I think you need to look for Tommy; he’s been gone a while,’ she said to Earl.
John jumped to his feet. ‘Let me take a photograph of you both. Stand together.’
Horrified by the very idea, Ruby stood where she was and looked over at Earl. Fortunately, he looked as eager as she, and he tapped out a cigarette on the back of his silver cigarette case. ‘Can’t do, old pal.’
Ruby knew the nose-tapping would follow and before she released the pent-up mirth bubbling inside, with relief she’d not have to stand beside a man she disliked and have their image captured forever, she moved to the front door and opened it wide. ‘Enough of the questions, Earl. I think we should let Mr Clayton leave. I’m sure he needs to get back to camp.’