The Londoners by Margaret Pemberton Read Free Book Online Page A

‘I’m off to Spain tomorrow.’
    ‘Spain!’ Kate forgot all about not being in love. Ever since civil war had erupted in Spain it had scarcely been out of the news. ‘You’re going out there to
fight?’
    She realized as soon as she said it that it was a stupid question and that of course he was going to Spain to fight. He nodded, saying with a lucidity and intensity of feeling that took her
completely unawares, ‘It’s no use leaving things up to the League of Nations, is it? They didn’t stop Mussolini marching into Abyssinia and it’s quite obvious that where
Spain is concerned they’re going to be just as ineffectual. If we want to put an end to fascism and to fascist bullies, we’ve got to stand up and be counted.’
    It was so unexpected a speech that Kate felt momentarily robbed of breath. She looked across at him, her eyes wide, realizing in stunned surprise that there was a great deal more to Jerry Robson
than met the eye. Regret shot through her. It was a realization that had come too late. If he was going to Spain there was no telling how long he might be away for. Hoping with passionate intensity
that he would return home safe and uninjured and wanting to prolong the conversation, she said, ‘Do you know that the Jennings family have taken in a German-Jewish refugee?’
    He nodded. ‘Jack was walking past the Jennings’ house the evening she arrived.’ His face split into a sudden grin. ‘He’s been pretty smitten ever since and
he’s hoping she’ll be here this afternoon.’
    ‘She is,’ Kate said, intrigued at the thought of Jack Robson falling for the Jennings’s guest even before he had spoken to her. ‘And I think his luck is in. I can see
Carrie’s mum and dad and a dark-haired girl over at the archery ground.’
    Ahead of them, across a scenic stretch of green turf, the archery target had been set up well away from the stalls and donkey circuit. Albert Jennings, his shirtsleeves rolled up to his elbows,
his beer-belly protruding over the top of his trousers, was perspiringly pulling back the string of a large bow.
    ‘Come on Albert, it’s only a bow and arrow when all’s said and done,’ Carrie’s mother was saying exasperatedly. ‘I could do better with two broken
arms.’
    Beside her a dark-haired girl watched, a bemused expression on her face. She was ethereally slender, verging almost on the malnourished, and there was a disturbing air of frailty and
vulnerability about her. Kate’s first reaction was surprise that Jack should have been so drawn towards her and then, as they drew nearer, she understood. Christina Frank was beautiful. Tiny,
delicate features graced a face filled with enormous dark eyes and a gently curving mouth.
    ‘Jack Robson,’ Jack was saying to her without waiting for Carrie’s mother to introduce him. ‘I saw you in the street the night you arrived.’
    A few feet away from them, Albert Jennings let his arrow fly free. It soared, but not in the right direction.
    ‘Lord help us, Albert!’ Miriam protested. ‘Another few yards and you’d have done for one of the donkeys!’
    Albert took no notice of her. Wiping the perspiration from his forehead with a large handkerchief, he said bluntly to Jack, ‘I thought you’d buggered off to Spain.’
    Well aware that it was his obvious interest in Christina that had put Albert’s back up, Jack grinned. ‘Not me, Albert. You’re thinking of Jerry and he doesn’t go till
tomorrow.’
    Sensing that her father was about to suggest to Jack that he accompany Jerry, Carrie said hastily, ‘Christina hasn’t been introduced to anyone.’
    Without waiting for anyone else to do so, she proceeded to introduce Christina to Jerry and Danny, saying finally, ‘And this is Kate, my best friend.’
    Christina smiled a little shyly at Kate. ‘I’m very pleased to meet with you,’ she said in carefully rehearsed English and with a very heavy German accent. ‘You are going
on the trip to Folkestone,