Page 85 of Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt
She giggled. ‘All right, Bo-Bob-Robert, will do.’
I shook my head and moved on to the next weed. ‘Apologies. Thinking in English rather than French occasionally leads to confusion,’ I explained.
‘It’s quite all right. I can’t imagine what the both of you have been through. But I’m so glad you have each other. The way you look at each other is really quite magical. When did you marry?’
I was glad that I was able to focus on the mud in front of me. ‘Oh, that would be a few years ago now, just before we crossed from France. It wasn’t an expensive affair.’
Flora sighed melancholically. ‘I think that’s better. It’s about two people at the end of the day, and no one else.’
Archie and Flora have a daughter, the charming and intelligent Louise. She is sweet and caring, and manages a team of ‘Land Girls’ who are at High Weald to help with the war effort, growing crops on the estate. Her leadership is inspiring, and her wards simply adore her.
Just recently, we celebrated Louise’s engagement to Rupert Forbes – a gentle, bookish man who had been prevented from joining the front lines by his myopia. Nonetheless, Rupert’s immense intelligence and assured demeanour led him to be snapped up by the British Security Service – something of which Archie in particular was immensely proud.
The couple have moved into Home Farm across the lane from High Weald, which has been empty since the farm manager left following his conscription. It is always a pleasure when they stop to chat to me in the gardens, and a privilege when they join us for an evening meal, which they have done on several occasions.
The only member of the family who we have failed to warm to is the Vaughans’ son, Teddy. He was recently askedto leave Oxford University for reasons I’m not entirely sure of, and since then has tried his hand at the Home Guard (which he was doomed to fail in, for Teddy cannot take orders). He was also briefly allowed to manage the farm at High Weald, but under his short stewardship the annual yield dropped by nearly forty per cent due to his inattention. Out of desperation, Archie found him an administrative job at the Air Ministry, which lasted only a few weeks.
Elle and I will often hear the roar of his sports car passing our cottage at an early hour of the morning, following one of his evenings out on the town, no doubt in the company of various different women who all seem to inexplicably swoon at his presence. Goodness knows what they see in him. Personally, he treats me like a piece of dirt on his expensive shoe. But the young man’s ego hardly bothers me. Teddy Vaughan is a pathetic runt compared to the ferocious Rottweiler of Kreeg Eszu.
However, not so long ago, the runt nipped at my heels a little too aggressively. The nature of his crime was making some suggestive comments to Elle, which caused her great upset. Teddy may call me what he likes and face no consequences, but any threatening behaviour towardsheris unforgivable.
‘I want to talk to him now!’ I had seethed after Elle had told me about his lewd mouth. I stood up, grabbed my coat, and made for the cottage door.
‘Bo, no!’ (We are still ‘Bo and Elle’ in private.) She grabbed my arm and looked at me pleadingly. ‘We can’t risk what we have here. It’s simply too perfect. He didn’t actuallydoanything.’
‘I don’t care. What he said made you feel uncomfortable, and I won’t stand for it.’
Elle took me by the hand and led me back to the ageing pink sofa in the centre of the living room. ‘You can’t forgetour place here. We’re just staff. It is not our place to speak to any of the Vaughans with anything other than deference.’
I was furious, but reluctantly agreed. ‘If he ever tries anything with you, then...’ I didn’t wish to continue the sentence.
‘Yes.’ Elle nodded.
‘There are rumours about his promiscuity, you know. I heard a couple of the Land Girls talking about it. Apparently one of them is pregnant with his child!’
Elle sighed and leant back into the sofa. ‘Tessie Smith, yes. The rumours are true. She’s beginning to show. What’s worse is that she has a fiancé fighting in France.’
I shook my head. ‘Good Lord. What the gentry think they are entitled to will never fail to shock me.’
‘I’ve been sneaking her meals,’ Elle continued. ‘She’s eating for two now, and the rations they receive are absolutely pathetic.’
Elle’s kindness diffused my anger, and I took her in my arms.
Over the last few months, Teddy Vaughan’s advances have become less and less ambiguous. Elle has described to me his grotesque words and wandering hands. Just the other day, he had been so bold as to put his arm on Elle’s back whilst Flora was in the kitchen. He is a man that knows no boundaries.
Two nights ago, I was working late in the vegetable patch, securing cages around the produce, as we had been subject to nightly raids from peckish rabbits. I was in the process of cutting some chicken wire when I heard the familiar rumble of a car coming down High Weald’s long gravel drive. It was Teddy, no doubt rolling in from a day at the pub. On this occasion, instead of continuing his journey towards the main house, Teddy stopped the car outside our cottage. I saw him stumble out of the door and disappear behind the vehicle. Aware that something was amiss, I dropped my torch and began to run back to our cottage. When I arrived, the door was open, and Teddy Vaughan was on top of Elle on our sofa.
‘Come on, that husband of yours doesn’t have to know,’ he slurred.
‘Please, get off me!’ Elle cried.
Blinded by rage, I grabbed Teddy and threw him off. Elle cowered behind me.
‘He just walked in and jumped on me!’ she sobbed.
Teddy stumbled up off the floor and lurched towards me, attempting to throw a punch, but missing by a country mile when I swerved out of the way.
‘Leave our house!’ I yelled. ‘Now!’
