‘Ah, you found Ted, thank goodness. Now maybe she’ll sleep at night.’
They walked to the shed and the heap of broken items, and Ruby opened the door.
The woman gasped with delight. ‘My word, you’ve worked hard. Look what you’ve found. I’ll have a word with my brother-in-law and he’ll come with his cart and take it to his. That’s where we’re living now. His wife never made it, and he needs help with his little ones. Seven kids between us. What I don’t want, I’ll know where it can be of use. My other sister has lost her home and moved back to my parents. Once she’s in a new place I’ll give them to her.’
Ruby walked to the pile of clothes. ‘I’ll wash these for you if you’d like,’ she said, and lifted a tiny cardigan, ingrained with black soot.
‘No, you take them. I’ve plenty between all seven of the little ones to keep me going. Sell them if you can. Grow that business.’
Smiling, the woman picked out a little pair of grey shorts. ‘School shorts. My eldest’s first pair. Someone will be grateful for them.’
A loud bang made both women jump and the children scream. The youngsters clustered around their mother, and Ruby stood with her hand over her mouth. A plume of smoke rose at the rear of the property.
‘Another incendiary late for the party,’ said the woman, her arms sheltering children like a mother hen under her wings.
‘They never fail to make my nerves tingle,’ Ruby replied.
‘Nor mine. Come on, kids. Home. We have food!’
The excited group walked away, and Ruby watched on with envy. She gulped back dark thoughts and headed home herself.
Once indoors, she gathered up matches and headed outside again to light a small fire to heat a saucepan of water. She’d always be grateful to Stephen for his collection of tea, coffee and cocoa. More evidence her father had paid his bills in goods. Each packet wore the ornate S stamp of Shadwell’s – one she was determined to use for her own business. The form given to her by Helen sat on the desk and, once settled with a warm drink, she entered the shop name in its appropriate box, using Stephen’s fountain pen and her best handwriting. Seeing the words on official paper made her smile. It indicated another step towards a brighter future.
Keeping busy during the day helped Ruby, but the evenings were lonely and the night-time frightening. Planes flew overhead and bombs dropped in the distance. A few days previously, the Germans had bombed Birmingham, and Coventry had held its breath every day since, waiting for more to fall on the factories returning to production of vital supplies for the forces. Car production was on hold, and everyone worked to defend the country.
10th December 1940
Each day, Ruby kept herself busy finding personal items for residents, and leaving them in boxes to be found should the owner return. After one particularly busy day, she returned home to find a white envelope pushed through the door. It was a response from Scotland. She marvelled at how quickly she’d received a response, tore it open and pulled out the contents.
Dear Miss Shadwell,
It is with regret I inform you that my wife passed away two years ago. I’ve sought advice about the property you mention, and it appears it is rented accommodation. With regard to the funeral of my brother-in-law, thank you for informing me. I have no desire to become involved in his affairs. I have written a second letter giving you the right to clear the property and sell items to fund any outstanding bills. We were distanced due to a rift between him and his sister, and I am not interested in any contact with regard to the matter. Please do not write again, nor pass along my address to a third person.
Regards,
Thomas McBrae
Ruby read the second letter, written in the same handwriting.
25th November 1940
To Whom it May Concern,
As the heir to my wife’s estate, and she to her brother’s, Mr Stephen Archibald Peabody of Garden Cottage, Spon Street, Coventry, I hereby give permission to Miss Ruby Shadwell, of the same address, permission to collect and sell personal items belonging to Mr Peabody (my brother-in-law), and use the money for any outstanding debts. Any monies remaining, Miss Shadwell is free to keep in repayment for her work in housekeeping the property after the death of Stephen Peabody.
The letter was witnessed and signed by the Reverend Burns of Dumfries, and formally signed by the sender. Ruby read through both a second and third time, and each time she realised she now had responsibilities beyond her comprehension. Where did you find a landlord of a property if he’d not already been to find out if the property was still standing? How long would it take for her to raise the money to pay for any rent Stephen owed?
Although she’d peeked into the odd drawer or cupboard, Ruby had never fully investigated Stephen’s belongings. Now it appeared she’d been given permission to do just that, and more. Since the bombing, her life had become quite bizarre – beyond a believable story – yet here she was, living it each day.
11th December 1940
‘My, it’s cold outside today, and not much warmer in here, I’m afraid. Sit yourself down, Ruby.’ Helen Morgan unbuttoned her coat but didn’t remove it, and beckoned Ruby to sit in the same seat as on her previous visit. Today, she’d risen early and was the first in the queue to see Helen. ‘Do you have the form I gave you?’
Ruby nodded and with shyness handed the form to her. Helen looked them over and frowned.
‘You have no address written down.’
‘That’s why I’m here, Helen. I don’t know what to do. I wrote to the sister of the man living … well, he’s dead now … in the house I’m staying at, and this is what I received back.’
She passed the envelope containing the two letters from Stephen Peabody’s brother-in-law. Helen ran her tongue across her lips as she read, then replaced the letters into the envelope and handed them back to Ruby.
‘As I see it, all is legally binding. What does the landlord say?’
‘That’s just it. I don’t know who it is, and hoped you might be able to help me find out. I still have to register for a ration book, Identity card and everything else I’ve lost. I’m scared,’ Ruby said, and chewed on her bottom lip to stop herself from crying. Confessing she was scared and speaking out about her lack of papers had taken every ounce of courage. She waited whilst Helen walked around the room, blowing on her hands as she did so.
‘I understand, but I thought you were going to deal with this, Ruby. Give me your details. I’ll get the paperwork sorted out for you. Where is it you are staying?’
‘Peabody Accountants. He was Dad’s best friend. I found him dead.’
‘Not pleasant for you. I remember Stephen, and heard he was one of the unfortunates. Not pleasant at all. Right, why have you left it so long to register yourself, Ruby? It’s not that difficult.’
Ruby looked down at her feet.
‘Ruby?’ Helen said, and sat back in her seat.
‘I don’t want to leave Coventry. A friend’s mother told me I’d go into care or another home somewhere. I can’t … I won’t leave my family.’
Helen gave a slow nod of understanding. ‘But your family aren’t here, Ruby. I’m confused. At our last meeting you were ready to start again.’
‘You’ve