Page 97 of Fire Must Burn

The two men stormed out of the room. Timothy followed them, keeping the shotgun levelled.

Mrs Dorter turned to Iris and Gwen, then noticed the poker.

‘I’ll take that,’ she said, holding out her hand.

Iris gave it to her. She rested it against the wall by the stove.

‘The fire is still lit,’ she observed. ‘I’m going to warm up some milk and sweeten it with a little rum. Would you like any?’

‘Please,’ said Iris.

Mrs Dorter bustled about the kitchen, pulling up three chairs that were stacked in a corner, then fetching a bottle of milk from an icebox in a small room off the far side. She poured it into a small pan, then set it on the stove top. As the milk began to bubble they heard two car engines roar to life, then the screeching of tyres. Then quiet.

She poured the milk into three cups, then added a healthy pouring of rum to each. Timothy appeared in the doorway, the shotgun broken open and unloaded.

‘They’re gone,’ he reported. ‘They didn’t leave a tip.’

‘That was to be expected,’ she said. ‘You did well, Timothy.Get some sleep while you can. Tell Pamela to do the same. I’ll clean up down here.’

‘Yes, aunty.’

‘Timothy.’

‘I mean, yes, Mrs Dorter,’ he said. ‘Goodnight, ladies.’

‘Goodnight, Timothy,’ said Gwen. ‘Don’t worry about the tip. I’ll make it up to you.’

‘That won’t be necessary,’ said Mrs Dorter. ‘They paid through Monday morning, so fewer meals to prepare.’

Timothy left. Mrs Dorter placed the cups and saucers on the table, then sat down.

‘They call me their aunt, but they’re my cousin’s children,’ she said. ‘Their father ran off when they were young. My cousin came here with them to help me run this place, but the tuberculosis took her six years ago.’

‘I’m sorry,’ said Iris.

‘I’ve never had children of my own,’ she said, holding up her cup and blowing on it. ‘So these two are quite special to me. Timothy was too young for the war, fortunately, and Pamela … well, I was hoping she’d remain out of danger as well, especially with her brother around to keep an eye out for her. But they’re growing up. I want to protect them, but it isn’t always possible. So I’m grateful for what the two of you did just now. Grateful and surprised.’

‘Why surprised?’ asked Iris.

‘I’m surprised that you’d step up and put yourself in danger for some girl you don’t know and have no responsibility for.’

‘I know her,’ said Iris shortly.

‘Maybe you do,’ said Mrs Dorter, looking at her, considering. ‘Or maybe you have changed since we last met. Saving one girl doesn’t make up for failing another one, though.’

‘I know,’ said Iris. ‘All I can do is try to save who I can.’

‘Which is why we’re here,’ added Gwen. ‘There’s still a man who needs saving back in London. And you can help us do that.’

‘Saved, lost, it doesn’t matter much in the end,’ said Mrs Dorter.

‘But it’s not the end yet,’ said Gwen. ‘Not for you, not forhim, and certainly not for Pamela. Hopefully, she can move on from this without too much of a scar.’

‘I’m keenly aware that she’s at the same age I was when my innocence was lost,’ said Mrs Dorter.

She finished her cup, then refilled it, making the rum’s contribution larger.

‘Or more accurately, when it was taken from me,’ she said.