Page 54 of The Stranger in Room Six

Mabel tossed and turned all night, wating for her aunt to come back. But in the morning, she still hadn’t returned. Unable to eat breakfast, Mabel went for a walk in the garden, only to find Antonio trimming the hedges.

He got down from his ladder. ‘You are crying,’ he said. ‘What is wrong?’

She found herself telling him about the Colonel being assassinated, the shooting on the beach and the policeman taking her aunt away.

‘The world is a strange place at the moment,’ he said. ‘It’s hard to know who’s good and bad. I mean, here you are, talking to me, a stranger who is also the enemy. But do I look dangerous to you?’

‘No,’ she said, flushing.

‘Personally, I just want peace.’

‘So do I.’

‘But there is also something else I want.’

She felt nervous. ‘What?’

‘A proper cup of coffee like the one my nonna makes in Italy.’ He looked wistful. ‘I miss my family so much.’

‘I could make you a cup of tea,’ she heard herself saying.

‘That would be very kind.’

Luckily no one was in the kitchen. What am I doing? she asked herself as she brought a tray back out into the garden. But it was the mention of his grandmother that had moved her.

‘That’s very kind of you,’ he said when she returned.

‘I’ll leave you to your work,’ Mabel said quickly, keen to distance herself.

As she walked back towards the house, she saw a police car coming up the drive. Her aunt climbed out and hobbled up the steps.

‘You’re home!’ said Mabel running to her.

‘Of course I am,’ snorted Clarissa. ‘As I told them, I can’t be held responsible for spies who invade our country.’

‘Spies?’

‘It seems that the police had a tip-off about a German who was trying to land on our beach.’

Mabel gasped. ‘But you said that my torch was to guide a boat in! That it was for a special person who would help us in the war.’

‘It was meant to. However, there was some mistake. You must promise not to tell anyone about last night, Mabel.’ Her voice lowered. ‘Or you could find yourself being murdered like poor Jonty.’

Mabel shook from head to toe. Aunt Clarissa couldn’t mean that, surely?

‘I promise,’ she said. ‘I won’t breathe a word.’