Chapter 6
\b The Black Marketers.
\pard\b0\fs20 Superintendent Fred Bates was chairing a meeting of his senior officers. \ldblquote I am getting flack from above because of the amount of stolen and smuggled food that is finding its way on to the black market in the London area. We have had several warehouses blitzed recently and it seems that they are managing to get in and out quite quickly with a large amount of rationed goods.\rdblquote
PC Fay Tonks an attractive slim blonde sat at his right hand was the daughter of one of the Deputy Commissioners at New Scotland Yard. She was an Economics graduate from the London school of Economics, and to her dismay, she found herself acting as the Superintendents personal assistant in recent weeks since graduating from the police training school at Hendon. Fay desperately wanted to go out on active Police work, but since foolishly giving in to the Superintendents sexual overtures, she had found herself very much kept in a desk job in the station...She had remonstrated with the Superintendent several times and was seriously considering resigning from the Police Force.
I have asked Fay here to compile a list all the recent suspected fires and with a list of black market goods that we have found on open sale in the region. There is no doubt that some goods are coming in as private ventures by visiting seaman, but we can do little or nothing about that even if we wished to. The problem is that air raids are acting as cover for these villains who raid warehouses and steal as much as they can and then setting fire to them to cover their tracks\rdblquote
Fay spoke up. \ldblquote Excuse me sir I have a list of items that have been sold on the black market quite openly in the last week. I have reports of Sugar, Jam, Butter and Fresh Oranges. In the last three days alone, in addition all of these items were proved to have been in warehouses that have allegedly been firebombed in the dock area.
Superintendent bates said. \ldblquote Right then can we mount a CID watch on warehouses containing foodstuff in the dock area as from tonight.\rdblquote
On of the inspectors spoke up. \ldblquote I agree sir, but I think that they have someone on the inside here who is tipping them off about police activities. We seem to be getting led on false evidence trails after every raid which gives the robbers time to get away.\rdblquote
There was a murmur of agreement from several other officers. \ldblquote Right gentlemen if that is the case then we must find the traitor \endash it seems gentlemen as well as some cute police work we need a stroke of luck. From now on log every lead, and every countermanded order. Every operation will have an Inspector in charge, and no-one outside this room knows about the logging. \rdblquote
\pard\qc\b\fs24 ***********
\pard\b0\fs20 It was midday in the Horse and Jockey public house where Ray Middleton and his six cronies were drinking their lunchtime pints of wartime beer. Ray was not feeling very happy as he had received his calling up papers that morning for the army. But the meeting had been called to decide on their target for the night. They had a list of eight warehouses which had recently taken in full loads of imported foodstuffs from the USA.
As they were in the middle of their discussions one of Rays mates Dick Money, who was a Sergeant in the Metropolitan Police wandered in and walked up to the bar. .Ray immediately got up and walked to the bar to stand beside the Sergeant and he slipped him a large bundle of pound notes.
\ldblquote Stop away from the dock warehouses for the next few nights there is going to be a big surveillance operation.\rdblquote Dick said.
\ldblquote Thanks Dick\rdblquote Ray murmured as he took his drink back to the table with his mates.
\ldblquote We have problems for tonight the police are on to our warehouse scam.\rdblquote
One of his colleagues muttered. \ldblquote Well we knew it was going to happen, but we have other targets don\rquote t we?\rdblquote
\ldblquote Sure. How about the Co-op warehouse, we move as soon as the siren goes, load up with anything saleable, set the fires and as soon as we hear the aircraft we set the fire,\rdblquote
After a little discussion the final details were agreed and the party broke up.
\pard\qc ***********
\pard
It was later that evening as Tony stood in his bedroom looking out on to the road below as twilight fell. There were no street lights and people were hurrying past using shaded torches the little traffic that there was had tin shades over their headlights, which did little to help them find their way. Workers were hurrying home from work wanting to get home with their family before the nightly blitz started. In half an hour or so the bar would start to get busy, and he would start his nightly piano sing song.
If they were lucky they would perhaps get their evening meal before perhaps having to go to the air raid shelter when the sirens sounded their nightly warning. He casually watched Tom Weeks the Caretaker/Watchman lock the gates of the Co-op Food Warehouse opposite, as he too hurried off home for his tea. Tom suffered terribly from rheumatism and would have retired were it not for the war.
Tony hated the blackout curtains they made him feel claustrophobic and he and Kate often would lie on his bed with them drawn back watching the flickering searchlights in the sky, or the nightly pyrotechnics as the AA guns opened fire, and sometimes from his bedroom window he could see the barrage balloons being pulled down and then being relocated into slightly new positions.
He knew that as darkness fell the road below would soon be busy with taxis pulling auxiliary fire pumps and the Air Raid Wardens appearing for their nightly duties. The bar downstairs would soon be getting busier as some of the auxiliary firemen and the ARP wardens popped in for a quick one or two from their local depot nearby, depending on whether the Luftwaffe were early or late arriving that night. As the nights got shorter the raids tended to get shorter as the bombers did not like to be caught over England or the channel in daylight hours.
The daylight raids were becoming few and far between now. It had now been 58 consecutive nights of raids on London. The Luftwaffe had taken a terrible toll from the RAF fighters in the day time raids and had increasingly switched to the nighttime sorties. They liked the bright moonlight nights with a full moon. It was called a \lquote bombers moon\rquote which provided the ideal conditions the bombers enjoyed for their nightly raids. They could follow the Thames to their target in dockland which mad navigation much easier. Despite the moonlight the RAF Hurricane night fighters had an almost hopeless task in the dark against the German bombers, even though their escorts had long left them over the coast and had returned home before they ran out of fuel. Radar for night fighters was very basic and did little at this time to help them.
Sometimes the night fighters were lucky and shot down one or two bombers down. But Tony knew that as they returned to France the Spitfire squadrons would scramble to catch them over the coast, and the massacre would start. The returning bombers would hope to see their ME 109 escorts waiting for them if they got their timing right. Despite the cover of darkness the Luftwaffe were taking enormous losses from returning bombers and many of the planes that did make it back to the airfields in France were beyond repair, or had injured crew members .
Very often they were unlucky as the escorting ME 109\rquote s only carried enough fuel for ten minutes over England and the English Channel and if the bombers were early or running late they would be sitting ducks for the RAF and coastal AA batteries
The losses were enormous for the Luftwaffe, but despite this they were still inflicting terrible damage on London, the docks and industry. Tony knew that someone or something would have to crack soon. Many factories and schools had re-located outside London, but somehow the war effort continued, and people found new strengths to carry on even though they were short of food and sleep.
After about twenty minutes he turned away and was about to draw the blackout curtains when he saw a flicker of light from the warehouse opposite. Just then he noticed the gates were open and three large 5 ton Lorries rushed out and disappeared in different directions. He could not physically see the number plates in the dark but suddenly the rings qualities kicked in and he could see the numbers as clear as if it were daylight and he recognized one of the drivers as well.
He rushed down to the bar despite his injured leg, and called out \ldblquote There is a fire in the warehouse opposite.\rdblquote He called to Kate \ldblquote Call the police I think that they have been burgled.\rdblquote About ten men some of whom were from the Auxiliary Fire Service rushed out of the pub and across to the warehouse through the open gates to the back of the warehouse, together with a Taxi which was towing an auxiliary pump.
Tony hobbled over to the back of the warehouse as fast as he could, arriving about three minutes after the rest of the men. The shutters at the back of the warehouse were open and inside it were easy to see three piles of burning cardboard and rubbish piled high against some sacks of sugar and cans of golden syrup. It looked like a deliberate attempt at arson. Fortunately the sugar had not caught fire.
The warehouse had several stirrup pumps and fire buckets and within minutes the fires were put. The police were soon on the scene and they were very suspicious, and made it quite clear they thought this was the work of black marketers, who deliberately broke into warehouse took as much foodstuff as they could carry, and then set fire to the place hoping that the resulting fire would be put down to bomb damage.
Tony told a young police sergeant, that he had seen three five ton trucks leave the premises and recited the numbers telling them that one of the drivers had been Kate\rquote s brother in law Ray Middleton. The Sergeant immediately radioed this information in to the station He told the police quite positively that he had seen the caretaker lock the gate before he went home.
Just after he had done this a senior Sergeant came and took over the crime scene
\ldblquote Why were you watching the premises?\rdblquote Sergeant Dick Money asked.
He had arrived quite quickly on the scene, but he had been delayed by the duty inspector. Quite quickly he had been apprised of the evidence that Tony had given to his fellow officers, which was already being followed up. He asked Tony quite aggressively.
He tried to get the younger sergeant to cancel the police follow up on Tonys information, but it was too late. All he could do was hope that luck would favour him.
How did you manage to see fires starting with blackout curtains up in the warehouse?
\ldblquote Because I was just looking out of the bedroom window thinking about things in general and I noticed what was happening, that is how I saw the flickering of the flames.\rdblquote
\ldblquote You could not have seen any flames sir, that would be impossible.\rdblquote
\ldblquote Well how do you think I knew about the fires then?\rdblquote
\ldblquote I have been wondering about that sir, I suspect that you are in league with the felons and I am arresting you on suspicion of being involved in the theft of goods from this warehouse.\rdblquote
He called to the young Sergeant \ldblquote Bill cancel that information I think we have a suspect here.\rdblquote
The young Sergeant called back. \ldblquote You are too late Dick I think they have caught one of the Lorries.\rdblquote
Tony was aghast at the police sergeants attitude and he sat down wearily on a box as his leg was hurting him from the running.
But the police took no notice and the police hauled him to his feet and threw him in the back of a police car handcuffed and without his stick. When he got to the police station a policeman took pity on him, and helped him into the station. He was put in an interview room to wait until someone was available to interview him.
Sergeant Dick Money eventually came into interview him. He was angry and a very frightened man as he knew that the information that Tony had given his fellow Sergeant was absolutely correct. .He had spent a futile time but to no avail trying to put his colleagues off on the wrong track... He was under no illusion that he had not succeeded. He knew full well that if the gang were caught they would implicate him and he would be finished.
The tragedy had been for him that that a junior Sergeant was first on the scene and had quickly initiated the action based on Tonys information with the support of the duty Inspector. Sergeant Money knew that the information was right and he wondered how Tony had been able to be so accurate. He knew that it should have been impossible for him to read the number plates or recognise any of the drivers from that bedroom window. But he had done just that. Tony told him quite plainly before the interview started that he would be suing for wrongful arrest. \ldblquote I believe that you are from a competing gang and you are squealing on the mob that did this tonight to put them out of business.\rdblquote The Sergeant had accused him weakly.
\ldblquote But first of all let\rquote s get your details down right lets have your name.\rdblquote
My name is Petty Officer Lord Radcliffe DSM. P/JX435610. I am on a medical discharge from the Royal Navy having been wounded by an ME 109 attacking my ship in February last.\rdblquote
The sergeant was not amused. :\rdblquote Stop taking the piss sir and let me have your name.\rdblquote
\ldblquote You have it Sergeant and I am not saying any more until I have a solicitor and a doctor.
\ldblquote Have you got your identity card?
\ldblquote No all my identity papers are in my room at the Feathers.\rdblquote
\ldblquote Well Sir, Did you know that it is an offence to not carry your identity card in wartime?\rdblquote
\ldblquote Yes Sergeant I did, but as this was an emergency and we had a warehouse on fire, I did not put all my belongings back in my pockets, which I am sure that your inspector and any court will appreciate Sergeant?
\ldblquote Fucking rubbish, you are trying to take the piss.\rdblquote
Just then the door opened and an Inspector walked in with two other officers. Sergeant Mooney you are under arrest for corruption and assisting in black marketeering. We have arrested the whole gang using the information you gave us sir.\rdblquote He said to Tony.
\ldblquote They have all confessed and complained that you must have squealed on them citing you Sergeant Money as their accomplice.\rdblquote
Tony said \ldblquote Thank you Inspector I wondered why I was being manhandled so badly.\rdblquote
Later Tony was told that when he stopped the first lorry driven by Ray Middleton the Inspector had quite deliberately let it slip out that the information given by Sergeant Money had been absolutely correct and that it was the information from him that had tripped them up. Ray had then decided to blab and had betrayed the Sergeant to the Inspector. A very successful evening by the police the Superintendent had of course claimed all the credit.
Next Chapter 6
\pard\qc\fs28 Chapter 6
Tonys Love Life
\fs20
\pard Tony was just about to make his way out of the station on a borrowed walking stick, feeling quite aggrieved and very tired at the way in which he had been treated and wondering how he was going to make it back to the Feathers. When \lang2057 he saw PC Fay Tonks walking towards him, her lips parted in a welcoming smile. She was about 5ft 6\rdblquote tall with short cropped blonde hair, aqua blue eyes and a lovely athletic looking body. He guessed she was probably about twenty three years of age. She had a sort of cheeky look in her eyes as she looked at him. She very sexily rolled her tongue around the edge of her lips\lang1033 . He could see her breasts rising and falling as she stared at him under her uniform jacket. Tony waited for her to speak\cf1 . \cf0
\ldblquote Oh, ah, Tony. Err My Lord I\rquote m, eh, glad we ran into each other before you left. I am PC Fay Tonks. I wondered if you could come to the interview room with me for a few moments, as I need to take your statement. It is better if we are alone and we will not get interrupted.\rdblquote PC. Fay Tonks was obviously quite embarrassed, and she looked vaguely unhappy. Tony followed her back to the interview room, When they reached the interview room she locked the door.
He could see the conflict of emotions in her mind, as she fought against a rising sexual interest in him and the instructions her Superintendent had given her. It was not in her nature to throw herself at a man, just any man and she was a little confused at her feelings. Tony realised that for some unknown reason the ring was exerting its power to bring them both together. He could see the struggle that Fay was experiencing s she struggled to bring her emotions under control.
\ldblquote I\rquote m sorry about the way you were treated Sir, we never suspected anything wrong with Sergeant Mooney before, we are all in shock over the incident, and my Superintendent will call on you in person another day to apologise in person. Nothing like that will ever happen again. I assure you.\rdblquote
Tony could not reply he found he was just staring at her, he was reading her mind and he could see that her attraction for him was gaining the upper hand. He found that he was reading her mind as easily as if it were written on a piece of paper. Tony sensed that something unusual was happening and he recalled the ring telling him that his powers would increase if he used them wisely. But this was the first time in his experience that the ring seemed to be initiating an action. He could tell that this PC Fay Tonks was finding it almost impossible to control herself in his presence. He doubted it was a natural phenomenon and he was sure that for the first time the ring was using its influence.....
Fay was feeling rather aggrieved, she knew the Superintendent was using her to placate this young man and he had said quite clearly to her. \ldblquote Do what you must, but stop him complaining.\rdblquote She had no doubts what the Super had meant. He could not afford to have a complaint by Tony lodged against him especially when he was so near promotion. The fact that one of his senior Sergeants had been accused of corruption was bad enough, and now to have a complaint by a peer of the realm against him would be the last straw. Fay was a little aggrieved that he was using her like a call girl, and not like a valued lover, or a proper policewoman. But now seeing Tony, her instincts and her rising passion seemed to her that she would thoroughly enjoy carrying out her orders to the letter.
Tony himself found it hard to concentrate with the glamorous Fay so close. At that moment he felt a tingling in his penis. His cock seemed as though it was getting much bigger he thought his mind was playing tricks on him, but he put his hand down surreptitiously to feel it, and to his amazement it seemed to have suddenly grown. Now it seemed to be about nine inches. It was also thicker than before.
He knew from reading Fays mind that she was no virgin and that she had been having a long term affair with her married Superintendent and she was a very put out by the fact that he was asking her to give herself to just anyone, but now he could see that she was realising that Tony was young and good looking and that her sexual interest was growing apace.
Tony was reading all these emotions in Fays mind, and he realised that she was certainly very willing, but he determined to let her make the first move. All of a sudden the glamorous PC.Fay Tonks\rquote s felt extremely amorous. She stepped up to Tony quickly, putting her arms round him and holding him tightly and gave him a very heated kiss. Tony had anticipated this and pulled her into him, and they began exploring each other\rquote s mouths in earnest with their tongues.
Fays moans were getting louder; her kissing more passionate though when Tony cupped her buttocks with his hands after a moment of so of necking and she pulled back, he thought he had gone too far, however, Fay had pulled away so she could get her hands free to unbutton her skirt.
Tony realised that Fay was originally obeying the principal of the orders she had been given, but this had now been replaced by a natural enthusiasm for sex, he was a little surprised at the intensity of the need being portrayed by the vision before him. PC .Fay Tonks was now undoing her shirt and pulling her under vest over her head and her face was flushed red. She had quickly shed all her clothing and was standing before him in a white bra and matching panties. \ldblquote Damn you Tony I\rquote m so sorry I don\rquote t know what has come over me bit I want you badly \'85I\rquote m so hot,\rdblquote she kept repeating.
She stepped forward, pressing her body against him again, reaching out to pull his shirt out of his trousers... She let her hands roam over his torso under his shirt and up his chest, groping him. She pulled him close and they were kissing again. After a minute she pulled her head back and then leaned into him again, licking his ear. \ldblquote Tony please Take me, Tony. Fuck me Right now. I need you so badly, that feels sooooooo good\'85\rdblquote Tony had unhooked her bra and let it fell to the floor between them, her nipples hard, rubbing against the fabric of his shirt. Her tongue shot into his mouth and she moaned again.
\ldblquote Tony stepped back as he started to finish undressing. By the time he had tossed his shirt to the corner of the room she had unbuttoned his fly buttons and she frantically pulled his trousers down along with his underpants, and then she knelt before him, as she worked on his shoes and socks. Swiftly she rose, pulling him into her again, her nipples raking across his chest. She was sweating, and it served as lubrication as she slid her body up and down her chest. \ldblquote Tony\'85I\rquote m so hot\'85I\rquote m hot for you. I don\rquote t know why please help me?\rdblquote
Tony picked her up and sat her down on the edge of her desk, then he leaned over and pushing her back slightly he began suckling at her breasts. \ldblquote Oh, Tony! That\rquote s so good. You know how to make me feel good.\rdblquote Her head tilted back, and she let out a low-pitched moan in pleasure. Tony began to edge her panties down, and PC.Fay Tonks wrapped her arms around his neck for leverage, lifting her body to make his task easier Tony looked down at her pussy, admiring the neat triangle of her blonde pubic hair.
Leaning her back so she was flat on the desk, he bent down and leaned forward so that the backs of her thighs were resting atop his shoulders. He placed his mouth on PC.Fay Tonks\rquote s pussy
\ldblquote Oh My God!\rdblquote Fay screamed as she felt Tony\rquote s mouth licking her pussy. She began shaking and groaning in excitement as he began to lick her and eat her out in earnest.
Fay had not slept with many men; her only long-term relationship had been the Superintendent. He was married and had never made love to her like this. Nor had any of her few other lovers. In fact she was not even sure she had ever had a proper orgasm. The one thing she was sure of at that moment was that she was receiving more pleasure from Tony, than she had ever felt before. Soon her body was bucking and thrashing wildly, her pelvis rising up to keep in contact with the lips and tongue of the young man before her. After just a few minutes the pleasure became almost unbearable. Her head started to shake from side to side, and her moans became even higher pitched.
Tony knew she was about to come. He knew the signs of an approaching orgasm. Fay\rquote s body became stiff, her knees tensed around his neck to trap his head in her crotch, and she let out a prodigious scream: \ldblquote Yes, yes! I\rquote m coming, Tony, I\rquote m coming!\rdblquote
Tony stood back and watched her as she came down from her orgasmic high, studying her body. Her nipples were visibly erect, her body covered in sweat, and by the looks of her she was hyperventilating. Her eyes were closed and the corners of her mouth were curved up in extreme satisfaction. Tony leaned over and began to kiss her, first her firm breasts, and then up her neck, to her face, coming to rest at her lips. She opened her eyes and stared at him. She could not stop thinking that about the pleasure he had given her. Now she was sure\emdash she had never orgasmed before today. Now for the first time she knew what she had been missing. Their tongues continued to duel, and she began to become more relaxed...
Tony had her lay back again. He positioned himself between her outstretched legs, guiding his now massive cock to her pussy. When he made contact, he rubbed the head up and down her wet slit, teasing her, just a little. He knew that he couldn\rquote t hold out much longer with out penetrating her. Fay began whimpering softly, her eyes looking up at him expectantly.
\ldblquote Put it in me, Tony, please. I need it, I need you now\'85so hot\'85I\rquote m so hot.\rdblquote Tony shifted his weight forward and head of his enhanced manhood penetrated this lovely policewoman. She moaned loudly, and then began to gasp as he pressed himself inside her. \ldblquote That\rquote s right that\rquote s so good, Tony, so hot.\rdblquote
When he was in as far as he could go she let out a soft moan of satisfaction. He held himself still within her, tensing and relaxing his cock muscles. Her love tunnel felt like it was rippling around his shaft, her legs locked around his back, holding him in place. She looked up at him again with a look of half-love, half lust in her eyes. Tony looked back at her. He was afraid he was going to cum straight away, and he desperately hoped he could hold on for a while.
Her legs relaxed a bit, allowing him to begin moving. He gradually built up speed, and started fucking her with a great deal of vigor. All of a sudden her body tensed up again, becoming stiff. She threw herself forward and slammed her crotch at his cock, impaling her pussy to the root. \ldblquote I\rquote m coming, Tony. You\rquote re making me come again. Oh my GOD!\rdblquote He could feel her pussy spasm around his cock, and the sensations overwhelmed him, as he shot his juices into her pussy. She was hyperventilating again as Tony withdrew from her. He lifted her into his arms, and held her naked body tight in his arms as she gradually recovered from hr experience...
She looked up and gave him a lovely smile then fastened her lips on his and rested her head against his chest. She looked up at him and said. \ldblquote Tony we must do this again please.\rdblquote He agreed, but wondered how he would manage it in his complicated life.
Then Fay chuckled \ldblquote I still have to take your statement Sir!\rdblquote
Tony rang Kate and told her that he had been cleared of all charges but was stopping at the station to make a statement. Fay was pleased that she had got Tony to herself for a few hours and after taking the statement she found some food and refreshments. They talked for a long while and then made love again and as the \ldblquote all clear.\rdblquote sounded they reluctantly admitted that the time had come to part.
But Fay was a very determined girl, she found herself very attracted to Tony and she was determined that they would meet again. She had been quite open and honest with him about her previous sexual adventures and her relationship with the Station Superintendent. \ldblquote It was alright, but not minds blowing like our love making tonight.\rdblquote She had told him.
\ldblquote I am going to see you again and if you don\rquote t make me welcome I will arrest you.\rdblquote She said facetiously. \ldblquote I don\rquote t need to work, and joining the police to be a bed mate for a senior officer was not my idea of police work.\rdblquote
\ldblquote What are you going to do then?\rdblquote Tony asked.
Today I am going sick and I am sending in my resignation.\rdblquote Tony was already reading her mind and was privately grinning to himself.
\ldblquote My uncle is a doctor and I am going to get him to write me a note a note saying I have Gonorrhea or Syphilis or something highly infectious, and make the Superintendent sweat, but he can do nothing if I don\rquote t turn in for duty. I am finished with the police as of now.\rdblquote
\ldblquote What are you going to do to earn a living then?\rdblquote Tony asked.
\ldblquote I am going to be Lord Radcliffe\rquote s mistress if he will let me?\rdblquote
Tony could see that she was very serious and he needed to get her to slow down.
\ldblquote No that is not possible, but you can come and keep me company while I work tonight\rdblquote Tony told her.
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\pard\qc ***********
\pard\fs20
The Hon Felicity Fox flounced around in front of her dressing room mirror\b\fs28 . \b0\fs20 Her maid Hannah a slim brunette hovered nervously in the background. Felicity was a natural slim waisted, blue eyed spoilt, blonde beauty of hot female flesh so typical of many of her class in the 1940\rquote s. While her parents were quite happy to do anything themselves to assist the war effort they were very frustrated at the lack of patriotism shown by their only daughter. She was not alone as many girls of that class revolted at the thought of war being allowed to interrupt their social or love life. Her brother Tim was a captain in the Coldstream Guards and was on embarkation leave for a foreign posting to a place unknown.
Felicity was sulking because her mother wanted her to go and stay with her Aunt Sheila for a week or so... \ldblquote Darling you know that poor Uncle Larry was killed a few weeks ago and she needs cheering up, besides darling she has found a long lost son, she abandoned when she was your age, and I am sure that she would love you to take him in hand. Apparently he was a sailor on the same ship as Uncle Larry.\rdblquote
Felicity sulkily agreed, very aware that her mother was very good at applying sanctions that would interfere with her social life should she refuse the request. Soon she was on the way in their chauffer driven limousine despite wartime petrol rationing. Her father always seemed to be able to get extra petrol on the Black Market when he needed it. Although she was resolved not to be partnered with a mere sailor, or to be coerced into some form of society marriage with a common sailor, even though he was a peer of the realm.
Arriving an hour later at Frindley Park she was greeted by her Aunt Sheila in the entrance hall. She had always got on well with Sheila although they were not actually related by blood as Sheila was her mother\rquote s closest friend and confidante all the way through school. In fact Felicity\rquote s mother was the only person who Sheila had confided in after Tony\rquote s illegitimate birth.
Lady Sheila had invited Felicity to stay with her as she thought it would ease her relationship with Tony if he had someone near his own age to talk with, and to have a third person in the house would help her to bond with Tony. It may also lead to a romantic liaison, something which she would welcome. Soon Felicity was chattering away to Sheila forgetting her irritation at being blackmailed into this visit by her mother as they moved into the downstairs dining room where coffee was waiting to be served...
Next Chapter 7
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\pard\qc\b\fs28 Chapter 7
Disaster Strikes Again.
\pard\b0\fs20 10\super th\nosupersub May 1941.
The Feathers opened for business as usual that night. It was only a few days later that everyone realised that this night was to be the last big fling of the Luftwaffe. By the end of the night the total of deaths would have risen to 43,000 civilians killed. As usual the sirens sounded as darkness fell which was not unusual as it had now been 57 continuous days since the start of the Blitz on London. Tony hoped that soon Fay would be joining him, as she had despite many protests from her father, insisted on resigning from the force. This she had been allowed to do because she was a probationer. Since leaving the police force he had been in the habit of every night of the week singing with Tony and staying most nights with him much to the annoyance of Clare. If Kate showed any resentment in Fay\rquote s obvious pursuit of Tony she did not make it obvious and welcomed Fay with open arms...
Tony had in the past few days received notification of the presentation of his medal by the King at Buckingham Palace, after much thought; he had elected to take Joan as his partner. He had made it clear to everyone that Joan\rquote s husband and his father had been killed at the same time, and he thought she should at least have this moment of glory as a remembrance to Alan. Lady Sheila his mother was his obvious first choice, but she declined the offer to accompany him, as she wanted to avoid the publicity surrounding her finding Tony and his obvious succession to the title....
The press had visited him and was intrigued at having discovered that not only had he inherited his fathers\rquote title but he had been recommended for a further award due to his rescue of Mrs. Wails and her mother from the land mine the previous month. Apparently as Tony was still officially in the Royal Navy he would possibly get a bar to his DSM and not the George Medal as a civilian.\line\line Tony was rather embarrassed at all the fuss, and once again his photograph was in the papers as the investiture list was announced. Much fuss was made about him taking Joan and despite the fact that Tony had made it clear that although he had a fianc\'e9; Joan was a long standing friend and deserved to be present on the occasion, as her husband had died in the same attack. To his surprise on reading Joans mind he found that she was relieved that he had found someone else, and that she had given up the idea of marrying him. She congratulated him on his medal, but did not ask any questions about his fianc\'e9. Tony was relieved as at the time, mentioning a fianc\'e9 was still a figment of Tony\rquote s imagination; he was also very relieved that Joan was not upset.
Tonight was going to be his celebration and farewell party in the Feathers, but he did not want a big fuss, as in his own mind he was not sure that he had done anything out of the ordinary line of duty. Tony had decided that he should in the next few days move to join his mother. Both Kate and Fay understood, and Fay had asked if he could find her a job on the estate. She was desperate to stay with Tony, and in her own mind; she knew that he was the man for her. She loved horses and as the estate had to use many horses for the farm work; Tony thought that there might be some form of opening for her in the stables....
The more they were together the closer they had got and Tony had soon found that Fay had a highly intelligent and pleasant personality. He enjoyed being with her and thoughts of marriage were definitely foremast in his mind.
Unusually Fay had not arrived that night which worried Tony slightly as this was intended to be a special night. His worry was increased as they had to move quickly to the cellar under the bar as the bombs started to fall, and it soon became evident that tonight the Germans were making a very special effort. In an interval in the bombing, Tony and Kate went to his bedroom, and looking out across as far as he could see they could see whole batches of incendiary bombs go off in a few seconds. They saw the intense flashes and then saw them simmer down to pin points of intense white light burning ferociously. Kate looked at him and said quietly. \ldblquote Tony tonight they are intent on burning London to the ground. Tonight they are out to kill us all.\rdblquote
They could see the pin points of light go out one by one as they were smothered with sand or water, but there were too many, for every incendiary that was extinguished two more took their place, as they watched they would see a yellow flame erupt as a major fire broke out and another building caught fire.
Tony felt the power of the ring telling him that he had to go out and help and he turned to Kate and told her
\ldblquote Kate I can not stand and watch. I\rquote m going out to help; you must look after your customers.\rdblquote
As Kate returned to the shelter in the cellar with Bill and his daughter, and the few customers who had been in the bar at the time of the start of the raid. Tony joined the ARP Wardens and the firemen and volunteers in the streets outside, smothering the incendiary bombs with sand, or helping in the rescue of people trapped by the high explosive bombs that came with the next wave of bombers.
It was not long before the emergency water tanks were empty with the intensity of the bombing and the resultant fires, but gradually they managed to cope with the worst of the incendiaries. It was just turned dawn, as a very tired and very dirty Tony trudged back through the rubble of burnt houses and smoking debris to the Feathers. As he turned the corner he saw the area had been flattened. The Feathers was a smouldering wreck. A number of people were frantically trying to remove rubble and get to the cellar where they hoped some people might still be alive when the building had collapsed and caught fire. Amongst them Tony saw a much disheveled Fay, her face covered in grime, tears and dust and her hands were bleeding from the unusually hard work. She turned and seeing Tony she ran towards him, jumping into his arms crying in relief as she smothered his face with tears of relief and passionate kisses...
Tony knew then for certain that this was the girl he wanted to marry. They both knew that it was a forlorn hope to find any survivors alive as they continued to help in the rescue work, but eventually the experts shook their heads and said. \ldblquote It\rquote s no good.\rdblquote And turned their efforts towards other people trapped nearby. Fay took Tony back to her apartment which had survived. They both had a quick bath and went to bed. It was confirmed later that Kate, Bill and Clare had lost their lives in the raid and once again Tony realised that the ring in telling him to go and help others had also saved his life.
Fay was late that night as she had experienced a stomach upset and had elected to stay at home. Because of the intensity of the raid that night, the telephones would not accept private calls so she was unable to get through to the Feathers to tell Tony. It may just have been coincidence but Tony was firmly of the opinion that the ring had somehow stopped Fay from being killed that night in the Feathers.
The following night was memorable as for the first time for 57 days the Luftwaffe did not make an appearance. London still fighting the residue of the previous nights attack for the first time in a long while slept in peace without interruption, although a siren did go off but was soon followed by the all clear. The emergency services were standing by, but as the hours passed they began to relax. They were fairly certain that they would face more problems in the future, but for once they were grateful for this breather.
It was a few days later that Lady Sheila welcomed Tony back home, but she was very saddened by the death of her friends at the Feathers. She took to Fay immediately and she knew Fays father which helped to give them a mutual interest. Felicity virtually ignored Tony and on occasion was quite rude to him. Lady Sheila became very irritated at Felicity\rquote s behaviour and was quite proud of the forbearance that Tony showed. She began to see Felicity as a spoilt brat, and was quietly glad to see the back of her now Tony had come home. She was desperate to get to know this son of hers and, to make up for all the lost time.
Tonys arrival coincided with a Wing Commander Forbes visiting from the RAF wishing to take up the offer of accommodation for a number of slightly wounded and battle weary RAF officers, which took up a lot of Lady Sheila\rquote s time. Tony meanwhile was preparing for his investiture at Buckingham Palace and getting out his number one uniform that had not been worn for some weeks. Fortunately it had been at home with Lady Sheila when the Feathers was bombed.
After a day or so resting, Tony and Fay started to take an interest in estate matters. Looking at his fathers long term plans, he could see that his father was of the opinion that turning the estate into a farming project was not just war time expediency, but he saw it as the future for the long term survival of the estate itself. He had planned to retain a deer sanctuary near the house, but he envisaged that the long term aim should be for a financially viable farming venture. In his notes he had written that he envisaged a much changed world after the war, and there would be a large demand for home grown produce and livestock.
All Tony\rquote s efforts to hold detailed discussions with Fran the farm manager were fruitless, she constantly pleaded lack of time, and it soon became obvious that she resented Tony having any say in the running of the estate. Tony with the help of the ring realised that Francis was frightened of losing her position, and was concerned that Tony was beginning to interfere and wanted to take over her job.
It took Lady Sheila eventually to insist that Francis come to dinner one night. After dinner Lady Sheila said quietly. \ldblquote Francis we wanted you here for a discussion on the future of the estate.\rdblquote Hardly were the words out of her mouth when Francis jumped up and said in an angry voice.
\ldblquote That\rquote s it I am resigning, your bloody son can take over if that\rquote s what you want.\rdblquote
For the first time Tony saw the steely side of Lady Sheila.
She said quite forcibly. \ldblquote For gods sake sit down girl, and shut up for two minutes while we explain our plans for the future, and he is my son, and a peer of the realm not my bloody son. Show some respect and common sense girl.\rdblquote
Tony interrupting not wishing to see the row escalate said \ldblquote Francis you have it all wrong, we are talking about a massive expansion of the farming venture, and you are at the heart of it. I am no farmer and frankly I don\rquote t really want to be. I want to marry Fay and raise a family. I may even stay in the Navy\rdblquote
Fay quickly intervened and said. \ldblquote Of course this is the first I have heard of it of it, but my answer is about bloody time you proposed. The answer is yes.\rdblquote
It was just at that time that the new Butler interrupted and said.
\ldblquote Excuse me my Lady, but I think you should know that Germany has today invaded Russia.\rdblquote
Everyone sat in silence for a minute and then Tony said.
\ldblquote Germany has lost the war now. It does not matter whether America joins in, and it might take us ten years, but to take on Russia, must be the nearest thing to suicide that Hitler could possible do \endash he must be stark raving mad..\rdblquote
It was with a new mood of optimism that they all got down to planning the future of the estate and the expansion of the labour force. . The only thing that Tony wanted changing was that the area bordering the house should not be immediately cultivated. He thought that eventually a large lake and the deer herd would give the house a more pleasant view pointing out that the house would soon be catering for several RAF officers and they wanted a peaceful environment...
\ldblquote Its going to take at least five years, possibly longer to get all this conversion in place \endash let\rquote s just leave the house area to the end.\rdblquote
The following week the investiture took place and Tony returned home following the investiture with Joan to meet Fay and his mother. It was a month later that Tony, Fay, and his mother returned to a vastly different London for the memorial service for those that had died when the Feathers was bombed. It was the last time that Tony was to wear his naval uniform.
Tony was a little amused to see that the ugly concrete emergency fire reservoirs were now being used as swimming pools by the local children. The streets were open, shops had opened for business and although food was still in short supply London was very much alive. The streets were full of servicemen and volunteers from Australia Canada and the Commonwealth. London was very much still alive it had survived its own holocaust and survived.
At the end of the service a local solicitor approached Tony to inform him that he had been left the Feathers in Kate\rquote s last will and testament as a wedding present\'85 Lady Sheila putt her arms round Tony and Fay. \ldblquote How appropriate its time to go home son, we girls have a wedding to arrange.\rdblquote
The End
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