Anna's Return Read online

  “You girls are my rock,” Madame would sometimes say. “You make this family what it is.”

  Anna also had a best friend in Tasha. Often Tasha would accompany Anna and young Nikolai to the park, just so they could chat.

  That morning was different. Anna was alone with Nikolai in the park, and her young heart was troubled. She did not like to complain, knowing how fortunate she had been to find the Voronins when she needed them most. But over the past few weeks, she had often been left out of conversations, or discussions ended when she left the room. Only that morning, she and Tasha had been due to go to the park with Nikolai, but Madame had called Tasha back.

  “We could go later,” Anna had offered.

  “No, no, you go, Anna,” said Madame. “Take Nicky to Hyde Park. I will give you money for a taxi.”

  Hyde Park was quite a long way from the Voronins’ house in North London. She seldom went into central London, preferring to stay on the outskirts.

  Going to Hyde Park meant that Anna and Nicky would be gone most of the morning. Anna could not help feeling that she was being got out of the way for some reason. And it was not the first time it had happened.

  Sighing, and watching Nicky feed the ducks on a bright spring morning, she told herself not to be so childish. Of course she could not expect to be privy to every private conversation between Madame and Tasha. But it was not only that. Several times over the past weeks, she had been told to take dinner with Nicky, and not with the family. She was beginning to fear that she had done something to displease Madame.

  “Anna!” Nicky called. He was standing near the base of a tree.

  “Don’t climb the tree!” Anna cried, panicking.

  “I am not going to climb it,” said Nicky. “I will spoil my new trousers.”

  Anna smiled. She had never met a child so fussy about how he looked. Nicky already had the look of a little diplomat.

  “It is you, Anna,” said Nicky.

  “What?”

  “This picture on this tree. It is you.”

  Anna walked across and just as Nicky had said, there was a flyer with a picture of her. It was faded, suggesting it had been there for a long time. Anna took it off the tree, carefully and put it in her pocket. There was a telephone number on the bottom, and a message asking to contact a Mr. and Mrs. Stephens. She became afraid that the money she had returned to Mr. Stephens had not reached him. Perhaps he was angry with her for taking it and wanted to have her arrested. Her heart beat rapidly.

  “Come on, Nicky,” she said, taking the little boy’s hand. “We had better return home.”

  “Not yet, Anna. Mama said we’re to be sure not to return until lunch time.”

  “When did she say that?”

  “This morning. She said ‘Make sure you and Anna stay at the park until lunchtime’.”

  “I see…” It seemed to Anna that a cloud passed over the sky. Not only was Madame trying to get her out of the way, she was involving Nicky in their subterfuge. “Oh well,” said Anna, determined not to let it bother her. “I think that calls for an ice cream, don’t you? Unless you are afraid it will spoil your clothes,” she teased.

  “I think I can manage not to make a mess. I am nearly seven.”

  “In ten months time!” Anna laughed. She would not be miserable in front of Nicky. He was not to blame for whatever was happening. He merely obeyed his mama as any good child should.

  They wandered through the park to the ice cream van, then sat on a bench, eating a 99 cornet. “Which do you think is best?” asked Nicky. “The ice cream or the chocolate flake?”

  “Hmm, I like them both.”

  “Personally I like the strawberry sauce,” said a voice from a few feet away from them. “Hello, Anna.”

  “Janek…” Anna almost dropped her ice cream. In all her years in London, she had never once bumped into him again. Now here he was, looking even more handsome than the last time she had seen him. Along with anyone else who read the newspapers, Anna had quickly learned that Janek was not an employee at Carmichaels, but one of the owners. In fact, he was very much considered the only owner, with his sleeping partner keeping very much out of the spotlight.

  The company had also become a chain, opening hotels in New York and Paris. Carmichaels hotels were synonymous with olde worlde charm, and the sort of elegance that had been lost due to the ravages of war.

  “It’s very good to see you again, Anna,” he said, giving her a devastating smile.

  “How do you do,” said Nicky, standing up and holding out a slightly sticky hand. “I am Nikolai Voronin.”

  “I am very pleased to meet you, Mr. Voronin,” said Janek, holding out his own hand. “Am I to assume that you are Anna’s intended?” He grinned.

  “No, silly. She is far too old for me. She is our au pair, though Mama says I’m not allowed to say that because Anna is family now.”

  “I’m glad to hear it,” said Janek. “I’m also glad to see you doing so well, Anna. I’ve often thought of you.”

  Anna, rendered speechless by seeing him again, managed a smile. “Not as well as you’re doing, I notice.”

  “Carmichaels hotels are doing well, yes. You should come and see us one day. I’ll treat you and young Mr. Voronin here to a high tea. Would you like that, Mr. Voronin?”

  “I would love to,” said Nicky. “And as you’re a friend of Anna’s you may call me Nicky. I’ve always longed to stay at Carmichaels.”

  Anna laughed. It was news to her. She could only assume that Nicky found Janek as impressive looking as she did.

  “Will you come?” This time Janek spoke only to Anna. “Please.”

  “Yes, we would like that, wouldn’t we, Nicky?”

  “What about tomorrow?”

  “Tomorrow? I er…”

  “The thing is, I have to fly out to New York the next day and I may be gone for a week or two. I would like to see you again before I go.”

  “Yes, if Madame Voronina agrees, we’ll come tomorrow,” said Anna.

  “Janek!” A woman’s voice rang across the park. Anna looked and saw a very glamorous young woman, standing a few feet away. “Janek, where did you get to?”

  “I’m sorry, Mary. I’ve just met an old friend. Mary Carmichael, this is Anna…”

  “Palmer,” Anna cut in quickly. Whilst Madame knew about her father and Silverton Hall, Nicky did not, and she was reluctant to confuse the child.

  “That’s just what I was going to say,” said Janek. “I’ve spoken to Florentyna quite a few times about you.”

  “You have?” Anna looked at him wide-eyed.

  “Of course. I’m sorry you had such a bad time at…”

  Before he could say anymore, Mary had covered the distance between them and put her arm in his. “Janek, darling, you can talk to your little friend another time. We have to go and meet Mike for lunch, remember?”

  “Forgive me, Anna,” said Janek. “Business and duty calls. But I shall see you and Nicky tomorrow.”

  Anna watched as they walked away, whilst Mary picked imaginary bits of fluff from Janek’s pristine coat.

  “We can go, can’t we, Anna?” Nicky sat back down next to her, pulling at her sleeve.

  “I’m not sure, Nicky…” It was ridiculous that she should feel so jealous of Mary Carmichael. She and Janek were virtual strangers now. This did not explain why the two very brief times she had seen him since their adventure, her heart flipped uncontrollably. He did not belong to her, just because they had shared a desperate experience a very long time ago. She wished him to be happy, and if Mary made him happy, so be it.

  “I shall ask Mama,” said Nicky. “I’m sure she will allow it.”

  Chapter Twelve

  “She’s a pretty girl,” said Izzy. “Is she your sweetheart?”

  Teddy looked up startled. He had not heard Izzy come into the kitchen. He shook his head. “No, this is Anna, my half-sister.”

  “I had no idea you had a sister,” said Izzy.


  “I’ve just made a cup of tea. Would you like some?” asked Teddy.

  “Your mother would have a fit if she knew you were in the kitchen. But yes I would like one very much, thank you.” Izzy sat down at the kitchen table.

  “You can have half of my luncheon meat sandwich if you want. I haven’t touched it yet. It’s all very well Mother saying I can’t come into the kitchen, but since she frightens away most of the staff, I don’t have much choice. Anyway, times are changing, Izzy. The days of spoilt little rich boys, living off their Trust Fund and unable to fend for themselves have gone. I just wish Mother would understand that.”

  “You’re going to be quite a man when you grow up, Teddy, do you know that?”

  He put a cup of tea in front of Izzy and smiled. “I think I’m quite grown up enough.”

  Izzy laughed indulgently. “Oh, in a couple more years maybe. So, tell me about Anna.”

  Teddy sat back down in his own seat, and once again offered half his sandwich to Izzy, which she took gratefully. “Do you remember me telling you the other day that I’d done something awful?”

  “Yes. And I said I doubted it.”

  “Well, I did. Because of me, Anna was accused of attempting to … well to cause me serious harm. Then she ran away and I don’t know where she is. I just wish I could find her, and tell her I’m sorry.” Once he had started to speak, Teddy could not stop himself. He wanted Izzy to know everything.

  “Slow down, Teddy,” she said, putting her hand over his. He wished he could hold her hand forever, but she had made it clear she thought him too young for her. “And tell me everything from the beginning.”

  So that was what Teddy did. He told Izzy all about how Anna came into their lives, right up to what happened when he climbed the tree. By the time he finished, he took a deep, cleansing breath.

  “Oh, Teddy, you were only a little boy,” said Izzy. “You’re being much too hard on yourself. If Anna running away was anyone’s fault, then I’m sorry to say it was your mother’s. She must have known Anna would not really do such a thing.”

  “She wouldn’t do anything like that,” said Teddy, vehemently. “I used to tell her she was a peach of a girl and she really was. Only Anna and Mrs. Palmer spoke to me when I was at home. I mean really spoke to me, like I was somebody.”

  “You are somebody.”

  “You wouldn’t think it, from the way Mother and Father speak to me. Oh, the old man’s not so bad really. He’s just as frightened of Mother as everyone else is. But mother only ever spoke to me to scold or to mollycoddle me.”

  “She loves you very much, Teddy. You can’t criticise her for that.” If Izzy was anything, she was fair-minded, and always tried to see the best in people. “Maybe it was genuine fear when you fell out of the tree that caused her to accuse Anna of causing it.”

  Teddy shook his head. “No, she hardly bothered about my injuries. Such as they were. I had a bit of a bruise on my head and my leg, that’s all. My pride took the biggest beating.”

  “Has no one heard from Anna since?”

  “She wrote a letter to Stephens, our old butler, and sent him a ten shilling note. That was about a month later. We didn’t know it at the time, but she’d borrowed the money off him. All she said was that she hoped I was alright and that Mrs. Palmer would understand why she had to run away. It was posted in London, so Mrs. Palmer and Mr. Stephens had some thoughts of looking for her there. I don’t know if they ever found her. Soon after they both left. Mrs. Palmer was going to run a guesthouse in Filey with her sister, and Mr. Stephens was going to lodge with them.”

  “Perhaps we could go and ask her,” suggested Izzy.

  “Who, Mrs. Palmer?”

  “Why not? It’s possible they found Anna but just didn’t tell you.”

  “Because they were angry with me, you mean?”

  “No, I was thinking more to protect her from your mother. I really think we could go in search of Mrs. Palmer.”

  “We?”

  “I’ve got a few days off and I fancy a trip to the seaside.”

  “I’m surprised you want to spend any time with me after what I’ve told you.”

  “And I’ve told you to stop upsetting yourself over something that happened when you were a little boy. I’m sure Anna doesn’t blame you.”

  “What if she does blame me, Izzy? What if I find her and she hates me?”

  “From what you’ve said of her, Teddy, she doesn’t seem like that sort of girl.”

  “It depends what’s happened to her in the meantime, doesn’t it? Who knows what she’s suffered?”

  “Now you’re being melodramatic! You told me yourself that Anna somehow managed to escape from war torn Europe, when she was only ten years old. It seems to me that if she’s resourceful enough to do that, she’s resourceful enough to survive anything.”

  “I hope you’re right, Izzy. I really do.”

  “So, when shall we go to the seaside?”

  Chapter Thirteen

  “I think a high tea at Carmichaels is a wonderful idea,” said Madame. She was sitting in her bedroom, applying make up. “I would like to meet Mr. Dabrowski myself. I had no idea he was the one who escaped from Europe with you, Anna.”

  “I knew,” said Tasha, who was sitting on the bed. “I kept trying to persuade Anna to go and visit him, but she put it off every time.”

  “I didn’t want to impose on what was only a very brief acquaintance,” said Anna. In reality she had been afraid that Janek would believe she only wanted his friendship now that he was rich. The more famous he became, the more difficult it was for her to go and see him. It was as if a wall a thousand feet high had been built between them. “But now I have been invited, Madame, I am sure he would not mind you accompanying us this afternoon. You too, Tasha. I would ring up and ask first, of course, so as not to be rude.” Anna wondered if Madame were offended at being left out of the invitation.

  A look passed between Madame and Tasha. One of their increasingly secretive looks that gave Anna the impression they were carrying on a private conversation about things to which she was not privy. “No, no,” said Madame. “I have things to do, and I need Tasha’s help. You and Nicky must go and tell us all about Carmichaels. I hear the high tea is the very best in London.”

  Anna and Nicky arrived at Carmichaels at around four o’clock that afternoon. Even in her best yellow summer dress and pristine white gloves, she felt out of place. As the papers had said, Carmichaels harked back to a bygone age of quiet elegance. The interior of the hotel was decorated in the art deco style, lit with Tiffany lamps, and with a few nods towards classical architecture, it really was the most beautiful building.

  She was acutely aware of her heels clicking on the white marble floor as they entered and wished she could walk more quietly.

  Her voice was barely above a whisper when she informed the desk clerk of her name. “Mr. Dabrowski is expecting us, I believe,” said Anna. “Of course if he is busy…” If he were busy, she could go away and stop her heart from fluttering so rapidly.

  “I am not busy, Anna,” said a voice from behind her. “I have been waiting for you. Hello, young Nicky, how are you today?”

  “I’m very well thank you, Mr. Dabrowski. We came by tube! Mama doesn’t usually let us, but she said we could today. It was very exciting. I’m very happy to be here.”

  “I’m glad to hear it. Whereas Anna looks as if she would like to run away.”

  “I feel scruffy in such sumptuous surroundings,” said Anna, trying to make light of her nerves.

  “You look lovely, like the epitome of summer,” said Janek.

  Oh dear, thought Anna, now he would think she was fishing for compliments. “Thank you,” was all she could manage to say.

  “I thought we’d take tea up on my terrace,” said Janek. “It has a wonderful view of the city.”

  “Brilliant!” said Nicky.

  That calmed Anna a little. At least if they were in private, she would not be
so aware of how she compared with the truly elegant ladies who sat in the foyer, drinking tea and chatting eagerly about their Harrods purchases.

  High tea at Carmichaels was everything it was said to be. As Anna and Nicky looked out over London, with Janek pointing out landmarks to them, a member of staff brought up plates full of tiny sandwiches and small cakes. Pride of place in the middle of the table was an enormous fruit cake.

  “Can we take some back for Mama and Papa?” Nicky asked.

  “Nicky,” Anna chided gently.

  “Of course you may,” Janek interrupted. “I should have thought to include them in the invitation. I hope you’ll forgive me, Nicky, but I was so eager to be able to see Anna again, I completely forgot my manners.”

  The afternoon seemed to be made up of Janek addressing comments to or about Anna through Nicky, so she followed his lead. Having Nicky there, almost as a chaperone helped to ease some of the tension.

  “Are you very rich?” Nicky asked Janek, as they ate their sandwiches. Anna was about to chide him again but thankfully Janek laughed.

  “I don’t do too badly. It was not always so, as Anna will tell you. When we first met, I was a starving teenager.”

  “Yes, I remember,” Anna said. “Janek ate all my bread and cheese. Not that I minded. He needed it more than I did.”

  “Mama says that people in Russia are very hungry,” said Nicky. “And that Russia now owns Poland. Is that true, Mr. Dabrowski?”

  “No, Russia is merely borrowing Poland at the moment. They will never truly own my country. We belong to ourselves.”

  “Have you been able to return?” asked Anna.

  Janek shook his head. “No, sadly if I were to go there, I may not be allowed to leave again. I am applying for British citizenship. Perhaps then I will have a chance to return. And you, will you go back to Russia when the Voronins do?”

  “I don’t really know,” said Anna.

  Bored with the grown up conversation, Nicky took a sandwich and went to look out over London.

  “They always talk of being called back,” said Anna in a quiet voice. “I’ve worked with the Voronins for just over six years, and every day they have the same fear. But I’ve come to believe it’s a little like a child worrying about a monster under the bed. Or at least I did.”