Chapter 30 - "Goodbyes and a helping hand..."

Clara's PoV

January 1922

'Come on Lady Clara. Your going to have to move' John whispered in my ear, but if anything I just gripped onto his shirt tighter.

The day has come when all the fun was over. Where he was packing himself up for Germany for months and I was to have no idea where he would be or what he would be doing.

'How can me and George visit you?'

'Lucky for you the base is in France. When I get time off - that's where I'll come. You can keep the France house on standby if you like and I'll come and visit you both when I'm back'

'And how do we get to contact you?'

'Via letter. As all great men do in 1922. Don't worry. Send them to the war office I guess like the last time and I'll get the letters'

'Your only 22 years old. It just doesn't seem fair' I scoffed.

We had returned to Oswald house earlier in the week as planned and John had been summons almost immediately.

I don't want him to miss out on his sons growing up.

'I'm not moving' I said like a stubborn 5 year old.

'You have to move Clara. I need to get ready. I have to be back at the station at 6 o clock and I'd rather not waste the day in bed. Mr Williams said he'll sort a car for 4.30 so I'll be in Yorkshire in plenty of time for the trains'

'Waste?'

'Not like that. I'd love to spend the day in bed with you, but I have to get packed and ready' he mumbled.

'Or you can stay here with me?' I suggested, turning to look at him and raised an eyebrow. He wanted to say no - I could tell - he should have said no, but I just leant over and kissed him, stopping him from talking at all.

'Clara' he mumbled into the kiss but I inserted my tongue into his mouth, to shut him up.

If anything I'm just prolonging the inevitable.

He relented then, knowing I wasn't going to back down and quite frankly he knew this was the last bit of action he was getting for 10 months, so he took it with open arms, quite literally, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me closer to his warm and naked body.

- - -

'Your not traveling in 3rd class are you?' I said seeing the ticket in writing that was pre booked by my father.

'I can't travel in first class Clara. You know they have issues with serving me. I can't be bothered to get into a fight with them about it' he sighed, as nanny stepped on the room.

'Master George has come to say goodbye to daddy My lady, I hope you don't mind?'

'Not at all' I said sitting up, and stroking George's head. 'He's going to miss you'

'He doesn't know who I really am. He's only 8 months old'

'Almost 9 months' I scoffed.

'Same difference'

'Can't I at least come with you? To Germany that is?'

'No. It's not safe. I wouldn't be able to sleep at night with you next to me knowing your in danger and aside from that your a noble lady and you have to look after your Dad and teach our son his trade'

'How am I supposed to sleep here at night in my comfy bed, knowing that your in danger?'

'Clara. The best thing you can do, is do yourself a favour and forget about me. Forget you ever met me. This has been fun - and don't get me wrong I really love you, and you have your heir but if anything goes wrong know that your more than welcome to find someone else. Someone who can easily look after you and my child properly'

'Don't be stupid John, your my husband. And nothing is going to go wrong' I said rolling my eyes.

I grabbed his face and cupped his cheek.

'Live your life' he said.

'You still do t have to go. You can back down' I begged.

'I am hoping to be back by his birthday but I can't make any promises'

'What about other time off?'

'Well we'll sort that out when the time comes. In the mean time look after him' he said leaving me alone with George in my room as he packed his things.

- - -

'Your not going to wallow for the whole time he's away are you?' Dad said as it was just the two of us at the table for luncheon.

Richard and Lilly had gone out on a walk, and we're discussing the arrival of their little one, and how it will live in the nursery with George.

George had settled in pretty well here back on London actually but he still had the same Nanny so I couldn't see it being a problem.

I just poked at my salad in front of me and dropped the fork.

'I am not moping. It's your fault he's gone. He wouldn't have gone f to hadn't put his name forward. What if something happens?'

'I respect him. He said yes anyway so he must have had some respect for the job'

'Lady Clara. A telephone call for you?' Lilly said as she wandered in.

'Can it not wait?' Dad scoffed knowing we were only half way through dinner.

'No. Mr Williams? If you could ask nanny to hold half an hour on brining George down? I have to take this call' I said. 'Hello?'

'Good afternoon my lady. You asked for a list of names my Lady. Of prostitutes in the Leeds farm area?'

'Yes. Umm. Around the time of summer - 1917?' I said making that clear because that was just before John was called.

He went to war the beginning of 1918, and was discharged in the summer, then the war ended in the November.

'I have that if 4 names'

'All females?'

'Correct. Would you like me to post them to you and contact details? They all appear to have been deceased aside from one'

'That would be great. If you could get it in the evening post tomorrow? I'll pay the costs' I said.

'Very good my lady'