The Wartime Matchmakers by Lauren Smith

Author:Lauren Smith
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lauren Smith

Elizabeth sat in the back office on Bond Street, reading through a stack of letters. Work was the only thing that offered any distraction from her worries about Hetty and Charles. News of Dunkirk had been all over the papers, and she’d devoured every article she could find. She’d still had no word from them that they were safe. Deciding work was the only thing she could do, she’d come here to answer letters and try to focus on anything but her fears.

She opened one and noticed it was a letter from Erica Hanley to one of the young soldiers who had come into the Marriage Bureau for an interview a few months ago. They had agreed to use the bureau as a point of contact to avoid Erica’s elderly aunt snooping through her letters.

Elizabeth picked up the letter, attempting to tuck it back into the envelope, but there was something else inside preventing her from doing so. She opened the envelope further and found a pair of photographs of a lovely half-naked woman in a very elegant but risqué set of lingerie. She examined the woman’s face more closely and gasped. “Good heavens!” It was Erica! Such bravado to pose for those pictures! To think their quiet country mouse was not such a country mouse anymore. Elizabeth couldn’t wait to tell Hetty, but it also made Elizabeth hot all over in embarrassment for their client. She shoved the boudoir photos back into the envelope, along with Erica’s letter.

She was about to reach for the next letter in the pile when Miss Plumley rushed into the office.

“Sorry, ma’am, but it’s a Mr. Jarvis on the phone. He says he’s Mr. Humphrey’s butler and that you might expect him to call.”

“Oh goodness, yes!” He must have news about Hetty and Charles. Elizabeth hastened into the front office and picked up the phone. “Mr. Jarvis?”

“Miss Mowbray.”

“Tell me you have news?”

“I do indeed. Mr. Humphrey and Miss Byron arrived safely at the house ten minutes ago.”

“May I speak to Hetty?”

“I’m afraid she’s not able to come to the phone.”

Elizabeth tried not to panic. “Is she all right?”

“Yes, it’s just that they’ve fallen asleep on the sofa, and I haven’t the heart to wake them. Not after all they’ve been through.”

“Oh, I see.” Elizabeth sighed, and the tension in her shoulders faded away. “They’re really all right?”

“Yes,” the butler assured her. “I will have her call you when she’s awake.”

“Thank you, Jarvis.”

“It’s my pleasure, ma’am.”

Elizabeth hung up and then hugged a stunned Miss Plumley. “They’re home and they’re all right. Would you please call Eva at Cunningham House and let her know the good news?”

“Yes, of course.” The secretary dialed the country house while Elizabeth returned to her desk. She couldn’t stop humming as she sat down to read the remaining letters.

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