Free Anna's Return by Sally Quilford Page A

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