Chapter 108
Cook waited on the platform at Victoria, the train ready to go. The American was late.
She could follow them down. He’d wait for her at the station. Walk her across the fields. Show her what they were fighting for – the real England.
‘All aboard!’ the guard shouted. Cook was holding up the train.
The distant crowd parted and he saw her. Running towards him across the concourse. A bag slung over her shoulder, low heels clacking.
It was Margaret.
She saw him, holding the train, and reduced her run to a hurried walk.
The train whistled.
‘Shut that door will you, we haven’t got all day!
’ the guard yelled, following up with a blast of his whistle.
Cook felt the prickle of impropriety, but he waited until Margaret reached him, stepping out of the way to let her on the train, then following her inside.
The train moved instantly, and he slammed the door.
Huge, angry clouds of smoke rose up through the forest of ironwork holding the vast roof aloft.
‘She asked me to send her apologies,’ Margaret said. ‘Something came up.’