London in the Rain

By Ellie Thomas

A life of set routine is the norm for Raymond Smith. Now in his mid-thirties, a fleeting wartime romance far behind him, he is an exemplary clerk at a London insurance firm where he’s perceived as dry and conventional.

But Raymond has a secret. Every month or so, he visits Charlie’s, one of the more understated bars in Soho's flowering gay scene in the 1930s. There, he seeks relief with strangers to get him through the next few weeks.

On one of these visits, he encounters suave David Carstairs, a well-travelled linguist with the Foreign Office. Rather than a brief encounter, David offers him friendship and even affection. Despite Raymond’s misgivings, the two men, with their contrasting backgrounds and experiences, start to form a bond in the spring of 1936 as Europe inexorably begins to march towards war.

Will Raymond fearfully reject this chance of happiness? Or can he unbend enough to allow David into his heart and life?

• Language: English
• Publisher: JMS Books LLC
• Release date: Apr 9, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685500900

Book preview

Chapter 1

London, January 1936

Time for elevenses! Can I tempt you to a cup of tea, Mr. Smith? It’s nice and fresh since I’m starting at this end of the corridor today. And would you like a biscuit? Or why not take a currant bun or two? In my opinion, you need a bit of feeding up.

Thank you, Mrs. Murphy. Raymond grudgingly tore himself away from his report, trying to hide his annoyance at the voluble interruption. He was conscious of his pernickety reputation amongst his colleagues and aware that the door was wide open to accommodate the tea trolley, so he attempted a smile as he put down his fountain pen.

He took the cup and saucer from the motherly tea lady and tried not to wince at her disapproving tut when he chose only one plain biscuit from the proffered tin. Mrs. Murphy put her head on one side, and began persuasively, Now, that won’t get you through the morning, Mr. Smith. As my Bert always says to me…

Thankfully whatever dietary watchword Mrs. Murphy’s spouse advocated was interrupted by a cheerful shout from further down the corridor.

Did I hear the promising rattle of a tea trolley? Can we be next, Mrs. M., pretty please? Before those rotters down in the conference room pinch all the best biscuits!

At this promising summons, her homily to Raymond forgotten, Mrs. Murphy grasped the tea trolley with both hands and briskly swept from the cubicle to engage with those more enthusiastic about her offerings.

The half-written sentence on his desk jeered at him, no longer making sense to his jolted concentration. Repressing a grunt of exasperation, Raymond firmly placed a sheet of blotting paper over his work. He hesitated until he heard the echo of voices engaged in a lively conversation comparing baked goods. Then, with his teacup and biscuit, he made a dash for it.

His habit of ascending to the roof during break times was something else remarked upon as an odd quirk in the routine of office life. For Raymond, it was such a necessity that he did not mind the raised eyebrows or being teased for being a fresh-air freak. He slipped quietly along the corridor to the staircase, glad that there was no one ready to pass the time in idle chatter.

He ascended the single flight of the steep staircase to the roof with increasing urgency, relieved there was no voice calling his name, delaying his escape. The outer door opened noiselessly and he gulped at the cold smoggy air as if he was suffocating.

Standing on the flat roof, sheltered from the persistent drizzle by the overhang of the door frame, he had a few vital minutes of freedom before resuming his work. Little did his co-workers realise that his office persona was at least as dreary to him as it was to them. Although his seniors approved of his meticulous reliability, his juniors grumbled, calling him a fussy old bird, remarking their surprise that he was only in his mid-thirties. He was conscious of the comments about being aged before his time. Recently, saucy Miss Simmonds from the typists’ room, often scolded for her skirts being above the regulation length, had giggled, As if a girl with any spirit would put up with that old misery guts!

Raymond took a mouthful of tea and smiled to himself. If only they knew. He

Reviews for London in the Rain

[Crabbypatty · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A novella set in 1936 London featuring Raymond Smith, a quiet accountant ("Little did his co-workers realise that his office persona was at least as dreary to him as it was to them") and David Carstairs, ostensibly a translator ("My job is the translation of frightfully dull documents mainly, but sometimes I’m let out of the office when a junior delegate needs a bit of help") with the Foreign Office.

However, David disappears for long trips, seems very muscular for a translator, and hints at his past in Berlin and his familiarity with the Eldorado club. I would love if the author delved more into exactly what his job entails.

This is a quiet romance of two men finding each other, sharing quiet dinners and tender evenings together, set at a time when Hitler is remilitarizing Germany and war is looming on the horizon. We are left knowing that the storm is gathering and their worlds will soon be torn apart, but at least they will have each other. I found this short story very moving. 4 stars.