Royal Beauty Bright

by Ryan Byrnes

  My life would be complete. I’d always planned for Jim to take over the store and take care of his brother, but that didn’t work out. Now, if Luther had a real job, I could get struck by lightning tomorrow and it wouldn’t matter, so long as he could support himself. But, wait. What if it didn’t work out? What if dealing with strange people in a strange kitchen would be too much for him? Would he be able to handle himself away from me?

  “We would love the opportunity,” I finally said, slowly. “Luther is, after all, the best candy maker in central England. And he loves to try new recipes and create new desserts. I don’t think you could find a better person for the job.”

  “Good.” The girl turned to Luther. “How would you like to work in the castle, Luther?”

  “The castle? I would like that.”

  She smiled up at him. “Excellent. You should stop by the castle next Monday at at 10 o'clock sharp. Go around back to the kitchen entry and ask for Chef. There will be an interview of sorts, but I think it’s probably only a formality.”

  Luther looked at me and then back at the girls. “Thank you,” he said. “I like candy very much.”

  With that, the girls floated back over to the audience, where they joined their friends.

  Luther won the contest. It was his tenth blue ribbon, and no one was surprised when they called his name and passed out his truffles for everyone to eat. That was mostly what they came for—the hundreds of truffles they knew Luther would make. I hid the prize money in my slip, and we took the train back home to Leamington.

  On the train, I resolved that Luther needed to take the job. It would probably be the only job offer he would ever receive. I knew they would provide him with room and board, but would they be nice to him? What if something happened that he couldn’t deal with? I pictured him flapping his hands and running around the formal dining room while the Earl of Warwick looked on in horror. But maybe since Warwick wasn’t far from Leamington Spa, he could live at home and bike to the castle every morning.

  “How do you feel about working in the castle?” I asked.

  “I don’t know.” He stuck his hands in his pocket again and looked away.

  “Yes, you do. Spit it out, I won’t get mad.”

  “What if they’re mean to me?”

  I put my arm around him, and he hugged me. I felt his his heart thud in his chest. A full-grown man, twenty-six years old, still curling up next to his Mum. Even if I could, I wouldn’t have changed a thing about him.

  “There will always be mean people,” I said. “Some will disguise their meanness with big ideas, like politics or business or economics or whatever else. But they don’t last. They never do.”

  “Why don’t they last?”

  “Because goodness always wins in the end.” At least that’s what I’d been trying to tell myself these last few years. “And if you have an idea as small and tender as a crumb and you hide it inside your heart, nobody can take it away. They’ll might try to reach inside you and drag it out—” I poked him in the chest. He laughed. “But it will be so small, you see, that it will always slip through their fingers.”

  When the train arrived at the station back home, we were surprised at all the activity. We carried our suitcases down the street, and right away I noticed the giant signs with blue and red lettering.

  ENGLAND EXPECTS EVERY MAN TO DO HIS DUTY. JOIN THE ARMY TODAY.

  As soon as we unpacked our suitcases, Luther and I headed over to Lavinia’s. On our way, we passed the crowd of boys and young men standing in front of Carraway’s Pub, which now boasted a sign that said “Recruiting Office.” It made sense that old Mr. Carraway, the veteran that he was, would be eager to loan his place of business to the army.

  At Lavinia’s, she ushered us into the drawing room and poured tea.

  “Have you read the news??” she asked.

  “No. Honestly, we were so busy with the contest and it seemed so far away until now.”

  “Germany demanded passage through Belgium, and they refused, so Germany declared war and invaded. Under the Treaty of London, we’re obligated to join the fray to protect Belgium. Now, it seems the whole world is on fire!”

  “What about Mark?”

  Lavinia’s back straightened. “Mark’s a man of peace, which is why I love him so. Some ladies gave him the white feather yesterday, but he doesn’t care. He said the postal service is reorganizing for the war with the Royal Engineers. It means he’ll be doing his duty sorting letters to and from the soldiers, probably in London.”

  We were both quiet for a moment as we sipped our tea.

  “London’s not too far,” I said. “It’s better than a battlefield.”

  She nodded, took a sip, and then looked at me. “Have you heard anything from Jim?”

  I could feel my own back straighten and the color rise in my cheeks. “You know how I feel about Jim.” I tried to keep my voice even. “He turned his back on this family when he left school and disappeared. Sending word now and again about a job here or there does not make up for that.”

  Lavinia sighed. I knew she still had a soft spot for Jim. “So you haven’t heard anything at all?”

  “No.” I’d flipped through the mail when we returned home, but there was nothing. I wasn’t even going to confess that I looked for a note. I told myself since the war had broken out, maybe he’d write to say he’d enlisted, finally done something right. But, no. Nothing. “But I have news about Luther,” I said to change the subject. “He’s gone and got himself a job offer. At Warwick Castle, no less.”

  “Luther!” Lavinia squealed with delight and gave him a big hug. “You are full of surprises!”

  We chatted about the castle and what working there might be like and then Lavinia suggested we stay for dinner. Mark would be working late at the post office helping to get things organized for the war effort, and I could tell Lavinia didn’t want to be alone.

  “I’m a terrible hostess, though. I’m afraid I’m out of everything. I don’t think I’ve been to the market since all this started.”

  “No matter, we can all walk down together. We still have the whole afternoon.”

  Lavinia smiled. “Then it’s settled. I’ll get my hat.”

  On the way to the market, we had to pass the recruiting office, and I could tell all the hubbub set Luther ill at ease. As we wandered the aisles, he followed along picking up fruits and vegetables as if feeling them in his hands grounded him amidst all the noise and excitement. Lavinia and I planned a shepherd’s pie and gathered all the ingredients, plus a few extra staples we both needed. While I was at the potato stand, I suddenly realized Luther wasn’t behind me. I turned around and couldn’t see Luther anywhere.

  I grabbed Lavinia’s arm. “Where’s Luther?”

  She looked around as if suddenly noticing he’d gone missing. “I don’t know. He was here just a moment ago.”

  My heart thudded in my chest even though I tried to reassure myself. “He’s probably gone to the baking aisle.” When Luther was younger, I would never dream of taking him to the market. There was simply too much noise and activity and colors. Too many people. The few times I did take him ended in a minor disaster. But after he discovered the truffles, everything had changed. Now he usually went to the market with me and, although he stayed close, I knew he was more at ease, people knew him, and he never made any trouble. Yes, I told myself, he’s probably just over checking the price of sugar and flour.

  ~ LUTHER BAKER ~

  I saw the apples down the aisle from where Mum was looking at potatoes to make the dinner pie and the apples looked good to eat so I went to look at them. But I didn’t eat the apples because Mum always told me not to take anything because stealing was bad. I tried it once and people yelled at me and I got in trouble so I didn’t take the apples. But the apples were so red and I knew how juicy and crunchy they would be if I bit them with my teeth. I could almost taste the apple and I started to pick one up but then remembered not to and that’s when Mr
. Stoker came up and said I will buy an apple for you. Mr. Stoker was happy and shook my hand and he had a hard handshake and dry hands and I don’t know why. I said I’m not sure if I should eat the apple because Mum wouldn’t want me to and I got in trouble before but he told me it wasn’t stealing because yes he was going to buy it for me. That was a nice thing to do. Yes please I said and he bought me an apple and I ate it. I told him I couldn’t find Mum because I turned around and she was not there. Mr. Stoker said he will take me to Mum and I said thank you and you are being very nice. I wonder why. Mr. Stoker told me he heard about my awards I got for making candy and said he was very proud of me and I said thank you but I didn’t brag because Mum told me nobody likes people who brag about things they do because they act like they are better than everyone else because they don’t believe in themselves. That’s what I told him. Mr. Stoker smiled and asked about Jim I told him Jim went to a school where they learn things but he didn’t finish school and is living in a town somewhere but I dod’t know where but I miss him because he always took care of me and Mr. Stoker told me how Jim always got in trouble when he was a kid and how he was a bad friend for Rodney and made Rodney do bad things to get him in trouble. Mr. Stoker asked me if Jim got in trouble with Mum a lot and I said I don’t know but I was really thinking about all the times Jim and Mum fought with each other and got mad. Mr. Stoker asked if I remembered hitting Rodney. I said I don’t know because Mum told me never to tell anyone about it or I would get in trouble. Mr. Stoker said Jim was a bad brother for me and that Jim did not know how to be a man and that he tried to help Jim become a good man but could not help him be a good man. I didn’t know. He said he wanted to help me be a good man and teach me to stand up for others and help the country and one day have a family that would be nice for the God and the King. He asked me if I wanted to do that. I said I don’t know. He said don’t be shy now and I said I guess and he said he would help me do that and he walked me to the line of boys standing in the street all lined up in front of a door. I asked why they were lined up and Mr. Stoker said it was because they were going to help the country and become men like he said I said I wanted to. He said I said I wanted to become a man and help. I asked how were they helping and he said the country was fighting an army that was killing people. I said that was sad and asked if they would hurt Mum and Jim and Mr. Stoker said yes it is sad and they will hurt everyone if we don’t stop them including Mum and Jim. He said if I wanted to protect them like a man I would sign up to be a soldier. I didn’t know what Mum would say to that and looked around but he said I could go back if I wanted but look at the big crowd of boys lined up here to do the right thing and be men and they all looked at me and I didn’t want them to look at me because there were too many of them. Mr. Stoker said I could turn back any time I wanted but there were too many people so I asked will you take me back to Mum and he said as soon as I signed my name to the paper he would take me back to Mum and she would be proud of me so I stood in line even though I don’t know how to write my name on the paper and the room was so full and there were too many people so I wanted to write my name on the papers so Mum would be proud of me and I could go find her and so Mr. Stoker helped me go to the front of the line where there was a man who asked me questions like my name and where my dad was born. I said I didn’t know my dad and he asked me how old I was and if I was married and my job. I said I made sweets for the sweet shop but that I was going to get a new job and make sweets in the castle and they said not anymore. Some of the questions I didn’t know, so Mr. Stoker whispered me the answer in my ear and then they measured how tall I was and asked me to cover my eye and look at something. Then I was supposed to write my name on a paper but I said I couldn’t write my name so Mr. Stoker wrote my name for me and the man said it was okay because he made two shillings and sixpence per recruit. Then I had to put my hand on a Bible and repeat after what the man said and then it was done and I was a man who helped the country and I was happy how I was finished and it was time to go find Mum and she would be proud of me. But Mr. Stoker laughed and said he didn’t know where Mum was so I had to go find her myself.

  ~ CONSTANCE BAKER ~

  “What the hell did you do to my son?” I’d pushed and shoved my way through the line of soon-to-be soldiers filling the street in front of the pub, and marched up to the desk of the recruiting officer.

  “I asked you a question! What the hell did you do to my son?”

  The man opened his mouth, but no words came out.

  “You just signed up Luther Baker. Show me his papers.”

  He finally found his voice. “I can’t do that. The papers are confidential,” he said quietly.

  “How much money do you want? Just name it; I will give you anything.”

  “I repeat. The papers are confidential.”

  “Do you have a wife? A child? Someone you must protect at all costs?” I demanded.

  “Madam—” He stood up.

  With a sweep of my arm, I knocked all the hundreds of neatly stacked documents off his desk and sent them fluttering to the ground. All noise of conversation from the crowd of young boys at the door immediately died down.

  “Enough!” Father Carmichael’s voice sounded from the door. The old man entered with a parcel under his arm. He must have been on his way to the post office. Lavinia was with him. “What in the world is happening here? Mrs. Baker, explain yourself.”

  “They tricked him into enlisting!”

  “Tricked who?” Then his eyes widened in understanding. “Luther?”

  I nodded, unable to speak. Lavinia wrapped an arm around my shoulder.

  “God in heaven. What is wrong with you?” Father Carmichael approached the recruiting officer.

  “What’s the problem, Father? I’ve enlisted dozens of young men today alone. For the defense of our country.”

  “Yes, but Luther isn’t right in the head. Everyone in Leamington Spa knows that.” Father Carmichael said, trying to take a diplomatic approach to the problem. “He would never qualify to be a soldier. Why sometimes he can barely even talk, let alone follow orders. It’s best you correct this mistake before your senior officers find out.”

  “Well, if he can’t follow orders, then … yes.” The man looked at me. “I apologize, ma’am.”

  “Just find his papers and tear them up.” I choked out, then watched him bend down to find the correct paper.

  “Stand down, soldier!” A voice called from the entrance.

  Mr. Stoker.

  I turned slowly, as if time itself had had fallen away and all that remained was fear. And disbelief. And rage.

  “We must maintain the strictest discipline when it comes to military matters,” Mr. Stoker announced, striding through the crowd as if he was the prime minister himself. “I understand that a priest—a man of God—and a worried mother might oppose sending a young man to war, but no one is exempt from making sacrifices to protect the nation. And, Father Carmichael, I’m sure you will agree that this is a matter of state, not for the church to interfere.”

  Father Carmichael looked down at the recruiter. “Luther could very well be a danger to his fellows if he’s sent to the front. You could be putting other boys in harm’s way if you don’t tear that paper up.” The recruiter looked up at the priest and then redoubled his search for Luther’s paper. Father Carmichael drew himself to his full height and turned to Mr. Stoker. “And you jolly well know Luther is in no way prepared to fight on behalf of our country.”

  “I know nothing of the sort,” Mr. Stoker sneered. “He can carry a rifle the same as any of these boys,” He turned and swept his arm out to indicate the room full of gawking boys. Then he turned and looked straight at me. “I daresay Luther can push his way through the ranks if need be.”

  My knees buckled and my sight narrowed until all I could see was Stoker’s smirk. Lavinia’s grip was the only reason I remained upright. And then the recruiting officer found Luther’s paper and held it up.

  “He
re it is,” he said and scrambled to his feet and then started to rip the paper in two.

  “Not so fast.” Mr. Stoker now stood directly in front of the recruiter. He held his hand out to take Luther’s paper.

  The recruiter looked to Father Carmichael, then to me. He hesitated.

  Stoker cleared his throat and leaned forward. “Surely you don’t want to jeopardize your career.” His voice was a quiet menace. “I will be forced to report your actions if you neglect your duty and turn away a willing, able-bodied young man. Despite what this priest says, Luther is able bodied and, therefore, is able to serve. Now, I want to see you gather up all those papers and get them submitted. Come, let’s not make a scene of it.”

  That was it. I struggled free of Lavinia and reached for Luther’s paper, but Father Carmichael grabbed my arm.

  “Don’t interfere, Mrs. Baker. Perhaps there’s another way. I will make an appeal up the chain of command.”

  “This can’t be happening! Don’t let them take him away!” I struggled to break free from Father Carmichael, but he held me tight.

  “Take heart, Mrs. Baker,” Stoker said looking down at me. “Your feminine emotions and attempt to shield your son have long clouded your thinking. Luther will do his duty and pay the price for freedom. As we all must.”

  I was vaguely aware of the recruiter as he gathered the rest of the papers from the floor, stuffed them in an envelope and dropped them into a locked box on his desk.

  It was over. Luther was going to war.

  ~ LAVINIA BELL ~

  Luther didn’t understand what was happening when they put him on that train. As the boys lined up and their names were called, he kept asking when he could make truffles again and why wasn’t his mother getting on the train with him and were they going to another baking contest? And then when the train left the station, it was like Constance’s spirit left, too. She made herself smile and kiss Luther goodbye, and I don’t know how she held it together as I was crying so hard I could barely see.