‘You’re on, but where d’you think you’re going now? You’re not going to escape that easily. You promised me a game of chess and I want to prove that the last time I beat you was no fluke.’
Back in London by October, Pips wrote home, addressing her letter to her mother and telling her about the work she had found at Hazelwood House. She knew the news would be relayed to the rest of the family. Then she added:
I’ll be coming home at the end of November in time for ‘the birthdays’, but is anyone coming down to London for the unveiling of the Cenotaph in Whitehall on the eleventh of next month? Milly says we can find accommodation for anyone who wants to come.
A few days later, Henrietta replied:
Your father and I will come down on the train, but sadly, no one else seemed inclined. I even asked Sam Nuttall, but he says he prefers to go to the old comrades club that’s opened in the city for sing-songs and reminiscences. And, of course, not one of us can persuade Robert and, without him, Alice won’t come. We don’t want to trouble Milly, so if you could find us a nice small hotel . . .
On 10 November, Henrietta and Edwin arrived in London. When they were settled into the hotel not far from where Milly lived, Pips went to see them.
‘There’s something else happening tomorrow after the unveiling. The funeral in Westminster Abbey of the unknown soldier.’
‘Are we allowed to attend that?’
‘I don’t think so. The King is to follow the cortège along with other members of the Royal Family and ministers of state. I’ve heard that about one hundred women who have lost their husbands and all their sons – and sadly there are that many – have been invited to attend. And other bereaved mothers will be in the abbey too. I don’t think we can go, though we could stand outside to pay our respects, I suppose. But tonight, the coffin is arriving at Victoria Station at about half past eight and a few of us are going down to see it. Would you like to come with us? I don’t expect we’ll be able to get very close as it will no doubt be guarded through the night. But it would be nice to see it, don’t you think?’
Henrietta and Edwin glanced at each other and then chorused, ‘Of course.’
Now Pips hid her smile. ‘Mitch has offered to pick you up in his car. I hope that’s all right.’
Stiffly, Henrietta said, ‘That’s very kind of him.’
‘Mrs Maitland,’ Mitch greeted her, gallantly kissing her hand. ‘Please sit in the front seat. Pips and Dr Maitland can climb into the back. Here’s a rug for your knees. Now, are you comfortable?’
Henrietta inclined her head graciously.
They drove to Victoria and as he parked the car, Mitch said, ‘It’s on platform eight, I believe.’
They were surprised how many people had come to view the casket. ‘It’s been organized so reverently,’ Mitch said, as he offered Henrietta his arm. ‘They exhumed the bodies of unknown British soldiers from various battlefields and placed them in six plain coffins covered by union flags and took them to a chapel near Arras. An officer – a brigadier, I believe – who had no idea where each one had come from, then placed his hand on one of the coffins at random. The others were taken away for reburial and the chosen one stayed in the chapel overnight. The next day, undertakers placed the coffin in a casket of oak and branded it with iron. Do you see the medieval sword on the top?’
Henrietta nodded.
‘That was chosen from the Royal Collection by the King himself.’
‘What does it say on the plate?’
Mitch squinted to read the lettering. ‘A British Warrior who fell in the Great War 1914–1918 for King and Country.’
‘Very appropriate,’ Henrietta murmured.
‘I understand that tomorrow morning it’s going to be placed on a gun carriage and taken by six horses to Whitehall for the unveiling of the Cenotaph. It’ll then be taken on to Westminster Abbey.’
Henrietta couldn’t stop herself holding on to Mitch’s arm a little tighter. It was all so very sad.
‘Shall I take you back to the hotel now?’ he asked softly.
‘If you please, Mr Hammond. I’d be most grateful.’
The following morning, Mitch again fetched the couple from their hotel and took them to Whitehall. Standing together, Edwin, Henrietta, Pips, Mitch, Milly and Paul watched the arrival of the coffin of the unknown warrior.
‘They say that the six horses pulling the gun carriage are all war veterans,’ Mitch murmured to Pips. ‘Do you see they’re wearing their war colours?’
She nodded, unable to speak for the lump in her throat. To her, those horses represented the sacrifice her beautiful Midnight had made.
As the carriage drew to a halt, the King stepped forward and placed a wreath on top of it. He stepped back and saluted. There followed a short service conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury. As Big Ben struck the final note of eleven o’clock, the King pressed the button that released the two huge union flags covering the cenotaph. A reverent silence of two minutes followed. Then, led by the King, wreaths were laid at the foot of the Cenotaph.
‘Oh, it’s just like the wood and plaster one,’ Pips whispered. ‘Same shape and everything, but the wreaths are now carved.’
‘And now it’s all made in Portland stone,’ Paul said.
‘It’s beautiful,’ Milly breathed and wiped tears from her eyes.
They continued to stand behind the lines of soldiers whilst the command was given for the procession carrying the unknown soldier to his final resting place in Westminster Abbey to begin.
‘It’s a wonderful idea, isn’t it,’ Edwin said, his voice a little unsteady as they prepared to leave Whitehall, ‘that an unknown soldier should represent the thousands who lost their lives in battle? It’ll be a focal point for all those whose loved one has no known grave.’
‘I understand there are four wreaths representing tributes from our Allies,’ Mitch said. ‘One has been made up of laurels from the grounds of the ruined cathedral in Ypres. And I think a service here is going to be an annual event on Armistice Day.’
They walked together to the abbey even though they could not go inside.
‘We’ll come and have a look later in the week,’ Pips said, linking her arm through Milly’s.
As the crowds began to disperse at last, Edwin said, ‘And now you must all come and have lunch with us at the hotel before we catch our train home later this afternoon.’
As they walked back and Mitch once more took Henrietta’s arm, she said, ‘You have been very kind to us, Mr Hammond, but I do hope you won’t interpret this as a sign that I approve of your pursuit of my daughter.’
Mitch turned his twinkling dark eyes on her. ‘Now, whatever gave you that idea, Mrs Maitland?’
‘I am no fool, young man. I have seen the way you look at her and I remember when you were staying at the hall after your injury. You made no secret of your admiration for her. And it wasn’t all because she’d saved your life.’
‘So, you don’t like me?’
Henrietta chuckled and her own eyes were full of merriment as she said, ‘I’m beginning to like you very much, Mr Hammond, but . . .’
‘Mitch, please.’
‘You’re what I call a lovable rogue and I don’t think you’re exactly what I have in mind for my daughter’s husband.’
‘But what does she have in mind, Mrs Maitland? Isn’t that more to the point?’
Henrietta pursed her lips. ‘Unfortunately, Philippa is very wayward. And she has been very hurt once before. I don’t trust her to make a suitable choice.’
‘But you want her to be happy, don’t you?’
‘Of course I do.’
‘Then,’ Mitch said carefully, not wanting to offend this lady, of whom he was growing quite fond, ‘whether it’s me or not, I do think you should allow her to make her own choice.’
The corner of Henrietta’s mouth twitched with wry humour as she said, ‘I’m rather afraid, Mitch, that she will anyway.’
The two of the
m glanced at each other and exchanged a look of understanding that neither of them, until this moment, had ever thought possible.
After his injury, Mitch had gone to Doddington Hall to recover. Henrietta had seen for herself his interest in Pips, but had viewed him as a brash, flirtatious playboy. But now she was seeing a different side to his nature and her feelings towards him were changing, though not, she reminded herself sharply, enough to view him as a possible son-in-law.
‘So,’ Robert asked his parents when they arrived back at the hall later that evening. ‘Was it all unbearably sad?’
‘It was sad, yes,’ Edwin said, ‘but there was such a dignified pride amongst all those there, that it was uplifting to see that those who were lost are being revered and remembered. I wish you’d felt able to come with us, Robert. I think you would have found it helpful.’
‘I doubt it,’ Robert answered morosely. There was a pause before he asked. ‘When’s Pips coming home again?’
‘At the end of the month for the children’s birthdays.’
‘Not before?’
‘I don’t think so.’
‘I don’t think she cares about us now she’s got all these fancy friends in London.’
The mild-tempered Edwin, for once, glared at his son and was on the point of making a sharp retort, when the sight of Robert’s empty sleeve checked him. He took a deep breath and forced himself to say steadily, ‘She cares very much for all of us, but we must allow her to make some sort of life for herself.’
‘To find a husband, you mean,’ Robert said sarcastically. ‘Did Mother pick one out for her whilst she was there?’
Edwin’s even temper was restored as he chuckled. ‘I think she would have liked to have tried but the only two young men we met were Milly’s friend, Paul, and – um – Mitch Hammond.’
‘Oh him! I can’t see Mother ever approving of him.’
‘Probably not, but he was very kind to us during our stay. Ferried us about in his car.’
Robert snorted derisively. ‘Trying to make a good impression, I expect.’
‘The only person – as you very well know, Robert – that he has to make a good impression on is Pips.’
‘He’ll never do that, I promise you.’
Sixteen
Pips came home again for Daisy’s birthday at the beginning of December. It had become a tradition that the two young cousins should celebrate their special days together, first at the hall for Daisy’s and then at the Dawsons’ cottage for Luke’s.
‘What are we getting Daisy for Christmas this year?’ Pips asked the family when the excited little girl, now three years old, was safely in bed. ‘A pony?’
Alice glanced at Robert. ‘Now that is a good idea. You could teach her to ride.’
Robert grimaced and muttered, ‘Could I?’
‘Of course you could,’ Pips said firmly. ‘You’ll only need to walk beside her to start with.’
‘But what if the pony bolted?’
‘You can still run, can’t you? You haven’t lost the use of your legs as well, have you?’ She heard her mother’s sharp intake of breath at the far end of the table and, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Alice cover her mouth with trembling fingers, but Pips kept her gaze fixed on her brother.
For a brief moment, Robert glared at her and then he laughed. ‘Oh Pips, what would I do without you? My wonderful mother and my darling Alice . . .’ he glanced at Henrietta and touched his wife’s arm in a fond gesture – ‘are kindness itself and I love them both dearly for it. You, too, Father. But it’s Pips who dares to challenge me, to snap me out of self-pity. Yes, you’re right, I will teach Daisy to ride, but I’ll always have Jake with us – just in case.’
Pips nodded her approval. ‘Jake will be ecstatic to have a pony to care for again.’
As Pips had predicted, Jake Goodall was thrilled. ‘Oh Master Robert, it’ll be like old times to have a horse in the stable again.’
Robert chuckled. ‘Not exactly a horse, Jake, just a little girl’s pony.’
Jake grinned. ‘If she’s owt like her aunty, it’ll not be long before she needs a horse. And, yes, I’d be delighted to help you any time you say. Have you got one in mind?’
Robert shook his head. ‘I wondered if you knew of any?’
‘I was talking to a mate of mine after church last Sunday and he was talking about his dad needing a fresh shire horse for his farm. He knows a horse dealer near Horncastle. He might be able to help us. Shall I ask him?’
‘Please do. And if we need to go and look at one, will you come with us?’
Jake’s boyish face turned pink with pleasure. ‘I’d be honoured, Master Robert.’
They set off two days later, Pips driving Edwin’s car. Just before they reached the market town, Pips turned off down a narrow lane towards a farm set in the Wolds.
‘My mate said he’s a tough man to deal with. Drives a hard bargain.’
‘As long as he’s fair with his price, Jake, I don’t mind. Anything for Daisy. But we want the best, so if you have any doubts, don’t hesitate to say so.’
‘I won’t, Miss Pips.’
The man – Ben Rudd – was a farmer and horse dealer.
‘It’s a pity you couldn’t wait till the Horncastle August horse fair.’ The man, a burly farmer, dressed in corduroys and with bushy sideburns, shook hands with them. He cast just one sympathetic glance at Robert’s empty sleeve and held out his left hand. ‘Ya’d have had the pick then. Folks come from all over to the fair here, even the Romanies, but I’ve a couple I’d like to show you. Stables is this way.’
He led them round the back of the farmhouse into a yard surrounded by buildings. Every stable – and there were about twenty of them, Pips estimated without actually counting them – held a horse.
‘Oh my, this is Heaven!’
The three of them followed the farmer past each one, but their progress was slow because Pips wanted to stop and stroke each nose over the stable door. Following her lead, Jake patted each one too.
Halfway round the yard, Pips stopped in front of a black stallion. Pips rarely cried, but at the sight of the magnificent animal, her eyes filled with tears. ‘Oh Robert – Jake – look. He’s just like Midnight.’
Ben Rudd stopped and turned back. ‘You have a horse like him?’
‘I – had.’ Pips’s voice shook. ‘He – he was taken in the war. Commandeered for the front.’
‘Aye, you don’t have to tell me about that, miss,’ Ben said bitterly. ‘Nearly ruined me, the war did. I expect you never saw him again?’
Pips shook her head, not trusting herself to speak.
Gently, Robert said, ‘He’s far too big for Daisy, Pips.’
‘But you could ride him, Robert. And Jake would love to keep him exercised, wouldn’t you, Jake?’
Jake hesitated and before he could answer, Robert said, ‘Now, don’t embarrass the lad. Of course Jake would love to have him in our stable, but I doubt I could ride a big fellow like him and I wouldn’t want temptation put in Daisy’s way.’ He smiled. ‘She’s like you, Pips, far too daring for her own safety.’
Ben Rudd moved closer. ‘Now, let me tell you folks summat. I’m known about these parts as a hard-headed businessman and, most of the time, I am. ’Specially with folks who try to tek advantage of me. But I can also recognize genuine folk, so I’ll mek a deal with you. You can have him on a month’s trial and if he don’t suit, you can bring him back. I won’t even tek any money off you till you’ve decided whether to keep him or not.’
‘Oh Robert, do let’s take Mr Rudd’s offer. Let’s at least give it a try.’
‘But if he’s anything like Midnight, Pips, I’ll never handle him. Only you could ever ride him. Even when I had both arms, I could never manage him.’
‘He’s a big feller, I’ll grant you that,’ Ben said, ‘and I dun’t expect you to believe me, but he’s a gentle giant. He’s even good with children, though mebbe he’s a mite too big for your little ’
un yet. She’s three, so I was told. Is that right?’
Pips nodded.
‘Then she’d be better with a pony. Let me show you the two I have.’
He led the way again round the yard until he came to a larger stable in which there were two ponies.
‘They’re brothers. One’s a year older than the other, but they’re both docile.’
Pips, Robert and Jake inspected the ponies and all agreed they were both perfect. ‘I can’t choose,’ Pips laughed. ‘Why don’t we take both of them, Robert, then there’ll be one for Luke to ride too? You know we always try to treat them both equally at birthdays and Christmas.’
‘I don’t think Len Dawson would agree. He’d see it as charity.’
Pips thought quickly. ‘Not if it stays at the hall and we don’t actually call it Luke’s. We’ll just say it’s for him to ride whenever he wants, alongside Daisy.’
‘It’s a thought,’ Robert murmured. He turned to Ben. ‘What’s your best price, Mr Rudd, for both of them?’
The man stroked his sideburns thoughtfully, glancing from one to the other. ‘Normally, I’d be asking more, but I’ll be fair with you.’ He named a price.
Robert, Pips and Jake glanced at each other.
‘Tek a moment on yer own. I’ll see if the missus can rustle up a cuppa for you.’
As the man turned away, Pips called after him, ‘And your price for the stallion, if we decided to take you up on your offer?’
Ben turned, removed his cap, scratched his head and then pulled his cap on again. ‘Ah, now that’d be about double the price for both ponies. But he’s a magnificent animal. I’ll let you have a closer look at him.’ He walked back towards them and opened the stable door and led the horse out into the yard.
‘He certainly is,’ Pips murmured under her breath. Louder, she asked, ‘What’s his name? And the ponies – what are they called?’
‘The big feller’s Samson. The brown pony is Jingles and the slightly smaller brown-and-white one is Lucky.’
Pips went to the stallion’s head and held her fist under his nose for him to get her scent. Then she stroked and patted his face. The three of them walked round and round the animal.
The Brooklands Girls Page 11