by Rosie Clarke
‘Aye, well, he would have talked it over with him,’ Fred said, ‘to let him know what he was thinking before he signed up. They’re good friends – and Mr Harper helped him out when he had that bit of trouble last year…’
‘I didn’t know he had any trouble,’ Beth said. ‘Sally knew but wouldn’t tell me, of course, but I feel blind for not noticing.’
‘Marco took a couple of weeks off. He was in a bit of a state when he left, but when he came back, he had his emotions under control. He laughs and jokes, but he runs deep that one, comes from having a French mother, I suppose.’
Beth nodded. She realised that Fred knew what had happened to upset Mr Marco, but he wouldn’t tell her any more than Sally would; they kept the secrets they were privy to.
When they got to Fred’s cottage, the light in the kitchen was on and the smell of cooking met them as they entered. Maggie had the table set and she was frying sausages, tomatoes, bacon and mushrooms. Her smile as she saw them lit up her pretty face.
‘I thought I’d treat us all to a nice tea,’ she said. ‘I’m being sent somewhere first thing in the morning and I may not see you for a few weeks. I’ve been told the first weeks of training are pretty intensive and they need us quickly.’
‘Yes, they would, especially girls that can speak a little French,’ Fred told her with a nod of approval. ‘There are casualties amongst our friends and it will be our boys next. As soon as you’ve got the basic training, they will have you on a ship and over there.’
‘That is what they told me,’ Maggie said. ‘They asked for French speakers and volunteers and I…’
‘Were foolish enough to stick your hand up,’ Beth said sharply. She was upset that her friend was putting herself in danger and still couldn’t put it from her mind, even though she understood her reasons. ‘Oh, Maggie – supposing something happens to you?’
‘I’m not a soldier.’ She looked at their faces. ‘I know it could happen, I’m not silly – but someone has to be prepared to go. The wounded need immediate treatment and even if I’m only fetching and carrying, taking water to those that need it and handing out cigarettes, it matters.’ Her mouth set stubbornly and Beth felt tears in her eyes.
‘I know, love, and I shouldn’t snap at you – but you’re like the sister I never had. I love you, Maggie Gibbs, and I don’t want to lose you…’
‘Oh, Beth,’ Maggie said and rushed to hug her, tears on her cheeks now. ‘I love you too and I want to come home and visit when I can – but I feel needed, called, and it might be someone we care for that’s injured…’
‘Yes, of course,’ Beth agreed and swiped a hand across her face. ‘I am being stupid and I do know you’re right. I don’t have the courage to do what you’re doing, love, but I admire you for it.’
‘We can’t all leave Harpers,’ Maggie said. ‘That wouldn’t be fair to Sally. It’s her husband’s business and she might be the one left running it before too long…’
‘Ben Harper isn’t joining up – at least not yet,’ Beth said. ‘He’s told Sally he has too much responsibility – and he promised Jack to look in at the hotel whenever he can.’
Maggie nodded. ‘He’s American and he doesn’t have to fight, but I saw him standing outside the recruiting office not far from where I was having my interview and he looked pensive. I’ll bet he’s thinking about it even if he hasn’t done it.’
‘He couldn’t possibly just go and leave Sally in the lurch,’ Beth said firmly. ‘I mean, the hotel will survive – and, at the most, we’ll lose Jack’s investment, which won’t ruin us because of what my aunt left us, but Ben Harper has everything invested in that store. He would be mad to desert it just to go and get himself shot at.’
Maggie was alone in her room, sorting through her clothes. Beth was annoyed with her for joining the nursing service – what would she say if she learned that she’d become engaged to Tim?
Tim had told his father, of course, but for the moment, Maggie wanted to keep it a secret from everyone else. The VADs’ organisation would not be pleased if they knew she was engaged, because they disapproved of emotional entanglements. Marriage was forbidden, of course, but the service could not afford to be wasting time and money training nursing assistants who might leave to have a child.
Maggie did feel guilty at keeping her secret from her friends, but just for the moment she wasn’t ready to share. Perhaps it was because she was nervous, apprehensive about what the future would bring – and their love was so newly confessed that she wanted to keep it private for a little while yet.
She could only hope that they would forgive her when she told them, though that might not be for years. If the war dragged on longer than everyone hoped, it might be ages before she and Tim could even think of being wed.
For a moment, Maggie felt fear. What if something happened to him? What if he should be killed… or she was injured somehow? It might be that they would never marry…
Pain caught at her heart and she wished they had not wasted the sunlit days of summer. Why hadn’t she told Tim she loved him long ago? Yet she had not really been certain of it until that night when he’d proposed over a bag of chips.
Laughter banished the tears. Poor Tim had wanted romance and a special dinner and she’d insisted on fish and chips on a bench.
Maggie lifted her head. She would face the future when it happened. For now, she must think about what she’d chosen to do – and that was to help the nurses who tended their wounded. She feared that there would be far too many for the regular nurses to treat alone and her heart went out to all those brave regular soldiers who were already fighting, and to the thousands upon thousands who were now beginning to train.
33
Ben swore beneath his breath as the woman in a large black hat with veiling over her face thrust an envelope into his hand. He already knew exactly what was inside the envelope because it wasn’t the first he’d received. That had happened when he’d spotted one of his staff in the queue at a recruiting office and stopped to shake his hand and wish him well, asking if he was all right for money. A very rude woman had accused him of being a coward and trying to buy his way out of having to fight. His employee had defended him, telling her roughly that he was an American and had helped his staff to do the right thing, but she’d looked disgusted and given him the white feather just the same.
Perhaps since the Government had released all the Suffragettes in prison and they’d agreed not to make trouble for the duration of the war, they’d decided to take up a new cause – driving men to distraction with their white feathers. He could just imagine the woman who had given him the white feather knocking off a policeman’s helmet and being arrested for it!
At first, Ben had been more amused than angry, but as the days passed and it happened again, it had begun to get to him, irking him and pricking at his skin. Damn it! He wasn’t a coward and if it weren’t for Sally, his new-born daughter and the store, he would have been one of the first to volunteer – but how could he?
Yet he knew that Sally was capable of keeping things going. Jonathan Stockbridge wouldn’t fight; he suffered with flat feet and the army wouldn’t take him even if he volunteered. Fred wouldn’t fight either, because he was too old for active service, and there were quite a few women in senior positions thanks to Sally and her friends – so would he really be missed that much? Perhaps if he made sure the building work was finished, and if things got worse out there…
‘Ben Harper, you are ridiculous,’ Jenni Harper said, her eyes glinting with anger as he made his announcement that evening at dinner in Ben and Sally’s apartment. She was over to visit with them as she cabled weeks before and, once here, made her opinion known. ‘You can’t possibly be considering volunteering for this war. You owe money to the bank; you have a renovation to finish and a new baby, as well as a wife who loves you…’ She looked at Sally hard, her fingers tapping on the table impatiently. ‘Say something to this foolish man, Sally. Make him realise that he can�
��t risk it – it’s not just his fortune at risk, it’s mine…’
‘Sally could run Harpers without me, and you can help her,’ Ben said and glared at his sister. ‘I didn’t say I would do it immediately, just that I might find it impossible not to if things go badly for the British troops…’
‘Why should they?’ Jenni said truculently. ‘Besides, you’re not British – how can you enlist in their army?’
‘I can be assigned to special forces and given an honorary rank – I’ve checked,’ Ben told her with a gleam in his eyes. ‘I shan’t be the only American living in Britain who wants to join up…’
‘Yes, but you should be thinking about your family – and what makes you think they will need your services?’
‘Why did you bring that huge container of tinned food with you, if you didn’t think it would be needed?’ Ben reminded her that she too thought it would be a hard war. ‘I’ll be needed – and, what’s more, I need to help.’
‘I thought the food would come in handy…’ Jenni looked sheepish.
‘It will, of course, and I’m grateful. I’ve had it delivered to the stores and I’ll probably end up selling it with the cakes and chocolate.’
Jenni frowned. ‘You should keep it for yourselves; it may be difficult to buy stuff like that once the enemy starts blockading British ports.’
‘We couldn’t use it all – and the Germans are not your enemy, Jenni. America isn’t at war with them…’ Ben muttered.
‘You’re American too…’ she countered, furious now. ‘So why are they your enemy and not mine?’
‘Stop shouting at each other, you’ll wake Jenny,’ Sally intervened. ‘I’m glad you brought that container, Jenni. We can sell it in the shop and to friends if they run out and we’ll be glad of some of it ourselves if the war drags on longer than we thought…’
‘Surely you don’t want Ben to join the British Army?’ Jenni demanded, her eyes flashing almost as brightly as the large diamond ring on her finger.
‘No, of course I don’t,’ Sally said, ‘but neither do I want him to feel shamed or miserable and I know he’s feeling that way…’
Ben reached inside his breast pocket and took out a piece of notepaper. He opened it and placed it beside the coffee cups on the table in front of them. ‘Do either of you know what is in here?’
‘White feathers,’ Sally said instantly. ‘Oh, Ben, did it happen again?’
Ben looked grimly at his sister. ‘I was talking to one of our former employees. Stanley was queuing at a recruitment centre and I stopped to have a chat and shake hands, and then I walked off. One of the sergeants asked me if I wanted to join and I shook my head. As I walked away, three women thrust those in my hand and called me a coward… Stanley was most indignant and defended me loudly, but the women were not convinced.’
Sally nodded. ‘He told Fred about it – and he told me…’
‘How dare they?’ Jenni was outraged. ‘That is ridiculous! You’re American and we’re not at war – besides, Britain needs someone like you to keep importing goods they need into the country for as long as we can send it without our ships being attacked.’
‘Yes, that’s the stupid thing… I may be doing them more of a service than anyone realises and not just for profit at the shop…’ Ben shook his head as both women stared at him. ‘No, I couldn’t tell you even if I wanted to, but I know some folk back home, just as Jenni does, and I’ve been contacted by a British Government official… I’m going into have a chat with him about how I can be most useful.’
‘Oh, they’ll make use of you,’ Jenni said and looked annoyed. ‘You don’t have to tell me, I can guess. I know useful folk – I’m married to one. Henry even mentioned something before I left home…’
Ben nodded. ‘Yes, well, that’s officially out of bounds, Jenni, and neither you nor Sally can know anything…’
‘Then if you’re already doing something to help, why…?’ Jenni said and then glared at the white feathers. ‘They mean nothing…’
‘Not to you perhaps,’ Ben said, ‘but it stings being called a coward and it will make a difference after the war. People will point the finger and go somewhere else to shop because I just got on with making a profit while their men died for us…’
‘Ben, don’t,’ Sally said pleadingly. ‘I know how you feel because we’ve talked about it – but Jenni has come all this way to see us and you’re arguing over nothing. Those feathers are from just spiteful women who don’t know any better. They call themselves patriots, but they do more harm than good.’
‘Yes, of course they do,’ he agreed, ‘but I met someone else – a man who wanted to go into business with me and he was wearing a uniform. He asked me how you were and said I should stay home and look after you and the baby…’
‘Are you talking about Mick?’ Sally asked. ‘I didn’t think he would consider joining up – he’s Irish and he’s in business…’
‘Exactly,’ Ben said. ‘Michael O’ Sullivan isn’t British, he’s Irish, and he has businesses too, but he lives here and feels it is his home, so he’s joining the army – and he’s handed his business interests over to Marlene and a couple of others. He expects to lose money too, but he said he couldn’t stand by and watch others die for him…’
‘He was trying to make you feel guilty!’ Jenni exclaimed.
Sally shook her head and Ben smiled.
‘Actually, he wasn’t,’ Ben said. ‘He was quite sincere and told me I should take care of business and my wife and child – and he even said it would suit him if I looked after a few things for him. He said he has made me his executor and apologised for not asking beforehand but he made the will in a hurry…’
Jenni stared at him. ‘There you are then – everyone thinks the same: you don’t need to fight, you’re more useful here.’
‘I agree for the moment,’ Ben told her. ‘The new building won’t be finished much before Christmas. I’m hoping to open just in time to catch the last-minute trade – and Sally will be feeling better in a few weeks, stronger and more able to cope with any problems at the store…’ He looked at his wife and she held her hand out to him in support.
‘You fool!’ Jenny glared at him. ‘Don’t throw your life away, Ben!’
‘I have every intention of coming through,’ Ben said, ‘but, if Sally can bear it, I intend to go sometime next year…’
‘Surely it will all be over…’
‘If you thought that you wouldn’t have brought all that tinned food over,’ Ben said and she had the grace to nod. ‘I’m grateful, Jenni, and we’ll keep some but sell the rest on. I’m sure it will be needed soon enough. The ships that manage to come through any blockade will have more than tinned fruit and salmon to carry…’ They all knew that he must mean military equipment but couldn’t tell them government secrets.
Jenni looked at her sister-in-law. ‘Can’t you talk him out of it, Sally? Make him see he doesn’t have to prove he isn’t a coward?’
‘Ben has a mind of his own and if he decides to join up, he will,’ Sally said and lifted her head. Inside, she was agreeing with Jenni, but she knew she had to stand by Ben’s decision. ‘Anyway, he’s right. We’ve talked about it and I won’t stand in his way. You and I can run the store – and Stockbridge won’t be going, nor will Mr Brown in men’s clothing, he’s too old. I have my girls; I’m busy recruiting more all the time, and some of the older men can’t join up for health reasons. Two of them have been turned down this week – one had flat feet and the other a bad heart that he had no idea about, poor man.’
‘What the hell difference do flat feet make?’ Jenni demanded, still angry.
‘Apparently, they can’t march as efficiently,’ Sally said and laughed as she saw Jenni’s face. ‘No, it isn’t funny. Poor Mr Ashton went off filled with patriotic fervour to join up and they turned him down. He was very annoyed – and Mr Carson was told he was too old and his heart would not stand the strain so now he’s worried about losing his job. I
told him we needed him as long as he could manage to get in. They both cheered up a bit when I explained we really needed them, but it didn’t quite make up for being turned down – and Mr Ashton got a white feather too. He showed the woman his paper that says he is unfit for service and she apologised, but it still stung – so Ben isn’t the only one…’
‘I still think he’s mad… but then he always was,’ Jenni said. ‘Only a madman would have taken on this place when my uncle died and left us without a penny backing – but we’ve done OK, I guess…’ the anger was draining out of her. ‘Henry didn’t want me to come over and he wouldn’t let me bring his son for a visit – he said it was too dangerous.’ She grinned suddenly. ‘We’re all mad, but we’ve done all right with Harpers, haven’t we?’
‘We had a reasonable year one,’ Ben said, ‘and year two made a small profit. This year should do quite a bit better…’
‘Well, it might if you hadn’t borrowed for the extension,’ Jenni said. ‘It will take another two to three years to see us in profit overall.’
‘We’ll manage,’ Ben said. ‘As long as the sales are strong and we have a good turnover, we should still make a decent margin this year.’
Jenni glared at him intently. ‘You won’t want the money I was going to offer as a standby loan then?’
Ben met her stare for stare. ‘I thought you had invested all you had when you bought those shares?’
‘I did – but Henry bought them from me, because I told him I needed more money to help if things got sticky over here because of the war. It’s all right, you needn’t worry. He has left them in my name and I don’t have to pay him back until I’m ready. He would have just given me the money, but I’m using them as collateral for a loan of thirty thousand pounds for you; it’s sitting in a bank, ready if you need it…’
‘I’m not sure the shares are even worth that now, because of the war,’ Ben told her. ‘Your husband could lose his money if we were bombed or the victim of sabotage, Jenni.’