by Linda Sole
‘Well, it means we shan’t have to borrow more than five or six thousand pounds,’ Henry said. ‘I suppose we have to be grateful for that.’
Daniel nodded, walking his brother to the door. He frowned as Henry went off in his battered old truck. With the best land sold off to Clay, and a loan of £6,000, Henry was going to have his work cut out to keep things going while Daniel was away. He wondered where all the money had gone. There had always been plenty when he was a lad, and he hadn’t dreamed things had been steadily getting worse and worse.
A few more bad years and they could end up losing everything.
‘I’m afraid that’s the way it is, Alice. The farm is in worse shape than I imagined, though I’d rather you didn’t say anything to anyone else.’
‘Of course I shan’t, Dan,’ she said. ‘But I’m not sure why you are telling me this?’
‘Because I wanted you to understand why I can’t think of getting married for years. I wouldn’t anyway, not while there’s a war going on . . .’ Daniel saw the look of hurt in her eyes and almost wished the words unsaid. ‘But the situation with the farm makes it worse. I shall need to work hard when I get home – put a bit of money by. I don’t want to be stuck with a growing family and no money . . .’ She flinched and turned away. ‘No, Alice. I didn’t mean it to sound like that . . . I really like you and one day . . .’ Her eyes met his and he smiled. ‘If you haven’t found someone you like better than me by then . . .’
‘I don’t think that will happen,’ Alice said. ‘Besides, I’m too young to get married yet . . .’
‘Well, that’s all right then,’ he said and sighed with relief. ‘As long as you understand . . .’
Emily thought the house was empty when she got back that Thursday evening. She invited Simon in for a drink, but although he hesitated, he shook his head, kissing her softly on the mouth.
‘It’s late, my darling,’ he said, ‘and the way I’m feeling right now I should probably end up seducing you. I want to wait – and I want you to promise to think about what I asked you. You will, won’t you?’
‘Yes, of course,’ she said, and reached up to touch his cheek. ‘It was a lovely visit, Simon. I liked your family a lot, you know I did – and I feel something more than liking for you. It’s just a bit soon for me.’
She had found everything a little overwhelming. Simon’s family’s friendliness had been fantastic, but there was no doubting it was a very different world. If she married Simon it would take a lot of getting used to, staying in a house like that sometimes, even though she had enjoyed every moment of her visit. It was lovely for a few days, but she wasn’t sure about living in a house like that; the way his family lived was very different to what she was used to.
‘Yes, I know I rushed you,’ Simon said, and gave her an apologetic smile. ‘But I’m sure you’re the girl for me – and I wanted to tell you before someone else got in first.’
‘Oh, Simon, that isn’t likely to happen. Really, I don’t go out with many men – just in a group sometimes. I’ve never had a serious boyfriend before you.’
‘But you are serious about me – and you will think about getting married quite soon?’
‘Yes, I shall think about it,’ Emily said. ‘I do like you an awful lot – I might even be in love with you – but I need a little more time.’ His proposal had taken her breath away. He had come out with it casually as they were driving back from his father’s house. She had laughed, thinking he was joking but he’d stopped the car in a lay-by, turning to look at her.
‘I wasn’t joking, Emily. I want to marry you.’
‘But you can’t – you don’t know me.’
‘I know that you are beautiful, inside and out. I really care for you – and, as my father told you, I don’t often take an interest in girls.’ He reached out to touch her face. ‘You are sweet and lovely and I should like you to be my wife.’
Emily had been so surprised she’d told him she would think about it. She was still thinking about it, because it all seemed so sudden. She hardly knew him, but things were different somehow, because of the war or her father’s death and her sister’s marriage. The world she had known was changing and she needed something to hang on to in shifting sands. Before the war she probably wouldn’t have gone to stay with Simon and his family and she wouldn’t have dreamed of staying overnight in a hotel, even in separate rooms – but there was an urgency to life these days. She wasn’t the only girl doing things that would once have shocked their families
‘I think we should write – get to know each other better,’ she said breaking her silence.
‘That’s all I can expect just yet,’ Simon said. ‘I’ll write often and ring you when I can – once you let me know where you are. You will do that, won’t you?’
‘Just as soon as I can,’ Emily promised. ‘Are you sure you don’t want to come in?’
‘No, I think I’ll get off,’ Simon said, and kissed her once more. ‘I have a call to make before I go back to my base. I’ll expect your letter very soon, Emily – and don’t forget me.’
‘I shan’t, believe me – and thank you for the holiday. It was lovely.’
Emily let herself in at the back door. There were no lights or music. Margaret always had the gramophone or the wireless on if she was here alone, so perhaps she was out somewhere. She was walking up the stairs, singing very softly to herself, when Daniel came out of his bedroom.
‘You’re home then,’ he said, and smiled at her. ‘Did you enjoy yourself?’
‘Yes, thank you, very much. Daniel, I—’
‘I want to apologize, Emmy,’ he said before she could finish. ‘I was sharp with you at the wedding and I shouldn’t have been. You were perfectly right about Alice sitting with me in church – but I’ve talked to her now and we’ve sorted things out.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Let’s go down and make a cup of tea,’ Daniel said. ‘I’ll explain. There are quite a few things you need to know.’
‘Yes, all right,’ she said, turned and followed him down. He filled the kettle himself and set it on the range to boil so Emily fetched the tray and a jug of milk from the pantry, as well as a few biscuits. ‘Go on then, tell me the worst.’
Daniel smiled at her wryly. ‘I thought you’d know something was going on so I’ll tell you everything. Margaret wants her share of the land and the house. We couldn’t afford to buy her out at the moment, because there’s no money in the bank. Actually, we’re in debt, but that’s not the point. Clay has offered to buy the land in Chatteris Fen, and we’ve accepted his offer. We can then buy Margaret out of the land, and the house – and still keep it. I’m going to pay Clay his share from the house and then I may buy it after the war. Henry isn’t too pleased about sacrificing some of the land, but we can buy more when things recover.’
‘So we can stay here?’ Emily felt relief sweep over her. ‘It’s not that I shall be here much, but it’s nice knowing it’s here to come back to, Dan.’
‘That’s what I thought. But when Margaret goes we shall have to make some sort of arrangement for Connor. I thought we might let Frances and Marcus have it on a temporary lease, providing that it remains our family home and Connor stays on.’
‘Yes, that sounds good. It would suit Frances I know. She doesn’t really want to live with Marcus’s family, but she didn’t have much alternative.’
‘None of us will get anything other than the trust funds, which don’t amount to much, but until we get on our feet again things will be tight. I’m going to be honest with you and tell you that if Henry can’t pull the business round we could lose everything.’
‘Oh, Dan! Are things really so bad?’
‘Yes. It came as a bit of a shock to me too. It means we’re all going to have to be careful with money for a while. If Clay hadn’t bought the land in Chatteris Fen the bank might have foreclosed, but we should weather the storm now – if we’re careful.’
‘I don’t need anythi
ng,’ Emily said. ‘I’m going to be paid a bigger allowance from the Fire Service when I’m moved, and I have a little of grandmother’s legacy left so I’m fine.’
‘I knew you wouldn’t complain. We’ve got to watch the pennies, Emmy. Otherwise we could still go under.’
‘I never knew the farm was in trouble. No wonder Dad looked so miserable those last few weeks.’
‘I dare say he had a lot to worry about.’ Daniel wasn’t going to tell her about Clay. She didn’t need to know and the less said the better. ‘So that’s that side of it – and now I’ll tell you my side of things. I’ve already explained to Alice.’ He tried not to remember the disappointment he’d seen in Alice’s face when he’d told her he couldn’t marry for a few years.
‘What do you mean you explained?’ Emily asked, breaking into his thoughts.
‘I told her that I like her a lot – I might even feel more than that – but I can’t marry for a few years. I wouldn’t while there’s a war on, because it wouldn’t be fair to her, and afterwards I want to get on a bit, make some money. It’s even more important now that we’re in trouble with the land.’
Emily nodded, looking thoughtful. ‘It isn’t really my business, Daniel. I just thought you should be fair to Alice.’
‘Well, she knows how I feel now, and she says she understands. We’re going to see each other as close friends, but if she wants to see someone else while I’m away that’s up to her. I don’t want to work on the land when I come home, Emily.’
‘Not work on the land?’ Emily was surprised in a way, but in another she had sort of expected this. ‘What do you want to do then?’
‘I want to set up a garage for myself,’ Daniel said. ‘I’ve always been good with mechanical things. You know I helped Dad keep the traction engine running for the farm, and I’m good with trucks, cars – anything that has an engine. I’ve improved my skills since I’ve been in the Army, done a course with them as part of my training.’
‘I suppose it’s a good idea,’ Emily said, a bit doubtfully, and he laughed.
‘I don’t intend to be a grease monkey all my life, Emily. I shall start out that way and then move into selling cars. If I can buy second-hand vehicles, do them up, respray and then sell them on, I’m sure I can make money.’
‘You seem to have it all planned,’ Emily said, and smiled at him affectionately. ‘I hope it works out for you, Daniel. Will you sell your share of the land after the war?’
‘Not unless Henry is in a position to buy,’ he said. ‘No, I’ll keep my share of it and help out with the accounts. I’m better at that than Henry – but I shan’t work on the land.’
‘But you want this house?’
‘If I can manage it,’ Daniel said. ‘If the worst comes to the worst we may have to sell, but not just yet.’
‘I think Marcus’s father might buy it,’ Emily said. ‘But I would rather you had it if you can manage to keep it, Dan.’
‘Well, we’ll see how things go. I’ve got a few pounds put by.’
Emily nodded as he made the tea and brought the pot to the table. Daniel was her favourite brother apart from Connor, and she knew he’d worked hard for what he had, and of course they had all been left a little money; the girls from their maternal grandmother, the boys from Grandfather Searles. Except Connor, who hadn’t been born when his grandfather died. She’d always expected their father would put that right, but it seemed he’d waited too long. Connor was the only one who didn’t have anything, except some shares in the land – land that was already mortgaged and might have to be sold if things didn’t go well.
‘What about Connor?’ she asked. ‘Does he know how things stand?’
‘I’ve told him but he doesn’t seem bothered,’ Daniel said, and frowned. ‘I’ve got a couple of fields along Ely Road, Emily. I’ve told Henry to put them down to grass while I’m away. There’s a small mortgage on them, but if I can manage to hang on to them I’ll probably give them to Connor when he leaves school.’
‘That won’t be for a while,’ she said. ‘I’ll help you with the mortgage if I can. We’ll do it together for Connor – if that’s what you really want?’
‘Leave it to me for the moment. I’ll ask if I get stuck.’ He smiled at her. ‘And now – tell me about your visit. What were Mr Vane’s parents like?’
‘You’ll never guess,’ Emily said, and giggled. ‘They live in a huge country house, more like a manor house except that the moat was grassed over long ago and banked with roses. And his father is Lord Vane – Vane to his friends, and me.’
Daniel’s brows rose. ‘Is the house falling down about their ears or are they rich?’
‘Rich, actually,’ Emily said, her cheeks pink. ‘But very, very nice. They all made a fuss of me, because Simon doesn’t take girlfriends home apparently – and he asked me to think about marrying him.’
‘Good grief! You’ve only just met him, Emily. It’s far too soon to think about getting married.’ Daniel frowned at her. He hadn’t objected to her going to stay with Simon’s family, because the Vanes were respectable people, but now he wondered if he ought to have stopped her. It was just that with the war and everything he wouldn’t be around much and Emily was old enough to choose how she wanted to spend her life.
‘Yes, I know, that’s what I told Simon, but he still wants me to think about it. He says we could get engaged on my birthday in October, and then marry at Christmas.’
‘Is that what you want?’
‘I don’t know,’ she said, and shook her head as his brows went up. ‘I was very happy staying there, Daniel. They are such lovely people.’
‘It’s Simon you’re marrying, not his family.’
‘I know . . .’ She sighed. ‘I like him a lot and he makes me feel . . . sort of excited. You know what I mean?’
‘Yes, I know exactly. I hope you haven’t been carried away by all this excitement?’
Emily laughed. ‘You don’t need to come the heavy-handed brother, Dan. I’m not stupid, and I shan’t get caught in that trap, I promise you. I might decide to get engaged on my birthday – after all, I shall be nineteen by then.’
‘A great age,’ Daniel said, and ate the last of the biscuits. ‘But if you really want to get married I shan’t try to stop you – not that I’m the one you have to persuade. I suppose Henry is your guardian now.’ He sighed. ‘I wish Father hadn’t died. Everything seems to have fallen apart . . . the family I mean.’
‘Yes, I know. As for being my guardian, Henry would do whatever you say. You must know that,’ Emily said. ‘Not that you have to worry for the moment. I shan’t do anything foolish.’
‘I’m glad to hear it,’ Daniel said. ‘I’m going to the pub now – want to come?’
‘Thanks, but I’ve got a few things I need to get ready. I report back for work tomorrow and then I shall be moving to my new posting.’
‘Any idea where that will be yet?’
‘It could be anywhere,’ Emily said. ‘I shall just have to wait and see when I report in tomorrow.’
‘Good luck then. I shall miss seeing you when you go.’
‘I shall miss you too. What are you going to do with yourself?’
‘I thought I’d go through the farm accounts for Henry, and then I’ll tinker about with some of the machinery. I saw a car for sale in the local paper the other day. I might buy that and start working on it. Henry says there’s an empty barn I can use for anything I like at the farm.’
‘Well, you won’t have time to miss me by the sound of it,’ Emily said. ‘Good night then, have a nice time.’
‘I’ll see you before you leave,’ Daniel said. ‘Connor is at his friend’s house for the night. So don’t worry about him.’
Emily nodded, rising to swill the cups under the remainder of the boiling water in the kettle, as he went out of the back door.
She rinsed out a few clothes and hung them out on the line, then sorted out the things she wanted to take with her when she moved on
. Her thoughts now were centred on the coming transfer and her few days with Simon and his family seemed almost a dream.
Emily was surprised when they told her she was going to Liverpool. The city seemed far away and alien to her and she’d secretly hoped for London, which was only a couple of hours on the train from home. However, she couldn’t pick and choose and she knew that the ports and industrial cities were likely to experience heavy bombing once things really got under way. At the moment the Luftwaffe seemed to be concentrating on shipping in the Channel and only a few raids had actually happened on British soil, but it was simply a matter of time, of course. People had been expecting the blitzkrieg to come since the previous September, but for some reason Hitler seemed to be holding back from attacking the big cities.
‘Liverpool?’ Carole stared at her disappointedly when Emily told her. Mum will never let me go up there – mucky, dirty place, all slums and dockers. I hoped they would send you to London.’
‘So did I,’ Emily admitted, and shrugged. ‘But we go where we’re sent. I suppose they need help. I don’t really mind. Apparently, the lodgings I’ve been given are in Birkenhead, which is over the river and nicer, so Miss Brown says. She knows the area well and she says some of it is lovely. You don’t have to live in the slums, you know.’
‘Well, I suppose not,’ Carole said. ‘I’ll have to think about it.’ She was silent for a moment, then, ‘I promised I would ask so don’t bite my head off – Terry Burgess would like you to visit him in hospital.’
‘What on earth for?’
‘I think he wants to apologize. I don’t really know – but he was in a better mood last time I saw him.’
‘I’m glad he’s feeling better,’ Emily replied. ‘But there’s no point in my going. I don’t even know him.’
‘Well, I promised to ask. You don’t have to go.’ Carole looked at her curiously. ‘What was your sister’s wedding like?’
‘Oh . . . nice,’ Emily said. ‘Frances was happy. I had a tiff with my brother but we made it up later – and I went to stay with friends for a few days. They live somewhere near Winchester, in a lovely house right out in the country.’