by S Block
The anthem drew to a close. The women quietly smiled and nodded to one another in recognition of a good rendition.
Just as Frances was about to give the signal for them all to sit, the local air-raid siren began to wail outside, causing everyone in the hall to laugh ironically at the Luftwaffe’s unerring timing.
Without fuss, the women gathered their hats and coats and put them on as they had done many times before. Pat hadn’t even had time to take hers off.
As she filed out with the others, she felt a hand gently alight on her shoulder, and turned to find Frances smiling at her.
‘I’m so glad you could make it, Pat, dear!’
Pat wiped any lingering tears from her eyes as they walked into the cold night air.
‘So am I,’ she replied, smiling thinly.
‘We came to the house this afternoon but you weren’t in. We thought Bob might come to the door but he was clearly busy.’
‘A new book,’ Pat said. ‘Once he has the bit between his teeth nothing can distract him.’
‘We’ve missed you,’ said Frances, softly. ‘Welcome back.’
Pat smiled and nodded. ‘Thank you. You must come and visit again, and see the house.’
‘We shall,’ Frances said. ‘We’d like that very much.’
‘I’ll make a spread, and we’ll have a proper housewarming.’
Frances smiled warmly and moved ahead to lead the group to the communal shelter in the cellar of her own house.
Pat kept pace with the women hurrying along, all chatting quietly.
As she took her seat in the shelter, Pat raised her eyes to the ceiling and wondered what might happen in the next hour, the next day, the next week, month, and year. The only thing she knew for certain was that whatever happened, it would now happen without Bob.
No more beatings. No more put-downs. No more fear and dread.
She pictured Bob’s face at the bottom of the staircase, still, looking upwards, silent. After a few moments Bob’s death mask was slowly replaced in her mind’s eye by Marek’s handsome, smiling face, his ice blue eyes radiating love and kindness towards her, prompting Pat to wait for him.
She nodded to herself, then looked round at the other people in the shelter, many smiling at her as she caught their eye.
Poor Bob, they’ll say. What a terrible accident. And it’s true. A terrible, terrible accident . . .
A low rumble began overhead, presaging the imminent passage of a Luftwaffe squadron of bombers over the area. Everyone fell silent and looked up at the low ceiling of the cellar, as if they could see straight through it, through the two floors of the Barden house, through the roof, and up into the night sky.
‘Do your worst . . .’ Pat whispered to the planes above. ‘I’ve survived Bob, I’m damn well going to survive you.’
Pat lowered her eyes, bowed her head, crossed herself, and offered a silent prayer to God to forgive Bob Simms for everything he had done to her, and to keep Marek safe until the end of the war.
If you enjoyed A Woman’s War, you’ll love S. Block’s first book, Keep the Home Fires Burning.
Welcome to the world of Simon Block
Keep reading to discover a wartime Christmas recipe and a letter from the author.
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Dear Readers,
As many of you know, these characters first came to life on television in a drama called Home Fires. When the opportunity came to continue their stories in book form I had no idea how they might survive the migration from one medium to another. Ultimately, the only judgement about the success of that which counts is yours. It has been immensely gratifying to learn how seamlessly so many of you have felt the world of Great Paxford has made the journey from screen to page. Your encouragement and support throughout has been immensely important to me, as has your patience as I have written and worked with the hugely talented team at Bonnier.
This second book finds the characters picking their way through as the war begins to set in for the long haul. Under the Luftwaffe bombing run towards the western ports and the cities that support them, the people of Great Paxford are not mere bystanders, watching from afar. With the nightly arrival of ‘trekkers’ from the bombed cities of Liverpool and Crewe, and their proximity to the RAF station Tabley Wood, the inhabitants of the village feel the war inching inexorably closer to their own front doorsteps.
Gone is the idea that war with Germany would only last a few months. Gone is the idea that Hitler could be swiftly brought to his senses, or that the Nazis could be easily and quickly defeated. The Battle of Britain may have been won by the autumn of 1940, thanks to the superhuman skill and bravery of Fighter Command and its assorted pilots from the UK, the Commonwealth, Poland, Czechoslovakia, the US and France, but any sense that Britain is immune from invasion has been shattered. It has become a daily dread from top to bottom of British life.
The realisation that our characters’ lives are being turned on their head is the main theme running through this second book, the war begins to send the citizens of Great Paxford into a tailspin – some more than others. As ever, the stories are less concerned with what’s taking place in the war beyond the village perimeter than its consequence on those who live within the village boundary. Does the war change absolutely everything? Or does it allow for the possibility of what passed for ‘normal’ life before war broke out? As the rules of engagement are established on the battlefield, how have they changed in civilian life as war rages overhead, and on the European continent?
Though this book has taken a little longer than I anticipated to complete, I sincerely hope you found it as enjoyable as the first, and that a return to Great Paxford and its characters proves to be a welcome and a rewarding one.
Best wishes,
Simon Block
Wartime Christmas Cake
During World War II, many ingredients were rationed and difficult to find. This twist on a Christmas classic contains no eggs and no alcohol, and is iced with mock ‘marzipan’ – but still tastes delicious!
You will need:
For the cake:
• 4oz margarine, lard or cooking fat
• 10oz plain or whole-wheat flour
• 4oz sugar
• 6oz raisins, sultanas, prunes, currants and/or dates – whatever you can find!
• 1 tsp ground mixed spice
• 1 tsp ground ginger and/or 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 200ml milk (or, alternatively, 100ml milk, topped up with 100ml water)
• 2 tbsp black treacle or golden syrup
• 2 tbsp cold tea
• 1 tsp almond essence
For the ‘marzipan’ icing:
• 2oz margarine
• 2 tbsp water
• 3½oz plain flour
• 4oz sugar
• 2–3 tbsp of almond essence
• Fruit jam, any flavour of your choice
Method:
1. Pre-heat the oven to 160°C/140°C fan/gas mark 3, and grease a large 7in cake tin.
2. In a bowl, rub the margarine/fat into the flour.
3. Add the sugar, mixed spice and ginger to the mix, and stir together. Then mix in the dried fruit.
4. In a separate bowl or jug, dissolve the bicarbonate of soda in the milk.
5. Add the treacle and tea to the main bowl, followed by the milk and soda. Finally mix in the almond essence, then beat everything together thoroughly.
6. Spoon the mixture into the tin, then bake in the oven for 2–2½ hours, until the top is firm. Cover with foil one hour in if the top looks likely to burn.
7. While the cake cools, make the ‘marzipan’.
8. Soften the margarine in the water, then stir in the sugar and almond
essence.
9. Sieve in the flour slowly, stirring all the while.
10. Turn out the mixture onto a floured surface and knead until smooth, then roll out and cut into a 7in circle.
11. Spread the top of the cooled cake with jam, then cover with marzipan.
12. Enjoy!
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First published in Great Britain in 2019 by Zaffre
This ebook edition published in 2019 by
ZAFFRE
80–81 Wimpole St, London, W1G 9RE
Copyright © Simon Block, 2019
Home Fires (television programme) © ITV Studios Limited 2015, 2016
Cover design by Alexandra Allden.
Cover images © Colin Thomas; background images © Chris Herring / Alamy Stock Photo; Shutterstock.com
The moral right of Simon Block to be identified as Author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organisations, places and events are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN: 978–1–78576–430–1
Paperbook ISBN: 978–1–78576–429–5
This ebook was produced by IDSUK (Data Connection) Ltd
Zaffre is an imprint of Bonnier Books UK
www.bonnierbooks.co.uk