Mrs Boots Goes to War

by Deborah Carr

  * * *

  I’m hoping that this is the last Christmas we have to spend apart, or in particular that you have to spend overseas. Remember that if you ever wish to return home but still want to continue helping soldiers then I can always find you a place in our Gas Mask Department. We’re making a huge number of masks each day and constantly supplying the British Forces with them.

  * * *

  The most exciting thing has happened to your father. He received a letter from the King advising him that he is to receive the honour of Baronet on the eleventh of January. I am arranging a party to celebrate the honour for the day after we return from Buckingham Palace. I would love it if you could be here as a surprise for your father but completely understand if that is not a possibility. I know how vital your work is especially now that the numbers of wounded soldiers continue to mount by the day. Please therefore don’t feel pressurised by me to come back if it’s not something you feel you can do. I am only making the suggestion in case you are able to come home then.

  * * *

  Other than that, there is little to report. Dorothy and John’s little girls are growing each day and it’s a joy to have them in the house. It takes me back to when you three were little and scampering around. The servants love them and spoil them with treats if we’re not careful. Secretly, I love that everyone is always so happy to see them here.

  * * *

  Work is busier than ever, as I’m sure you can imagine. Everyone works tirelessly as always at Boots, whether in the stores or the factories and I think we all enjoy knowing that we are each playing our part in keeping the vital supplies available to everyone who needs them.

  Florence covered her mouth as she yawned. It was too late for her to still be up when she had to rise before six o’clock the next morning to help Jesse get ready for his daily massage. She didn’t want to finish off her letter yet, but if she was to ensure Meadows posted it first thing in the morning then she needed to sign off and seal it in an addressed envelope ready to go to Margery.

  Well, my darling daughter, I hope you are looking after yourself as well as those passing through your canteen. Write back whenever you have the chance and remember always how much we love you and miss you.

  * * *

  Love always,

  Mother X

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  12 January 1917

  Florence shivered as she walked from the kitchen, where she had just gone through final details with Mrs Rudge for the low-key party that evening. They might not be able to have a splendid array of food and decorations such as they would have enjoyed prior to the war, but it was enough to know that they could mark the day in some small way.

  She knew the weather was seasonably cold but that was no reason for the temperature of the inside of St Heliers to be as low. Why hadn’t one of the servants lit the fires yet? It had been a relief to arrive home the previous evening after visiting London for Jesse to receive his baronetcy from the King, and enjoy peace and quiet after the excitement and ceremony of the previous couple of days.

  London had been busy as ever although Florence was certain there seemed to be more ex-soldiers begging on street corners than the last time she had visited. Then again, maybe she was just more aware of them for some reason.

  She was relieved that Jesse had coped well with the travelling and she looked forward to celebrating his new honour with their family and a few friends with a small gathering she was arranging at home later that evening. Typically, Jesse had wanted to invite more people, but she was not going to chance his health declining further than it already had by letting him get carried away with visits from friends.

  Florence made her way to the library to work on a report she had promised Jesse about their female staff situation. It was still proving difficult to source male staff but thankfully that wasn’t Florence’s concern so much as placing the women who applied for work at Boots in the area where they would be most suited and content.

  She worked for a couple of hours and double-checked her figures before blotting her latest notes. Sitting back in her chair she looked outside at the grey day and thought back over the previous two weeks and her excitement at having John home for Christmas, Dorothy giving birth to her second daughter nine days before, and Jesse’s big day.

  It had been thrilling for all of them to have him around to celebrate with their father. She just wished that Margery could have been there with them this evening so that Jesse could have all his children with him at such a special time.

  Harriet, her lady’s maid, knocked on the library door and entered. Florence wondered for a second why she was carrying her coat and hat.

  ‘Is it that time already?’ Florence asked, realising she must have been working on the report for far longer than she had imagined.

  ‘Yes, Lady Boot. You were to leave at ten to eleven to go for coffee at your son and daughter-in-law’s home. I thought I should come and remind you when I spotted Mr Parry waiting outside the front door with the car.’

  Florence placed her report in a folder and stood to put on her hat and coat. ‘Thank you, Harriet. I don’t know what I would do without you.’ She buttoned up her coat and put her hat on her head, pinning it in place. ‘I don’t think Margaret will be pleased if I’m late.’ She indicated the folder. ‘Please, will you take this to Sir Jesse’s study. He’ll be waiting for it and I don’t want him to have an excuse to leave his warm office to come searching for it.’

  As Parry drove the car carefully along the icy roads Florence looked forward to sharing the event of the previous day with John and Margaret. She would have loved to invite the two of them up to London for the ceremony or at least to enjoy a celebratory meal with them afterwards but Margaret was heavily pregnant and looking forward to the birth of their second child in the next week or so. She couldn’t ask John to leave his wife at home while he had the chance to spend time with her, especially when he would be returning to France sometime soon.

  She arrived at their pretty home and was welcomed in by John.

  ‘Quickly, let’s get you inside where it’s warm,’ he said, linking arms with her.

  Florence thought he seemed a little more animated than usual but put it down to so many exciting things happening to them as a family in the past couple of weeks.

  ‘We’re through here in the living room. Margaret’s waiting with cocoa for us all.’ He lowered his voice. ‘She thought it would be the perfect drink to have in front of the fire on such a grey and miserable day.’

  Florence thought it was an excellent idea. She always enjoyed a good mug of cocoa and realised that now John had mentioned it she very much looked forward to drinking some.

  Their maid joined them in the hallway and gave Florence a curtsey. ‘Please, may I take your coat and hat from you, Lady Boot?’

  Florence took them off and handed them to the girl who, like John, seemed to be exceedingly more cheerful than usual. ‘Thank you.’

  She followed John into the living room where Margaret was seated looking rather uncomfortable now that she was almost nine months pregnant. She walked over to her daughter-in-law. ‘How are you?’ Florence asked, sitting next to Margaret on the cream sofa.

  ‘I barely recall how it feels to be comfortable,’ Margaret groaned. ‘This baby can’t be born soon enough.’

  ‘I can imagine,’ Florence said sympathetically, recalling how cumbersome it was to be heavily pregnant.

  ‘You won’t mind if I don’t accompany John to St Heliers tonight for Sir Jesse’s party, I hope?’ Margaret winced and moved one of her hands to her back. ‘It’s just that I’m so tired by early evening.’

  ‘Not at all. It’s horribly cold out there apart from anything else and you’ll feel far better staying here where you’re warm and able to rest.’

  ‘Thank you. John said you wouldn’t mind but I wanted to be certain.’ She moved slightly on the sofa cushion. ‘Nanny is bringing Barbara through to see you after we’ve had our drinks. She�
��s a bit of a handful at the moment, always running about the house and up to mischief.’

  ‘Yes,’ said John, laughing. ‘She rarely wants to sit still and is into everything if we let her.’

  Florence thought fondly of the toddler who was now sixteen months old. ‘She always was an independent little thing.’ Florence pictured the dear little girl, who seemed to have learned something new each time she saw her.

  Florence was about to ask if they had settled on any baby names when she noticed John’s eyes dart to the back of the room followed by the door opening and a couple of light footsteps. The expression on John’s face was odd, so concerned about what he had seen, Florence turned in her chair and gasped. She could not believe her eyes.

  ‘Margery?’ she asked her voice shaky with emotion. ‘I can’t believe you’re here.’

  ‘Hello, Mother,’ Margery said with a laugh. ‘I wanted to surprise you and John kindly agreed to help me.’

  ‘Well, you’ve certainly done that.’ Florence stood on shaky legs and held her arms out for Margery to step into them. ‘Oh, my darling, it’s so wonderful to see you again.’ She held her daughter, happy to be in her embrace once more.

  Margery raised her hand and wiped a tear away from Florence’s cheek. She hadn’t realised she was crying until that moment. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said, her legs feeling like they were made of jelly. ‘I’m going to have to sit down again.’

  ‘I do hope I haven’t given you too big a shock?’

  ‘Not at all.’ Florence patted the seat next to her. ‘Come and sit with me and let me look at you.’ She studied her daughter’s face. She had lost weight and there were dark circles under her eyes, but Florence hoped that she could soon rectify both if she could persuade her daughter to rest and enjoy Mrs Rudge’s cooking for a few days. ‘You look well.’

  Margery laughed. ‘Shouldn’t I?’

  Florence shook her head. ‘No, it’s just that I wasn’t sure how you were faring as far as having enough time to rest between shifts.’

  ‘Why don’t we all sit back down and catch up with each other,’ John said, walking to the bell pull and ringing for one of the maids. ‘I think it’s time they brought in our drinks.’

  Florence couldn’t think straight. ‘When did you arrive? You look too rested to have come this morning.’

  ‘Yesterday afternoon. I was longing to see you and Father, but John said you weren’t returning from London until later and suggested I spend the night with them to catch up on a little sleep. He thought it best if I travel with him to the party at St Heliers this evening to surprise Father. What do you think?’

  Florence pictured Jesse’s delight to have all his children with him. ‘I think it’s an excellent idea.’ She reached out and took Margery’s hand in hers. ‘It’s exceptionally good to see you again. This is the best of surprises.’

  It truly was, Florence decided, as she listened to Margery telling her how she and the other women at the canteen had spent their Christmas. ‘It was strangely festive,’ Margery said. ‘And it made us all very satisfied to think that we had given those men a taste of the Christmas that they were missing with their families in Blighty.’

  ‘I couldn’t be prouder of you.’ Florence sighed. ‘Of all of you.’ She looked from one to another of them, grateful to have such caring people in her life.

  ‘Does Dorothy know you’re here?’

  Margery shook her head. ‘No, she doesn’t. I gather from Margaret that you’re going on to visit her for a light lunch today and thought I might accompany you. It will be fun to see my sister again and her new baby, Charity.’

  ‘That’s a wonderful idea,’ Florence said knowing that Dorothy would be as thrilled to see Margery as she had been and especially delighted to introduce her sister to her second daughter, who had been born on the third of January.

  ‘I hear Charity’s second name is Florence,’ Margery said. ‘After you. That must have delighted you, Mother.’

  ‘I was touched, I have to admit it. I’m excited to be there when you meet your new niece for the first time.’ She couldn’t wait, and enjoyed knowing how special it would be for Margery to spend time with her sister’s new baby.

  ‘It’s been an exceptional few days for our family,’ John said. Then going to stand next to his wife and resting his hand on her shoulder, added. ‘And it’s not over yet. Soon, Mother, you’ll have a fourth grandchild.’

  ‘You’re all so very clever,’ Florence said, sitting back down. ‘You’ve all made your father and me so very proud. Each one of you.’ She smiled at Margaret.

  Florence couldn’t wait until the evening for Jesse to be reunited with his youngest daughter. It was a relief to spend time in Margery’s company again. They had so much to catch up on that they couldn’t cover in letters.

  ‘How do you find Margery, Florence?’ Margaret asked smiling.

  ‘A little thinner than the last time she was home,’ she said relieved that Margery hadn’t lost as much weight as she had dreaded she might. ‘But you do look well, darling, I’m happy to say.’

  Margery laughed. ‘It’s good to see you again too, Mother.’

  Florence shook her head. ‘I was a little fearful, especially after the miserable weather we’ve been having lately, that you might have caught a chill, but told myself that your nursing friends at the canteen would know how best to care for you if that did happen.’

  Margery gave Florence’s hand a gentle squeeze. ‘I’m fine, Mother. You really don’t need to worry about me so much.’

  Florence couldn’t help staring at her daughter. She had longed for this moment and could hardly believe it was now here. ‘Your father is going to be delighted to see you and John this evening. Especially you, as I think he worries about you as much as I do, although he keeps his concerns more to himself than I can.’

  There was a knock on the door and, before John could answer, it opened and a toddler ran inside to join them.

  ‘Look at you,’ Margery cheered as little Barbara giggled and stumbled, making them all gasp, but grabbing the edge of a chair and managing to right herself before Nanny could reach her.

  ‘She is a little menace,’ John said, laughing.

  Margery sighed. ‘I didn’t realise toddlers were so terrifying to watch. Mind you, I couldn’t miss coming home for this, now could I? Anyway,’ she continued before either Florence or Margaret could reply, ‘I thought it about time I came home to be with my family.’

  Florence cooed at Barbara as she picked her up and settled her on her lap. She bobbed the little girl up and down making her giggle loudly. ‘I’m glad you have. Now that we’re here together, tell me how it really was for you over there in France.’ She pulled a face at Barbara. ‘It must have been rather shocking for Aunt Margery coming face to face with so many injured soldiers, mustn’t it?’

  Margery frowned and glanced at Margaret, who was laughing at Barbara’s reaction to her grandmother. ‘Um, it was.’

  Florence hated to think that her daughter was keeping distressing memories from her. ‘Margery? You can tell me anything you know. In fact, I wish you would share your experiences with me. I can see that they’ve had a profound effect on you and I believe that by sharing them you will find the weight of their burden a little lighter.’

  Margery watched her thoughtfully for a moment. ‘I can’t imagine I’ll ever be squeamish again. We all found it rather more difficult than any of us had imagined, but when one of us was glum the others did their best to boost their spirits. We’ve been fine, for the most part. I think the most difficult thing, after we had all got used to dealing with exhausted men, a lot of whom were in pain, was the shocking tiredness we all felt most of the time.’

  Florence could see she was underplaying the trauma of what she had witnessed. ‘Glum? I imagine you all felt far more troubled than that.’ She tried to picture her fair, gentle daughter coping with whatever she had faced.

  ‘It’s all right Margery,’ John said. ‘I’ve seen
for myself how nightmarish things can be over there. Nothing you can say will shock me, I can promise you that.’

  ‘Your mother’s right,’ Margaret said. ‘John has told me some of his experiences and I promise you I would rather you share with us than try to keep everything to yourself.’

  Margery looked from one to another of them and Florence could see she was trying to make up her mind whether to confide in them. Her eyes moistened and she turned away briefly and wiped her eyes, before facing them once more with her chin raised and a determined expression.

  ‘We all agreed to put on a brave face when we saw our families,’ Margery admitted. ‘You’re right, John, when you said it was the stuff of nightmares over there.’ She gazed over their heads at the window. ‘I’ve seen men with bandages covering most of their faces and it haunts me to think what’s underneath the dressings. So many with missing limbs and others with wide eyes and a faraway look who seem unable to communicate with anyone.’ She stared at her hands. ‘I can’t see how those worst affected men will ever be able to move on from what’s happened to them.’

  For a few seconds no one spoke. Then, John walked over to his sister and slipped his arm around her narrow shoulders. ‘I can’t either,’ he said. ‘But you need to focus on how you and your friends giving them brief respite by letting them have a taste of home will help each and every one of them.’

  Margery’s eyes filled with tears and Florence thought her heart would break. ‘But we give them so little and they’re all so grateful.’

  ‘What you give them,’ John argued, ‘means an enormous amount. Even those men who can’t see you can hear your gentle voices and the kind way in which you address them. They taste familiar food that will remind them of the home they’re returning to. What you do is help them move from their experiences in France and Belgium and give them a touch of Blighty. It’s worth so much and you should all be very proud of yourselves.’