Soldier's Daughter, The

by Goodwin, Rosie

  Briony and a number of women from Poldak village descended on the school armed with copious amounts of disinfectant and mops and buckets, and they scoured everything within sight. Curtains were taken down and sent away to be washed, and every single wall, chair, desk and floor was thoroughly cleaned. Even the pencils were disinfected. Precious paper that the children had been writing on was burned and replaced with new, and by the end of the first day the smell of disinfectant was so overpowering that Briony could practically taste it. Her hands were red raw with scrubbing but she was happy to do what she could to prevent the infection from spreading. Windows were left wide open as they worked, and the cold wind whipping in from the sea made them all shiver as they tackled one room at a time. Briony was sick with worry. Sarah was still unwell and she was terrified that she might be incubating the awful disease. She had never been a strong child since developing whooping cough as a toddler, and every winter she seemed to catch every cough and cold that was going. She mentioned this fact to her grandmother who grudgingly allowed her to call out the family doctor to look at her.

  Dr Restarick was a plump, elderly man with snow-white hair and a bushy white beard who put Briony in mind of Father Christmas. When he arrived he got out his stethoscope and examined Sarah thoroughly, as Briony stood by with her heart in her throat.

  Half of the parents in the village were panicking and since Bethany had been diagnosed, the good doctor had been run off his feet.

  Straightening, he smiled at Briony kindly, wondering why he had to examine the Frasiers’ granddaughter in the kitchen. He would have expected her to be in one of the bedrooms in the main part of the house, with a roaring fire on the go and her grandmother fussing in attendance.

  ‘Of course, it’s too soon to be sure but as far as I can tell it’s just a nasty chest infection,’ he told Briony, hoping to allay her fears. ‘I’m going to give your sister some medicine and she should start to feel better in a few days. Meantime I suggest you keep her in the warm and give her plenty of fluids. Does she have a fire in her bedroom?’

  Briony looked embarrassed as she stammered, ‘Er . . . no, she doesn’t.’ How could she tell him that she and the children slept in the servants’ quarters? It was bitterly cold up there now, although Briony did put a hot-water bottle into all their beds each night before the three youngsters went up.

  ‘In that case I should keep her down here, just for a couple of nights until we see how she is. Do you think you could manage that?’

  She nodded. ‘Of course. And thank you, Doctor.’

  Snapping his bag shut, he smiled before heading for the door to the hallway saying, ‘Don’t worry about seeing me out, my dear. I might look in on your grandfather before I leave.’ And then he was gone, closing the door softly behind him as Briony fussed over Sarah and tucked her blanket snugly about her.

  The following morning the children were surprised when their grandmother strode into the kitchen and threw an envelope onto the table. ‘That’s come for her.’ Her lip curled slightly as she glanced towards Mabel and then she turned and went out.

  Mabel had paled alarmingly and her eyes looked huge in her small face. ‘I bet it’s from me ma,’ she said fearfully. ‘Yer don’t think she’s gonna make me go back, do yer?’

  ‘I shouldn’t think so for a minute, but why don’t I open it and see? I can read it for you, if you like?’ Briony answered gently. The little girl had begun to tremble and knowing what a tough little thing she was, Briony found that surprising. The child had never gone to school regularly back at home in London and now she was only just beginning to learn her alphabet.

  When Mabel nodded Briony slit the envelope open and after taking out a single sheet of rather grubby-looking notepaper, she read aloud:

  Dear Mabel,

  I hope you is ok an behavin yerself. I got yer postcard wi yer address on an it sounds very posh where yer stayin. Fings are much the same ere. The bombin don’t get no better but up to now we’ve bin lucky an ain’t bin too badly it. I’ve met a nice man. Is name is Charlton an e’s an American GI so I’m getting plenty o nylons. I’m getting a bit o stick from the neighbours cos e’s black but they’re just jealous. Ain’t eard nuffink from yer bruvvers or sisters but suppose there all right.

  Make sure yer be good else I’ll tan yer arse when yer get ome. I shan’t write again cos yer know I’m no good at writin letters.

  Luv Ma x

  A look of pure relief swept across Mabel’s face as she let her breath out in a long sigh. ‘So she ain’t sayin’ I ’ave to go ’ome then?’

  ‘Not at all,’ Briony assured her. ‘She’s just letting you know that she received the postcard we sent her.’ And then she was shocked when Mabel suddenly sidled up to her and placed her small hand in hers. It was the first real show of affection the little girl had ever given her and Briony was touched.

  *

  Mid-afternoon they heard Sebastian’s car pull into the yard and he marched through the kitchen without giving any of them so much as a backward glance. That suited Briony just fine. The atmosphere in the house had been tense to say the least, ever since the night when he had offered to let the man sleep in the barn.

  ‘No! You’ll have not a penny more!’ It was Grandfather’s voice, audible through the walls, and Briony could hear the controlled rage in it. She bit her lip in consternation. Arguing like this wouldn’t do his heart any good. Mrs Dower had told her that William was living on borrowed time and she felt resentment towards Sebastian for upsetting him.

  ‘You’re a grown man now, Sebastian, and it’s about time you learned to stand on your own two feet,’ the same voice thundered. ‘I cannot afford to keep bailing you out, so you’ll have to sort it out yourself this time.’

  Sebastian’s reply was lost.

  It was some minutes later that William rang the bell for her and she entered the sitting room to find him wiping the sweat from his brow. He looked very pale and Briony was concerned for him. There was no sign of her uncle and she rightly guessed that he had stormed out because he hadn’t got his own way.

  ‘Do you think you could get me a glass of water please, dear?’ William asked, and she noticed that his hands were shaking.

  ‘Of course.’ She shot back to the kitchen and returned in no time with a glass that she held to his lips whilst he sipped at it.

  ‘That’s better. Thank you.’ He smiled up at her and she was relieved to see that the colour was seeping back into his cheeks.

  ‘Would you like me to sit with you for a while?’ she offered and he saw the concern in her eyes.

  ‘No, I shall be fine now. Your grandmother has only popped into the village but she should be back any minute.’

  ‘All right. But if you should need me, just ring the bell.’

  He stroked her hand and said, ‘Thank you, I will.’

  She got back into the kitchen just in time to hear Sebastian’s car roar out of the drive on two wheels, and hoped that he would stay away for a very long time. How could anyone be so thoroughly self-centred!

  The next few days were difficult. Sarah did not improve and on Saturday, Briony took a deep breath, tapped on the sitting-room door and asked her grandmother if she would send for the doctor again.

  ‘Is that absolutely necessary?’ the woman challenged her.

  ‘I think it must be if Briony is requesting it,’ her grandfather said. ‘Go and telephone him, my dear. I’m sure Dr Restarick won’t mind.’

  Her back ramrod straight, the woman glared at Briony before resentfully going to do as her husband requested.

  The doctor was there within the hour, and as he held the stethoscope to Sarah’s chest his expression was worried.

  ‘I think we ought to get her into the cottage hospital,’ he said, and seeing the fear that flared in Briony’s eyes he added hastily, ‘I don’t think it’s polio, but she may be developing pneumonia. Better to be safe than sorry, eh? Now I shall telephone for an ambulance if you wouldn’t mind getting a bag rea
dy for her.’

  Briony shot off upstairs and packed Sarah’s little cardboard suitcase with everything that she thought her sister might need. And all the time she was trying to quell the panic that was rising within her and her heart was beating like a drum.

  What am I going to say to Mum if anything happens to her? she asked herself. I’m supposed to be looking after her!

  The ambulance was there in a surprisingly short time and as Sarah was loaded onto a stretcher, Briony began to cry.

  Thankfully, Mrs Dower had just arrived and she patted her arm comfortingly, saying, ‘You go with her, my bird. I’ll take care of things here and look after the other two till you get back.’

  Briony grabbed her coat and followed the ambulance men out after dropping a quick kiss on the housekeeper’s cheek. And then the ambulance bells were clanging as it raced towards the hospital and she sat close to Sarah, gripping her hot little hand. Her temperature was so high that it felt as if she was on fire – and Briony was more terrified than she had ever been in her entire life.

  She arrived home three hours later after filling in all the admittance forms for Sarah and seeing her settled into a side ward by a young nurse in a navy-blue uniform with a crisp white cap covering her dark curls.

  ‘They wouldn’t let me stay any longer,’ she told Mrs Dower brokenly as the kindly woman patted her hand. ‘But I can go back at six o’clock. That’s the visiting time. In the meantime they’re going to do some tests.’

  Alfie and Mabel were sitting close together, their eyes scared. The three little ones were inseparable now and it felt strange without Sarah.

  ‘She will get better, won’t she, Briony?’ Alfie asked tremulously.

  ‘Of course she will,’ Mrs Dower said brightly, doing her best to keep their spirits up. But inside she was quaking. Only the day before, another little boy – an evacuee who was staying with the Youngs in the village – had been diagnosed with polio and rushed from the cottage hospital to the sanatorium in Truro. What if Sarah had polio too? It just didn’t bear thinking about, although Briony had cared for her with a dedication that did the girl justice. All they could do now was wait . . . and that proved to be far more difficult than they had thought.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Briony was waiting on the steps of the cottage hospital at six o’clock promptly, along with a number of other people who had come to visit patients. She was clutching the latest copy of the Beano that she had bought at the local shop, but wasn’t sure whether Sarah would feel well enough to read it.

  They heard a clock chime from inside and when the door was opened by a nurse everyone surged forward.

  Briony tapped on the door of the children’s ward, which was kept locked at all times, and soon the same young nurse that she had met earlier opened it and smiled at her.

  ‘Ah, it’s Miss Valentine, isn’t it?’ she said. ‘Sister would like a word with you in her office. Please will you follow me?’

  White-faced, Briony followed her down the ward past the rows of beds and cots and past the room where Sarah had been put.

  The Sister greeted her and motioned her to a seat in front of her desk, and once Briony had perched on the edge of it, the woman steepled her fingers and stared thoughtfully off into space as if she didn’t quite know where to begin. Then, taking the bull by the horns, she began, ‘I’m so sorry, Miss Valentine, but I can’t allow you to see Sarah tonight.’ When Briony opened her mouth to object she rushed on, ‘Until all the tests are completed we really must keep her in isolation. You have other young children at home, I believe, and it wouldn’t be wise to put them at risk too if it is something contagious, would it?’

  Put that way, Briony didn’t really have an argument and her shoulders sagged with despair.

  ‘When will you have all the results of the tests?’ she asked dully.

  ‘Oh, by tomorrow at the very latest and we shall contact you to inform you of the results immediately. I believe there is a telephone at the house where you are staying. Meanwhile I can assure you that Sarah is getting the best possible care and she is as comfortable as could be expected.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Briony rose from the chair. She would have given anything for just one peep at her little sister but she could understand why the Sister was being so cautious. It really wouldn’t do to put Mabel and Alfie at risk too.

  ‘I’ll wait for your call in the morning then,’ she said in a small voice. She couldn’t see even her grandmother objecting to this one, although she had flatly refused to go to the hospital with her, saying that she was too busy caring for her husband.

  ‘So how is she then?’ Mrs Dower asked the second Briony set foot back through the door. On hearing the news, she said sensibly, ‘Well, there’s no point you making yourself ill as well. And it’s not so very long till tomorrow morning. At least we’ll know what we’re up against then. Just try and keep your chin up, eh?’

  It was much easier said than done, and once the children had been tucked into bed, Briony tried to read a magazine to distract herself, but the words kept blurring into one another. When the door suddenly blew open at eight o’clock and Howel walked in with a gust of wind she could have kissed him, she was so pleased to see him.

  ‘I thought you might be glad of a bit of company,’ he said, unwinding his scarf from around his neck.

  She nodded. ‘Oh yes I would, thank you. I can’t seem to concentrate on anything. Do you think I should get in touch with my mum and tell her what’s going on? I thought we could perhaps send her a telegram.’

  ‘I wouldn’t if I were you, not till you know for sure what’s wrong with Sarah,’ he answered wisely. ‘Your mother would only want to come, no doubt – and what would be the point of travelling all that way if no one is allowed to see Sarah?’

  ‘I suppose you’re right.’ Briony stared into the flames as Howel filled a pan with milk.

  ‘I’ll make us a nice cup of cocoa, shall I?’ he suggested. ‘Mum always reckons it helps you to sleep.’

  Briony left him to it. She didn’t really want a drink; in fact, she didn’t want anything – but she didn’t want to throw his kindness back in his face.

  ‘Have you been through to tell your grandparents what the Sister said?’ he asked as he bustled about getting cups ready, and Briony realised with a little shock that she hadn’t given it a thought.

  ‘Do you think I should?’

  He nodded. ‘Yes, I do. Your grandpa will want to know at least, I’m sure. Why not go through now before they go to bed and I’ll have this ready for you when you get back.’

  Briony tapped on the sitting-room door and after shouting for her to come in, her grandmother said snootily, ‘Yes? What is it, girl?’

  ‘I thought you might like to know what’s happening with Sarah,’ she said uncertainly, and when her grandfather nodded, she told them all she could.

  ‘Eeh, poor little maid,’ William said sympathetically. ‘But at least she’s in the right place. Try not to worry, dear. And if she needs anything, you just let us know, right?’

  Briony focused on him and avoided looking at her grandmother. Marion was obviously jealous of the affection that had sprung up between them, and Briony sensed that had it not been for him, the woman would have sent them all packing by now, without a second thought.

  ‘Thank you. The hospital said they would ring with the test results in the morning. I hope that’s all right?’

  ‘Of course it is,’ he assured her. ‘Now you go and try to get some rest, and stop fretting. She’ll be fine, you’ll see.’

  Briony was almost at the door when her grandmother suddenly said, ‘If it is polio, isn’t it highly contagious?’

  Briony nodded.

  ‘In that case I shall insist that a bedroom is prepared for Alfie close to ours. I’ve no doubt Sarah has caught it from that dirty girl you took in! I knew she’d be trouble the moment I set eyes on her.’

  ‘She hasn’t caught it from Mabel,’ Briony answered defi
antly. ‘And Mabel isn’t dirty now. Anyway, we don’t even know if it is polio yet. Two of the children from the village school have gone down with it already.’

  ‘Well, there you are then. Even if it wasn’t Mabel it was probably one of the evacuees that brought it here. I shall see that Alfie moves into this side of the house tomorrow – and there’s an end to it. Oh, and he can eat with us in future too!’

  Briony was just too tired to argue and as she left the room she wondered if things could get any worse.

  She told Howel what her grandmother had said when she re-joined him in the kitchen and he clenched his fists as anger coursed through him. ‘Bloody old sod,’ he muttered. ‘She was just the same with Seb when he was a kid, apparently. Still is, for that matter! It was always him and never your mother she had time for. I think she’s jealous of the girls getting too close to her man, even her own flesh and blood. But never mind, it’s not as if he’s going to be a hundred miles away, is it? He’ll only be just the other side of the door.’

  ‘But he’ll hate it,’ Briony whimpered as the events of the day caught up with her and tears coursed down her cheeks.

  Howel put his arm about her heaving shoulders and hugged her to him, silently cursing Mrs Frasier. Poor Briony, as if she didn’t have enough to worry about with little Sarah. But she felt so good in his arms and he knew in that moment why he was no longer so keen on walking out with Megan; he had developed feelings for this lovely girl – for what good it would do him! Once the war was over she’d return to the Midlands and he’d probably never see her again. The thought was depressing.

  The next morning, Briony kept the door into the hallway open as she waited for the telephone to ring and at twenty minutes past nine, as soon as she’d got back from school, it finally did.

  Racing into the hall she snatched it up and a man’s voice sounded down the line. ‘Hello. Am I speaking to Miss Briony Valentine?’

  ‘Yes,’ Briony managed to squeak and seconds later she placed the phone down again in a daze. Her grandfather had somehow managed to wheel himself out into the hallway and he gazed at her questioningly.