The forgotten house, p.8
The Forgotten House, page 8
Please continue thinking of me as smelling of lavender and drinking champagne. However, the reality is far from that; I have become a war volunteer! Let me tell you what I did yesterday. Saturday morning, I rose at 6.30 a.m.—yes, unheard of—I dressed and went down and had breakfast with Father. He was the only one up at that time and then he gave me a lift into town (on his way to the office—yes, on a Saturday). We don’t speak very much as you can imagine and I guess until I stop defying him, our conversations will remain stilted at best. He did however take the opportunity on the trip to suggest I move ahead with my life in your absence and marry Anson. Can you believe it? Now don’t you worry, that will never, ever happen which is why I am telling you, knowing that you are secure in my love and can see the funny side of his relentless campaign.
Back to my story—Father dropped me at the train station to start my shift. I’ve joined The Women’s Voluntary Service (WVS) and four days a week I do a shift in the canteen at the local railway station. They are open seven days, but Mother likes me to be home a few days; just for the company I suspect. There are a number of canteens in and around London, and they don’t usually open them until ten in the morning, but they stay open until about ten that night. So, I get to the canteen soon after eight in the morning and then, with the other ladies who have the morning shift, we make sandwiches, cakes, biscuits, etc., and prepare a few simple meals like fried eggs and baked beans on toast.
There you go; your fiancée can now cook something—you won’t starve to death if Mrs. Atkinson is away. We normally do a three-hour shift, but I do double shifts; three hours on, a one hour break and another three hours on. I go home exhausted and I love it—not only the company of the girls, but being busy, feeling useful and having several hours free from thinking too much. Carrie was keen to come with me but they prefer women over 18 years of age; probably because of all the young men that we are exposed to during our shifts. Luckily, I only have eyes for you. Anyway, in a few months' time, after her eighteenth birthday, she will be able to come along.
Do you remember Christopher Ingram? Last week, the Ingrams received a telegram telling them that he had been killed; he was a pilot. He wasn’t in action, it was just a freak accident during manoeuvres. What a terrible waste of a life. I know his sister, Mary, quite well. She is also a volunteer and was at work today, but she was pale and did not look at all well. Mary said she could not stay home a minute longer with her parents. Their grief was overwhelming her. She has another brother—Gerald—somewhere in France as well. I remember him better than I remember Christopher. Gerald is awfully good at sport, and as I recall, Christopher was a good swimmer. What a terrible thing to get that telegram … don’t do that to me, James, please.
On the social front, there are a lot of parties with a lot of visiting soldiers waiting to be sent here or there. Carrie does her part and attends, as do Anson and his sister, Anna. Can you believe he is claiming he can’t sign up as his father needs him to assist with the business? What next?
I am sure Carrie still has feelings for you and I read her parts of your letter. Why can’t she fall in love with Anson and then we could marry them off? But I won’t begin on that subject again.
Mother is very concerned about her sister, my Aunt Josephine, in Australia, but Father says being over there is the best thing in the world for her. But it’s not Aunt Jo’s safety we are worried about. Uncle Will has been recruited and Aunt Jo is there alone, with no family. Mother wanted to sail to Australia to be with her, but of course Father forbade it. I doubt she could get passage anyway unless she offered to assist on one of those ships that are taking the children to safety … I’ve heard they have a few adult handlers on board. Not to worry, Father would never allow it.
Our Christmas decorations are up, but it doesn’t seem right to be celebrating. Everyone is trying to carry on as normal. It is heartening to see the children so excited by Christmas; oblivious to what is going on. I love the festivity of it and I wish you could be here to share in it. I can’t wait until next year when I’m sure the war will be over and we can spend Christmas together at Autumn Manor as husband and wife.
In closing, know that my love for you is a constant, as sure as the moon rises and the sun sets. In every soldier’s face I search for you. I know you won’t walk into my canteen, but still, I am ever hopeful—silly I know. To bed now, as it is quite late. I will write again tomorrow, and the next day and the next day …
All my love and prayers
Lexie xxxx
Chapter 12
Lexie put down the large teapot and rubbed her aching arm. She had poured her last cup for the day and the next shift of ladies was about to begin at the canteen. She took off her apron and hung it with the others on a nail near the entrance door.
‘Busy one today,’ she said to Marjorie Dawes, a woman twice her age and a mother to them all.
‘Wonderful isn’t it?’ Marjorie smiled. ‘To be able to offer so many of our boys a cup of tea and a place to rest between their travels. You look exhausted my love.’
‘Nothing that a cup of tea won’t fix.’ Lexie smiled.
‘Take a sandwich with you for the journey home. Eileen, will you wrap a sandwich for our Lexie? We can’t have you fading away.’
Lexie pecked Marjorie on the cheek. ‘You would never allow that, I’m sure. Besides, I’ve taste-tested every pudding you’ve brought in this past week.’ Lexie rubbed her stomach.
‘Perks of the job.’ Marjorie winked. ‘I hear rationing may come into effect soon, so we might be restricted to a sandwich and sugarless-biscuits made without butter! Heavens! See you tomorrow my dear.’
‘See you then.’ Lexie waved. ‘Bye ladies.’
A chorus of goodbyes farewelled Lexie as Eileen, with a wink, pressed a sandwich into her hand at the door.
Outside Lexie noticed the chill for the first time; she had been busy working and had stayed warm up until now. She pulled her coat tighter around her body and moved away from the railway station to sit in the park opposite for a break before beginning her walk home. Collapsing onto a bench, Lexie put her feet up and began to indulge in one of Eileen’s generous sandwiches, when she heard her name called. She looked around to see Carrie on the platform.
‘Hello! Stay there.’ Lexie ordered and crossed back over the road to the station. ‘What are you doing here?’ She gave Carrie a kiss on the cheek.
‘I got a lift in with Kenneth. He had to pick up some fertiliser or something for the Theroux’s garden and saw me as I was walking to the station,’ Carrie said.
Lexie noticed Carrie was dressed impeccably and was drawing admiring glances from the soldiers. She self-consciously looked down at her dowdy uniform.
‘Where’s Kenneth now?’ Lexie asked.
‘He’s coming back for us in about twenty minutes. He said to wait here and he’ll drive us home in the lorry.’
‘Oh, good, my feet are killing me.’ Lexie dropped down onto a platform bench and raised her legs, moving her feet in a rotating motion. ‘Want half a sandwich?’
Carrie looked at it hungrily. ‘You’ve probably earned it …’
‘I’m too tired to eat.’ Lexie gave her half. ‘So, did you just come down here to have a look around at the scenery?’
Carrie smiled before biting through the egg and lettuce. ‘Mm, it is good—the sandwich and the scenery—but no, I have news.’
Lexie sat bolt upright. ‘What?’
‘Don’t panic.’ Carrie rolled her eyes. ‘Not that kind of news.’
Lexie took her hand off her chest. ‘Don’t do that to me.’
Carrie continued. ‘Kitty dropped in earlier to see you. She said she never gets to see you anymore.’
‘Is that all?’ Lexie sighed with relief and took another bite of her sandwich. ‘I told her what days I work.’
‘Well she forgot, but she said she would come back tonight.’
Lexie frowned again. ‘Why, what’s up?’
Carrie finished the last bite of the sandwich and pulled a handkerchief from her purse to wipe her hands. ‘Well, I’m not supposed to tell, but Kitty was in town yesterday and she ran into Father Ranken.’ Carrie stopped as a group of young soldiers went past.
‘That’s nice,’ Lexie prompted her, ‘and?’
Carrie smiled at a soldier as he dipped his cap to her.
‘Father Ranken?’ Lexie nudged her.
‘Oh yes, sorry. Father Ranken said to Kitty that he looked forward to marrying you and Anson next month.’
Lexie’s jaw dropped open. ‘What?’
‘Precisely, what indeed!’ Carrie agreed. ‘I raced here to tell you and to let you know that Kitty will be back later to give you more details.’
‘I don’t believe it.’ Lexie stood up, pulling her volunteer uniform down and placing her hands on her hips. ‘Father has gone too far this time, he really has. I wonder if Anson knows.’
‘Kitty will be able to tell you tonight. She was going to drop in to say hello to his sister, Anna, this afternoon.’
‘Bless Kitty,’ Lexie mumbled. She reached for Carrie’s hand and squeezed it. ‘Thank you, sis. I owe you.’
‘Yes you do. Can I have James?’
Lexie turned to find Carrie smiling. She sat back down and kissed Carrie’s cheek. ‘You can have him as a brother-in-law.’
‘Phooey,’ Carrie snorted.
‘Look at all these gorgeous soldiers,’ Lexie said in a hushed voice. ‘Couldn’t you fall for one of them? You’re getting plenty of attention.’
‘Am I? Maybe I could fall for another man …’ Carrie agreed playing modest and looking away as another soldier greeted her while passing.
‘You know Carrie, this calls for drastic action.’
Carrie shrugged. ‘I’ll meet someone eventually.’
‘What? No, not your love life! My love life—Father and the marriage situation. I have to get away from here before that date.’ Lexie narrowed her eyes, plotting.
‘How? Where will you go?’ Carrie stared at her.
‘Shh, there’s Kenneth.’ Lexie waved and grabbed Carrie’s hand. ‘Let’s hear what Kitty has to say first.’
*****
Kitty barely had time to offer a greeting to Moira and Samuel Taylor before she was whisked away by Lexie and Carrie for a walk.
‘But I don’t feel like a walk,’ Kitty complained. ‘I just walked all the way here!’
‘Shh,’ Lexie shushed her. ‘Let's just walk far enough so we can talk in private.’
‘Oh.’ Kitty nodded, ‘I get it.’
Lexie led the way as Kitty and Carrie followed her down the front path and across the grounds. She stooped under a vine to enter the path to the stream that she and Carrie so often took. They walked for another five minutes.
Kitty glanced behind. ‘We’re about half a mile from the house now. How good is your parents’ hearing?’
Lexie laughed. ‘Fine, we’ll stop then.’ She pointed to a log at the top of the next rise. ‘Can you get that far?’
Kitty frowned. ‘I suppose so.’
The girls seated themselves. Lexie and Carrie stared at Kitty who spread out her skirt and adjusted some stray strands of her light brown hair back into the knot at the back of her neck.
‘Well?’ Lexie pounced.
Kitty smiled. ‘It appears I am going to be a bridesmaid and you haven’t told me.’
‘So it is true then,’ Lexie shook her head. ‘Father is a tyrant, the most selfish man who will stop at nothing to get his own way.’ She turned and spoke to Carrie. ‘He is ruthless.’
Carrie nodded her agreement. ‘What did Anna say? Does Anson know?’ she asked.
‘Yes he does. He spoke to Father Ranken about calling your marriage banns and then the Howells are planning to invite your family over for Sunday lunch on the last Sunday of the month when the wedding is to take place. Both parents will have everything ready from the cake to the priest,’ Kitty announced.
‘Imagine if I didn’t know?’ Lexie exclaimed. ‘How mortifying. How embarrassing to have to storm out in front of Anson’s parents.’
‘I suspect you would have heard,’ Carrie said. ‘It’s not much of a surprise if Anna and Father Ranken keep telling everyone.’ Carrie turned to Kitty. ‘I love your dress. That lilac colour is beautiful.’
‘Thanks.’ Kitty brightened. ‘I heard that we won’t be able to get much variety soon so I bought a few frocks now.’
‘Kitty!’ Lexie exclaimed, ‘the frock is beautiful, but concentrate. I can’t believe Anson would go along with this knowing that I’m engaged to James. Didn’t he think I would notice when the banns were called?’
‘Well, according to Anna, Anson is excited and believes you will be delighted by the surprise,’ Kitty said. ‘Just the immediate two families on the grounds of Howells’ estate.’
‘And if I say no?’ Lexie asked.
Carrie made a face. ‘Could you say no under that kind of pressure?’
Lexie groaned. ‘This is an ambush.’
Kitty rubbed Lexie’s back. ‘I’m sorry Lexie, it’s not fair and it’s an awful situation to put you in. I’m just so delighted that Father Ranken let the cat out of the bag. I don’t think he realises that you don’t know.’
‘So, what is your plan?’ Carrie prodded Lexie.
‘Plan? You have a plan already?’ Kitty looked impressed.
‘Sort of, Carrie gave me a warning of what you were coming to see me about. So I’ve been playing around with some ideas.’
‘And?’ Kitty asked.
‘What do you say to joining the Voluntary Aid Detachment and staying in London permanently with me?’ Lexie asked eagerly.
Chapter 13
January 10, 1940
Hello my darling James,
Happy belated New Year to you, my love. I wish you were able to write to me more often, but of course I understand why you cannot. I have memorised your last letter almost word for word, sentence by sentence, inhaled it, kissed it and cried over it. I am so glad you have a group of friends and you all watch over each other; your Christmas wouldn’t have been quite as bleak in such good company. I am happy to write to their families, their wives or girlfriends or visit them if they live near. Sharing news makes everything much more bearable. My Christmas was somewhat morose; luckily I had plenty of shifts at the canteen. Father fumed every time he saw me, Mother was over-animated trying to keep the peace and Carrie continues to sulk because she is not of an age to do anything useful.
James, how I miss you and pray for you to come home safely. I know I am supposed to be strong and supportive, but I can’t bear the thought of continuing without you. Promise me you will do everything in your power to stay safe and come home to me?
Some nights I dream the telegram arrives at the door but I never open it. While it is unopened, then you are alive. Sometimes I dream of our wedding day and I awake missing you more than ever and ache for you.
But now, for some news from the home front; it’s official … can you believe Anson won’t be going to war? He has been given an exemption as a government contractor because his services are necessary for his father’s business and their war-time contract. What next? His sister told Kitty. I had thought it was just a rumour; how dishonourable he is when it is not really true and his father could do perfectly well without him. I don’t know how he holds his head up in society, but believe me he does. And Father thinks it is all perfectly acceptable. Anson and Anna are out every night socialising as if there is no war. She said she is doing her bit to keep the visiting soldiers happy! I want them to be happy too, but I assure you, I am home writing a letter to keep my away-soldier happy. I guess I shouldn’t be so judgemental. Anna is my age and needs some company and socialisation.
Did you know that Father and Mr. Howell are working on a bid for a major government manufacturing contract? The very same contract that your father currently owns, and which is up for renewal soon. Father and Mr. Howell have spent months building up contacts and putting together their bid. I wouldn’t put it past Father to pull some strings to get his way. I’m sorry my love, enough about my father and his fantasies.
As you know I’m doing a few days volunteering at the canteen; the uniform is very drab, but who cares. I have developed muscles in my arms from lifting huge teapots and I have learned to cook just about every kind of cake and pastry there is to cook from the Volunteer Matron, Marjorie Dawes. Marjorie is wonderful. She’s about fifty, I think, a bit portly and motherly and we all love her. So you can look forward to my chocolate slice and my lemon pie is dreamy—that is assuming we can get the ingredients. Rationing is not too bad at the moment, but it all depends on how long this war lasts doesn’t it?
But let me tell you about last week. Father went to London for the week for business. He agreed to allow me to accompany him—I had a plan which he was oblivious to and I needed to be in London to put it into action. More on that later. We barely spoke the entire week but I am past worrying about that now. London was so different from home; the hotel we stayed in had all the windows covered as part of the blackout rules. I experienced my first blackout drill. We haven’t been too vigilant at home about the blackout but the drill in London was quite frightening. The street lamps were turned off, sirens started to wail and because we were running late to get back to the hotel, we had to stay down in an underground tube station.
We were far from alone; everyone seemed to be there. They even handed out snacks and there was bedding and pillows. It was very odd. After what seemed like ages, but I’m sure it probably wasn’t all that long, a different siren sounded the “all clear” and we went out. Father was in a hurry, as always, and I almost had to run to keep up with him.
