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‘You did – what?’
‘Signed up. I thought – what the heck! Drew’s in the Navy so that’ll do for me. I was fed up …’
‘Fed up? We call that chocker in the Navy.’
‘Okay – so I’m learning. I was chocker with that shop so I went in my dinner hour and did it. And I signed Dada’s name, too. I had to because I’m still a minor. He hit the roof, Drew. In the end, Mam gave us both a telling-off and it has sort of died down now because I haven’t heard another word from them.’
‘Not even about your medical?’
‘Nope. But I heard they were pretty choosy. Maybe I won’t hear any more.’
‘I think you will. There were two Wrens on my training course and they were smashing. And the Wrens who work in barracks are okay, too. You’ll look great in the uniform, Daiz. One of the blokes in our mess saw your photograph and his eyes nearly popped out of his head. “Where did you find a bit of crackling like that, Sutton?” he asked me, and I told him under a gooseberry bush – that you were my sister. I’ll tell him you’re joining the Wrens,’ he grinned. ‘It’ll make his day!’
‘Then you’d better tell him I’m engaged, too – and, Drew, can we walk? I’ve got something else to tell you.’
‘Which necessitates walking?’
‘Yes – oh, no! But it’s going to take a bit of explaining after so long, you see. And I hope you won’t think I’ve been sneaky and secretive about it, but nobody knows – well, only Mam and Dada and Aunt Julia. And Keth, of course.’
‘I’m curious. Where shall we go?’
‘Into Brattocks the back way, then down to the elms. I want the rooks to hear it, too.’
‘You believe all that nonsense about telling things to the rooks, do you?’
‘Mam does! Anyway, I want to tell them!’
‘Fine by me.’ He held out his hand and she took it, smiling up at him, glad he was her brother – her half-brother.
‘We-e-ll – it started when we lived in Hampshire. Do you remember Hampshire, Drew?’
‘Of course I do! I loved it when Mother and I came to stay with you. I thought it was great, having you and Keth to play with. Do you remember when they told us we were related, you and me? You threw the mother of all tantrums and ran out.’
‘Don’t remind me! But I was jealous, you see, when they told us Mam had once been married to your father. Funny, isn’t it, that Mam was once Lady Alice Sutton?’
‘Don’t see why, considering she married Sir Giles Sutton and they had me.’
‘’S’pose not. Does having a title bother you, Drew? Do the other sailors rag you about it – you being on the lower decks, I mean?’
‘The blokes in the Mess don’t know about it. I took good care not to tell them. I’m Telegraphist Sutton and that’s the way I want it.’
‘But hadn’t you considered a commission? You’d be a good officer.’
‘No better than a lot of others, Daiz, and anyway, I like it where I am. I’ve been with a decent crowd of blokes, training. I’m sorry we’ll all be split up, but that’s war for you – and here we are at the elms, so you’d better tell me what’s bothering you because something is.’
‘Not bothering me, exactly, but it’s something I want you to know and like I said, I wasn’t being deceitful, not telling you. I almost told you ages ago, when I told Keth, but he was so shocked by it, I decided not to …’
‘Daisy! Tell!’
‘All right.’ She settled herself on the grass, her back to the elm tree bole, arms behind her as if she were embracing it, connecting herself and her words to it and to the rooks that nested in it. It was the way she always did it. ‘Remember when Keth’s father and Mr Hillier were drowned?’ She took a deep, calming breath. ‘And that Mr Hillier left Windrush Hall to the miners as a convalescent home – because he’d been a boy down the pit before he got so rich?’
Drew nodded, careful not to interrupt because she was finding it difficult, he knew.
‘Well, he left everyone who worked for him a hundred pounds, the rest of his money to be invested for the upkeep of the home.’
‘I knew that, Daiz …’
‘Yes, but what you don’t know is that the money he left me wasn’t a hundred pounds. Oh, I thought it was. I felt rich; thought I could spend it on bikes and toys, but Mam thought otherwise. But what I didn’t know, Drew, and they didn’t tell me for ages afterwards –’ She turned to face him, one hand on the tree-trunk, still. ‘They waited till I’d got a bit more sense, knew how not to blab about it at school. That hundred pounds I thought I’d been left was more. Much more.’
‘How much more?’ he asked warily.
‘Mr Hillier left me ten thousand pounds!’
The words came out in a rush and it seemed like an age before Drew hissed, ‘Ten thousand pounds?’
‘Yes.’ She swallowed loudly. ‘I couldn’t take it in, not so much money, so Dada said it would be better if I thought about it in terms of things; said that if I imagined a road of newly-built houses; nice houses with bathrooms, mind, – twenty of them – then that’s what my money would buy.’
‘That much money would buy Rowangarth and the stable block and the lodges and all the parkland. You’re richer than me, Daiz.’
‘I’m not richer than you, Drew. Rowangarth and the farms and all Holdenby village are worth more than ten thousand.’
‘Not a lot more, because it’s entailed. I’ve got to pass it on. And houses aren’t what you’d call security in wartime. Hitler is bombing them or setting them on fire with incendiaries and you can’t insure houses and things against enemy action – did you know that? I reckon if you’ve got your money in the bank then you’re laughing.’
‘If Hitler doesn’t come before I get it. Because it won’t be mine till next June. The solicitor in Winchester and Sir Maxwell Something-or-other and Dada are Trustees and they’ll only let me have bits of my money for special, necessary things like education or if I got very ill and there were doctor’s bills that Dada couldn’t pay. They’ve been very mean with it this far.’
‘For your own good, I suppose.’
‘I accept that, but I’d have liked to get some of it to help Keth through university when he didn’t get a scholarship to Leeds, but I’d more sense than to ask.’ She shrugged because she had never thought of all that money as hers, really. It had just been something there, uneasily in the background. Until now, that was. The ten years since they’d told her about it suddenly seemed to have flown by.
‘Well, Keth got through university all right, as it happens. And I’m glad about the money, Daiz – or I will be when it’s sunk in. Suppose Keth’s had time to get used to it, now?’
‘I think he has, though he never mentions it. When I told him he said that he wanted to be the breadwinner – buy things for me and not the other way round. It was a bit awkward I can tell you, so in the end we decided our children should have the bulk of it – good schools and perhaps ponies if they wanted them. The rest, Keth said, should be invested for their future. If we ever have kids, that is.’
Her voice began to tremble and her eyes filled with tears. Such very blue eyes, Drew thought, fishing for his handkerchief.
‘Stop it, Daiz. Of course you’ll have children.’
‘Then how, will you tell me, with the flaming Atlantic between us? Have them by air mail, will we?’
‘Oh you don’t half go on about things. You’re almost as bad as Kitty when it comes to being a drama queen.’
Thoughts of Kitty led to thoughts of Bas and again to Keth who was with them still in Kentucky – or was it Washington now? But she blinked hard on her tears and blew her nose loudly. Then she took a deep, calming breath and tilted her chin ominously.
‘All right then, Drew Sutton – drama queen, am I? Well how about this, then? That money is in the bank, sort of. They invested it for me and on my birthday they always send Dada a statement about it. By the time I’m twenty-one, there’ll be more than fifteen thousand!’
‘Fifteen! Good grief! No wonder you wanted to tell the rooks about it!’
She stared at the grass at their feet, saying nothing, which only went to show, Drew thought, that Daisy too realized what a responsibility so much money was and hoping fervently that it wouldn’t make trouble between herself and Keth.
‘Tell you what,’ he smiled, getting to his feet, holding out a hand to her, ‘let’s go over to Denniston – see if Tatty’s back from Creesby yet.’
After what he’d been told, it was all he could think of to say.
6 (#ulink_b3abf10a-e3fb-57d9-9bee-29c6556fa3c4)
‘I suppose, Sir Andrew, you’ve nobbut come to see my land girl,’ Catchpole chuckled.
‘As a matter of fact, it was the tea I came for. Knew you’d have the kettle on just about now. But if it’s served by a pretty popsy, then so much the better.’ Laughing, Drew held out a hand. ‘Good to see you again, Jack.’
‘And you, young Drew. Welcome home. And who told you our Gracie was pretty, then?’
‘Polly Purvis. Daisy and I went to see her last night.’
‘Ar. And how’s that lad of Polly’s? Heard he’d got a job over in America. Planning on stopping there, is he?’
‘Your guess is as good as mine. Polly seems to think Keth is agitating to get home, though she hopes, really, that he stays there. You can’t blame her. The last war didn’t do Keth’s father any favours.’
‘Keth’ll happen be wanting to get back to Daisy, though how he’ll manage it with all those U-boats about, I don’t know. But there’s nowt so queer as folk. If that’s what Keth wants, then good luck to the lad. But here’s tea, and here’s our new lady gardener.’
‘Good morning, Sir Andrew.’ Gracie stood hesitantly, a mug in either hand. ‘I saw you arrive – I’ve poured one for you, too.’
‘Hullo, Gracie.’ Drew rose to his feet. ‘Let me help you.’
‘Careful. These enamelled mugs are very hot.’
‘Don’t I know it. We use them in barracks.’ His gaze took in her thick yellow curls, held captive in a bright green snood, her shirt unbuttoned to show a long, slim neck. She didn’t wear make-up either and had a wide, ready smile. ‘Pull up a box,’ he invited.
‘If you’re sure that’s all right?’ Her eyes asked permission of the head gardener.
‘Course it is, lass. Us don’t stand on ceremony here. So tell us, Drew, how is the Navy treating you?’
‘No complaints so far, but it’s good to be home and –’
‘And you’d rather forget being a sailor, eh?’
‘Until I have to go back,’ Drew nodded. ‘It’s good to get out of uniform and not to have to do everything at the double, though when I get a ship things will be a bit less hectic, they tell me.’
‘So what do you plan doing with yourself, then?’
‘Daisy and I might go into Creesby – see a flick tonight. But no plans at all, really. I got up late this morning. I awoke at six as usual and it was marvellous not having someone yelling, “Wakey-wakey! On yer feet! Lash up and stow!” I felt peculiar in a bed, first night home. I’ve got used to sleeping in a hammock. They’re quite comfortable.’
‘But don’t you ever fall out of them?’ Gracie frowned. ‘And what’s lash up and – and –’
‘Stow. You roll up your hammock into a big sausage, then stow it in the hammock racks, all tidy. There’s two ways of doing things in barracks: Chiefie’s way, or the wrong way. You soon learn which,’ he grinned.
‘Do you like dancing, Sir Andrew?’
‘Yes, I do! Is there a dance on?’
‘At the aerodrome tomorrow night. There’s an invitation from the sergeants’ mess at Holdenby Moor pinned on the noticeboard at the hostel. They send a transport to the crossroads, the girls told me. All HM forces welcome, though it’s ladies they want most – for partners, I suppose. A lot of the girls go in dresses so Daisy could come too, if she said she was a land girl.’
‘And Tatty, my cousin – could she come? She’s mad about the Air Force.’
‘Don’t see why not.’
‘Then I hope you’ll have a few dances with me, Gracie. I need practice.’
‘That’s a promise. But don’t forget to wear your uniform or you’ll not get in. The transport leaves at half-past seven. If you aren’t there, then I’ll know you can’t make it.’
‘We’ll be there!’ Well, he and Daisy, though probably Aunt Anna wouldn’t let Tatty go. And that would be a pity, because Tatty was fun now. He’d forgotten how pretty she was until they’d met yesterday. ‘And before I forget, Jack, Mother is coming to see you – something about keeping a few hens, she said.’
‘Hens! Me? Nay, Drew. Hens in my garden wouldn’t do at all!’ Hens would be bothersome, like cats. Just think of the damage they could do if they got out. They’d be scratching and picking everywhere.
‘She’s very keen to have some. Where do you suggest they should go then?’
‘Don’t know, and that’s for sure.’ Anywhere, but in his garden!
‘I like hens. Before Grandad came to live with us – he came when Gran died – he used to keep hens in his back garden,’ Gracie offered. ‘Well, bantams, actually. Pretty little things. Laid ever such tiny eggs. Mind, he had to keep an eye on them. Bantams are flyers – always trying to get out – but if you were to get some like Mrs Purvis has at the hostel, they wouldn’t be a lot of trouble. Hers are Rhode Island Reds. They’re very placid – not like bantams or Leghorns.’
‘For a town lass you seem to know quite a bit about hens, Gracie Fielding.’
‘Not all that much, Mr Catchpole, but I like them and if Mrs Sutton wants some hens of her own, I’d like to look after them for her. You have to give up your egg ration, though. You take your ration book to the Food Office and they cancel your egg coupons and give you chits to buy hen meal instead. It’s by far the better way. You get a lot more eggs and they’re lovely and fresh. You save all the scraps and potato peelings and such like, then boil them up and mix them with the meal. Hens lay well on it.’
‘Then I reckon you and Mrs Sutton should have a word about it, lass. You’m welcome to her hens.’
‘Would you mind, Gracie?’
‘Not a bit, Sir Andrew.’
‘Good. Well, that’s tomorrow night settled, and the hens,’ he smiled. ‘And, Gracie, please call me Drew. Most people do.’
Catchpole drained his mug, observing the couple and saying not a word. Seemed it wasn’t only the lads from Holdenby Moor who’d be taking a fancy to his land girl. Young Drew seemed smitten an’ all. And he must remember, if Miss Julia ever did get her dratted hens, to ask Gracie to keep the droppings for him when she cleaned out their coop. Hen muck made good manure; brought tomatoes along a treat.
He sucked on his pipe. Happen a few Rhode Island Reds mightn’t be such a bad idea after all. As long as they were well away from his garden, that was!
‘Do let her go, Aunt Anna,’ Drew urged. ‘There’ll be a transport laid on to get us there and I’ll take good care of her. Tatiana does so want to come.’
‘I’m sure you would take care of her, but a dance at the aerodrome …?’
‘Dada says I can go if Drew’s there,’ Daisy offered. ‘It’s all very proper. There won’t be any rowdiness. The aircrew boys are very nice.’
‘But it would be all blacked out and goodness knows what might happen,’ Anna murmured, feeling guilty for even thinking what could take place should her daughter be enticed from the dance floor to heaven only knew where.
‘But everywhere is blacked out, Mother! And I know what you are thinking,’ Tatiana flung. ‘You think I’ll get up to mischief, don’t you, necking round the back of the hangars with some bloke who’s after what he can get?’
‘Tatiana – do not speak like that! I thought no such thing!’ Anna’s cheeks flushed pink. ‘It’s just that feelings run high when there’s a war on and –’
‘Don’t worry. Tatty wouldn’t be able to leave the dance. There’ll be a guard on the door, most likely,’ Drew hastened. ‘The Air Force couldn’t allow people the freedom of the aerodrome, if only for security reasons. Tatty will be fine with Daisy and me.’ And girls of eighteen weren’t so naïve as Aunt Anna tried to make out, he thought, though he was careful not to say so. ‘I’d see her back home.’
