The Shadow of War by Jack Murray (latest ebook reader txt) 📗

including Lady Jane, already hadeyes brimming with tears as Simmons spoke movingly of that time.

Finally, Simmons finished by saying, ‘With our hearts in thepresent, our memories for those we have lost in the past and our prayers for the future can I ask you, the carolsingers, to begin.’

Therewas a round of applause and then the singers grouped together. Following theshort introduction by Simmons, the choir rapidly changed the order of the songsthey had decided to sing. On the trumpet, postmaster Ronald Annersley began to playthe opening bars of ‘Silent Night’. The whole hall echoed to as emotional arendering of this carol as anyone could remember. Danny sang along also. Helooked at his father. Tears ran down his father’s cheeks. So used to thesilence, the void that sometimes seemed to be his father, Danny was shocked bywhat he saw. And, for the first time, he felt something that he had never feltbefore.

Fear.

 3

December28th, 1938

Dannyrose just after seven and dressed quickly. He walked outside. The cold stunghis face. It was still dagger-dark but there was aglow of light from the snow blanketing the ground. His feet crunched throughthe snow towards the forge. There was always a fire lit. Danny added morecharcoal causing the forge to burst into life. Flames snapped up and outwards. Heturned to the wall and reached for a pair of ancient bellows his grandfatherhad probably used. Pumping his arm, he forced air through the bellows into theforge causing the fire to roar with approval. Job done, Danny returnedto the cottage for his breakfast. A light was on and he could see his motherthrough the window preparing a cooked breakfast for the three men.

‘Smellsgood,’ said Danny giving his mother a hug. ‘Tea ready?’

Katefrowned at her son, ‘I’ve only two hands. Why don’t you boil the water?’ Dannyignored her and sat at the table with his arms folded and a grin on his face.His mother smiled also.

‘I’mnot a servant y’know,’ said Kate but the effect was ruined by her laughter.

Tomjoined them a few moments later and then Stan. Soon they were tucking intobacon and eggs.

‘Whattime are you going up to the Hall?’ asked Tom between mouthfuls.

‘Thenote said eleven,’ replied Danny looking at Tom with a smile.

‘Howlong will you be?’ asked Stan. Business as usual, semi impatient with theinterruption but the pride was unmistakable.

‘Aslong as it takes,’ interjected Kate. ‘What if his lordship invites him forlunch?’ This brought guffaws from Tom. ‘Well why wouldn’t he?’ continued Kate,‘My boy’s as good as any that go there.’

‘Maybehe’ll eat with the servants,’ laughed Tom.

‘You’rejust jealous,’ replied Kate, any attempt at rebuke let down by her laughter.

Dannywas enjoying all of this immensely and chipped in after his mum, ‘Always hasbeen jealous, mum. Can’t blame him, living in my shadow all these years.’

Katepointed her finger at Danny and warned, ‘Don’t you start.’ But her youngest wasalready laughing loudly, and so was Tom.

-

Athis mother’s insistence, Danny scrubbed up and changed his clothes, whichresulted in a volley of friendly abuse from his brother as he set off forCavendish Hall. Danny responded in kind which left his mother scolding her twosons and Stan looking on with a pipe in his mouth and a broad grin.

Ashe approached the Hall, Danny realised he was unsure whether he should go tothe front or make a left and head to the back of the Hall where the tradeentrance was located. He opted for the latter and had made about twenty yardswhen he heard a voice calling him.

‘MrShaw, would you care to come this way.’

Dannyturned around and saw Mr Curtis, the venerable butlerof Cavendish Hall. Curtis was a dignified man doing a dignified job. The greyhairs suggested, truthfully, that he was on the wrong side of seventy. He hadbeen butler at the Hall since the Bronze Age, according to Danny’sclassmates. Looking at him, Danny thought that was being generous.

‘Hello,Mr Curtis, are you sure?’ replied Danny, ‘I’m happy to go this way.’

‘No,if you please, Lord Cavendish insisted you come through the front entrance.’

Dannyshrugged and followed Curtis through the front doors as requested, into thelarge entrance hallway where he had stood a few days previously. The Christmastree was still there but the absence of tables and people emphasised the hall’ssize. Directly ahead, Danny had an unobstructed view of the great staircaseleading up to the open second floor corridor with a series of imposing portraitsof the descendants of Lord Cavendish. A, fairly, motley crew, thought Danny.

‘Ifyou’ll come this way,’ intoned Curtis as if he was reading from a pulpit. ‘LordCavendish suggested that I take you to the games room.’

Dannyhad never been beyond the confines of the entrance hall so was fascinated tocontinue through to previously unseen parts of the manor house. The two menmade their way down a corridor before arriving outside a door. Curtis gave abrief knock and then walked in.

Theroom was large, containing a billiard table, a leather chesterfield sofa andmatching armchairs. There was a table with a green baize top for playing cardgames. To the other side of the room was a table with a chess set laid out andtwo chairs either side. The middle of the room was clear.

‘Ifyou’ll take a seat, I’ll let Lord Cavendish and Lord Robert know that you havearrived.’

Ratherthan sit down, Danny had a look around the room. He went to the window and sawthat it overlooked the back garden. There wasn’t much to see. The snow had donea good job in covering anything of interest.

Anoise from behind. The door opened and into the room walked Henry Cavendish andRobert. The youngster looked very excited.

‘Hello,Mr Shaw,’ said the young noble. He walked directly to Danny and shook his hand.

Dannylaughed and replied, ‘If I’m going to be showing you how to throw someone tothe ground, perhaps you should call me Danny, young sir.’

Robertglanced at his dad, who smiled and nodded.

Henrylooked at Danny and said, ‘I shall take it that I can call you Danny also.’

‘Yes,Lord Cavendish,’ said Danny with a grin.

‘Well,then,’ continued Henry, ‘we are quite literally in your hands. Perhaps if youdemonstrate to Robert using me as your mortal enemy or