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

some such, he’ll have anidea of what we’re doing. In fact, perhaps before that you could tell us moreabout how you learned. You said your father had taught you?’

Dannylooked at Henry and understood immediately that this was an opportunity to talkabout the war.

‘Yessir, my father taught me,’ replied Danny. He looked at the young lord and said,‘You will know all about the last War, Lord Robert.’

‘Yes,Danny, my grandfather fought in it. He died.’

‘Yessir, he was a very brave man. When you’re in the army, like my father was, theygive you basic instruction in hand to hand combat. It’s part of the training.Comes in useful I’m told. Apparently, there was quite a lot of it in thetrenches.’

‘Iknow. I read all about it, Danny,’ the young lord was more excited thanhorrified by what he’d read.

Dannyglanced at Henry. The look on his face was amusement but Danny sensed there wasa tinge of sadness for his late father. A nod from Henry and Danny continued.

‘Myfather showed my brother and me some of the things they’d taught him. Mybrother and me, well we practiced a lot. I became pretty good at it in the end.It’s fairly easy to do as you’ll see.’

Henrystepped forward and Danny showed him where to stand. A few moments later, LordHenry was thrown, quite gently, onto the floor.

Henryburst out laughing, ‘My word, Danny, you made that seem very easy.’

Robertclapped excitedly. For the next half hour, Danny instructed both on a number ofthe wrestling techniques Stan had learned. It was clear in the conversationbetween throws that Henry was keen that his son be prepared for life at a boy’spublic school. It sounded as if boys were the same whatever their station inlife.

‘Well,Robert, I think perhaps we should allow Danny to return to his work now. Youlook like you have the idea now.’

Robertlooked very unhappy at this. He was having such fun he couldn’t imagine whyanyone would want to end it.

‘Onelast throw, young sir,’ suggested Danny, which brightened the youngster’s mood.Danny and Robert stood face to face and then gripped one another’s arms.‘Remember what I told you, sir.’

Amoment later, Robert stretched his leg out and threw Danny over it. Dannycushioned his fall by expertly rolling as his back was about to hit the ground.When he looked up, he saw the bemused faces of Lady Jane and Sarah looking downat him.

‘Hello, darling,’ laughed Henry, ‘I asked Danny Shaw if he wouldcome up and show Robert that throw, do you remember?’

Jane’s green eyes crinkled in amusement.

’I certainly remember the throw. I don’t remember you mentioningthat Mr Shaw would be coming up to show Robert.’

‘Ah yes, I may have forgotten that bit,’ said Henry shamefacedly.

‘A little too conveniently, if you ask me,’ said Jane, with oneeyebrow arched. Danny rose to his feet and dusted himself down a little.

‘Thank you, Mr Shaw, for giving us your time. I must admit, theways of men are often a mystery to me, butit seems like my son has had an enjoyable morning.’

‘Ohyes,’ exclaimed Robert, ‘We’ve had a wonderful time.’

Sarah rolled her eyes at this and turned to walk away. Up closeDanny was conscious of two things about her. Firstly, she was still every bitas snooty as the first time he had seen her in the forest clearing. Secondly,she was probably going to be a stunner.

The two women left the boys to their play. Henry laughed at the intrusionand suggested that they have a lemonade. Danny was intrigued. He had never beento this part of Cavendish Hall and agreedto this immediately. He was led down to the kitchen where he met Elsie, the aged cook and the housekeeper, Polly.

‘What’veyou three gentlemen been up to?

‘Fighting,’said Henry truthfully.

Ethellooked at him sceptically before Robert provided a more detailed explanation ofthe morning’s activities. All of this amused and appalled Ethel in equalmeasure. Three glasses of lemonade were put on the table and the three mengulped down the contents in record time. Three refills followed and weredespatched with equal rapidity.

‘Ithink it’s time to let Danny go now,’ said Henry after they had well and trulyquenched their thirst.

Dannyrose from the table and was about to head towards the back door when Henryadded, ‘No come with us. We’ll go up via the entrance hall again.

Dannyfelt a surge of pride. This was something of an honour and he felt they weretreating him as an equal. Changed times, he thought. They climbed the backstairs and arrived back in the hall.

Robertchattered away happily, asking questions about the forge. He seemed fascinatedby the work of blacksmiths. Danny glanced at Henry, unsure if he should suggestthe young lord should visit. The raised eyebrows and the smile on Henry’s faceemboldened Danny.

‘Ifyou’d like to come along some day, I’m sure we could use an extra pair of handsdown at the forge. We’ve just taken on another young lad, just a bit older thanyou,’ said Danny, grinning down at Robert.

Robert’seyes widened in excitement and he turned to his father. Henry nodded. This wasgreeted with a squeal of delight by Robert. Henry looked on in pride. He wasdelighted by the interest shown by his son in the work that took place on theestate and the village. It was something he was keen to encourage. His own lifehad been more closeted. His mother had discouraged such interests. He was goingto ensure his son had the widest possible exposure to life outside the narrowworld of nobility.

Theystopped at the main doors and Henry grew serious for a moment. He looked atDanny with some sadness.

‘Whatdid you think of Reverend Simmons’ speech before the carols the other day?’

Dannynodded grimly and said, ‘We may be at war soon. My dad has been following thischap Hitler for years now. He’s been saying as much for a long time.’

‘Ithink you’re both right, sadly. Everything I hear about this beastly man leadsme to believe he won’t stop at Austria and Czechoslovakia. From what Iunderstand, there’s a growing disillusionment with the chances of maintainingpeace. We lost a lot of men last time. I wonder if there’ll be so many steppingforward this time.’

‘Iwill,’ said Danny quietly.

‘Iknow your father