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

was in the other lot. He may be against you doing this, andyour mother,’ replied Henry.

‘They’llunderstand. I think you’ll find the men of the village will still be preparedto do their bit.

‘Forhe to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother’ said Henry, almostto himself.

‘Henry the Fifth,’ said Danny.

Henry looked at Danny in surprise. Then he smiled, ‘Yes, forgivemy surprise.’

‘I remember we read it at school. I quite liked it. Full of bloodand thunder. I wish I’d read a bit more back then. I wasn’t very keen onschool.’

‘I remember,’ laughed Henry. ‘If you have a moment, come this way,I want to show you something.

The two men and Robert walked into a nearby room which turned outto be the library. The room was full, from wall to ceiling, with books. Henryled Danny over to a photograph onthe wall. It was very wide and showed an army battalion. The date read June1914.

‘That’smy father there,’ said Henry pointing to an officer, sat in the middle.

Dannylooked at Henry and nodded. Henry then led Danny over to the books. He picked abook from off the shelf. The title read, ‘The History Plays’. It wasShakespeare. He handed it to Danny.

‘Alot of blood and thunder in there. If you’re interested, you can keep it. Wehave a lot of Shakespeare as you can see.’

Dannylooked at the book and laughed, ‘Thank you, sir. I’ll definitely have a read.’

Ashe said this, the door opened. Sarah and an older lady walked into the room.Sarah looked in surprise at Danny before her face returned to its usual cold mien.

‘Hello,my darling. I was just showing Danny our library. It transpires he likesShakespeare.’

Sarahlooked entirely dubious about this but said nothing.

‘Danny,this is Governess Curtis. She taught both myself and my wife, funnily enough.’

Dannyshook hands with the lady.

‘Pleasedto meet you, Danny. It always gladdens my heart when I see someone likesShakespeare. I’m sure you’ll enjoy reading it.’

‘Iwill, Mrs Curtis,’ replied Danny.

Henrygently touched Danny’s arm and said, ‘Well, I think, Robert, you have a lessonnow. Danny, let me walk you to the door.’

Afew minutes later Danny was walking through the snow back to the forgeclutching his book. His senses were filled by the memory of the warmhospitality of the Cavendish family, the enthusiasm of their son and the coldlybeautiful green eyes of their daughter.

 4

January1939

‘Now,pick up the shoe and place it in the forge,’ said Stan to Robert Cavendish,‘Yes, just there.’ The boy did as he was instructed. ‘Now release the shoe.’The two of them stood back and looked at the shoebeginning to glow. Stan clapped a big hand on the shoulder of the young lordand said, ‘Your first shoe, well done, sir.’

‘Thank you, Mr Shaw,’ said Robert enthusiastically.

Danny walked in and looked at the boy’s handiwork. He gave the boya nod and said, ‘Now, you have to do the tidying up bit.’

Robert did as he was told. By the end of the day, his enthusiasmand friendly nature had won over the family. Around five in the evening, JaneCavendish stopped by the Shaw house to pick up the boy. Like Kate, she was inher mid-thirties, but she looked much younger.

Talland willowy, she moved with a grace that would have had a prima ballerinacrying in her beer. She was popular among the villagers for the principalreason that she was one of them. Far from being born with a silver spoon, shewas the daughter of Bill Edmunds who was the former groundskeeper at CavendishHall. She had been the stable girl for the family but unbeknown to them hadalso been the sweetheart of the future Lord Cavendish, Henry. Against hismother’s wishes, Henry had married her as soon as both of them were of age.

‘Hello,Mrs Shaw,’ said Jane, knocking lightly on the open door.

‘LadyCavendish,’ said Kate Shaw, turning around from the Aga.

‘Mummy,’exclaimed Robert, leaping up from the table where he had been gorging himselfon freshly made toasted bread. He ran into his mother’s arms and began to tellher everything that had happened that day.

‘Slow down,’ laughed Jane, rolling her eyes at Kate. ‘How was he?’

Danny appeared at the door and answered the question, ‘We’d happilytake him on Lady Cavendish. Not sure we could afford his wages though.’

‘Can I come back, mummy?’ asked Robert.

‘Well that’s for Mr Shaw to decide, not me.’ Danny nodded andRobert looked pleadingly at his mother. Jane shrugged, ‘As long as it doesn’tinterfere with your studies than, yes. I can see no problem.’

Robert let out a cheer and immediately ran over to hug Danny.

‘Are you sure, Danny?’ asked Jane, smiling.

‘He’s a good lad and a great help. He worked hard today, didn’tyou?’ asked Danny looking down at the future Lord Cavendish.

Robert’s response was to begin a list of everything he had done,which, to be fair, was not insubstantial. He’d clearly had a ball.

‘Well, I hope you put as much effort into your studies,’ commentedJane sternly. She knew she had few worries on this score but felt the need tosay something her parents might have said. Such is the way of things. She caught alook on Kate’s face and the two women smiled conspiratorially.

Theywalked out of the kitchen, and Danny accompanied them up the garden path.

‘Thankyou,’ said Jane, and she meant it.

-

Overthe next few months, Robert became a frequent, and welcome, visitor to theforge. Henry looked on in approval as he saw his son growin stature. The time spent with the Shaw family had done wonders for theboy’s physical strength and confidence. From his own upbringing, Henry knew hewould need reserves of both for when he was sent away from the Hall to boardingschool. This was something he wasn’t looking forward to, but it was expectedand probably necessary.

Andso, summer gave way to autumn. The lambs grew bigger, the harvest was madeready and blossoms that had floated through the air became copper leaves,deserting the trees to be carried hither and thither in the wind; the daysbecame shorter and darker and colder.

 5

3rdSeptember 1939

TheShaw family gathered around the wireless. The air was thick with fear andsadness. Kate’s eyes were milk wet as she waited to hear the inevitable news.An