Heartwarming and emotional story of one girl's courage in WW2 by Fenella Miller (top 10 ebook reader txt) 📗

‘It won’t be so bad, Ellie, with Jack and I at your side he can’t do anything you don’t like.’ Greg patted her on the knee and the warmth and strength of his hand was reassuring.

‘As long as this is the one and only time I have to meet him then I can deal with it. But Dad and I are then going to have to decide if we’re going to tell Mum. She’s just got back the life she always regretted leaving – she will be devastated to lose it again so soon’.

They turned into the yard and he was forced to slam on the brakes; only his arm braced across her chest stopped her from crashing painfully into the dashboard.

‘The Bentley must be his car. The other one is Jack’s – his friend must have brought it back for him. I’m glad Jimmy’s here – safety in numbers and all that.’

Greg expertly manoeuvred his sports car into a small space to one side of the Bentley. ‘Your dad will have to park his truck in the field when he gets back.’

She scrambled out, not bothering to open the door, and headed for the back door. ‘I’m hoping all this will be over before he gets back. He’s had more than enough to deal with recently.’

‘It must be a relief to him that everything is in the open. Having that hanging over him for years must have been miserable.’

‘I wonder if he was doing it for me or for my mum? I’d like to think it was for her and then there might be the chance they’ll get back together again.’

His hand was resting in the small of her back and she didn’t shrug it off. ‘After the war Neil’s going to take over the farm…’ She stopped and swallowed the lump in her throat. ‘It’s inevitable, this war with Germany, isn’t it?’

‘Fraid so. Let’s not think about that right now. I’ve just noticed the Bentley’s empty – Humphrey must have taken his chauffeur in with him.’ He stepped around her. ‘That’s not the done thing. Staff wait outside. I’ll go in first, if you don’t mind.’

She didn’t mind at all. She’d had more than enough daring-do in the past twenty-four hours and was quite happy to let him take charge. Jack was injured and Jimmy wasn’t a big man – Greg was.

Mrs B opened the door as they approached. One look at the housekeeper’s bleached complexion was enough to warn Ellie that things weren’t going well indoors.

‘I’m ever so glad you’re back, miss, there’s a horrible man in the front room and there’s been a lot of shouting and carrying on. I wouldn’t have come to work here if I’d known this was going to happen.’ She sniffed again and reached for the handkerchief from her sleeve to wipe her eyes. ‘I had the nasty chauffeur in here with me until Mr Reynolds fetched him. It’s not right him being in the house – he should have waited outside.’

‘Mr Dunlop will take care of things, Mrs B. I promise you it won’t happen again. Shall we go in and let the men get on with it?’

Ellie put her arm around the distressed woman and guided her into the welcoming warmth of the kitchen and closed the door behind them. The wood was thick, as were the ancient walls, and the sound of raised voices was no longer audible.

‘Have you settled in? Do you need any bed linen or towels and things?’

‘I found everything I needed, thank you. I could do with a few of my bits and bobs that I couldn’t carry. Do you think Mr Simpson would fetch them in his truck?’

‘I’m certain he will. Now, I can smell something delicious – have you made steak and kidney pie for tonight?’

‘That I have. There’s new potatoes from the garden and carrots and peas as well. I made a rhubarb crumble for afters. No need for custard as you’ve always got plenty of cream.’

‘Will there be enough for Doctor Hunt? He’s driven down from London to return Mr Reynolds’ car.’

Mrs B sniffed. ‘As long as I don’t have to feed the other two nasty bits of work, there’ll be plenty to go around.’ Her colour was better and Ellie thought the chance of their new housekeeper changing her mind had been averted.

Fourteen

Not long after Jack had spoken to Ellie he heard the familiar sound of his own car in the yard. Jimmy had brought it back for him. Not the ideal time – but having another bloke around would even the odds.

He opened the kitchen window and yelled. ‘Front door, mate, make it snappy. Don’t want the uninvited guests to barge their way in.’

His friend waved and was out of the car and sprinting towards the house before either the chauffeur or his master had time to react.

‘Come in, I’d better tell you what this is all about.’

Jimmy was suitably impressed by his tale. ‘Exciting life you’re leading, old son. Exactly what are you planning? If they’ve been outside for a couple of hours already they’re obviously not intending to leave before they’ve spoken to someone.’

‘Ellie told me to keep them outside until she and Greg get home.’ He looked at his watch. ‘Another hour at least.’ Something was moving behind the hedge at the top of the track that led to the farm. ‘Bloody hell! It’s the housekeeper, Mrs B, coming back. She’s going to have to walk past them.’

‘Don’t want the old biddy scared witless – better invite them in. If we keep them in the sitting room and ply them with tea and cake that should keep them quiet for a while.’

‘Do me a favour, Jimmy, you’re one of them. Would you tell Humphrey he can come in? He’s less likely to kick off with you. Blokes like him don’t like ordinary folk like me.’

His friend looked dubious. ‘He doesn’t know me from