Her father looked down at her and shook his head.
“You’ll conquer it, I have no doubt. You managed Cantonese without any difficulty at all, which is no small feat.” He paused in the darkness and faced her. “What will you do with all these languages and Kung Fu, I wonder? Have you given any thought to what you’d like to do with your life? The world is yours, my dear.”
“Well if mum has her way, I’ll marry a nice, respectable man and set up house, entertaining every chance I get,” Evelyn said with a flash of white teeth.
“With Stephen Mansbridge, perhaps?” He winked at her. “He was very attentive at dinner.”
Evelyn shrugged. “He’s always very attentive,” she replied. “He will make someone a very good husband.”
“But not you?”
“Not me.”
They walked for a moment in comfortable silence, then she stole a look up at his profile.
“Dad?”
“Yes?”
“Stephen says that something is brewing on the continent, in Europe,” Evelyn said slowly. “He thinks Herr Hitler’s move into the Rhineland is a sign of things to come. Do you think he’s right?”
Mr. Ainsworth was quiet for a long while, then he sighed.
“I don’t know, Evie,” he finally said. “I really don’t know. There are many who say that the Rhineland has always been part of Germany and, therefore, it was only right for them to take it back.”
“And what do you say?”
“I think Germany violated the Treaty of Versailles. Whether rightly or wrongly, doing so was a grave move, and not one that you would think Germany would take lightly.” He shook his head. “But then, everything seems to be out of control all over the world, not just in Europe. There is unrest everywhere, and the struggle for borders and power has grown more pronounced as countries are trying to recover their economies.”
“Stephen thinks there will be another war. He says it is inevitable.”
Her father glanced at her sharply.
“Nothing is inevitable, Evie,” he told her. “The world is not ready for another war. Heaven knows we certainly aren’t; England hasn’t recovered from the last one.”
Evelyn was quiet and he stopped under a tree, turning to face her.
“What is it that’s bothering you?” he asked.
She looked at him and sighed, pulling her arm away from his and absently walking a few steps towards a clump of shrubs.
“Do you think that’s why Robbie’s learning to fly airplanes?”
Her father watched as she plucked a large evergreen leaf from one of the shrubs, toying with it as she turned back to face him.
“I think it’s highly unlikely. Your brother is getting bored in his final year at university. He wants some excitement, and flying gives him a thrill.” He grinned at her. “You should be able to understand that easily enough. Isn’t that why you wanted to learn to drive?”
Evelyn wave a hand impatiently. “That’s different.”
“How is that different?”
“Well, because a car stays firmly on the ground, for one thing!” she replied with a short laugh. “If we do go to war, you know that Robbie will want to fight.”
“Is that what this is all about?” Her father crossed to her and reached for her hands. “Evelyn, it’s your birthday. You shouldn’t be worrying about a war that may or may not ever happen. There is no reason for us to go to war. Yes, the world is unstable right now. Between the fascists and the socialists and the communists, the political landscape is changing quickly and bringing new challenges with it. But you must understand that we have leaders in London who are committed to keeping the peace and doing what is best for Britain.”
“But Stephen says—”
“Stephen needs to stop filling your head with this nonsense,” he said grimly. “I’m surprised at him. He should know better.”
“It’s not nonsense if it’s true.”
He looked down at her and sighed heavily.
“You’re right,” he agreed. “It’s not nonsense. It’s very serious. However, there is nothing to indicate that another war is even a thought in anyone’s head. Hitler says himself that he wants only peace for his Third Reich. And let’s not forget that his military is strictly monitored by the Treaty.”
“The treaty that he already violated by moving into the Rhineland,” she pointed out. “What’s to stop him from ignoring it and building his army back up?”
“Britain, France and the United States, for starters. Come. Stop your worrying. It’s your birthday and you should be enjoying yourself, not standing out here discussing world politics with your dull old father.”
Evelyn twinkled up at him and tucked her arm through his again.
“But I like standing out here discussing world politics with you,” she told him. “You listen to what I have to say and don’t think me strange for being interested in something other than fashion.”
“Considering the fact that world politics is a large part of my duties here, I’d find it very strange if you didn’t find it interesting,” he replied, turning them back towards the house. “You’re very like your mother in that respect. I’m incredibly fortunate to have two intelligent females in my life.”
“And we are incredibly fortunate to have you in ours,” Evelyn answered promptly. “I can’t begin to imagine what my life would be like if I had the misfortune to be daughter to a man who didn’t understand me.”
He chuckled and they strolled across the manicured grass towards the patio. They were halfway there when a voice called out of the night.
“Mr. Ainsworth, sir!” A young footman was running across the grass towards them, waving something. “Mr. Ainsworth! There’s a telegram arrived for you!”
Evelyn’s father frowned and released her arm as the breathless servant reached them.
“The boy is waiting in case you need to send a reply,” he gasped,
