“Wilz.”
“Hmm?” Her black head didn’t move from what she was reading.
“Do you think Mama would have approved of me helping the war effort?”
“What a silly question, darling. Of course she would have. You know how very community minded she was.” Wilz closed her diary, keeping one finger between the pages.
“Yes, but I wonder if she would have thought it was beneath me like Papa does.”
Wilz tilted her head to the side. “One has to think of the way the world is changing. Papa still lives in the dark ages. We both know that.” She raised her eyebrows. “Gosh, look at the fuss he made when I started following him around the estate making suggestions about how to run the place. Anyone would have thought I’d grown another head.” She smiled. “Mama may have tried to talk you out of it at first, but I firmly believe she would have supported you once she saw how much it meant to you. Really, the gentry is getting rather old hat, even if I say so myself. The larger estates are being chopped up to pay death duties with all the changes the war has brought and we have no choice but to roll with it. The country will never be the same again and why shouldn’t you change along with it, darling?”
The train whistle blew loud and clear, announcing their arrival into the station. “Gather your bag. We can continue this discussion in the taxi if you wish or wait until we get to the house. My throat is parched. I desperately want a cup of tea.” Wilz marked her diary and slid it into her handbag before pulling out a compact and checking her face, which was still perfect. She pouted her lips at the small mirror. The ruddy tinge of blush stained her cheeks and Gertrude wondered if she’d applied that at the house before Papa saw her or if she did it as they were leaving.
“I’ve asked for a quiet dinner in tonight. Masses of paperwork to sort through before I meet up with the appropriate people. You might want to go to the pictures, Gertie.” She flashed a winning smile. “I believe Goodbye Mr. Chips is showing this week.”
“Really? Oh how marvellous. I do so love Terry Kilburn in that part. I think I’d like to do that if you don’t mind me leaving you alone.” They alighted from the train with the help of a porter, who carried their bags and found a taxi for them, and then they headed for the Sydney House.
It was as they were walking up the steps to the door that Gertrude mentioned it again. “Are you sure you don’t mind, Wilz? I feel terrible about leaving you here alone when we could enjoy the film together.”
The door opened and they were ushered in by the butler. “Of course I don’t mind. I’m going to lock myself in the bedroom and not let anyone disturb me. If I don’t get this paperwork sorted, I’ll never hear the end of it. Can you imagine Lady Heathcote having one over me because I don’t have my facts right? Heaven forbid. All she’d talk about to her cronies is how unsuitable I am compared to my mother who could never put a foot wrong. Papa would never forgive me letting down the family name.” She took off her hat. “No, I insist you go alone. You’re quite capable of catching a taxi there and back by yourself. If you want to be a nurse, you can jolly well go to the cinema alone. Start standing on your own two feet.” She hurried into the sitting room and dropped her handbag on the side table. “Can we have tea, Humphries? And something to nibble on as well please.”
“Yes, Miss.”
When Humphries opened the door to Gertrude after the pictures that evening, he informed her that Wilz had retired for the night and did not wish to be disturbed. Gertrude climbed the staircase to her room and happily crawled into bed, sated from her first night in town and the pleasure she had from going out alone for the first time in her life.
The following morning the tap on the door woke her from a dream-filled slumber. “Yes, come in.”
The housekeeper bustled in with a tea tray and a cheery smile. “Morning, Miss. Rumours going around that the Germans are trying to cross the English. Bit too close for comfort, if you ask me.” She put the tray over Gertrude’s legs and stepped over to open the curtains.
The dull grey sky did nothing to dampen Gertie’s enthusiasm of the morning task ahead.
“Our boys will be there before you know it. Such a shame it is, all our young men going over there to fight when they should be at home making this country great.”
“We’re all in it with England. If they get caught up in the war, so do we. Goes with the territory.” Gertie picked up her cup and sipped the hot tea while Mrs. Humphries bustled about the room.
After breakfast, she intended to walk to the Red Cross office and ask to speak to the person in charge. Before the main feature last night, she’d stared in awe as they screened a short film showing their troops and the great job they were doing overseas. Just watching the action made her feel she was there already and she couldn’t wait to add her name to the list of recruits, to have help in the war effort.
Last night after she’d returned home and sat alone in her room, she’d gone over and over in
