Easterleigh Hall at War Read Online Free PDF Page A

bread with which Evie and Mrs Moore were experimenting in case of wheat shortages. It was accompanied by cheese from Home Farm dairy, Mrs Green’s tomato pickle, and the remains of the goose and ham. Lamb stew had been sent up for the patients, and wheat bread, which they preferred. Two young men had had special requests. One was scrambled egg, and the other was liver and bacon. This was encouraging, because they had both been listless and unaware until Evie visited them late last night to see if she could stimulate them into showing interest in eating. They were sitting up today. It was a crucial first step.
    The volunteers had laid up the table in the servants’ hall under the footman’s eagle eye. Archie had been asked by Mr Harvey to delay volunteering for the war, as the butler needed support with his duties, but how long he would stay, who knew. He was now laying up the beer that had been sent down by Mr Auberon, who was lunching with his sister and brother-in-law up in Lady Veronica’s suite. Mr Auberon would be meeting up with Jack and Simon at Easton Miners’ Club, and would take them to Gosforn station in old Ted’s taxi. Ted’s driving was hit and miss but somehow he got people to where they needed to be, usually in one piece though the taxi was increasingly battered, and the hedgerows showed ever more signs of damage.
    It seemed no time at all before Evie was out again by the cedar tree, waving farewell to her brother, alone, because Millie had said she couldn’t face seeing Jack leave. Her mam and da had hugged him tight in the kitchen, where he had insisted they stay. Tim had followed him up the steps into the garage yard, clinging to his leg, crying, until Mam had eased him away and carried him down with the promise of a biscuit.
    As Jack walked away, following Simon’s tracks, heaving his pack up on to his back, Evie called softly, determined that he must have some joy, some good memory to take back with him, ‘Jack, please go to the beck, for me. It’s important that you do. Trust me. You need the beauty.’
    He turned, and waved. ‘Bonny lass, I need to get to Mart’s to see his uncle and mam, to tell what I know about his death.’
    â€˜Promise, Jack. Do it for me.’
    He shrugged. ‘For you, lass, but you should walk there, too. It would be grand for you to get away from the kitchen once in a while.’
    He saluted, and began to walk away again. Evie ran after him, snatching at his arm, her shawl slipping from her shoulders. She said urgently, ‘You joined up with Mr Auberon’s North Tyne Fusiliers to kill him for causing our Timmie’s death when he deliberately put him in a dangerous area in the pit, but he’s still with us?’
    He grinned down at her, shaking his head. ‘Such an elephant you are, you never forget the rubbish I talk. He was a lad like the rest of us, put in to manage a pit by his bastard of a father. He had no experience and he made a mistake, letting his feelings get the better of him because I was a union man, a thorn in his side. Aye, pet, he punished us for my activities by putting the Forbes family in poor seams, but hate gets to be a habit. It’s a dark and dismal bugger and takes up space inside your mind and maybe . . . Ah well, we’ll see. You’ve moved on past it, I can see you have. Besides, there are enough shells banging about without me getting involved.’
    She blocked his path. ‘That’s no answer.’
    He moved her to one side. ‘I’ve got to go, Evie.’ He stooped and kissed her, his dark eyes the same colour as his hair, coal dust embedded in his skin, blue scars on his brow, and she could hardly bear to let him go, but she did, watching as he walked on, looking at the cedar tree. He called back over his shoulder, ‘I’m going to see our bonny lad first.’
    Evie nodded. ‘Of course you are.’
    He waved and walked on, hearing