Softly Grow the Poppies Read Online Free PDF

swaying drive and clatter to the camp where the men were to receive further training in the art of killing? He could feel the vibration of the wagon and realised they were actually under way, gathering speed. He was off to war and had not said goodbye to his darling Alice.
    With a frantic command to Burton, the soldier-groom, he raced along the corridor of the swaying train, shouldering aside the men who still had their heads out of the windows for a last look at a beloved wife or mother, most of whom held their handkerchiefs to their eyes. She was still there, held in the comforting circle of his brother’s arm. On her other side was the unknown young woman who had so amazingly helped to get Lady aboard. She was holding Alice’s hand. He waved frantically, along with dozens of others, but Alice did not pick him out. He watched as she was led away by Harry and the young woman who was holding the bridle of the gig pony. What a blessing she had been!
    He was to revise his opinion in the days to come. In the thick of a battle in which he, like thousands of other young men, had longed to be involved, he was to revise his opinion in the days to come, though it was no fault of Rose’s.
    Sparky caused a minor disturbance as he, Rose, Alice and Harry fought to get out of the crush in the station. Rose did her best to soothe him and at the same time was aware that Harry Summers was attempting the same with Alice who was distraught, weeping inconsolably.
    ‘I didn’t even kiss him goodbye,’ she hiccuped, drooping against Harry’s shoulder.
    ‘It couldn’t be helped, Alice. He had to get Lady aboard.’
    ‘I know but—’
    ‘Now then, Alice,’ Rose interrupted abruptly. ‘You saw him off which is what you wanted so dry your tears. Let’s get Sparky settled then Mr Summers has offered to take us for tea at the Adelphi. Should you not like that?’
    ‘I wanted to kiss him goodbye.’
    Harry and Rose exchanged a look over her head, one in which exasperation and sympathy were mixed. Harry raised his eyebrows, clearly not knowing what to do for the best. He and Charlie had known Alice since she was a small girl and he himself felt about her as he would a sister. But Charlie loved her, not as a sister but as a woman and declared that they were to be married.
    The pony was hitched to the wall in the stable yard and the three of them walked down the side passage and round to the front of the hotel, entering the Adelphi through its magnificent arched portico and into the richly appointed entrance hall. The hotel had been a favoured ‘stopping place’ of the royal family, princes of foreign royalty and there were very few visitors of importance to the country who had not stayed there. Consequently it was a favourite of the élite of Liverpool and as the three of them entered they were watched by astonished porters, open-mouthed receptionists, the under-manager who happened to be on duty and guests who were thunderstruck at the sight of the strange trio. They brought the genteel ladies in the tea room to a complete silence. The well-dressed gentleman was not an unusual sight but with one woman weeping most distressingly on one arm and another garbed in what they could only call a
scandalous
outfit, not at all fit for the tea room – both ladies with neither hat nor gloves – it quite spoiled their afternoon! The woman – they could not call her a lady – with her sleeves rolled up, an open-necked shirt and
riding boots
revealed beneath her
split
skirt would not have been allowed into their own drawing rooms and they did not expect to find such attire in any of the places they visited. And would you look at her hair, for heaven’s sake, cut short and in a mass of loose curls around her head!
    Harry seated both Alice and Rose, taking no notice of the slack-jawed waiter whose job it was to lead guests to a table of his choosing, then, with that commanding and Rose supposed arrogant manner of his class, gestured to the head