The Soldier's Daughter Read Online Free PDF Page A

hastily. ‘So why don’t yer pour us both out a nice cuppa? I’ve just made a fresh pot and I’ve about done here now. I’ll leave this lot to drain an’ put ’em all away later.’
    Briony obediently fetched some cups and saucers from the cupboard as Martha watched her from the corner of her eye. She had a sneaky suspicion that young Briony had a soft spot for her Ernie, and he made no secret of the fact that he fancied her – but up until now neither of them seemed to have done anything about it; no bad thing, in her opinion, now that he had been called up. Martha was a realist, and who knew what the future held for them? Up until recently she would have bet any money that young Ruth and Ernie would become an item eventually. After all, everyone knew that Ruth puppy-worshipped him. Martha liked Ruth; she was a gentle-natured lass and she wouldn’t have minded at all having her for a daughter-in-law, but now it looked as if the feelings that were obviously developing between her son and Briony might throw a spanner in the works. But then from what she had learned, nothing ever went smoothly in life, so she was prepared to sit back and let nature take its course. What would be would be.
    ‘So why the long face then?’ she asked as she joined the girl at the table.
    For a moment she thought Briony was going to ignore the question but then the girl blurted out, ‘I’ve just found out from Mum that I have an uncle and grandparents living in Cornwall.’
    ‘
Really?
’ Mrs Brindley looked bemused as she scratched her chin. ‘How come yer never knew about ’em before?’
    ‘Because it seems they disowned Mum when she ran off to marry Dad, and she hasn’t had anything to do with them since,’ the girl answered solemnly. ‘But now my grandfather has said that we – the grandchildren, that is – can go and stay with them until after the war rather than be evacuated.’
    ‘And will yer be takin’ him up on his offer?’
    ‘Mum says we might have to, rather than let the younger ones go to strangers,’ Briony told her. ‘But I’m not too happy about it, to be honest. From what Mum’s told me, our grandmother sounds like a bit of a tartar, and it will mean me giving up my job.’
    ‘Hmm, I can see it would be a bit of a wrench for you,’ Mrs Brindley agreed musingly. ‘But then at least you’d all be safer there than here in the Midlands. Word is out that old Adolf could be droppin’ bombs on us any time soon. It stands to reason, don’t it, what wi’ all the factories in Coventry that are makin’ parts fer the tanks an’ the aeroplanes. They’ll be a prime target an’ we’re only a stone’s throw away when all’s said an’ done, so no doubt we’ll cop it an’ all.’
    ‘I suppose we would be safer,’ Briony sighed. ‘But how would Mum cope here all on her own?’
    ‘She’s a grown woman,’ Mrs Brindley told her firmly as she spooned sugar into her tea. ‘An’ if push came to shove she’d have to manage same as the rest of us.’
    ‘I dare say you’re right.’
    The door opened then, and Ernie rushed in, bringing a waft of icy air with him. ‘Phew, it’s bloody freezin’ out there,’ he grinned as his eyes settled on Briony. ‘Is there any more tea in the pot? I could do wi’ sommat to warm me up.’ He tossed the cigarettes to his mother, who opened the packet and lit one.
    ‘Young Briony here’s just been tellin’ me that she might be goin’ away soon an’ all,’ she informed him through a cloud of smoke, and Briony then repeated her story as Ernie listened intently.
    ‘Blimey,’ he croaked when she had finished. ‘An’ yer say yer mam’s family are well-off. What do they do?’
    ‘Apparently my grandfather has his own undertaking business.’ Briony shuddered at the thought. It didn’t seem like a very nice job to have to do, but then she supposed someone had to.
    ‘Well, at least there’s not much chance o’ him ever goin’ out o’ business, is there?’