Winter Roses Read Online Free PDF Page B

there’ll be civil war in Ashden.’ It was all so petty in the midst of a real war raging over a large part of the world. Surely everyone’s attention should be focused on what was happening at the Somme, not on a battle over flowers.
    Her mother must have read her thoughts, for she said: ‘I suppose people don’t change in times of trouble.’
    ‘But they could win a few medals for trying . After all, even the Mutter and Thorn volcano has quietened down.’ The generations-old village feud had not erupted for months.
    ‘I suspect dear Lady B convinces herself this is her contribution to the war effort,’ Elizabeth fumed. ‘So many people will go on the treat, with all the children, their parents and the teachers, it will be tantamount to a boycott of the flower festival. Not that I personally mind. How dare Lady Hunney ignore our work for agriculture here by going above our heads? Nevertheless, I suppose peace in Ashden comes first, and so I propose we seek an audience with theWar Minister right away,’ his wife suggested grimly.
    They found Laurence in his study, thankfully settling down for an hour’s paperwork before setting off on his morning calls, none too pleased at being interrupted. For once, Caroline had no compunction about doing so, even though Father’s annoyance merely changed to surprise as she explained why they were there.
    ‘Certainly I agreed to my mother’s plan. Why not? The Sunday School treat was to be scaled down to a picnic in the forest this year, but when my mother offered to pay, I saw no reason to object, and still don’t.’
    ‘You agreed ?’ Elizabeth was even more horrified. ‘Knowing she was planning it for the same day as the flower festival? Apart from anything else, you have to attend both functions, Laurence.’
    ‘The same day?’
    With guilty pleasure, Caroline watched the conflicting emotions battling in her father’s face, as he realised he had been outmanoeuvred by his mother, and tried to find the way out. He didn’t succeed.
    ‘I didn’t know that was the day she planned,’ he confessed at last. ‘I assumed it was the same day as we had agreed for the picnic, in August.’
    ‘Never assume anything with your mother, Laurence,’ Elizabeth said crossly.
    ‘I’m afraid she’s outwitted you this time, Father.’
    It was the best thing Caroline could have said, for Laurence had much of his mother’s stubbornness in him, which was why until last year, when her house was bombed, they had seen little of Grandmother save for one annualvisit to Dover. It was a visit made by Father, herself and her sisters and brother only, since Grandmother had refused to receive her mother in her house, or even to meet her, until forced to do so last year. The relationship remained strained, to put it politely.
    ‘Leave it with me. Say nothing to anyone , and I will deal with it,’ Laurence told them firmly.
    ‘You’ll cancel the Sunday School outing?’
    ‘No. I think our Lord is prepared to assist us on this occasion.’ He glanced out at the warm sunshine outside, donned his jacket, and strode out in masterly fashion into combat.
    ‘What’s he going to do, do you think?’ Caroline asked her mother, fascinated.
    ‘Puncture the charabanc tyres, I hope. How did your grandmother organise motorised transport and petrol for the treat in these days – or has she rustled up horses?’
    ‘You make her sound like Buffalo Bill.’
    ‘Annie Oakley. Dead-shot bullseye every time.’
    Her mother returned to the glory-hole, and Caroline, unwillingly, was able to return to her own next problem. She’d almost rather have Grandmother to deal with. However, onward it was for this Christian soldier. She donned her business boater and set out for The Towers, resisting the temptation to go the long way round past the hop gardens to put off the ordeal as long as possible.
    There had still been no progress on the question of the hop garden’s future. Lizzie had little more than a month