Read Online Softly Grow the Poppies by Audrey Howard - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Audrey Howard
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time Nessie, the cook, spoke up. Until now she had watched the drama without a word but now she gave her opinion for what it was worth.
‘Forget the wee dogs. That lassie needs to get to her bed. Let Fred take the pups to the stable where Fred and Davy and my Tom’ll care for ’em. They’ve got each other so they’ll not fret for their mam. There’ll be enough goin’ on in the next few days to be mitherin’ about puppies. Tekk Miss Weatherly to her bed, Miss Rose, get her tucked up an’ then later she can have summat to eat. I’ll mekk her a tasty dish for she’s eatin’ fer two now.’
Nessie’s sensible suggestion calmed them all down, even Dolly who was not used to being told what to do. She went to the back door shouting for Davy or Fred and told them to take the small animals to the stable and . . . well, do whatever you did with such creatures, wiping her hands of them completely. It was nothing to do with her what Miss Rose did in her own household though she did her best to stop her mistress from acting too hastily over many matters. She was just too good-hearted in Dolly’s opinion!
At last peace was restored. A fire was lit in the best spare bedroom, Miss Alice had been bathed by herself and Miss Rose, even to the washing of her hair which looked lovely again, curling softly down her back. She wore a nightdress of Dolly’s and was put to bed with a hot-water bottle at her feet and when Rose looked in on her later, replenishing the fire, drawing the curtains in the lovely candle-lit bedroom, Alice was sleeping like a baby, her face flushed, calm, as a well-loved child will sleep.
Rose had sent a message by Davy to Harry saying that if he could come at once she would be grateful. It was to do with Alice and Charlie, she wrote.
He rode in the dark, a lantern fixed to his saddle on a stick bobbing ahead of him and was ringing the bell at Beechworth House within the hour. Fred was summoned to see to his horse. And the question of Charlie and Alice was discussed at length by Harry and Rose. There were so many questions to be answered. Should they call the doctor? How far gone was she? She must naturally stay with Rose, they both agreed about that. Though she was carrying his brother’s child it would not be proper for her to live at Summer Place. She must rest and be well fed. Then Harry revealed news that Rose longed to tell Alice.
He nursed the glass of whisky Rose had pressed on him and she sipped her sherry, both aware of the tension in the drawing room and when Dolly was called for, so was she. She had seen the way the two of them avoided looking at one another and her wise old mind put two and two together and came to the right conclusion. So that was the way of it! Her mind rejoiced, because Harry Summers was the man she would have chosen, had she the right, for her Rosebud.
‘Well, I think I might have the answer to all our problems, Rose, and Miss Davenport. I have telephoned a gentleman, a gentleman high in rank at the War Office and he has promised he will take all the necessary steps to get Charlie compassionate leave. For his father’s funeral and at the same time, if I apply tomorrow and obtain a special licence, for him and Alice to be married.’
‘Oh, Harry, I must go and tell Alice at once. She will be overjoyed.’ Rose jumped to her feet and made for the door but Harry stood up and caught her hand, and kept hold of it.
‘Let her sleep now, Rose,’ and in his eyes were the words, ‘dear, dear Rose’ which was not missed by Dolly. ‘Wait until it is arranged so that she will not be devastated should it not happen.’
Her hand lay in his where it longed to be and if Dolly had not been present they would have exchanged their first kiss.
5
T hey stood for the second time in two days at the altar of All Hallows Church which was so close to Summer Place it was hardly worth getting out the old carriage to take Sir Harry Summers and his brother Charlie to the lych-gate
‘Forget the wee dogs. That lassie needs to get to her bed. Let Fred take the pups to the stable where Fred and Davy and my Tom’ll care for ’em. They’ve got each other so they’ll not fret for their mam. There’ll be enough goin’ on in the next few days to be mitherin’ about puppies. Tekk Miss Weatherly to her bed, Miss Rose, get her tucked up an’ then later she can have summat to eat. I’ll mekk her a tasty dish for she’s eatin’ fer two now.’
Nessie’s sensible suggestion calmed them all down, even Dolly who was not used to being told what to do. She went to the back door shouting for Davy or Fred and told them to take the small animals to the stable and . . . well, do whatever you did with such creatures, wiping her hands of them completely. It was nothing to do with her what Miss Rose did in her own household though she did her best to stop her mistress from acting too hastily over many matters. She was just too good-hearted in Dolly’s opinion!
At last peace was restored. A fire was lit in the best spare bedroom, Miss Alice had been bathed by herself and Miss Rose, even to the washing of her hair which looked lovely again, curling softly down her back. She wore a nightdress of Dolly’s and was put to bed with a hot-water bottle at her feet and when Rose looked in on her later, replenishing the fire, drawing the curtains in the lovely candle-lit bedroom, Alice was sleeping like a baby, her face flushed, calm, as a well-loved child will sleep.
Rose had sent a message by Davy to Harry saying that if he could come at once she would be grateful. It was to do with Alice and Charlie, she wrote.
He rode in the dark, a lantern fixed to his saddle on a stick bobbing ahead of him and was ringing the bell at Beechworth House within the hour. Fred was summoned to see to his horse. And the question of Charlie and Alice was discussed at length by Harry and Rose. There were so many questions to be answered. Should they call the doctor? How far gone was she? She must naturally stay with Rose, they both agreed about that. Though she was carrying his brother’s child it would not be proper for her to live at Summer Place. She must rest and be well fed. Then Harry revealed news that Rose longed to tell Alice.
He nursed the glass of whisky Rose had pressed on him and she sipped her sherry, both aware of the tension in the drawing room and when Dolly was called for, so was she. She had seen the way the two of them avoided looking at one another and her wise old mind put two and two together and came to the right conclusion. So that was the way of it! Her mind rejoiced, because Harry Summers was the man she would have chosen, had she the right, for her Rosebud.
‘Well, I think I might have the answer to all our problems, Rose, and Miss Davenport. I have telephoned a gentleman, a gentleman high in rank at the War Office and he has promised he will take all the necessary steps to get Charlie compassionate leave. For his father’s funeral and at the same time, if I apply tomorrow and obtain a special licence, for him and Alice to be married.’
‘Oh, Harry, I must go and tell Alice at once. She will be overjoyed.’ Rose jumped to her feet and made for the door but Harry stood up and caught her hand, and kept hold of it.
‘Let her sleep now, Rose,’ and in his eyes were the words, ‘dear, dear Rose’ which was not missed by Dolly. ‘Wait until it is arranged so that she will not be devastated should it not happen.’
Her hand lay in his where it longed to be and if Dolly had not been present they would have exchanged their first kiss.
5
T hey stood for the second time in two days at the altar of All Hallows Church which was so close to Summer Place it was hardly worth getting out the old carriage to take Sir Harry Summers and his brother Charlie to the lych-gate
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