Daisy Chain by Justine Gilbert

Author:Justine Gilbert
Format: epub

Our subsequent meetings were at funerals. Like falling rocks, old friends, members of his staff and distant relatives fell. The unexpected death of Gus from a heart attack was especially painful for me, but duties meant we mourned separately.

Conversely, I felt joy when the plan to recall Katty and Arthur was successful. They returned with a few suitcases, arriving at Wilderstein shortly before France, England and Australia declared war on Germany. Together, we discussed how Germany tightened its control on Europe, and how it would draw us all in. Yet Katty insisted, ‘Europe is so far away. People disbelieve what’s happening across the pond. They think Hitler can be contained.’ To cheer ourselves, we went out to see the newly released Wizard of Oz and all agreed with Toto and Dorothy: there was no place like home. Although they couldn’t understand why I cried. I was crying too easily in those months.

Americans read the news in the papers, which rebutted the need to send our soldiers to Europe. Franklin was trying to change a Senate ruling that prevented him from selling weapons to friendly countries, and his occasional phone calls were full of frustration and sealing wax. I listened without mentioning my financial precariousness. A recent interview for a position as a companion came to nothing, and Mama was forced to cut back on her medical supplies.

Then came the visit of the newly installed King and Queen of England to Springwood. They were begging for America’s aid, and the diplomatic procession took up an inordinate amount of his time. I was given a small job to assist with finding suitable plates and cutlery for such a grand event, and to request prized dinner plates from the Astors and the Mansakenning estates.

There was no space for a Suckley cousin at the royal table, and I did not ask for my efforts to be remunerated. But a sour-faced bean counter, mistaking me for one of the servants, gave me a packet with dollar bills. In desperation, I folded the money into my purse. Need outweighed pride and I had a family to support. Franklin was full of apologies on the phone. ‘Sorry, Daisy, I can’t give an invitation to any of the Montgomerys or Suckleys. You wouldn’t believe the people who are fighting to be there.’

‘Are your colleagues so desperate to kiss a royal hand?’ It made me laugh.

‘Something like that,’ he said and dished up amusing details of Eleanor and the Queen. It seemed Eleanor was not one of those prepared to bow to royalty, and one had to admire her stern adherence to social justice.

As soon as the royals left he began campaigning for a third term. But for this election, I was preoccupied with our finances. Quietly and without fuss, Franklin’s mother dwindled and died. She never saw her son win his third historic term in office, and his only comfort was he had managed to be at her bedside for her last night on earth.

Another funeral saw us

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