Girls of the Great War by Freda Lightfoot

Author:Freda Lightfoot [Lightfoot, Freda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781612187198
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Published: 2018-05-22T05:00:00+00:00

In July, the battalion moved back to Saint-Omer and their concert party happily went with them, filled with relief at leaving this camp in Ypres, so close to German territory and the front line of numerous battles: Lys, Bailleul, Kemmel, Passchendaele and many others. They had seen many soldiers killed or blinded by tear gas, poor men, their own hearts constantly pumping with fear. Lena joined them, feeling a similar need for a change of region. It felt good to be back in a place they were more familiar with. How long they would stay there was not clear, Cecily having received a note from Lieutenant Trevain that he was keen for them to move on to Malta at some point soon, a hospital region desperate for entertainers. She had contacted him with letters of her news about Wilhelm Ackermann, how he’d bullied her into helping him escape then had saved her from rape and internment. She also described the work she was now involved in, which apparently met with his approval.

Today, Cecily was seated beneath a tree planning the next concert when Louis appeared, a smile lighting his cleanly shaven face. ‘May we have a word? There’s something I’d like to ask you.’

Her senses skittered with excitement at the sight of this handsome Canadian and considering the work she was engaged in, she also felt a flicker of alarm. Did he too wish to escape, as so many soldiers longed to do? ‘I hope you don’t have a problem.’

Seating himself on the grass at her feet, he gave her a wry smile. ‘The fact is, Cecily, I’ve just been informed that I’m about to be moved on.’

‘Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that. We’ll be moving too in due course. Are you allowed to say where you’re being sent?’

‘A number of us have been ordered to join the battalion at Bapaume. It’s a small town close to the Somme, apparently caught up in another battle.’

A sense of foreboding jerked within her. ‘I do hope you remain safe. I shall miss you.’

Meeting the sadness in her violet-blue eyes, he gave her hand a small squeeze. ‘I shall miss you too, but I’m sure I’ll be fine. Let’s not assume that this war will get any worse. I reckon it will end fairly soon,’ he firmly declared, the resilience in his soft brown eyes sparking more admiration within her.

‘Let’s hope so.’

‘The thing is, we’ll be despatched at the end of this week. Before then we’ve been granted a few days’ leave, as is often the case. I thought I’d visit Salperwick, a village just a few kilometres from here, which has a magnificent river. I always enjoy fishing, sailing and swimming, and there’s a lovely forest for walks. I wondered if you’d find that fun too and would be interested in joining me for a short break. Your presence would give me great pleasure as I confess I’ve become quite fond of you.’

Cecily listened spellbound, the thrill of this offer running through her like fire.

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