Sarah's Choice (The Trenwith Collection) by Rosie Clarke

Author:Rosie Clarke [Clarke, Rosie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Published: 2023-12-04T16:00:00+00:00

7

Sarah slipped into the house by a side door at just after five in the morning. Troy had left her reluctantly, because he had to get ready for the journey he planned to make later that morning. Sarah had smiled, kissed him one last time and then ran from him before she gave way to the tears that were pressing hard behind her eyes. She went upstairs and was in time to see Amelia disappear into her own room. Had she been up all night too? Had she been saying goodbye to her lover?

Sarah dismissed the thought, because she had no right to question her cousin’s actions. Amelia was a married woman but her husband was much older. Sarah could not condemn her if, faced with the prospect of war, she had given in to Justin and made love to him. If she had been just a little braver Sarah might have persuaded Troy to forget his principles and make love to her.

She sighed as she slipped into bed, knowing that she needed to sleep for a while. Her throat was tight and a few tears slid down her cheeks as she buried her face in soft pillows, but mercifully sleep claimed her.

It was almost noon before Sarah finally went downstairs. Amelia came down a little later as she was sitting in the parlour, looking out at a dull morning and trying not to feel sorry for herself.

‘There you are, my love,’ Amelia said. Her face was pale and there were suspicious red blotches on her nose, which she had attempted to cover with face powder. ‘Justin decided that perhaps he ought to rejoin sooner rather than wait for the summons. He left early this morning. I saw him off.’

‘Yes, I see,’ Sarah said and forced a smile. ‘I hate this war, Amelia. It is horrible to think of people killing each other.’

‘Yes, it is,’ Amelia agreed. ‘But we can’t sit about and mope, Sarah. We shall be needed. There are all kinds of volunteer jobs that need doing. We were talking of it the other day. Soldiers will need extra socks and scarves, things like that, of course. We are setting up a group to knit and sew, because we shall send parcels out to them, food as well. And we are setting up a committee to deal with the wounded when they are sent home. In past wars many disabled soldiers have been treated disgracefully, left to beg on the streets or seek help in an infirmary where only rudimentary treatment is given. Our committee has decided to take over a small nursing home and run it for the benefit of badly wounded soldiers. Similar schemes will be set up all over the country and in that way we shall make a contribution to the war effort.’

‘I should like to help with that,’ Sarah said, the shadows banished from her eyes, at least for the moment. ‘I asked Mother to let me become a VAD some weeks ago

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