The Letter by Ruth Saberton

Author:Ruth Saberton [Saberton, Ruth]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Shell Shock, top ten, War Memorial, Wilfred Owen, parents, Stained Glass, Cornish Fiction, Cornwall, Poppies, England, best-seller, Oxford, bestseller, armistice, friendship, war, Poet, relationships, wedding, bestselling, war poet, Drama, love, Polperro, Ghost, Female, English, PTSD, Britain, World War One, Poppy, Polwenna Bay, research, WW1, Daisies, Tomb, war graves, romantic, fans of Daphne du Maurier, church, Saberton, Cornish Author, Window, medium, Kernow, The Somme, FICTION, Diary, boat, Sigfried Sassoon, Author, Rupert Brooke, Post traumatic stress disorder, fans of Rosamunde Pilcher, history, Polwenna, novel, top 100, Summer, British, Holidays, rectory, love romance, letter, romance, marriage, Builders, Women, passion, Doc Martin, Western Front, Cornish, Poldark, Daisy, soldier, poetry, Ruth Saberton, Rememberance, diaries, Manor House, Teacher
Publisher: Notting Hill Press
Published: 2017-12-31T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Daisy, August 1914

Reading the paper across the table was a bad habit, Daisy knew, and one she generally did her best to hide from her godfather, but on the morning of the fifth of August she simply couldn’t ignore the headline. How was she supposed to concentrate on lumpy porridge when Britain was apparently at war with Germany? And how on earth could her godfather manage to eat kippers when their world was turning upside down? Daisy couldn’t face a mouthful. The half-recalled images from her old dream suddenly felt like premonitions and she pushed her bowl away with such violence that the Reverend Cutwell looked up in surprise.

“Are we really at war?” Daisy asked.

Her godfather laid the paper down.

“I am afraid so, my dear. As from last night.”

Daisy’s stomach lurched. She and Kit, meeting sporadically and secretly whenever they could, had talked of this a little but Daisy had been so focused on finding ways to see him that she’d barely registered just how badly affairs were escalating on the continent.

“War’s inevitable,” Kit had said, only days before when they’d snatched a few precious minutes together. “If Germany won’t give the Cabinet the same assurance on Belgian neutrality that France has given, then I don’t think Mr Asquith will have any choice.”

He would have explained in greater detail, but then Daisy had kissed him and all thoughts of politics had been forgotten for a few magical minutes.

Now though, sitting at the breakfast table with her eyes straining to decipher the small print, Daisy wished she’d let Kit say more.

“Is this because Germany won’t respect the neutrality of Belgium? They’ve forced Mr Asquith’s hand?”

The Reverend’s bushy brows flew upwards. “And what, pray, do you know of these matters?”

“I heard it somewhere,” Daisy improvised quickly. “I think maybe after church? Dr Parsons was speaking to you.”

“Indeed?” Her godfather didn’t look convinced. “Well, in answer to your question, yes, I believe that’s the reason. We must protect our nation’s integrity and that is what this declaration of war will do.”

So Britain really was at war. Daisy felt cold all over. Young men would have to go away and fight.

Young men like Kit.

“Don’t look so glum, my dear. It will all be over by Christmas, just you mark my words,” her godfather declared, tucking into his kippers.

This wasn’t what Kit thought, but Daisy prayed her godfather was right.

In the days that followed the announcement of war, Daisy was to hear these sentiments expressed over and over again. There was almost a carnival atmosphere in Rosecraddick. Gem was full of excitement about it all, desperately keen to do his bit, and on the following Sunday her godfather preached a patriotic sermon, calling upon all able-bodied men to enlist and fight for their King and country. Daisy, sitting in the church, could only stare at the back of Kit’s golden head and pray that he wouldn’t be one of them, although she knew deep in her heart that of course he would be.

They hadn’t

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.