The Officer's Wife by Catherine Law

Author:Catherine Law [Law, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Boldwood Books

BOOK TWO

1944–1945

15

VIVI, JUNE 1944

For a change – for she knew she ought to change something – Vivi rode Snowdrop along the banks of the water meadows behind Farthing Hall, trailing through the long grass and scaring rabbits, which disappeared into the hawthorn like silken ghosts. She felt, like everyone else she suspected, a weariness that made her bones cold. The soldiers had landed on the beaches across the Channel, and she simply wanted it to be over. But she had been in this place before. She’d sensed a shift, when America had come into the war, a movement of hope and of rising pride. She hoped her taxi driver had felt satisfied. But two and half years had passed since Pearl Harbour. Was it too much to ask to hope that things would be better by now?

Vivi gazed over the marshy land, at the wide sky, at the clouds reflected in the still, reed-lined water. The empty, open space seemed to hollow out her insides and she realised, after five years in England, she still wanted to go home. Perhaps, she thought, being back in her childhood house on the Hudson, somewhere familiar, would mend the scars.

She’d sold the New York apartment and the yacht, but had held onto the farmhouse, kept it running with tenants. What sort of state it was in, who knew. What did it matter anyway? When she felt so at a loss, wealth and property proved meaningless.

When the war was done, perhaps Nathan would sail back with her. But it seemed such an impossible obstacle, running through her hands like water. And, of course, what about Freda? She felt ridiculous even thinking about it, escaping this life when she’d only take her troubles with her. Different sky, same soul, indeed.

She ought to be getting back to the Hall. Her mother-in-law would be wondering where she’d got to and she wanted to reply to Genna’s latest letter. And Nathan had telephoned that morning, left a message with Ruby, to say he would be home later, which seemed odd, as it was a Wednesday, and he rarely appeared midweek. She wanted to be ready to rewind the spool of wool that unravelled each time he left, to mend the things she had no means of identifying. She kicked Snowdrop on.

The church spire rose from a new and refreshing angle against the horizon and Vivi headed towards it. Riding down the village lane, the sound of Snowdrop’s hooves drew glances her way. She lifted her hand in greeting at the ladies outside the village shop, the man who ran the bakery. He lifted his cap, the ladies nodded politely. None of them spoke to her.

She pulled the horse up near the churchyard wall, dismounted and tied the reins to the post. She needed a rest, a moment to delay returning to the Hall, to adjust her spiralling thoughts. She must present her good-wife strength, as always, to Freda. Put on her brave face for Nathan.

A small group of people had gathered in the churchyard, heads bowed around a newly dug grave.

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