The Bannister Girls by Rowena Summers

Author:Rowena Summers
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Canelo Digital Publishing Ltd
Published: 2023-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

She was almost thankful when the week’s leave was over and she could meet up with Margot in London. One look at Margot’s face told her that her friend’s week hadn’t been greatly successful either.

‘Mother seems to think I can call at a reception desk and ask for Edward, as though we’re staying at some luxurious hotel,’ she complained as they were crushed together in the corridor of the train taking them to Dover. ‘She’s expecting me to wet-nurse him, just because we’re both in France. She’s conveniently forgotten the size of the country, and she spent the entire bloody week making me feel guilty because I haven’t tracked him down yet.’

From Margot’s tone, Angel knew that she did feel annoyingly guilty because there simply hadn’t been an opportunity to find Edward Lacey, apart from the barest enquiries.

‘I know she’s damnably worried about Eddie,’ Margot suddenly capitulated. ‘He was her little pet after Daddy died, and she simply can’t come to terms with him being old enough to go to war.’

‘He’s not old enough. None of them are. He’s a schoolboy. He’s not ready to fight or—’

‘Go on,’ Margot said relentlessly, as Angel’s jerky words stopped. ‘Not old enough to fight or to die. That’s what you were going to say, isn’t it?’

‘All right! He’s too young to die. So is Jacques. So are we. So is every other poor devil who comes into the hospital at Piersville. Try telling that to the power-crazy men who juggle with ordinary people’s lives.’

Other people in the corridor glanced their way as their voices rose, half-amused to hear two educated young ladies arguing so vehemently. Angel looked shamefaced.

‘I’m sorry. We shouldn’t be quarrelling like this.’

‘I’m sorry too.’ Margot’s voice was oddly muffled. ‘If you want the truth, I’m frantically worried about Eddie too, and I’ve had the devil’s job not to let Mother see it all this week.’

‘Hasn’t the little stinker even written home yet?’

Margot gave the semblance of a smile. ‘No, the little stinker hasn’t. I shall give him a piece of my mind about that when I catch up with him.’

She cheered up, having something positive to think about. It was a good thing that she couldn’t read Angel’s mind, as the fervent hope ran through her head that young Edward Lacey was still around to be caught.

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