The Fleethaven Trilogy by Dickinson Margaret

Author:Dickinson, Margaret [Dickinson, Margaret]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781447235422
Published: 2012-12-06T05:00:00+00:00

‘You’re getting yourself a bad name, our Rosie,’ Kate said, with some of her mother’s bluntness coming to the fore.

The girl fluffed her blonde hair and then smoothed down her skirt with the palms of her hands. ‘Oh, Kate, I’m only having a little fun. I’m not doing any harm.’

‘It’s the harm that might come to you, Rosie, that we’re worried about.’

Kate heard the girl draw in her breath sharply. Rosie whirled about to face her. ‘We? Who’s we?’ Suddenly, her eyes were shining with an extra brightness.

‘Danny and me.’

‘Danny? Danny said something about me? What did he say?’

‘He’s worried about you – and the soldiers billeted at the Point.’

‘Who – Taffy and Don? Don’t be daft, our Kate. I’m only friendly with them. They’re a nice couple of boys and a long way from home. They’re lonely.’

‘That’s the whole point, Rosie . . .’ Kate persisted.

‘What else did Danny say about me, Kate?’

‘Nothing – he just said he was worried about you. We both are.’

Rosie pulled a face and turned away. ‘Well, you’ve no need. I can tek care of mesen, ta. Tell Danny he – he’s no need to worry himself about me.’

If she hadn’t known her better, Kate could have sworn there was a tearful catch in Rosie’s voice.

When Kate reported her talk with Rosie to Danny, far from being reassured, he frowned. ‘She’s too flirty for her own good, Kate. I’ve tried having a word with her brothers, Mick and Jimmy, but all Mick can think about is joining up in December when he’s eighteen. Not even going to wait for his call-up papers, he ain’t.’

There was a deep silence between them as they walked side by side along the beach, close by the water’s edge.

‘Kate . . .’ Danny began, stopped and let out a deep sigh as if he had been holding his breath.

She linked her arm through his. ‘Come on, out with it.’

‘I – I’m going to volunteer.’

‘I know.’ She stopped and turned to face him. Checked by her hold on him, he too stopped. Slowly they turned to face each other. She smiled at him and was amused by the look of surprise on his face.

‘I guessed you would,’ she whispered.

‘You – you did?’

She nodded. ‘After Dunkirk – I guessed . . . No, that’s not quite right, I knew you’d want to go.’

His grin was sheepish. ‘I thought you’d throw a ducky fit.’

Kate laughed softly. ‘Not really, Danny, because I am going to join up too.’

They looked at each other and Danny said quietly, ‘Just like our dad did the last time, eh?’

Kate smiled and pressed his arm. Rarely did they speak of the father they shared, and yet now at this moment, it seemed right to think of him.

They walked on together in silence. A silence that was companionable and yet now held an added poignancy. Not for the first time, they were to be parted. But this time it might mean they never saw each other again. Hardly realizing it, Kate tightened her hold on Danny’s arm, and he placed his hand over hers.

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