The party, which turned into a garden party because the weather treated them kindly, was a huge success. Miles hired a group of musicians to play and there was dancing on the patio outside the drawing-room windows.
‘May I have the pleasure?’ a voice she remembered spoke in her ear. Jenny turned to see Billy Harrington standing there. A taller Billy, who looked broad and strong and tanned. ‘Mester Warren said you were back. I’m surprised we haven’t seen each other before.’
‘I didn’t know you’d come back too,’ she said, giving him a bear hug.
His face sobered for a moment. ‘I never left, Jen, and I’m never going back to London. The Warrens say I can stay. I’m working for them full time. Dad doesn’t want me back – he’s said so – and I don’t want to go.’
‘What about Frankie?’
‘He went home. Can’t blame him. He missed his folks. I get a letter now and again. He’s doing all right. Got a job in an office.’ He grinned. ‘Thanks to Mester Thornton and the lessons we had at the manor, Frankie took to the learning lark and he went on with his education. But I’m better suited to working with me hands. I love it here.’
‘So do I, Billy. I’m back for good too.’
‘Mrs Warren told me you’re staying on at school.’
Jenny nodded, a little embarrassed in case her childhood friend should feel she was ‘getting above herself’. But Billy’s next words dispelled any misgivings. ‘Good for you, I hope you get what you want an’ all. You deserve it.’
‘So do you, Billy. I’m glad you’re happy. Now, how about that dance? Not that I’m much of a dancer, I’m afraid.’
‘Neither am I,’ Billy admitted, ‘but let’s give it a go.’
They shuffled around the area set aside for dancing, talking and laughing more than dancing until Alfie tapped Billy on the shoulder and demanded to be allowed to dance with Jenny. After that, she was never without a partner, but the one person she longed to ask her to dance sat in a chair with his wounded leg stretched out in front of him looking lost and lonely.
As dusk settled over the grounds, Jenny could bear it no longer. She went and stood in front of him and put her hands on her hips. ‘Now, I’m sure even with a limp, you can dance better than Billy or Alfie. Come on,’ she held out her hand. ‘If you’re planning on flying again, I’m sure you can manage a waltz.’
He looked up at her, but his smile did not reach his blue eyes like it usually did. But, good-naturedly, he got up and put his arms around her. ‘I haven’t done this in a while,’ he murmured close to her ear.
‘Then it’s high time you did.’
‘Cassandra liked dancing, but I couldn’t manage all the jitterbugging.’
Jenny didn’t know what to say so she concentrated on trying to follow his steps. As the music came to an end, Georgie didn’t release her but looked down at her murmuring, ‘Little Jen, sixteen already and looking very grown-up tonight. But don’t ever change, will you? You’ll always be my “Little Jen”.’ Gently, he pressed his lips to her forehead, before letting his arms fall and stepping back. ‘People are starting to leave. We’d better go and wish them goodnight. Come on.’ He held out his hand to her and together they walked round the house to the front door, where Miles and Charlotte were already seeing their guests off. As an appropriate farewell, the musicians played ‘There’ll always be an England’.
In the shadows of the trees on the edge of the lawn, Alfie and Billy stood together.
‘I don’t reckon either of us stands a chance, do you, mate?’ Billy murmured.
‘No, and I was going to ask her if she’d go out with me.’
‘Me too.’ Billy laughed wryly and then added quietly, ‘I just hope he doesn’t break her heart, that’s all.’
‘He’d better not,’ Alfie muttered fiercely, ‘else he’ll have me to reckon with.’
It seemed Georgie was the only one who couldn’t see Jenny’s love for him shining out of her eyes every time she looked at him. And it was the same even when he wasn’t there and someone just mentioned his name. Felix, too, had observed them together tonight and guessed the truth.
‘Poor child,’ he murmured to Charlotte. ‘I hope she won’t let it affect her studies. She has such a wonderful future.’
‘She won’t, Felix, I’m sure of it. Her work – her talent – will be the making of her. And who knows, in time Georgie might come to his senses.’
And then Felix echoed Billy’s sentiments, ‘I just hope she doesn’t break her heart over him, that’s all.’
But Jenny was made of sterner stuff than either Billy or Felix had given her credit for. She knew exactly where she stood with Georgie and whilst she might dream that one day he’d fall in love with her, reality was filled with hard work and the promise of fulfilling a different kind of dream.
Sixty-One
With the same tenacity she’d had when she’d always believed that Georgie was still alive when he’d been posted missing, Jenny now threw herself into life in the sixth form. Her examination results had been better than anyone had dared to hope and her place at the grammar school was justified.
‘We’re so proud of you, darling.’ Charlotte hugged her the morning the results arrived and Miles rang Felix at once to invite him to join them at the weekend. ‘We’re celebrating,’ he said.
Whilst the country tried to get itself back to some sort of normality after the war, Jenny buried herself in her schoolwork. Louisa turned five and started at the local village school. Things were still difficult, but there was an air of optimism and enterprise and hard work was being rewarded. Georgie had passed all the tests to be able to fly again and with Miles’s help had bought an aeroplane to set up a commercial business locally.
‘There’s a small airfield opening up just north of Lynthorpe,’ he explained to the family. ‘I’ve been in touch with the owner and we’re going to run pleasure flights for holidaymakers. Now the town is getting back on its feet after the war, I’m sure it’ll work.’
‘I don’t want to put a dampener on your idea, which I think is a good one, by the way,’ Miles put in a word of caution, ‘but what about in the winter months? And will you be able to get aviation fuel?’
‘Pleasure flights won’t be the only thing we’ll do. We hope to use it to ferry lightweight goods for people, maybe even abroad. And, of course, people too. Businessmen who want to get to Europe quickly. That sort of thing. Of course, there’s a lot of paperwork to go through and licences to obtain and, yes, the fuel might be a problem, but we’ll get there.’
At the end of two years, Jenny achieved such good results in her final school examinations that she earned a place at Lincoln Art College.
‘You’ll still be able to come home every weekend. I’ll fetch you and take you back,’ Miles promised.
‘But petrol’s still on ration. Are you sure?’
He put his arm around her shoulders and chuckled. ‘Either that or Georgie can fetch you in his plane.’
Georgie, it seemed, was throwing himself into his new venture.
‘Is it to try to forget Cassandra?’ Jenny asked Charlotte when she was home for the weekend having been at college for just over a month.
‘Partly perhaps.’ Then she smiled. ‘But it’s so like Georgie anyway. Full of plans and ideas.’
‘He seems happier.’
‘I think he is, but I do catch him in a pensive mood sometimes when he thinks no one is watching.’
Jenny giggled. ‘But of course you always are. And Ben? How’s he now?’
‘Oh, you know Ben. Never says much, but he’s settled back into running the Ravensfleet Estate as if he’d never been away.’
There was silence between them as they thought about the third brother – the one they’d lost. ‘There’s something you perhaps ought to know, now that you’re really part of our family for good.’
Charlotte’s words gave Jenny a warm glow. ‘What is it?’
‘Miles asked me to tell you. We’ve both seen h
ow friendly you are with Alfie – ’ She held up her hand as Jenny opened her mouth to speak. ‘Oh I know, I know, it’s only a friendship, but we think you should know that Alfie is – ’ Charlotte licked her dry lips before finishing – ‘Philip’s illegitimate son and therefore, Miles’s grandson.’ Jenny’s eyes widened as Charlotte went on, ‘When the Thornton family first came here, Lily Warren, as she was then, was a maid here at the manor and she and Philip, well – ’ Again she paused, not wanting to speak ill of either Philip or Lily. ‘They were very young.’
Jenny touched her arm. ‘I understand. And Miles didn’t want Philip to marry her.’
‘Oh goodness me, no, I mean, yes, he did. There’s no snobbery about Miles, but Philip adamantly refused. So, later, Eddie asked Lily to marry him and he took on Alfie as his own. He’s a wonderful man. He’s never shown even a hint of favouritism between Alfie and his own children.’
‘Does Alfie know?’
Charlotte nodded. ‘When he knew he was dying, Philip asked to see him and they got to know each other. Lily told him then and, one day, Alfie will inherit Buckthorn Farm.’
‘How? It’s yours, isn’t it?’
Charlotte laughed wryly. ‘My father always wanted a son and when the Thornton boys arrived, he took a shine to Philip and made a will leaving the farm to him.’
‘And cutting you out?’
Charlotte nodded.
‘Didn’t you mind?’
‘Dreadfully, at first, but then Miles asked me to marry him. I was already in love with him, so it no longer mattered to me about my so-called inheritance.’
‘You fell in love with Miles before he fell in love with you? Just like me, then. Maybe one day . . .’
There was silence between them until Charlotte changed the delicate subject by asking, ‘And how are things going at college?’
‘It’s wonderful,’ Jenny assured her. ‘I absolutely love it.’ Charlotte watched Jenny’s eyes sparkle as she began to talk about the second love of her life. How she’d changed since they’d first seen her as a belligerent, scruffy street urchin, so lost and lonely. Now, she’d blossomed into a lovely, confident young woman who would one day take the art world by storm, according to Felix. She had a number of would-be suitors at college and even two heartsick young men nearer to home, but whilst she was friends with all of them, she held them all at arm’s length.
The months and years seemed to fly by and before she realized it, Jenny was coming to the end of her time at the college. One weekend when final examinations were looming, she arrived home in a thoughtful mood.
‘Is anything wrong?’ Charlotte asked.
Jenny hesitated for a moment before the words came tumbling out. ‘The principal called me into his office on Friday morning and said that he thought I should try for a place at the Slade in London.’
‘Really? How marvellous.’
‘Charlotte, I can’t go there. Even if I won a scholarship or something, it would cost so much to keep me, especially in London.’
‘I’ll have a word with Miles—’
‘No, no, I won’t let you. You’ve done so much for me already—’
But Charlotte placed a gentle finger on the girl’s lips and murmured, ‘Not another word.’
‘I’m absolutely shattered,’ Jenny said when she arrived home again having finished all the examinations at the end of her final term.
‘Too much partying at the end of term, I expect,’ Georgie teased her.
‘I did go to one, but only after exams had finished.’
‘You’ve been working too hard,’ Charlotte said as Jenny leaned her head back against the cushions on the sofa and closed her eyes.
‘No, it’s not possible to work too hard. Not when it’s something you love doing anyway.’
‘When do the results come?’ Miles asked, but Jenny didn’t answer; she was already asleep.
‘Do you remember,’ Georgie said softly, ‘when she first came to us, how we stood at the door of her bedroom watching her sleeping, clutching that moth-eaten old teddy bear?’
‘You mean Bert?’
‘I wonder where he is now?’
Charlotte chuckled. ‘Oh he’s still with her. He’s just been to art school.’
‘Bless her,’ Georgie said fondly. ‘So, there’s still the little girl inside the lovely young woman, then?’
‘Oh yes,’ Charlotte murmured softly. ‘Our little Jenny’s still here.’
The three of them tiptoed from the room and left her to sleep.
Felix arrived unexpectedly the night before Jenny’s results were due.
‘I couldn’t miss such a great day.’
‘Oh dear.’ Jenny was nervous. ‘I do hope you’re not going to be disappointed.’
But Felix only beamed.
The following morning Jenny was pacing up and down the hall with the front door wide open, waiting anxiously for the arrival of the postman.
‘Do come and get your breakfast, darling,’ Charlotte urged.
‘I couldn’t eat a thing. I feel sick. Oh, there he is.’
She rushed out of the front door and down the steps, running halfway down the drive to meet the postman on his bicycle. There were only two letters and both were addressed to Jenny. Ignoring one, she tore open the other, which held her results. The whole family and Felix – and even Wilkins – hovered in the background watching from the doorway. Louisa hopped up and down and clapped her hands.
‘What’s it say, Jen? Have you passed?’ she called excitedly, but then they all saw Jenny burst into tears, standing there in the middle of the drive, shaking and sobbing.
Georgie, followed by all the others except for Wilkins, reached her first.
‘Oh darling,’ he put his arms around her and pulled her close. ‘What is it? Is it bad news? I can’t believe it.’
‘No, no, look.’ With trembling fingers she held out the piece of paper to him. As Georgie read it, a huge grin spread across his face and then he passed the letter to Miles and Charlotte, whilst Louisa begged, ‘Tell me, please tell me.’
Felix, it seemed, didn’t need to read the letter; he was beaming from ear to ear. But in their excitement no one seemed to realize that he already knew what the letter contained.
‘She’s only gone and got the highest grades in her year,’ Georgie said. ‘That’s all.’ He picked her up and swung her round. ‘I knew you could do it.’
When they returned to the house, Miles called, ‘Wilkins, champagne all round. We’ll have a champagne breakfast. This calls for a real celebration. And open a bottle for below stairs too, won’t you?’
‘Thank you, sir.’ Wilkins gave a little bow. ‘And may I on behalf of all the staff, offer Miss Jenny our hearty congratulations.’
‘Oh thank you, Wilkins.’ And then she startled the reserved manservant by kissing him on the cheek. ‘Tell Mrs Beddows I’ll be down to see her and the others later.’
As they all sat down to breakfast, still talking excitedly, Felix said calmly, ‘Aren’t you going to open your other letter, my dear?’
‘Oh yes. I’d almost forgotten it.’
As she slit it open and read it, the colour suffused her face. She looked up and met Felix’s benign expression. ‘How – ?’
‘What is it, Jen?’ Georgie asked, but for once in her life Jenny didn’t seem to be paying him any attention. She was still staring at Felix.
‘You know, don’t you?’
He nodded.
‘But you know I can’t go.’
‘Not go?’ Felix was scandalized. ‘Of course you must go.’
The others were mystified and, strangely it was the quiet one of the family, Ben, who asked. ‘Go where, Jenny?’
But Jenny was lost in a trance, still staring at the letter she held in her trembling hands.
‘Jenny has been offered a place at the Slade in London,’ Felix explained.
Charlotte clapped her hands. ‘Oh darling, that’s wonderful!’
‘But I didn’t
apply. How can I have been offered a place there when I didn’t even apply?’
Felix’s smile broadened. ‘Ah, now I might have had a bit of a hand in that. I have very close connections with the Slade, you see, and – well – I might just have mentioned that there was this remarkable pupil who was sure to get top marks in all her examinations and that she would be a most worthwhile candidate for a place there. But I promise,’ he held up his hand almost defensively, ‘that I didn’t pull any strings. I only suggested that you should be considered. You have been offered a place solely on your merits.’
‘But how do they know my work?’
Felix chuckled again. ‘My professor friend has been in touch with Lincoln. He knows all about you and has seen examples of your work.’
‘How?’
‘We-ell, he visited my gallery and – as you know – I have one or two of your paintings on show.’
‘You know a professor at the Slade?’
‘Of course,’ Felix waved his hand airily. ‘I know everyone in the art world who is worth knowing.’
‘But – but I can’t go. It’ll cost a fortune – especially living in London.’
‘You might be entitled to some sort of grant,’ Miles said, ‘but if not, we’ll support you, you know that.’
‘Jenny – don’t you want to go?’ Charlotte asked gently, guessing what was holding Jenny near to Ravens-fleet. London was a long way away from Georgie.
Jenny bit her lip and glanced down at the letter in her hand. She pulled in a deep breath, knowing that the decision she was about to make might alter the course of her life. She looked across the table into Charlotte’s deep violet eyes. She could read the love there – and the concern. Intuitively, she knew Charlotte was encouraging her to make her own life and not to miss such a wonderful opportunity by waiting around for something that might never happen. Or rather, for someone who might never love her in the way she wanted him to.
Jenny swallowed and smiled tremulously. Her voice was husky as she said, ‘Of course I want to go. But what about the expense?’
‘You can come and live with me,’ Felix offered generously. ‘At least you can live at my flat. I’m away so often, I’ll hardly notice you’re there.’
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