The Victory Garden: A Novel

by Rhys Bowen

  “You’re so right. My mother had two different dresses made for me, as the weather has been so changeable. Now they’ll both be put to good use, although I hope it won’t be too big for you. You’ve lost an awful lot of weight.”

  “The result of little sleep, little food and too much worry, I suspect. We work twelve-hour shifts, day or night, and at the end it’s impossible to sleep. Sometimes there are bombardments going on nearby, and one knows it’s only a matter of time before the next load of wounded are brought in.”

  “I think you’re frightfully brave,” Emily said. “I’d really like to volunteer, but I wonder if I’d have the nerve for it.”

  “I asked myself the same thing,” Clarissa said. “Oh, trust me. There were so many times during the first weeks that I said out loud, ‘What in heaven’s name am I doing here?’ But you get used to it. You’d be amazed how quickly one gets used to horrors. And at least I know I’m doing some good. I know that some poor chap didn’t die because of me, and that’s worth every sleepless moment.”

  “Golly,” Emily said.

  The taxicab driver had unloaded Clarissa’s small suitcase and was standing patiently, waiting to be paid.

  “Oh, I’m frightfully sorry.” Clarissa fished for her purse and paid him, obviously tipping him handsomely because he saluted her.

  “And you want me back here at nine o’clock tomorrow morning, Nurse?”

  “That’s right. Thank you.”

  “Come and meet Mummy and see all the preparations,” Emily said. “We’ve enough food to feed the five thousand. You wouldn’t think there was a war on or rationing. Cook has worked wonders, and the farmers around have been terribly generous. And we have our own strawberries and raspberries . . .”

  She picked up Clarissa’s suitcase, slipped her arm through her friend’s and led her towards the house.

  “Mummy, look who has just arrived,” she called.

  Mrs Bryce had clearly been hovering. “Clarissa, my dear, what a surprise,” she said. “Don’t you look important in that uniform. But why didn’t you tell us you were coming? We haven’t made up the spare bedroom. I’ll have to get Florrie on to it right away.”

  “Oh, don’t worry about me, Mrs Bryce,” Clarissa said as she shook her hand. “I’m used to sleeping anywhere these days. I’ve even slept on an operating table when it wasn’t being used.”

  “Good heavens. I heard of some of your adventures from Emily. They sound quite harrowing. Your poor parents. They must be worried sick.”

  “Actually, I believe they are quite proud of me,” Clarissa said. “Daddy is a doctor, after all. He’s glad I’m following in his footsteps.”

  “But you won’t do this sort of thing when the war ends, surely?”

  “I might. I’m quite good at it. And I can’t picture myself just sitting at home and doing embroidery after this.”

  “You mean working? Holding a job?”

  “I think quite a lot of women will be holding a job after the war ends, Mrs Bryce. We’ve lost so many men. Women will have to fill all manner of jobs.”

  Mrs Bryce laughed uneasily. “You see women as bricklayers and steeplejacks, do you, Clarissa?”

  “If necessary. If the country is to get up and running again.”

  Mrs Bryce shook her head as if trying to digest this. She walked across the hall and rang a bell. Florrie appeared. “Florrie, Miss Hamilton has arrived. Can you see that a room is made up for her?”

  “Yes, Mrs Bryce,” Florrie said. “Do you want me to finish putting out the spoons for the ice creams first?”

  “Don’t worry, Mummy. Clarissa and I will take care of it. I can make a bed, you know,” Emily said.

  “But you should think about getting ready. And poor Clarissa is no doubt hungry. We shall not be eating until after nine. Why don’t you take her down to the kitchen and see if Cook can find something for her?”

  “We’ll take her bag up to my room first,” Emily said, and started up the stairs. Once in the room, she sank on to the bed. “Goodness, but I shall be glad when this is all over,” she said. “As you can probably see, Mummy has turned this into a big production number—all the stops pulled out. It’s a wonder she hasn’t brought down the London Symphony Orchestra to play.”

  Clarissa sat beside her. “So do tell. Any nice chaps coming?”

  “Maybe.” Emily gave an excited little smile. “We’ve invited some of the officers from the convalescent home. And one of them will be my Australian. So hands off him.”

  Clarissa gave her a long hard look. “Are you really smitten? Is that wise? Won’t he go home to Australia after the war?”

  “Yes, he plans to.”

  “And would you want to go with him?”

  “I don’t know. He hasn’t asked me yet. In fact, he’s said several times that it’s no place for a woman. Where he lives sounds a bit grim, but he has lots of bold ideas about making life better there. It would be a challenge—something I’m itching for at this minute.” She lay back and sighed. “I can’t tell you how awfully boring and frustrating it’s been here. Every attempt to do something useful has been thwarted. My parents simply won’t let me out of their sight. It feels as if my life has been put on hold all this time. You know how we talked at school about travelling, seeing Europe, doing something exciting. And you have, although not in the way you planned. And I’ve done nothing whatsoever. So now that I’m twenty-one, I finally mean to play my part, and they can’t stop me.”

  “You plan to join the Voluntary Aid Detachment, do you? Become a volunteer nurse like me?”

  “I’ve been thinking about it. I’m rather scared about doing what you do—seeing the blood and all that death, but if you can do it, so can I.” She hesitated. “But I don’t think I should go out to France. My mother couldn’t handle that.”

  “My mother does,” Clarissa said. “In fact, she’s jolly proud of me.”

  “Yes, well, your mother didn’t lose her only son, did she? They worshipped Freddie. They thought the sun shone out of his head. I probably shouldn’t be telling you this, because they don’t want anyone to know, but my mother had a mental breakdown after he died. She was in a sanatorium for three months. And since then, she’s . . . well, she’s cold and hard, as if she never wants to feel anything again.”

  “I’m sorry, Emmy,” Clarissa said. “But they certainly need nurses here at home, too. Let me know when you’re ready and I can put you in touch with the right people. Now, I suppose we’d better get cracking if you are to be looking your best when your guests arrive.”

  Emily jumped up and went across to the wardrobe. “So this is the dress I’m not wearing tonight,” she said, and held up a shimmering pink gown.

  “But it’s lovely,” Clarissa said. “Why don’t you want it?”

  “I like the other one better.” Emily produced a royal blue dress in the Grecian style. “I think it’s not so little-girly, and the royal blue suits my colouring better. The pink will show off your dark hair perfectly. In fact, you’ll have the officers swarming around you like bees around the honey pot.”

  Clarissa laughed. “You are funny,” she said. “But I can see the blue will be perfect with your fair hair. So let’s go and find some food to keep the wolf from the door, and then we’ll change, shall we?” She reached out her hand and took Emily’s. “I can’t tell you how lovely it is to be here. Almost like a dream, really. I mean, look at this room: all pink and white, and your bookcase with all those marvellous books. God, do you know how I long to have time to read again? And those sweet dolls sitting on the shelf. When I’m lying on my cot in the middle of the night and the sky is lit up with exploding shells, it’s hard to believe there are still places like this in the world.”

  “You don’t have to go back, Clarissa. You’ve done more than your share,” Emily said.

  “I must go back. I’ve signed on, just like any man who enlists. I can’t quit until they discharge me.” She stared past Emily, out of the window and acro
ss the broad expanse of lawn. “Besides, I’m good at what I do. I can help save lives.”

  “I’m really proud of you. No, more than that. I’m envious of you. You’re leading your own life. You’re doing something worthwhile. I’ve always loved this room, too, but right now it feels like a prison. I can’t wait to get away.”

  “Do you remember our attempts to escape at school?” Clarissa asked, laughing.

  “That time we tried to climb down the drainpipe and got stuck halfway? Matron was furious, wasn’t she?” Emily laughed, too. She took Clarissa’s hands. “I’m so glad you’re here to help me get through this. Oh well, let’s face the music, shall we?”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  The first guests started arriving around eight. Emily was positioned on the front steps with her parents on either side of her, greeting arrivals. As she smiled and nodded and thanked people for coming, her eyes kept straying down the driveway. Josh had been dispatched to pick up the officers from the convalescent home. She saw the Daimler pulling up for a second time and four young men got out. She broke away from her parents and ran down to Josh. “There will also be three Australians, Josh. Make sure they are picked up, please.”

  Josh frowned. “I was told seven young men. And this makes seven.”

  “It may be that the matron did not approve of sending the Australians, but I’ve invited them. Could you please go back and find them?”

  “Anything for you, Miss Emmy. Especially on your big day.” He gave her a big grin and put the motor car into gear.

  Emily was trapped by Aubrey Warren-Smythe when the Daimler returned. The young men who emerged were all on crutches. One had burns down one side of his face. Emily went over to them. “Oh, I’m so glad you’ve come.”

  “You look lovely.” Robbie’s eyes lit up when he saw her. “We almost didn’t get here. We were told that we were not well enough to venture out in public yet.” A smile spread across his face. “I think that was an excuse because Matron didn’t think we’d be right for your little do. Too rough and ready, eh, boys?”

  The other two nodded. “But where are my manners?” Robbie went on. “Emily, may I present Jimmy Hammond and Ray Barclay. Jimmy’s from Queensland and Ray is from Melbourne, where the people are almost as toffee-nosed as here.”

  “Just because we’re not savages like you, Kerr,” Ray Barclay said, shaking Emily’s hand. “There are some civilized people in Australia, you know.”

  “And who have we here?” Mrs Bryce came to join them. “More officers, I see.”

  “Mummy, these three lieutenants are all aviators, from Australia.”

  “Aviators? How terribly brave,” Mrs Bryce said. “But should you be out and about with your injuries?” She glanced down at their crutches and bandages. “Matron said she was only sending over young men who were almost ready to be released.”

  “I invited them, Mummy. They are far from home and need cheering up. Besides, they are fighting for a country that isn’t even their own. They deserve a treat.”

  “Very well.” Mrs Bryce nodded. “Please feel at home, gentlemen, but do be careful with those crutches. There are steps, and we will be on the lawn later. Oh look, Emily. It’s Colonel and Mrs Hetherington just arriving.” And Emily was taken off to meet the next arrivals.

  After that, the evening passed in a blur. Emily noticed that Clarissa was indeed surrounded by the officers. Emily had a hard time avoiding being cornered by Aubrey, who insisted on telling her long and complicated stories about the banking world in London. When she finally broke away and went to find Robbie, she came upon the three Australians standing beneath a large painting that hung in the drawing room. It was a portrait of a man on a horse, his hair in long cavalier curls.

  The Australians were chuckling when Emily found them. “I wonder if he went to sleep with curlers in his hair,” Jimmy was saying.

  “No, it’s a wig,” Robbie answered. “They wore wigs in those days.”

  “Rather him than me,” Ray said. “He looks a proper fairy, doesn’t he?”

  Emily noticed her mother standing in the doorway. Mrs Bryce frowned, then turned away. “You should probably be careful what you say.” She put a finger to her lips, glancing around. “Mummy’s really proud of that painting. She likes to hint that he was an ancestor. Of course, he wasn’t. She bought it at an estate sale.”

  “Yeah, you two,” Robbie said. “Behave yourselves. No more making fun of the pictures.”

  Supper was announced. Emily led Robbie and the others into the dining room. “You won’t be able to carry plates,” she said. “Why don’t you find seats outside and I’ll see that food is brought to you. What do you think you might like?”

  “My oath, this is some spread,” Ray Barclay said. “We haven’t seen food like this since we left home. At the hospital, it’s mainly stodge with a tiny sliver of meat occasionally. Or pies made out of potato and veg. Is this how people live around here, or just posh people like you?”

  “Oh no. We’ve been on rations ourselves,” Emily said. “It’s just that so many friends were generous for the party. A local farmer sent us the ham, and another one two-dozen eggs, and we grow the salad stuff in our own kitchen garden. Now what would you like—a taste of everything?”

  “What’s that?” Jimmy went over to a dish in the shape of a big fish. It was pink and shiny and decorated with sliced olives. He dipped his finger into it and popped it into his mouth. “It’s fish paste,” he said with distaste.

  “It is salmon mousse,” Mrs Bryce said in a cold voice, appearing in the doorway behind them. “We were fortunate enough to acquire a piece of salmon from Fortnum and Mason in London.”

  “Mousse? Is that like a Scottish mouse?” Jimmy asked, not seeing Emily’s warning frown.

  “No, it’s that thing with big horns,” Ray chimed in.

  “I’m not exactly sure how it is made,” Mrs Bryce said, her voice now clipped. “But it is one of Cook’s specialties.”

  With that, she swept off. Emily showed them to their seats and brought them plates before filling her own and coming to sit beside Robbie.

  “Sorry,” he muttered. “I can’t keep a rein on my friends when they’ve had a bit to drink. I think they upset your mum.”

  “She’s easily offended,” Emily whispered back.

  Clarissa came up to them. “Save me two seats, will you? I’m getting plates for me and for Lieutenant Hutchins.” She blushed a little. “He’s from Berkshire and his father plays golf at the same club as Daddy. Isn’t that amazing?”

  Emily smiled. It was turning into a good evening after all.

  After supper, the band was playing beside the dance floor. Emily’s father came up to her. “I think it’s only right that I claim the first dance with my daughter.” He held out his hand to her and led her on to the floor. “You’re looking very lovely tonight, my dear,” he said as they began to waltz. “Very grown-up suddenly. It’s hard to believe our little girl is now a woman.” There was a catch in his voice. Emily thought it was the first time he had spoken to her with any emotion for a long while.

  “Thank you, Daddy.” She smiled up at him.

  “I think the party is going well, don’t you?” he went on. “Your mother was in a frightful state about it, wasn’t she? Between ourselves, I was a little worried it was a bit much for her. But now I think it was a good idea, don’t you? It’s given her something to celebrate at last.”

  Emily nodded.

  They danced in silence, then he said, “So are you enjoying yourself?”

  “Immensely,” she said.

  “Fraternizing with the officers, I notice.” He gave her a wink. Then his face became sombre. “If I were you, I’d keep my distance until this wretched war is over. Only leads to heartbreak, my dear. You fall in love and then they are killed. You’ve already lost a beloved brother, so my advice to you is to keep your heart locked well away until peacetime. And from what we hear, that won’t be long, now that the Americans have joined the fr
ay.”

  Emily nodded and said nothing. As soon as the dance had ended, she made her way to where Robbie was sitting. He stood up as she approached. “I regret that I can’t ask you to dance with me. I used to be quite a dancer before the war. We only had kangaroos to dance with and they aren’t too fussy.”

  Emily laughed. “We could take a little stroll,” she said.

  “Rightio.” He grabbed his crutches. They weaved their way through the crowd until they were beyond the light of the lanterns. Music floated out across the lawn.

  “A grand party you have here,” he said. “No expense spared.”

  “I’m their only remaining child, and this is the closest they’ll get to presenting me formally into society.”

  “So you’re supposed to find a posh husband tonight, right?”

  “My father just warned me in quite the opposite direction. He told me not to fall in love until the end of the war because life is too precarious.”

  “So are you going to obey? Lock yourself away in an ivory tower until the war is over?”

  “I don’t think I can,” Emily said. “I’ve already lost the key to that tower.”

  They stood looking at each other, then he rested his crutch under his shoulder, took her chin in his hand and kissed her. That first kiss was a mere brushing of the lips, but then he pulled her closer and the kiss was long and demanding. As they broke apart, each a little breathless, Emily turned to see her mother standing at the edge of the crowd, staring in their direction.

  “I suppose I’d better go back to my guests,” she said shakily.

  The last guest left at two in the morning. Emily flopped down on to the sofa. “My feet are killing me,” she said to Clarissa.