by Milly Adams
Pierre – or Claude, his real name – had been Andrew’s best man. Shortly afterwards, word came through that Madame Lavender had been betrayed and shot, along with her lover, the doctor.
In the spring of 1947, which ended one of the coldest winters in living memory, Kate and Sarah walked together towards the woods. They talked of the severe rationing that was designed to get the country back on its feet, and of the formation of the welfare state, but fell silent as they walked further into the woods, beneath the budding beech trees.
The buds were bursting, the sky was blue above the branches and the birds were singing as they reached the clearing. They laid flowers where the gypsy camp fire had been, in memory of Andrei and his friends who had not returned and had perhaps died at the hands of the Nazis, as so many gypsies had. For a long moment they stared at the circle of rich green grass, which seemed to be a legacy of the wood ash.
‘It must never happen again,’ Sarah said, as Andrew, Lizzy, Tom, Amelia Lavender and Mrs B, with her paramour, Frankie from the Blue Cockatoo, stood with them.
Kate remembered Andrei’s mother patting her breast and saying, ‘Feel it – feel the music, my little bird. Dance with your heart and you will be brave and free.’ She remembered the dancing and singing, the life and energy.
Tom put his arm around her. ‘Their spirit remains.’
She nodded. It certainly remained here, in this clearing, for her; and always would.
She looked at Sarah. ‘Come along, everyone, we have Colonel Bill Secker and his wife coming to the vicarage for lunch. Do you remember, I danced the tango with him at the Blue Cockatoo when you came to summon me home, Sarah?’
‘I do.’ Sarah remembered the young, young soldier, remembered how he’d appeared to her in her darkest times. She was so glad to hear he’d survived. Then suddenly, snapped from her reminiscing, she realised what Kate had said. ‘You said “home”. Is it?’
Kate laughed softly. ‘Can you doubt it, when I’m surrounded by my family and friends, including those who come down regularly from the Blue Cockatoo.’
The two women walked on together, as Tom strolled with Andrew.
Kate said, ‘Roberto and the gang will be down in the summer.’ She added in a whisper, looking behind her, ‘I wonder if Frankie and Mrs B have danced the tango?’
The two of them were still laughing as they re-entered the village.
Tom caught up and put his arm around Kate, who repeated her question. He laughed. ‘Which one is going to be brave enough to ask?’
No-one volunteered.
THE END
Can’t wait to read more from the wonderful Milly Adams?
The start of a new series, follow Polly, Verity and Bet as they work their way along the London-Birmingham canals. They might be transporting supplies for the war effort, but they’ve their own battles to fight along the way.
Out 7 September 2017
Available to pre-order now in paperback and ebook
ALSO BY MILLY ADAMS
June 1940, Waterloo Station
On one of the hottest days of the year, newly-qualified teacher Phyllie Saunders is evacuated with her school to Dorset.
As she struggles to control the crowd of tearful children, she sees Sammy. Her oldest and dearest friend is on the way to join his submarine, and as he kisses her goodbye, everything changes for them.
But now that war is tearing them apart, is it too late?
Phyllie throws herself into village life, determined to protect and nurture the children in her care. But war leaves no one untouched, and Phyllie will need all the support of the community to help her through the next few years, as she waits and prays for Sammy’s safe return …
ALSO BY MILLY ADAMS
May 1940, England
Bryony and Hannah are sisters, but they couldn’t be more different. And the war has created a rift between them.
Hannah is young and headstrong. No one will stop her from doing what she wants, and she wants to stay in Jersey. But Bryony is happiest amongst her family and loved ones, and at Combe Lodge everyone is pitching in. The family home has filled with evacuees and Bryony has joined the ATA, helping to ferry planes across the country, whatever the risk.
When Jersey is occupied by the enemy, Bryony knows she needs to reach out to save her sister. But is she too late?
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Epub ISBN: 9781473538788
Version 1.0
Published by Arrow Books 2017
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Copyright © Milly Adams 2017
Cover images © Getty, Alamy
Milly Adams has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this Work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
First published in Great Britain by Arrow Books in 2017
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A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 9781784756901
