Heartwarming and emotional story of one girl's courage in WW2 Fenella Miller (best books for 8th graders txt) 📖

this the better. Jimmy said I’m to stay put the rest of today but can potter about downstairs tomorrow. I’ll need to use your telephone.’

‘That might be a bit tricky. I’ve taken on Mrs Branston from the village to act as housekeeper until my mother comes home.’

‘Bloody hell! Does that mean she’ll be here all day?’

‘I’m afraid it does. She’s starting at six to make Dad’s breakfast, then she’ll do a hot meal for lunchtime. I suppose I could suggest that she goes home for a couple of hours after that and then comes back to make supper for us all.’

‘If you don’t mind, that would be great. I can’t risk anyone overhearing my conversations.’ She waited as if expecting him to tell her more. ‘I’m going to ring my uncle and tell him I’ve got the envelope. It’s up to him to contact whoever is looking for it and no doubt they’ll let me know what to do next.’

‘And what if Joe’s already in custody? I’m sure your aunt won’t know anything about it. What will you do then?’

‘God knows! I can hardly post an advert in The Daily Sketch…’

‘I don’t see why not. Everybody reads a newspaper, although I’m not sure The Daily Sketch is the best one in the circumstances.’

‘The newspapers on the shelf – can you remember what was in the pile?

‘Mainly Evening Standards, Daily Sketches and Expresses. It would be a lot cheaper to put a personal ad in an evening paper –they were full of them. We need to think of the wording and, as we don’t know the name of the man we want to contact, that’s going to be difficult.’

‘I’ll ring Joe tomorrow. It’s possible he’s still at home and we can just post the envelope to him and forget about it.’

‘If there’s nothing else, I must go and change. Dad’s been really understanding about all this and the least he deserves is a hot meal when he comes home.’ She paused at the door. ‘Did he say anything about my mother? I have a nasty feeling she’s left him. She’s been threatening to go for years and I think his behaviour at her party was the last straw.’

‘What did he do, for God’s sake?’

‘He refused to mix with her guests for more than half an hour and then he was rude to those that he did speak to. They’ll be happier apart. I know that’s a shocking thing to say but why should people stay together when they’re making each other miserable?’

‘It’s what folks do. I won’t get married unless I’m sure we’ll stick together. My aunt stuck with Joe and I think that’s how it should be.’

She stared at him if he was something unpleasant she’d discovered stuck to the bottom of her shoe. ‘Well, Mr Reynolds, I’m glad we’ve got that clear.’

The fact that she didn’t slam the door, but closed it quietly, made him feel like a heel. What had made him spout off that rubbish? Hardly tactful in the circumstances. He closed his eyes and flopped back on the pillows wishing he’d kept his trap shut. He liked Ellie, she’d saved his life if Jimmy was to be believed, and now he’d alienated her – maybe for good.

His gaze kept returning to the suitcase. He’d said it would be better if he didn’t know the contents of the envelope but maybe he was wrong about that as well. He rolled out of bed and stood up slowly. His legs felt as if they belonged to someone else but apart from that he was fine.

He staggered across the room like an old man. His right arm was in a sling. He wasn’t sure if he could use his left to stretch up without worsening his injury. If he was going to discover what Joe had been hiding, he had no choice.

The suitcase was heavier than he’d expected and he lost his grip. It crashed to the floor scattering its contents onto the central rug. He staggered a few steps, lost his balance and fell onto his knees. The impact jarred his shoulder and his head spun with the pain.

The door burst open and Ellie erupted into the room. She dropped to her knees beside him all signs of her previous animosity gone. ‘Let me help you up. If you hang onto the bed post with your good arm I think we can manage it.’

His stomach was churning and for a horrible moment he thought he was going to vomit. Then it passed and he was able to answer. ‘Give me a minute. I’m okay – just shocked. I’ll get up on my own.’

She didn’t argue but waited quietly beside him whilst he gathered himself. He grasped the end of the bed and heaved. His knees almost buckled again and if she hadn’t steadied him he would have gone down a second time.

‘Two steps to the left and you’ll be in bed again.’

He gritted his teeth and did as she said. She had to lift his legs from the floor and put them between the sheets as he didn’t have the strength to do it himself. It took him several minutes to feel well enough to speak.

‘It’s a good thing your dad gave me some pyjamas as I usually sleep starkers.’ This wasn’t what he’d intended to say but it was what he’d been thinking. He opened his eyes expecting her to look a bit embarrassed by his comment.

She was laughing at him. ‘I’m a farm girl, I grew up with two brothers, there’s nothing you’ve got that I haven’t seen before.’

Ten

Jack’s eyes widened and he glanced at his crotch. He must think he’d exposed himself. She flushed scarlet. ‘Don’t worry, you remained decent throughout.’

To cover her embarrassment, she dropped to the floor and began to scramble about collecting the assorted detritus spilled from the old suitcase. There were dozens of photographs of strangers strutting about in a grand house and for a moment she was puzzled.

‘These