Beyond the Shadow of War by Diane Moody Read Free Book Online Page A

British royalty. “Why would anyone need such a large house? I can’t even imagine it.”
    “I think it’s more than just a residence.” Danny stood beside her with his hands on the rails. “Apparently it’s an actual working palace.”
    “I imagine it’s beautiful inside, don’t you?”
    “I’m sure it is, though a bit formal for my taste.”
    She cast him a look and rolled her eyes before glancing back at the palace. “Doesn’t look as if it was damaged during the war. I would think Hitler would have put a target on it.”
    “Actually, the palace was bombed sixteen times during the war, nine of them direct hits.”
    At the sound of the English accent, they turned to find the couple they’d seen earlier in the café. The American stood a full head taller than his young wife who smiled kindly at them, his arm draped casually across her shoulders.
    “Oh, hello … again,” Danny said.
    “I promise we’re not following you,” she teased. “We wanted to stop by the palace again before Jack leaves. This is where we first met.”
    “Here?” Danny asked.
    “Yes, right here. I’d just introduced myself when the air raid sirens blew, of all things,” he explained. “We rushed into that shelter over there and waited it out together.”
    “My friends couldn’t believe I fell in love during a raid.” She smiled up at her husband.
    “You’re leaving, Lieutenant? Heading home by any chance?” Danny asked.
    “Yes, home to the good ol’ USA. Just got my orders yesterday.”
    “Congratulations. Where do you call home?”
    “Long Island. You?”
    “Chicago.”
    “Sox or Cubs?”
    “Cubs, all the way. How about you? Dodgers, Giants, or Yankees?”
    “Yankees all the way.”
    “Well, I won’t hold that against you,” Danny teased. He held out his hand. “I’m Danny McClain, and this is my wife Anya Ver‌—‌I mean, Anya McClain .” He slipped his arm around her waist. “I still have to get used to that. We just got married. Yesterday, as a matter of fact.”
    The girl beamed. “Truly? Because Jack and I just got married four weeks ago.”
    Jack gave her neck a squeeze then kissed her soundly.
    Anya thought Jack quite handsome with a ready smile, clear blue eyes, and neatly-trimmed blond-brown hair beneath his cap. His pretty wife looked up at him with adoring eyes, then turned her attention to them, her eyes sparkling with humor.
    “You’ll have to forgive my husband,” she said.
    “Forgive me for what? I’m not going to see you for months, so I’ve got to steal all the kisses I can.”
    “Fine, very well, love, but please give me a moment, will you?” She laughed, stretching out her hand to Anya. “I’m Sybil. Sybil Townsend. It’s lovely to meet you.”
    “Nice to meet you, too.”
    “And when will your lieutenant be heading back to the States?”
    Anya glanced at Danny. “We’re not sure, are we?”
    “My orders haven’t come through yet. I’m hoping to stay behind and help close down the 390th so I can have more time with Anya.”
    “The 390th,” Jack began. “That’s near Framlingham, right?”
    “Yes. Not far from Ipswich.”
    “I had a buddy back home who was stationed there a couple years ago. His Fort was shot down over Merseburg in ’44.”
    “Sorry to hear that.”
    “I’m just thankful you made it through.” Sybil glanced over at Danny. “And you too, Lieutenant.”
    “Where were you stationed?” Danny asked.
    “Just up the road from you at Bury St. Edmunds with the 94th.”
    Sybil’s tone brightened as she changed the subject. “Yes, well, what would you like to know about the palace? Consider me your personal tour guide. I’ve lived here all my life.”
    “Did you say it took nine direct hits during the war? It looks undamaged.”
    “Quite, but you see, most of the damage happened earlier during the Blitz, the worst of it in September of 1940. A German raider took aim at the palace and dropped five separate bombs, damaging the inner court