Jenny's War by Margaret Dickinson Read Free Book Online Page A

“squire” when he came here in – when was it?’
    Mabel wrinkled her brow thoughtfully. ‘It must be twelve or thirteen years ago.’ Her expression softened. ‘Do you remember when they arrived? How little Georgie – he must have been about six – marched up the aisle of the church and announced to the congregation who he was.’ She was smiling fondly now. ‘ “I’m Georgie,” he said. “I’m six and we’ve come to live at the manor.” I’ll never forget it. Such an adorable little boy. A blond, blue-eyed little cherub. We all fell in love with him and Charlotte most of all. She adored him. Still does.’
    Len nodded and his voice was husky. ‘Yes, and he’s grown into a fine young man and now’ – he paused and met his wife’s gaze – ‘he’s in the RAF. And it’ll be in the hands of young men like him that our salvation lies.’
    Mabel wiped her eyes with the corner of her apron. ‘Poor Charlotte and poor Miles. What if all Miles’s boys go to war? Philip and Ben too.’ Philip, the eldest Thornton boy, was a solicitor with a law firm in London. Ben, the middle son, now ran the Ravensfleet estate and, in particular, Home Farm. ‘What if—?’
    ‘Don’t, Mabel. Don’t even think about it.’ There was a pause before Len cleared his throat and said more briskly, ‘But I think Miles and Charlotte are looking for something to take their minds off what their sons might do.’
    ‘They’re not Charlotte’s sons, though, are they?’ Mabel murmured.
    Miles Thornton had been a widower with three young sons when he’d bought the Ravensfleet estate and moved into the manor thirteen years earlier. Two years later he’d married Charlotte Crawford, the only child of an embittered man who resented her for being a daughter and not the son he’d craved.
    ‘But she loves them all like they’re her own,’ Mabel said softly now. ‘And they’re all she’s likely to have. After eleven years of marriage, there’s still no sign of a child. I don’t suppose there ever will be now.’
    Len sighed. ‘Aye, poor lass, tied for years to that miserable tyrant of a father, but at least she’s found happiness with Miles.’
    ‘But we all know that they’d love more children.’
    Len laughed. ‘And Miles has made no secret of the fact that he’s always longed for a daughter. Ironic, isn’t it, that old man Crawford made poor Charlotte’s life a misery because she wasn’t a boy and then Miles, with his three sons, wanted a daughter. Well, now he can have one. Jenny Mercer.’
    Mabel gave a wry laugh. ‘I don’t think she’s exactly what he had in mind.’
    ‘I’m going to telephone him anyway. They don’t have to have her.’
    Mabel closed her eyes as if in fervent prayer. ‘Oh, but please God, they do.’
    When Len told her that the Thorntons had agreed to take the girl, Mabel began to feel guilty that she was handing over such a problem child to Charlotte.
    ‘I’ve grown up with Charlotte. I can’t do that to her. I’ll have one more go to get Jenny to have a bath before they collect her.’
    ‘You’ll have to be quick about it. They’re coming for her straight away. Can’t wait, by the sound of the excitement in Miles’s voice.’
    Mabel pulled a face. ‘Maybe they won’t be so keen when they see her. Anyway, I’ll see what I can do.’
    The Tomkinses had a proper bathroom, not just a zinc bath in front of the fire on a Friday night. Mabel filled the bath with warm water and then went downstairs.
    ‘Jenny,’ she began, ‘you’re going to stay with some lovely people at a big house with a big garden where you’ll be able to play. They’re coming to pick you up very soon. Now, don’t you think it would be nice if you looked your best?’
    Jenny, guessing what was coming, put on her most innocent look. ‘You’ve sponged me coat. It doesn’t smell any more.’
    ‘But your hair would look so much prettier if you washed it and—’ Mabel got no further as Jenny opened her