She kept to herself how devastated they would have been for her at Jack’s death. Instead she took her hand off the steering wheel and patted Florence’s leg beneath the woollen blanket. ‘So how does it feel to be a married woman, Mrs Minton?’ she said in an effort to lighten the mood.
‘I’m not sure, if I’m honest,’ said Florence. ‘It’s almost as though I dreamt marrying Billy.’
‘It’ll take some getting used to,’ Romily said, again keeping to herself the sorrow she felt that she had been robbed of that chance. ‘It’s a shame you’ve got off to such a poor start,’ she added, ‘what with your accident and Billy back in barracks waiting to hear where he’ll be posted.’
‘That’s the worst of it,’ murmured Florence, ‘not knowing where he’ll end up and what kind of danger he’ll be in.’
So much for lightening the mood, thought Romily, pulling over towards the hedge in order to give a wide berth to an army convoy passing them on the other side of the road. These days it was a regular occurrence to come across military vehicles on the roads. The same was true of the sky, it was now a common sight to see a squadron of bombers flying overhead.
‘It’s good to be home,’ Florence said when Romily finally turned in at the entrance to Island House and came to a stop as near to the front door as she could manage. The driveway and garden were already completely covered in snow, drifts of it forming against the bushes.
‘It’s good to have you back,’ Romily said, stepping out of the car into the full force of the blizzard and hurrying round to the passenger side of the Bentley to help Florence out. ‘But under no circumstances are you to do any work until you’re quite well. As I told you before, I am laying down the law, and if you defy me, I shall take you straight back to the hospital, where you’ll have that sour-faced nurse to deal with.’
‘But I’ll go mad if I have to spend another day in bed. I’m sure I’m well enough to help around the house now. Just little things. Let me do that at least.’
Romily tutted. ‘Absolutely not. Here, lean on my arm, it’s treacherous underfoot. And don’t think about arguing. You’re my responsibility, Florence, as I promised Billy, and I fully intend to take the task of looking after you very seriously.’
They’d made it as far as the snow-covered steps when the front door opened and Mrs Partridge appeared in her apron. ‘Well God bless you both, there you are at last!’ she exclaimed, ushering them inside. ‘I was getting worried when I saw how fast the snow was coming down. They’re saying on the wireless that we’re in for a real spell of this weather. Come along in now; let’s get you both in the warm. I’ve got some milk warming for hot chocolate and a ginger cake fresh out of the oven. Here, let me take your hat and coat, Florence. Mercy me, you look half starved to death. I’ll soon put that right!’
Neither of them had a chance to get a word in as Mrs Partridge took their coats, hats, scarves and gloves, all the while keeping up a steady flow of talk about the weather and the awfulness of butter, sugar, bacon and ham now being rationed. ‘And as for that disgraceful Unity Mitford,’ she chuntered on, ‘well, I’m just appalled. If it had been left to me, and seeing as she’s such a big fan of Hitler, I’d have left her there to stew in her miserable traitor’s juices. Pity she didn’t make a better job of shooting herself, in my opinion.’
Romily winked at Florence and led the way to the inviting warmth of the kitchen, where they found Hope and the children waiting for them. Annelise immediately slipped down from her chair and greeted Florence with a beaming smile.
‘She’s been asking after you every day,’ Hope said. ‘She’s missed you terribly.’
‘And I’ve missed her,’ Florence said, bending stiffly to give Annelise a hug. ‘And you too, Stanley. What have you been up to while I’ve been away?’
‘I’ve taught Bobby a new trick. D’you wanna see it?’ the boy answered eagerly.
‘How about you let Florence get comfortable by the range first?’ suggested Romily. ‘And I’ll help Mrs Partridge with making some hot chocolate.’
‘There’s no need for that, Miss Romily,’ interjected Mrs Partridge. ‘I can manage. Why don’t you sit down as well? Can’t have us all bumping around into each other, can we now?’
‘Which is your polite way of telling me to get out of your way, isn’t it?’ said Romily with a laugh.
‘Not at all, perish the thought. I just want you to relax in the warm after driving through all that snow; it must have fair taken it out of you. Hope, perhaps you’d like to give me a hand by cutting the cake, please? And go sparingly with it, I used the last of the butter and sugar to make it.’
Both Hope and Romily did as they were instructed – it never failed to amuse Romily how they all did what Mrs Partridge told them to do – then settled themselves down to enjoy the sight of Bobby standing on his hind legs and mimicking Stanley as he stepped first to the right, then to the left, before turning around on the spot.
‘You could take that act on tour,’ smiled Florence. ‘Stanley and Bobby, the Amazing Duo!’
‘It has a certain ring to it,’ agreed Romily as boy and dog lapped up the attention and began chasing each other around the table. Annelise, squealing with delight, tried to join in on her little legs.
‘That’ll do, Stanley,’ warned Mrs Partridge above the din. ‘Florence needs peace and quiet, not a rowdy hullabaloo from the likes of you. I swear you’re becoming more of a nuisance than that wretched Lord Haw-Haw!’
‘Sorry,’ said Stanley, bringing Bobby instantly to heel with a single click of his fingers. ‘Can I go outside now?’
‘And what, pray, are you going to do out there, other than catch your death of cold?’
‘I promised Annelise I’d build ’er a snowman, she ain’t never seen one before.’
They all turned and looked dubiously out of the window at the rapidly falling snow. ‘Have something to eat and drink first,’ said Mrs Partridge, ‘then be sure to wrap up warm, I don’t want two invalids in the house to look after. I’ve got quite enough to do as it is, young man.’
‘I’m not an invalid,’ protested Florence. ‘Far from it.’
Mrs Partridge shook her head and wagged her finger. ‘You’ll consider yourself one until I say otherwise.’
‘I wouldn’t fight it,’ said Hope with a smile. ‘Just accept you’re up against a superior foe.’
