‘James, we are not at war, nor likely to be. This makes our Luke happy and he’s good at it. Captain Pierce said Luke was one of this year’s leading cadets. He’s already put his name down to go to Hagley Park next year, to train with cadets from Eton and Harrow and elsewhere in the country. You should be proud of him.’ Isabelle smiled at Luke, who looked a little crestfallen. ‘Luke, sing your father the song that I heard you and the other cadets singing about Giggleswick forming a military band – you know, the one that is sung along to the tune of “The British Grenadiers”.’

‘Do I have to, Mother? Father is obviously not impressed.’ Luke stood uncomfortably and ran his finger around his high-collared tunic.

‘Yes, go on, and then he will understand the pride that you boys have in being an officer-in-training at Giggleswick.’

James sighed as his son stood awkwardly in front of him and started to sing:

‘Our numbers have increased this term; our Recruitment Sergeant’s grand.

To make us quite complete, we lack but a stirring military band;

And if our CO speaks the truth, next term there’ll surely be

An ear-splitting Rat-a-plan, Toot, Toot, Toot, from the Giggleswick OTC.’

Luke breathed in deeply as he finished and looked across at his father, waiting for any praise that might come his way.

‘Perhaps you would be better joining that band, instead of being so handy with that gun of yours. But, as per usual, your mother will decide, and I will not be listened to.’ James rose from his seat and walked away from his wife and son, who was intent on going down the military path even though there was unrest in the world. Neither of them knew what they were doing; to Luke, it was just a game, and in Isabelle’s eyes he was doing something she could be proud of.

‘Don’t listen to your father, he’s just in one of his moods. You concentrate on doing as well as you can in all your subjects, and with the OTC. I can see you making an officer, if what Captain Pierce says is correct.’ Isabelle smiled at her son.

‘Yes, Mother, I enjoy my role in the cadets. I feel that I’m doing something special for my country. And Father is right that we are training in case war ever comes, but I’m not even seventeen yet, so I’d be too young to go anyway.’