BooksBarbecue
Back The Return Save as PDF
Chapters (73)
  1. Cover
  2. About the Author
  3. Also by Anita Frank
  4. Note to Readers
  5. Dedication
  6. Part One
  7. Chapter One
  8. Chapter Two
  9. Chapter Three
  10. Chapter Four
  11. Chapter Five
  12. Chapter Six
  13. Chapter Seven
  14. Chapter Eight
  15. Chapter Nine
  16. Chapter Ten
  17. Chapter Eleven
  18. Chapter Twelve
  19. Chapter Thirteen
  20. Chapter Fourteen
  21. Chapter Fifteen
  22. Chapter Sixteen
  23. Chapter Seventeen
  24. Chapter Eighteen
  25. Chapter Nineteen
  26. Chapter Twenty
  27. Chapter Twenty-One
  28. Chapter Twenty-Two
  29. Chapter Twenty-Three
  30. Chapter Twenty-Four
  31. Chapter Twenty-Five
  32. Chapter Twenty-Six
  33. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  34. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  35. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  36. Chapter Thirty
  37. Chapter Thirty-One
  38. Chapter Thirty-Two
  39. Chapter Thirty-Three
  40. Chapter Thirty-Four
  41. Chapter Thirty-Five
  42. Chapter Thirty-Six
  43. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  44. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  45. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  46. Chapter Forty
  47. Part Two
  48. Chapter Forty-One
  49. Chapter Forty-Two
  50. Chapter Forty-Three
  51. Chapter Forty-Four
  52. Chapter Forty-Five
  53. Chapter Forty-Six
  54. Chapter Forty-Seven
  55. Chapter Forty-Eight
  56. Chapter Forty-Nine
  57. Chapter Fifty
  58. Chapter Fifty-One
  59. Chapter Fifty-Two
  60. Chapter Fifty-Three
  61. Chapter Fifty-Four
  62. Chapter Fifty-Five
  63. Chapter Fifty-Six
  64. Chapter Fifty-Seven
  65. Chapter Fifty-Eight
  66. Chapter Fifty-Nine
  67. Chapter Sixty
  68. Acknowledgements
  69. Extract
  70. Chapter One
  71. Chapter Two
  72. Chapter Three
  73. About the Publisher

‘My dear friends, neighbours and fellow parishioners, welcome to Netley Hall. I am delighted to see so many of you here today in support of St Peter’s Fete. Reverend Hardman … he twists to acknowledge the gracious man of God behind him, ‘and I are eternally grateful for your generosity, especially those of you who have donated time, energy and endeavour to make the fete the success it always is.’ He pauses, his smile fading to genial regret. ‘I am glad the rain that threatened our festivities today moved off in good time to see us blessed with this wonderful sunshine and warmth. I can only hope that the storm clouds that have been blighting our far horizons in recent days will similarly disperse, and I pray we find ourselves blessed by clear skies there also, in the not too distant future. We must keep faith with our politicians during these difficult times and trust them to steer us safely through this crisis. We must not give up hope. We must also remember that however dark the days may seem there is always joy to be found, and I am delighted to take this opportunity to share some good news with you now. I cannot think of a more appropriate setting to make such an announcement than this.’

As he pauses, a crow heckles from the branches of the cedar.

‘My son, Gordon, this morning asked Lady Helen Ashworth to be his wife, and to all our great delight … she said yes.’

Chapter Twenty-Four

Jack

July 1939

Jack is acutely aware of Gwen’s calcifying figure. She stares at the dais, her eyes glazed. It is as if Lord Allingham’s announcement has drained her soul and now only a lifeless shell remains.

A murmur whips around the crowd like a crisp leaf carried on a gust, rising and falling. Lord Allingham beckons his son forward and Gordon brings with him the young woman he had escorted from the Hall. Jack had benignly identified her then as a sister, but now she takes on a more sinister role. She is a blight on Gwen’s blooming heart, a canker set to devour her hopes and dreams.

Lady Helen is certainly a beautiful girl – it would be pointless to deny it. Fine-featured with high cheekbones and a long nose sculpted to perfection, her bud-like mouth creases with suppressed pleasure. She is all honey and roses and perfect for the summer afternoon setting, which seems to further enhance her natural charms. Gordon grips her hand. They bask in the light applause and calls of ‘Congratulations!’ that ring out from the crowd, beholding each other with ill-masked satisfaction that seems to say, This is it, we are born for this. In this moment they are adored. The announcement of their union has brought happiness to those they do not even know. It is a gift they bestow with benevolence.