Read In Love and War for Free Online Page B

you in the morning, first thing, and don’t be late.’
    â€˜Thank you, Mrs Coker.’
    Elsie found herself alone in the vast echoing kitchen. The silence was worse than the general hubbub of voices and the clattering of pots and pans. It was hot and stuffy and she took her cap off, wiping the perspiration from her brow. She had finished mopping the floor and was about take the bucket outside and empty its contents down the drain when she heard quick footsteps on the stairs. She turned and was surprised to see that it was Marianne who entered the room. She paused, a picture of elegance in a cream shantung outfit with the fashionable peg top silhouette, which made her look as though she had stepped from the pages of
Weldon’s Ladies’ Journal
. She stopped, staring at Elsie in amazement. ‘You did it. You cut your hair.’
    â€˜I wanted a change.’
    â€˜Good for you,’ Marianne said, smiling. ‘It suits you.’
    â€˜Did you want something, miss?’
    â€˜Yes, I was looking for you as it happens.’ The hobble skirt forced Marianne to take tiny steps as she made her way carefully across the wet floor. ‘I was so sorry to hear about your mother. I would have come down earlier but Henri had to leave for London and his parents are returning to Paris, so I drove them to the station.’
    Elsie shivered even though the heat in the kitchen was stifling. She had hoped to see Henri again, if only to thank him for his kindness, but now he had gone she felt as though she had lost more than a friend. ‘Of course,’ she murmured. ‘I understand.’
    Marianne hesitated, biting her lip. ‘It’s rough luck, old thing. I know what it’s like to be without your mother, even though mine is still in the land of the living.’ She threw up her hands. ‘I’m saying all the wrong things, but I just wanted you to know that you have our sympathy, and if there’s anything I can do to help . . .’ Her voice tailed off. ‘You’re not crying, are you?’
    Elsie dashed her hand across her eyes. ‘No, Miss Marianne. I’m just a bit tired, that’s all.’
    â€˜Of course you are. I doubt if you slept much last night.’
    â€˜I’m fine, really I am, and I must get on.’
    â€˜Yes, I understand.’ Marianne began to retrace her steps, but stopped, turning to Elsie with an embarrassed smile. ‘Look, I realise things must be difficult for you – financially, I mean. I wouldn’t have thought of it myself, but Henri said you were probably a bit hard up and, well, to be blunt, Elsie, what I’m trying to say is I want you to send the account for the funeral expenses to me.’
    â€˜To you?’ Elsie stared at her in astonishment. ‘Why would you want to pay for my mother’s funeral?’
    â€˜I’ve just come into the money left to me by my grandfather, and it seems the right thing to do. You must allow me to help, if only to prove to Henri that I’m not a spoilt army brat, I’m quite the reverse, in fact.’
    â€˜He asked you to do this for me?’
    â€˜Not exactly, but he’s very generous and does all sorts of things for his employees when they’re in difficulties. Besides which he’s as rich as Croesus, which explains my family’s clumsy attempts at match-making.’ Marianne gurgled with laughter. ‘Don’t look so shocked; it’s still the done thing in my set, but I’m not playing their game. Henri and I are like brother and sister. I’ll pick the man I want to marry. Anyway, I’m digressing. Will you allow me to do this for you?’
    â€˜I – I don’t know what to say.’
    Marianne put her head on one side, frowning. ‘I’m free this afternoon, as it happens, and I’m at a loose end. Why don’t I come with you to see the vicar? It’s clear that you could use a