The House of Vandekar by Evelyn Anthony Page A

WVS and rolled bandages and made smalltalk. Boredom and frustration made her short-tempered. One day she said to Hugo, ‘I can’t go on sitting down here, wasting my time with all these old frumps from the village. I’m so bored I could scream. I want to go to London. I want to do something. Something positive to help.’
    â€˜You’re not going to London,’ he said flatly. ‘You’re not putting yourself in danger just because you’re bored. Fern needs you.’
    â€˜Fern doesn’t know me from a bar of soap!’ she retorted. ‘You don’t want me up there because of Celia! It’s all right for her to be a bloody heroine driving ambulances through the Blitz, but I’ve got to sit here doing nothing.’
    â€˜Celia has no responsibilities. She has a reason for being a bloody heroine, as you put it. Forbes was killed, remember. She minded about that.’
    â€˜Did she really? Good for her. I thought she might have been relieved. It’s left the way clear for the two of you.’ Alice lit a cigarette. ‘Not that I mind, don’t think that. I said you were entitled to her, didn’t I?’
    â€˜Yes,’ Hugo answered, ‘you did, and I took you at your word. I’d still give her up if you asked me to.’ He turned away, not wanting her to see his face. Or to know how much she could still hurt him.
    â€˜Oh, don’t start that again,’ she said. ‘I didn’t mean to be bitchy. I’m just on edge. I love being at Ashton but I want to do something useful instead of just sitting here. I’m sure people criticize me for it behind my back. I’m sure they do.’
    â€˜Well,’ Hugo said after a pause, ‘if you’re serious, there is something that might answer all the problems. I haven’t mentioned it because I didn’t think you’d welcome the idea.’
    She looked at him in surprise. ‘What is it? Come on, tell me.’
    â€˜It’s been suggested that we turn the house into a convalescent home,’ he said.
    â€˜Ashton? Make it a hospital with a lot of people taking over and running my home?’
    â€˜I thought that would be your reaction. Before you dismiss it, I have to warn you, it can be done with or without our consent. I’m going down to see someone in hospital at Horton. Why don’t you come down with me, Alice? You might change your mind and we can offer Ashton without having it requisitioned anyway.’
    Alice hated illness. She was healthy and strong, inclined to be impatient with anyone who wasn’t. The quickest way to bore her was to mention sickness. But the hospital ward at Horton was different. Hugo’s friend, a man she’d never met, was a Hurricane pilot who had broken both legs after baling out. He was cheerful and kept making jokes. But there were others. Men so badly burned they were swathed like mummies. Men in pain, semi-conscious, men hidden behind screens, and she knew what that meant without being told. Mostly RAF, Hugo said. A lot of casualties among the pilots. Bombers limping back with wounded and dying crew members aboard.
    Driving back in the car she said nothing. He saw her take a handkerchief out of her bag and wipe her eyes; she couldn’t help herself. He reached over and squeezed her hand. How often had he said to himself that he hated her, and yet he couldn’t bear to see her cry. ‘It was pretty awful, but at least you know what’s involved.’
    â€˜They were so young,’ Alice said. ‘Some of them looked such babies. I feel the most selfish, spoiled creature. Moaning about being bored. God, Hugo, what kind of a person have I turned into? What’s happened to me?’
    â€˜I don’t know,’ he said quietly. ‘You have changed, Alice. We both have.’
    She looked at him. ‘Then I’m going to damn well unchange. We’ll turn Ashton into the best damned convalescent