Chapter Six

AUGUST 5TH, 1914

When I came down to breakfast the following morning, Northholme was quieter than ever. Mouse had taken her coffee out onto the terrace and was sipping it with the air of one lost in thought.

‘Owen and Edmund have gone,’ she announced as I approached.

‘Gone? Back to Oxford?’

‘No. They’re both determined to sign up and do their bit.’ She sighed. ‘They might at least have waited to see what happens, but they’ve both got this romantic notion of dashing off to save Belgium from the invader. There are such horrible stories in the newspapers this morning. Atrocities and what they do to women, and all that kind of thing. Vile. So they’ve gone off like knights in armour to rescue them. I so wish I was going with them.’

‘You don’t look like a soldier,’ I replied, with an attempt at a smile.

‘Neither does Edmund,’ she replied gloomily. ‘But I can see Owen dashing around in uniform being horribly heroic. He always insisted on playing King Arthur when we were little. Edmund isn’t like that. I can’t imagine him killing anyone.’

‘Like Hugo said, it might all blow over and be nothing at all.’

Mouse drained her coffee. ‘Yes. I just can’t help thinking that’s what everyone in every war must have thought. I’m sure all those villagers in Belgium were praying it never happened. And I bet the people who weren’t soldiers in Troy were hoping the Greeks would just go away and it would all be all right. The worst thing is knowing there’s nothing you can do about it. I’m not sure I believe in God anymore, but I know why people pray.’ She shivered slightly. ‘In Paris you could feel the fear and the powerlessness. It was horrible. I hope that never happens here.’ Her eyes went past me to where Alice was emerging from the house to join us. She brightened.

‘Come on, let’s have breakfast. I’m starving. Since the men have all abandoned us and Papa is threatening to join George in London too, we might as well have fun. I’m going to keep my promise, Alice, and teach you to drive.’

‘Aren’t you afraid I might wreck your automobile?’ replied Alice. Her step lightened and her eyes shone with anticipation.

‘Of course not,’ said Mouse. ‘I’m a very good teacher. I’ll have you driving in no time.’ She grinned. ‘In fact, I’ll have you driving by luncheon, Alice. Then it’s your turn, Elin.’

I stared at her. ‘I’m not sure…’

‘Go on,’ said Mouse, mischievously. ‘You don’t have to tell Hugo, and who knows, you might enjoy it. It’s all the rage nowadays, you know. Who knows where it might take you?’

* * *

All that morning I sat under the awning on the lawn pretending to read my book. However hard I tried, I was unable to keep my eyes from Alice easing the car gingerly down the drive, turning at the entrance and then making her way back – often with at least one dangerous waver towards the lawn.

After several journeys she began to move faster, until the automobile shot off at speed. Mouse shrieked delightedly as they cleared the gates and sped out onto the road. The roar of the engine faded into the distance.

I abandoned my book. I felt quite sure I would never see either of them again. But after half an hour or so the engine roar returned, followed by Alice sailing up the drive at a sedate pace.

‘We went right round the lanes. That was the most exciting thing I’ve ever done!’ she exclaimed as she brought the vehicle to a halt and jumped out. ‘You’ve got to try it Elin. It’s wonderful.’

Mouse, I realised with a slight sinking in my stomach, had not moved from her seat. Her grin was a challenge. ‘You don’t have to go far, Elin. We can stop straight away if you don’t like it.’

I laughed. ‘You are determined to have your way, Mouse.’

‘Of course. I always do. Haven’t you noticed? Come on Elin. I won’t force you to carry on if you really hate it. Just once, down the drive. I’m dying of thirst, so we’ll have to stop for a cup of tea anyhow.’

There was nothing for it. I took my place in the driver’s seat. The next few minutes were the most terrifying of my life. I had never been in charge of such a huge, cumbersome machine that flew – or so it felt – from under me. The pedals baffled. The steering wheel had a life of its own. And the machinery – it was a monster raring to be let off the leash to create havoc. No wonder Hugo always insisted I sat on the back seat surrounded by cushions.

After a great deal of crashing and banging we started with a shudder. ‘That’s it! That’s it!’ cried Mouse. ‘Now try the brake, just as I showed you.’

We screeched to an abrupt halt. ‘Sorry!’ Mouse was nearly sent hurtling out of the windscreen and my entire body slammed against the steering wheel, winding me.

Mouse laughed. ‘You’re doing just fine, Elin. I crashed Edmund’s automobile into a hedge the first time I tried, and dented a wing.’

I glanced at her. ‘Really?’

‘Oh goodness, yes. I was horribly impatient. Poor Edmund nearly banned me entirely before I got the hang of it. It’s so unlike anything you’ve ever done before. It’s just a matter of getting used to it.’

I took a deep breath and grasped the steering wheel again. Mouse might always get her own way, but I never gave up. More than one of my governesses had numbered being stubborn amongst my failings. I had done my very best not to be ever since. Now I could feel all of my unladylike, dig-your-heels-in pride taking over.

‘Hold on, Mouse, here we go!’ By fits and starts we made our way down the driveway. At the gateway I turned it around. The steering wheel was heavy, taking all my strength to pull it over. I followed Mouse’s instructions, bewildered as to which way the vehicle would go.

‘Well done,’ Mouse said, as I finally manoeuvred the thing so it was facing the house again.

‘I don’t know what I was doing.’

‘Oh, that’s just practice. At the moment you’re trying to work it out with your mind. To really get going, you have to let yourself feel the way it moves. You’ll see.’

I threw her a sceptical look, took a deep breath and set off again. This time it was easier. By the time we reached Alice I was beginning to enjoy the cool breeze and the shrubs on either side shooting past.

‘One more try and you’ll get it,’ announced Mouse, as I brought the automobile to a stop without throwing us both over the windscreen. ‘Come on…then we’ll have tea.’

This time I dared to go a little faster. As we reached the front gates I could glimpse what Mouse meant. I was getting a feel for it. I was in control of the vehicle rather than the machine being in control of me. And I didn’t want it to end.

I pulled up at the entrance. ‘I suppose we’d better go back.’

‘I suppose so,’ said Mouse. Her challenge of a grin was back. I set the Chevrolet in motion again and slid through the open gates, leaving the gateman shaking his head at a respectable married woman being led so far astray. I caught Mouse’s eye and we burst into laughter as I took to the road.

Staying clear of the hedgerows was the terrifying bit. The first few bends nearly did for me, but by the time we turned onto the lane between the fields I’d got the hang of it. Although I was thankful for the lack of any vehicle coming the other way.

‘This is wonderful!’ I cried, as the hedges shot past in the flash of an eye.

‘The best thing next to flying,’ Mouse called back, tucking her headscarf firmly into her blouse. ‘I bet you don’t dare make it to the village.’

‘I bet you I do.’

Within minutes the thatched roofs of the first cottages appeared between the trees. ‘Better slow down,’ yelled Mouse. ‘They still don’t expect motor vehicles and you don’t want to run anyone over.’

I slowed to a crawl. Which was as well, since the next bend took us into the path of a group of girls playing hopscotch on the road. They jumped to the side of the road squealing as we passed. I slowed even further as I took us twice around the village green. The ancient sheepdog moved unwillingly out of our way, panting too hard to bark. Windows were thrown open at the sound of the engine and shopkeepers appeared at their doors to stare. The second time around we were followed by a gang of boys who ran in our dusty wake trying to keep up with us. I didn’t dare attempt a third circuit, for fear the entire village might turn out to watch, so I took the road back towards Northholme Manor, leaving the boys far behind.

We arrived back at Northholme in one piece. I pulled up in front of the lawn, where Alice was dancing from one foot to the other in an agony of anticipation.

‘I told you it was good,’ said Mouse, jumping out. ‘We got to the village, Alice. You should have seen their faces when they realised it was a woman driving. They’ve got used to me and they know I’m wild anyhow, but I’m sure none of them ever thought they’d see a woman like Elin driving round the village green.’

I pulled myself out. My head was swimming, my arms ached and my legs wobbled like Cook’s best blancmange, so that I could barely walk. I’d never felt better.

‘I’ll order tea,’ said Alice, looking at me anxiously as I collapsed into a chair. ‘I didn’t get anywhere near the village and that was quite enough.’

I smiled at her. ‘So, where else can we go?’

Mouse turned to Alice. ‘Where’s the place you’d like to go most in the world? And you, Elin?’

‘Aunt Catrin,’ I said, without thinking.

Mouse looked at me.

‘Aunt Catrin has a farm on Anglesey,’ explained Alice. ‘We used to visit there when we were little. It’s very beautiful.’

I felt an ache, deep in my heart. Aunt Catrin was the nearest thing I had to a mother since Mama had died. She had the same dark, understanding eyes. Today, more than ever, I longed for her arms to come about me and hold me tight. To be able to tell her the things I could never speak of, not even to Alice. ‘Only it’s much too far to go,’ I admitted. ‘Nearly as far as Scotland.’

‘Anglesey.’ I looked up at Mouse’s tone. ‘That’s an island north of Wales, isn’t it?’

‘Just off the coast,’ said Alice. ‘You reach it by a bridge.’

‘Mountains and castles and an island,’ said Mouse. ‘If we go after Papa leaves tomorrow, we can say we’re going to visit my Aunt Mary in Cheltenham. No one need ever know.’

Alice blinked. ‘You can’t be serious, Mouse. It would take us at least two days to get there. Where would we stay?’

‘We’d find a hotel,’ said Mouse airily. She caught the look on our faces. ‘Don’t worry, I’ve got my allowance. I can easily pay for a room for us all, it won’t be more than a room just for me and I’d be much more stared at on my own. We can be three eccentric lady historians in search of Celtic mysteries. Or botanists, or something. No one will notice. It will be such an adventure. With this war and everything, we might all be dead soon.’ She jumped to her feet. ‘Come on, if we go back now, we can start packing.’

‘She’ll have changed her mind by the morning,’ I said, as Mouse disappeared inside the house.

‘I don’t think so, somehow,’ replied Alice.

Panic shot through me. We had always made the journey to Anglesey cocooned in the comfort of a railway carriage. Other than that, I had barely travelled more than a few miles from Port Helen in my life. And how could we set off like this with a war erupting around us? ‘But we can’t,’ I protested. ‘You and I can barely drive, and shouldn’t we be preparing in case there is a war?’

‘I think that’s the point,’ said Alice. ‘We’re just expected to sit here and wait, not knowing what is happening. I think Mouse has to be doing something. Especially now her brothers and Owen could well be in the thick of it. I have a feeling nothing is about to dissuade her.’ She smiled reassuringly. ‘I’m not sure I want to just hang around here and wait, either, with too much time on our hands, and our imaginations running riot. And it might be our only chance to see Aunt Catrin for ages.’

‘I suppose,’ I said slowly, with a feeling of being swept along despite myself.

Alice jumped to her feet. ‘Come on. Mouse is right. The less time we have to think about what might be waiting for us in the future the better, and I’m with Mouse: I’d rather not think at all.’