Maudie insisted Flora came to visit her in Lucerne. She was working in a special lakeside clinic for nervous disorders, with its own private beach. Maudie’s generous heart wanted Flora to have a change of scene, away from the Lamonts.
It had been a year of visits to the Highlands, with Allan and Virginia and the boys. They were planning a quiet wedding. Flora had also been down to the Cotswolds to spend a holiday with Drusilla and Lionel in Bordley Court. The old house had been transformed by Lionel into a luxurious residence. He had brought in a designer to redecorate the rooms, improve the kitchen and freshen up all the bedrooms.
‘I can never thank you enough for bringing my sister back to life again,’ Lionel said, when they were alone after dinner one night. ‘She’s even learned how to drive!’
They spent meals discussing the rise of Herr Hitler in Germany. Lionel was convinced war was on the horizon. Drusilla shuddered. ‘Then we must make provision for food and plant out the kitchen garden immediately,’ she said.
The brother and sister proved such kind hosts, driving Flora to villages hidden in the beautiful countryside. They begged her to stay on, but she was homesick and made excuses to leave.
Once home, Rose insisted she carried on with the new clinic in the city. Flora was shocked more by what poverty, unemployment and ill-health did to families in the city. She could see that the worst of the depression was receding. Pa’s shipyard had new orders for frigates. There were more saloon cars on the streets and skilled men back at work. But the threat of war was hovering over them like a dark cloud. It was a threat no one wanted to think about yet.
Keep busy, everybody kept advising, but sometimes Flora felt exhausted just filling her days. Maudie’s invitation for a lengthy stay was timely. Her friend was grieving the loss of Olive’s friendship. As they sat sipping a chilled Riesling, looking over the lake, Flora felt it was time to probe Maudie’s unhappiness.
‘What went wrong between the two of you?’
‘I wish I knew. One day we were bosom pals, the next there was a coolness on her part. She said she wanted to move on and visit Italy, so I suggested a holiday but she turned up her nose, saying I was a stick in the mud for staying here so long.
‘“I’m sick of nursing nutcases,”’ Olive said. “Inge says some of them should be put to sleep. They are no use to society.” I was shocked but said nothing. This was the first time she mentioned Inge Muller, one of the sisters in charge. Ollie began to go out on her own in the evening, to meetings, she said. I suspected it was to meet Inge. That’s when they decided to leave for Italy. Inge was impressed with some leader called Mussolini and Olive wanted to see Italy for herself, so that’s about it.’ Maudie sighed, looking Flora straight in the eye. ‘We were more than friends. We shared a bed. Are you shocked?’
Flora touched her hand. ‘Why should I be shocked? She made you happy. But I’m finding happiness doesn’t last, does it? I heard someone say you must measure success in life by your laughter. I’m not sure we’ve had a lot to laugh about so far.’ She paused to sip the wine, savouring its flavour. ‘I think you measure life in friendships and at least in that, I have been blessed. You all held me up. I’d like to think you will find another companion, but I doubt I’ll ever find another Ivo to love.’
Maudie stood up. ‘Come on, let’s not get maudlin. I know a wonderful taverna across the water. They do the most delicious cheese fondue. It comes sizzling straight to table in a pan and you’ll love it; Gruyère, Emmental, wine, crusty bread. That’ll cheer us both up. When in doubt, eat, I say!’