As the news became more and more serious each day during the month of July, young men up and down the country were caught up in the fervour of patriotism.
‘Mother,’ Robert said at breakfast one morning in the middle of July when there were just the two of them sitting down to porridge and kippers, ‘I’ve had a letter from a friend. We got to know each other at medical school, though he was a year ahead of me. He went on to train in surgery and now he’s applying for a post at Lincoln County Hospital and will be coming for an interview next week. May I invite him to stay with us?’
Henrietta smiled. ‘Of course, my dear. Tell me about him.’
‘His name is Giles Kendall and he’s from Scarborough. He’s a couple of years older than me, tall, with bright blue eyes and fair curly hair. He’s very good-looking and comes from a good family. I think his teeth are sound, though I haven’t inspected them.’
‘Don’t tease me, Robert,’ Henrietta admonished. But she had the grace to laugh as she added, ‘Is he married or betrothed?’
Robert chuckled. ‘The inevitable question about any young man who comes within a hundred yards of Pips. But no, actually, he’s not. University students, and medical students in particular, are far too busy for courtship and also too poor. He’s an only son and his parents dote on him, but his father’s a teacher, which, whilst being a genteel and respectable profession, is not the best-paid occupation he might have.’
‘There’s no disgrace in that. You say this young man specialized in surgery?’
‘Yes. That’s why he’s applying to Lincoln hospital, because I was telling him about how brilliant Father’s colleagues are there.’ Robert laughed. ‘And I’ve promised I’ll send all my patients to him.’
‘Please give him time to learn his trade properly first, Robert.’ There was a pause before she added, ‘You are still planning to start working in the practice after the August Bank Holiday, aren’t you? Your father’s finding it harder as he gets older, you know.’
‘Father, old? Never!’
Edwin was mild-mannered and kindly, a little portly but always smartly dressed in a morning coat and a brightly coloured waistcoat. ‘My attire amuses the children and makes the old ladies smile,’ he would always explain, peering over his spectacles, his eyes full of mischief.
By contrast, Henrietta was slim and preferred to dress in pastel shades, her sleek grey hair piled up on top of her head.
‘He’ll be sixty in six years’ time and he wants you to be well established in his practice by the time he might wish to retire. And even now, it’s time he took a few more days off.’
‘Father and I have already discussed it and, yes, I will start straight after the Bank Holiday in two weeks’ time.’
Henrietta smiled. ‘Good. The room set aside for your surgery next to your father’s is all ready.’ She stood up. ‘And now I must go and talk to Mrs Warren’ – Henrietta was referring to the hall’s housekeeper – ‘and warn her that we will have a guest to stay next week. I can’t wait to meet him. You never know, Robert, he might be just the sort of young man that Pips might like . . .’
‘Oh Mother!’
Giles Kendall was everything that Robert had described to his mother – and more. He was charming and courteous and had a lively sense of humour that soon had them all laughing over the dinner table. The two young men were obviously great friends and were not shy in recounting some of their escapades at medical school. Pips listened with growing envy. But her jealousy was not personal; she rather liked Giles. It was just the unfairness of having missed out on all the camaraderie. The boarding school to which she had been sent had been stuffy and snobby; there’d been very little fun under the strict regime of the spinster headmistress.
‘Do you ride?’ she asked Giles when there was a pause in the conversation.
Giles laughed. ‘A motorcycle. It needs looking after, but I’m afraid I’m no mechanic.’
‘You’ll have to speak to William Dawson whilst you’re here,’ Edwin said. ‘He works for us in the gardens and on the estate. He’s a natural with anything mechanical. I never have to take my motor to a garage; William looks after it.’
‘I will, sir. Perhaps’ – his bright blue gaze was directed at Pips – ‘you would introduce me to him?’
Her smile widened. ‘Of course,’ she answered but did not add, in front of her mother, what was in her mind. As long as you let me have a ride on your motorcycle.