The Best of Daughters (42 page)

‘Well, good for you, Ruby.' Daisy rushed over to give her a hug. ‘You're a very special lady, and if you should decide that your future's with Arley, then he's a very lucky fellow.'

Daisy related this conversation to her sister later that morning, sitting in Beatrice's comfortable living room with its chintz-covered squashy armchairs and large sofa on which a yellow Labrador sprawled, snoring gently.

‘I had no idea she was seeing Meadows,' Beatrice said in amazement. ‘To think we almost shopped him to the police for embezzling Father's money.'

‘It was probably the best thing that we never did,' Daisy said, smiling. ‘At least we brought him up short and now he's the model employee. Father can't speak highly enough of him. He's even talking about making him a partner in the firm. Can you believe that?'

Beatrice's eyes widened. ‘Never! Well I'm blowed.' She rose from the sofa and went to look out of the window. ‘Just checking on Jojo. She's asleep in her pram, but she'll be waking soon for a feed.' She gazed down at her full breasts with a resigned sigh. ‘I feel like one of our best dairy cows.'

‘You look wonderful, Bea. A picture of health and happiness.'

Beatrice smiled dreamily. ‘They say you can't get pregnant while you're breast feeding, but I'm living proof that that is an old wives' tale.'

Daisy leapt to her feet. ‘You're not – are you?'

‘I just said I was. Jojo will have a little brother or sister in six or seven months. I never thought I was the maternal type, but I was wrong. I'm thrilled and so is Jimmy. He says he'd like a big family and we've made a good start.'

Daisy enveloped her in a warm embrace. ‘I'm so happy for you, Bea. Who'd have thought my wayward little sister would have a husband and children before I did.'

‘I'm so sorry, Daisy.' Beatrice's bottom lip trembled. ‘I didn't mean to be so tactless. How is Rupert?'

‘You weren't, and he's making progress.' Daisy frowned. ‘At least, the doctors say he is, but I'm not happy with the way he's being treated in hospital. His wounds are healing but his speech is still very slurred and they leave him to lie in bed all day. I think he should be encouraged to do more, and it's the same with the other men on his ward.'

Beatrice put her head on one side, regarding her sister with a knowing smile. ‘It's not like you to let the grass grow under your feet. Why don't you do something about it?'

Daisy seized her hand and shook it. ‘You're absolutely right. I don't know what I've been thinking of these past weeks while I've stood by and watched the man I love dwindle into a shadow of his former self.'

‘What are you going to do?'

‘I'm going to call at Pendleton Park on the way home. I've got an idea, thanks to you, Bea. I'll let you know if I can pull it off after I've spoken to Rupert's mother.'

‘
I DON'T KNOW,
Daisy,' Lady Pendleton said, pacing the Aubusson carpet in the crimson and gold saloon. ‘It would mean a terrific amount of upheaval.'

‘Not necessarily, ma'am. I'm not proposing to turn the whole of the house into a convalescent home, only a part of it. You could keep your own wing absolutely private, but just think of the benefit it would bring Rupert and some of the other men who've suffered similar injuries on the battlefield.'

‘I'd have to discuss it with Henry, of course. The estate belongs to him and will go to Rupert on his demise, which I hope won't be for many years to come, but one never knows. Lady Osborne's husband dropped dead at the card table just last week and he was three years Henry's junior.'

‘But you will consider it, won't you?' Daisy clasped her hands in front of her, praying silently that Lady Pendleton would agree to champion her cause. ‘Think of Rupert. He needs specialist care and all the advances in modern medicine to bring him back to full health and fitness. Do you want him to end up in a wheelchair, barely able to put a sentence together and having difficulty in recalling your name?'

‘That's cruel, Daisy.'

‘It's the truth, ma'am. It's the plain, honest truth. I've visited him every day and his progress is pitifully slow. I'm terrified that he will just give up, and I simply won't allow that to happen.'

Lady Pendleton came to a halt in front of her, gazing into Daisy's face as if seeing her for the first time. ‘You really do love my son, don't you?'

‘I do, ma'am. I'm begging you to allow me to do this for him, as well as other men in similar circumstances.'

‘Could we not just bring Rupert here and employ specialists to treat him at home?'

‘It would be hideously expensive, Lady Pendleton. Besides which, I doubt if they would want to spread their expertise so thinly. Whereas if we turn Pendleton Park into a convalescent home and specialised treatment centre, we would be doing something for the men and boys who have given so much for their country. Of course, we would have to get the backing of the medical establishment and the military, but that's where you and Lord Pendleton come in. You both have so much influence; I'm begging you to bring it to bear.'

‘I'll have to think about it, Daisy. It's becoming hard enough to run the house with so many of the servants either away fighting or doing war work, but I'm not sure how we would cope with having our home turned into a hospital.'

‘It would be for Rupert's sake.'

‘Yes,' Lady Pendleton said thoughtfully. ‘It would be wonderful if he could make a full recovery.'

With Lord Pendleton's blessing, Daisy drove up to London and made her base in Grosvenor Square while she lobbied every influential person who might be of some help in establishing the convalescent home. She used her experience with the FANYs to her advantage, citing her experience in Lamarck and Unit Three as evidence of her capability to run such an establishment. She had heard that the WSPU had abandoned their militant actions and put all their energies into the war effort, and taking advantage of this change of heart Daisy was quick to contact Christabel Pankhurst in order to seek her support. As former sisters in adversity they had something in common, and Christabel was a person to be reckoned with.

Eventually, after several months of petitioning, writing letters and generally making a nuisance of herself in high places, Daisy was granted permission from the military to go ahead with her scheme. Funding the project was her next priority and she organised charity concerts, dinners and a grand ball at the Hotel Cecil. She enlisted Lady Pendleton's help in contacting wealthy benefactors and pleaded for their assistance in raising the required sum of money with one proviso: she made it perfectly clear that all ranks were to be catered for. She could do nothing to repay Bowman for the heroic gesture that had saved her life, but she hoped that she might be able to help other enlisted men to return to their families and live as normal a life as was possible. She worked tirelessly, often staying up half the night as she went through piles of correspondence and made plans for her campaign like any
good general. By the middle of summer she was exhausted but triumphant: the target had been achieved and the alterations to Pendleton Park were given the go-ahead.

Daisy returned home to Rainbow's End and received a rapturous welcome from her family, although Ruby scolded her soundly for not looking after herself. ‘You need feeding up, my girl,' she said, eyeing her critically. ‘I seen more meat on a skinned rabbit than you've got on your bones.'

Gwendoline was equally frank. ‘You look as though you haven't slept for a week, Daisy. You'd better get some rest before you go and see Rupert. You look terrible.'

Beatrice had come over for the day with Joyce. She laid her sleeping baby on the sofa cushions before enveloping Daisy in a fond hug. She drew back, holding her at arm's length and eyeing her critically. ‘Mother's right. I don't know what you've been doing to yourself in London, but it's a good thing you're home now. I've brought butter, eggs and cheese from the farm and Ruby is going to make sure you eat, even if she has to stand over you at table.'

Halfway between laughter and tears, Daisy picked up Martin who had been clinging to her skirt and dropped a kiss on his curly head. ‘I'm perfectly well. Just a little tired, but I promise to be good and do as I'm told from now on.'

‘Hmm.' Gwendoline pursed her lips. ‘That will be a first, Daisy Lennox.'

Martin began to wriggle and Daisy handed him to his mother. ‘He's grown so much in the last few months.'

Ruby gave him a kiss and set him down on the floor. ‘He's into everything, aren't you, my pet?'

Martin toddled from the room, chuckling mischievously.

‘He leads me a merry dance,' Ruby said as she hurried after him. ‘I'll put the kettle on and there's a batch of scones in the oven. We'll have some tea.' She raced off in pursuit of her son.

‘How is everything?' Daisy asked warily. ‘I'm afraid I've neglected everyone.'

Gwendoline patted her on the cheek. ‘We're managing, but it's good to have you home, Daisy. Now I hope everything will get back to as near normal as possible, although nothing will ever be quite the same without Teddy.'

Joyce chose that moment to open her eyes and whimper. Beatrice snatched her up and gave her a cuddle. ‘We'll never forget him, but when you see Iris's little boy you'll realise that Teddy hasn't completely left us.'

Daisy shot an anxious glance at her mother, but Gwendoline merely smiled. ‘It's all right,' she said calmly. ‘Your father and I have got over the shock and he's a dear child. So like Teddy at that age. Life has to go on, Daisy. I've learned that the hard way.'

Next day, after an uninterrupted night's sleep, Daisy visited Rupert in hospital. She had not seen him for
several weeks and was agreeably surprised by his slight but significant progress. His delight on seeing her made her heart sing with happiness and she knew that she had truly come home. She sat with him for more than an hour, but when he began to look tired she said a reluctant goodbye, kissed him tenderly on the forehead and promised to return again the next day. He clung briefly to her hand, his eyes fixed on her face. ‘Daisy Bell.' He curved his lips into a twisted smile.

She drove home in the Prince Henry feeling much more optimistic about Rupert's prospects for a complete recovery. The sun was shining and the countryside was lush and green. For the first time since the beginning of the war she felt confident about the future.

Pendleton Park Convalescent Home was ready to take in its first patients by the late autumn of 1917. Daisy could have wished it had been sooner, but there were alterations that had to be made to the ground floor. In accordance with Lady Pendleton's wishes, these were kept to a minimum, but extra bathing and toilet facilities had to be installed as well as ramps for wheelchairs, hoists and the general paraphernalia needed to care for the severely disabled. Then there were other necessities to order, such as beds, linen, medical supplies, and so many other items that Daisy spent most of her time at her desk in the old still room which she now used as her office.

The grand opening was conducted with due ceremony in the presence of many dignitaries who had
travelled down from London for the occasion. Every able-bodied person in the village had turned out, although Daisy suspected that they were motivated more by curiosity and the offer of a free tea than anything else. Beatrice and Jimmy were there, together with Gwendoline and Victor, and for once Daisy received her mother's unstinting praise for her achievements. Ruby had come with Arley and he in turn had brought his stern-faced mother, who seemed to view life with a permanent look of disapproval, but Ruby herself was brimming over with happiness. She watched with a fond smile as Martin toddled off to play with Iris's son, who bore such a strong resemblance to Teddy that it made Daisy feel quite weak at the knees every time she looked at him.

Iris, looking trim in her widow's weeds, gave her an appraising glance. ‘You done well, Miss Lennox.'

Daisy held out her hand. ‘Times have changed, Iris. It's just Daisy from now on. By the way, if you're looking for work we're in desperate need of more ward maids, and you have the advantage of knowing the house.'

‘You're offering me a job?'

‘It can't be easy bringing up a child on your own.'

‘It isn't, but I've got the kid to look after. Me mum works full time at the munitions factory and me sister-in-law Flossie's a lazy cow. I wouldn't leave a kitten in her care let alone me only son. So you see there's no one to have Ted.'

‘He's very like his father,' Daisy said, meeting her cold stare with a smile. ‘I'm sure we could come to some arrangement, Iris. Perhaps Ruby would look after
your boy in the daytime while you went to work. She loves children.'

Iris curled her lip. ‘I'm sure your mum and dad wouldn't want their son's little bastard running round the house.'

‘They loved my brother and they're not as stuck up as you seem to think. Ted is their grandson after all, and Mother thinks the world of him.'

‘Now she's got over the shock,' Iris said with a touch of dry humour.

‘Absolutely. Will you give it a try?'

‘You'd have to make it right with her.' Iris jerked her head in Ruby's direction. ‘I'm not begging for favours.'

Daisy nodded, smiling. ‘Let me speak to her first. I'll let you know how things stand first thing tomorrow morning.'

Iris shrugged her shoulders and walked away to join her heavily pregnant sister-in-law and Cyril, who had been declared medically unfit to enlist, even though rumour had it in the village that he was malingering. Daisy stood for a moment watching the villagers rubbing shoulders with the dignitaries as well as some of the more mobile patients. The men who were too incapacitated to get up lay in their beds placed for the special occasion in the open doors of the conservatory, while others sat in wheelchairs with blankets wrapped around their knees. Despite the late autumn sunshine there was a cool breeze and leaves fell in bronze and copper showers over the lawns, forming heaps like pirate gold around the trees.