Page 49

They sat around the kitchen table, and his mother served tea from the same teapot he had used all his life.

His mother seemed at ease with Mr. Bone, and they spoke of Mr. Bone’s dairy and the increases he was having with Bess’s leadership.

Silas let the conversation fade into the background as he looked around the house, letting himself really see it.

He had been half afraid to come back here, to see it again after being at the front; he didn’t know if he could hold the innocence of life before together with what he had seen overseas.

But the sun was streaming in the small windows, laying down its warmth on the old flagstone floor, pushing into the corners of the room, just as Ophelia’s light was pushing into the corners of Silas’s fears.

He could do this, he needed to do this. Facing Blackwood was part of moving forward.

“I found the documents that you asked about, Silas,” his mother said, patting his hand. “Your father always kept those types of things in the desk in the sitting room. Shall I get them now?”

“Let’s take a look.”

The paper was old and folded so often the creases were almost translucent.

His mother spread it out in front of Mr. Bone, who unfolded a pair of wire-rimmed spectacles, and putting them on, leaned forward.

He read through the document, humming and nodding to himself.

Silas’s mother hadn’t sat down again, but fussed with dishes at the sink and refilling the kettle.

“It’s going to be okay, Mother,” Silas said, coming to stand next to her at the sink.

“I still can’t understand why you didn’t tell me immediately, Silas. How could you have kept that secret when you were going to war?” Her face was small and sad when she looked up at him. “What if, God forbid, something happened? I’d have never known about any of it.”

“But nothing happened, Ma, look at me, strong as an ox,” he said.

“Don’t make light, Silas Larke,” she scolded. “You might be a grown man, but I’m still your mother, and you know I would have moved heaven and earth to prevent you from going to war, especially because of blackmail.”

“I didn’t want you to worry, Ma. And it was my fault that Blackwood was angry in the first place, he hated that Ophelia and I were becoming close. He didn’t care a bit about patriotism, only took an opportunity when he saw it. I couldn’t let you and Samuel suffer because of me.”

His mother’s hands stilled on the dishes she held.

“Nothing about this is your fault, Silas. I will always be grateful for your choice, but I would never have wanted you to sacrifice yourself in order to keep us housed here. It grieves me greatly to think what might have happened.” She took his hands with her soapy ones and squeezed.

“My God, I’m so grateful you are home safe. ”

He only nodded because the words were stuck in his throat.

His mother turned back to the sink and continued, “Now, tell me about our Ophelia. How is she? I must say, I was more than a little surprised that you were both stationed at the same farm. What are the chances?”

Silas smiled. “Slim to none, I imagine, but there you have it. I couldn’t believe it myself when we first saw each other. But she is doing well, Mother, happier than I’ve ever seen her, and making great friends among the WLA women. She asked after you before I left.”

“She is a lovely girl, always was,” his mother said thoughtfully. “I’m glad she’s found her way. She always deserved better than her father. Funny how things turn out though ... her being from the big house and now turning to farming.”

Mr. Bone cleared his throat then, announcing that he had gone through the tenancy agreement.

There was nothing, he said, to indicate that it could be nullified without cause.

“Having been signed by your husband’s father, it seems likely you still have more than a decade left before renegotiation would begin.

Now to the matter of the refusal to sign the war exemption papers, that is a matter of public record, and I should think it wouldn’t be too difficult to show that Blackwood was acting out of malice. ”

Relief surged in Silas, tempered only a little by his worry that he should have thought to challenge Blackwood on this at the time.

You didn’t know any better. There was no shame in trying to protect your family.

He forced himself to remember why he was here, what dismantling Blackwood’s threat would do for all the plans he had for his future.

Lettie poured more tea into her cup and gave Mr. Bone a funny little salute before drinking it down.

“Well, I am more grateful than I can say, Mr. Bone. For passing your eyes over our papers and for coming here with Silas. We’ll think no more on this then, Silas.

Samuel and I’ll stay put, and when you are released from your duties by the War Office, we’ll decide what to do next. ”

Silas laughed at her no-nonsense ways, grateful for the visit, for her stalwart love.

Finishing his tea, he agreed with Mr. Bone that they might walk down to the estate grounds for a conversation with Blackwood.

Silas’s mother bade them be careful and promised a hot dinner when they returned.

Samuel would be home, she reminded Silas, eager for her boys to be at the same table once more.