Clarissa laughed. “You are funny,” she said. “But I can see the blue will be perfect with your fair hair. So let’s go and find some food to keep the wolf from the door, and then we’ll change, shall we?” She reached out her hand and took Emily’s. “I can’t tell you how lovely it is to be here. Almost like a dream, really. I mean, look at this room: all pink and white, and your bookcase with all those marvellous books. God, do you know how I long to have time to read again? And those sweet dolls sitting on the shelf. When I’m lying on my cot in the middle of the night and the sky is lit up with exploding shells, it’s hard to believe there are still places like this in the world.”

“You don’t have to go back, Clarissa. You’ve done more than your share,” Emily said.

“I must go back. I’ve signed on, just like any man who enlists. I can’t quit until they discharge me.” She stared past Emily, out of the window and across the broad expanse of lawn. “Besides, I’m good at what I do. I can help save lives.”

“I’m really proud of you. No, more than that. I’m envious of you. You’re leading your own life. You’re doing something worthwhile. I’ve always loved this room, too, but right now it feels like a prison. I can’t wait to get away.”

“Do you remember our attempts to escape at school?” Clarissa asked, laughing.

“That time we tried to climb down the drainpipe and got stuck halfway? Matron was furious, wasn’t she?” Emily laughed, too. She took Clarissa’s hands. “I’m so glad you’re here to help me get through this. Oh well, let’s face the music, shall we?”

CHAPTER FIVE

The first guests started arriving around eight. Emily was positioned on the front steps with her parents on either side of her, greeting arrivals. As she smiled and nodded and thanked people for coming, her eyes kept straying down the driveway. Josh had been dispatched to pick up the officers from the convalescent home. She saw the Daimler pulling up for a second time and four young men got out. She broke away from her parents and ran down to Josh. “There will also be three Australians, Josh. Make sure they are picked up, please.”

Josh frowned. “I was told seven young men. And this makes seven.”

“It may be that the matron did not approve of sending the Australians, but I’ve invited them. Could you please go back and find them?”

“Anything for you, Miss Emmy. Especially on your big day.” He gave her a big grin and put the motor car into gear.

Emily was trapped by Aubrey Warren-Smythe when the Daimler returned. The young men who emerged were all on crutches. One had burns down one side of his face. Emily went over to them. “Oh, I’m so glad you’ve come.”

“You look lovely.” Robbie’s eyes lit up when he saw her. “We almost didn’t get here. We were told that we were not well enough to venture out in public yet.” A smile spread across his face. “I think that was an excuse because Matron didn’t think we’d be right for your little do. Too rough and ready, eh, boys?”

The other two nodded. “But where are my manners?” Robbie went on. “Emily, may I present Jimmy Hammond and Ray Barclay. Jimmy’s from Queensland and Ray is from Melbourne, where the people are almost as toffee-nosed as here.”

“Just because we’re not savages like you, Kerr,” Ray Barclay said, shaking Emily’s hand. “There are some civilized people in Australia, you know.”

“And who have we here?” Mrs Bryce came to join them. “More officers, I see.”

“Mummy, these three lieutenants are all aviators, from Australia.”

“Aviators? How terribly brave,” Mrs Bryce said. “But should you be out and about with your injuries?” She glanced down at their crutches and bandages. “Matron said she was only sending over young men who were almost ready to be released.”

“I invited them, Mummy. They are far from home and need cheering up. Besides, they are fighting for a country that isn’t even their own. They deserve a treat.”

“Very well.” Mrs Bryce nodded. “Please feel at home, gentlemen, but do be careful with those crutches. There are steps, and we will be on the lawn later. Oh look, Emily. It’s Colonel and Mrs Hetherington just arriving.” And Emily was taken off to meet the next arrivals.

After that, the evening passed in a blur. Emily noticed that Clarissa was indeed surrounded by the officers. Emily had a hard time avoiding being cornered by Aubrey, who insisted on telling her long and complicated stories about the banking world in London. When she finally broke away and went to find Robbie, she came upon the three Australians standing beneath a large painting that hung in the drawing room. It was a portrait of a man on a horse, his hair in long cavalier curls.

The Australians were chuckling when Emily found them. “I wonder if he went to sleep with curlers in his hair,” Jimmy was saying.

“No, it’s a wig,” Robbie answered. “They wore wigs in those days.”

“Rather him than me,” Ray said. “He looks a proper fairy, doesn’t he?”

Emily noticed her mother standing in the doorway. Mrs Bryce frowned, then turned away. “You should probably be careful what you say.” She put a finger to her lips, glancing around. “Mummy’s really proud of that painting. She likes to hint that he was an ancestor. Of course, he wasn’t. She bought it at an estate sale.”