Poppy Read Free Page A

Christmas card. I was pleased to hear of your doings and know that you and your family are all well. I still occasionally see your mother when I am popping in and out of the village shops and we always exchange the latest news. News about you, I mean!
    Poppy, as you know, I was very disappointed that you could not go on to take a higher qualification at college, but I have recently heard of an exciting and fulfilling opportunity that I think would be perfect for you – and would also offer training of practical use after the war. I know you are content at the de Veres’, but I long to see you doing something which would use your intelligence and really stretch you. I am also of the opinion that as many of us as possible should be helping the war effort. There! Have I aroused your curiosity?
    I know you have very little spare time but wondered if you would be able to meet me on your next day off. I am about to leave Mayfield for some weeks to stay with my sister in Kensington, and thought that a meal in London would be a treat for both of us. There is a Lyons Corner House in the Strand, opposite Charing Cross station – perhaps you could meet me there?
    If you are interested in hearing what I have to say to you, please do drop me a line with a suggested date. In the meantime, allow me to wish you the compliments of the season.
    Yours truly,
     
    Enid Luttrell
     
    ‘Ooh, you’ve got a letter!’ Molly said, trying to look over her shoulder. ‘Who’s it from? Is it a love letter?’
    ‘No, of course not! It’s actually from my old English teacher,’ Poppy explained. ‘She’s retired now, but we still keep in touch – she’s a dear old stick.’
    ‘But what does she want?’
    Poppy smiled. ‘To stand me dinner! Lyons Corner House in the Strand.’
    Molly’s eyes widened. ‘Grand!’
    ‘She’s probably going to give me a lecture on women’s suffrage.’ On Molly looking at her blankly, she added, ‘You know, women getting the vote. She was very keen on that before the war started.’
    ‘Oh well,’ said Molly. ‘It’ll be worth it for the lunch!’
    Poppy smiled and nodded, then folded the letter and her new gloves and tucked them both carefully into her apron pocket. She wouldn’t think about Miss Cardew and she wouldn’t think of Freddie. She would think of Miss Luttrell’s letter and the possibility of an exciting and fulfilling opportunity . . .

Chapter Three
    It was well into January when Poppy could get time off to meet Miss Luttrell in London. She went from the local station by steam train to Euston, and from there was only a little terrified to find herself travelling on the Underground to Trafalgar Square.
    The Strand was full of khaki-clad soldiers and thrillingly busy. There were many indications that there was a war on: advertisements on billboards urged Send a jar of Bovril to your Tommy at the front or emphasised that Bread gives us the strength to win the fight , and hoardings and omnibuses alike bore a variety of posters persuading all able-bodied men to enlist in the army and serve their country. Poppy sighed when she saw these, almost wishing that she had someone marching off to fight the good fight; someone to worry about, to knit a scarf for and send parcels to. A sweetheart would be best, but – failing that – even a brother would do.
    For the first time, Poppy saw men wearing the blue cotton suits which signified that they were soldiers on day release from the hospitals. Some of these men were missing a limb or limping badly. One who passed her had only one eye and a ghastly, livid scar which ran from his temple, across his cheek and right down his neck, so that Poppy had to brace herself not to turn away from him in horror. People greeted these men warmly, clapping them on the shoulder and shaking their hands, for they were war heroes and had the wounds to prove it.
    Miss Luttrell had not yet arrived at the Corner House, so Poppy, enjoying being addressed as ‘madam’ and