Bluebirds Read Online Free Page A

drag. And what had Poland got to do with England, anyway? It was miles and miles away, somewhere in the middle of Europe – she wasn’t sure exactly where – and even if it was invaded then surely it was up to the Poles to look after themselves. It was their country. Why should England have to be involved?
    She had said impatiently: ‘But you could still go up to Oxford, even if there was a stupid war.’
    â€˜Not so, old girl.’
    â€˜Why ever not?’
    â€˜Because I’m going to join up, fathead. Dad’s old regiment, if they’ll have me. A lot of the chaps at school are going to . . . they’re just waiting for the show to start.’
    He had spoken as casually as if he were talking about an end-of-term play. She had suddenly felt frightened.
    â€˜But Kit, you might get killed!’
    He had laughed. ‘Not likely. But don’t you dare say a word to Ma. She’d flap like anything.’
    â€˜She’d try to stop you.’
    â€˜Wouldn’t be able to. They’ll call us up and she won’t be able to do a thing about it.’ He had waved the bottle at her cheerfully. ‘More champers?’
    She had watched her twin brother pouring himself another glass of champagne, and she had been very afraid for him. He was the person she cared most about in the world. He was her other half. Her better half. All the things she had somehow never managed to be. He was Captain of Boats and in Pop and almost certain to get a scholarship to Oxford. To think of him being in danger of being killed made her feel sick.
    â€˜Kit, do you
honestly
believe there’s going to be a war?’
    â€œFraid so. And to tell the truth, I rather hope there is. Dreadful thing to say, I s’pose . . . Anyway, we can’t possibly let old Adolf go on doing just as he likes –marching into other people’s countries, shoving them away in camps, all that sort of thing . . . That’s what he’s doing, you know. S’posing he tries to come and do the same here?’
    â€˜Here? In
England
? Don’t be daft.’
    â€˜It’s not so daft. Wouldn’t put it past him to have a shot at it. And we couldn’t allow that, could we? Just not on.’ Kit had taken another gulp of champagne. ‘I think it’ll all be pretty exciting. A real scrap against an evil little tyrant who’s jolly well asking for it.’
    She had realized that he meant every word of it. ‘
Must
you go, Kit? If it does happen. Couldn’t you wait a bit?’
    He had hiccuped gently. ‘Sorry, old bean, but I’d hate to be left out. All my friends are going . . . even old Parker-Smiley and he’s still afraid of the dark. Atkinson, Villiers, Stewart, Latimer . . . remember him at the Fourth this year, making sheep’s eyes at you? Poor old Latimer. He’s got a real crush on you. Keeps asking about you. Must have a screw loose.’
    Yes, she remembered Latimer. A tall, thin boy with spots. He’d blushed whenever she spoke to him on that day at Eton, and his spaniel’s eyes had followed her everywhere. It had rather amused her at the time. He hadn’t been able to come to the dance but the rest of them had been there. She’d danced with them all. Jamie Stewart had kept tripping her up and Noel Atkinson had trodden on her new silver shoes. Peter Villiers was pretty good at the quickstep, really, and little Parker-Smiley, still shorter than her, had surprised her by how well he could waltz. She’d known them all for years – ever since they’d been at prep school with Kit. Now, all of a sudden, apparently, they weren’t boys any longer – but men.
    She had turned her head to hide the silly tears that had come into her eyes. She had blinked them away. The beech trees at the far end of the garden, beyond the lawn, looked like black cut-outs against the sky.