cost.
THREE
T he next morning Penny stifled a yawn as she spread strawberry jam on her toast. Looking around the table, she noted the children’s sagging shoulders and pale faces. They hadn’t gone back to bed until three o’clock, when the sounds of the air raid had finally faded and calm returned to London.
She looked toward the end of the table where Alex sat, and a small smile lifted the corners of her mouth. He’d been terribly brave last night, going up to search for Irene while they all stayed in the relative safety of the servants’ hall. Seeing him walk down the stairs tenderly carrying that little girl in his arms had touched her deeply.
“Where’s Dr. Foster?” Donald laid his knife across the edge of his plate and looked across at Kate.
“He…had some things he needed to attend to this morning. I’m sure he’ll be back soon.” Kate looked away from Donald’s curious gaze.
Penny shifted in her seat and glanced at Kate. Jon always ate breakfast with them, then read the Bible and prayed for the family before he left for the hospital and the older children left for school. But today was Saturday, and Jon was not scheduled to work at the hospital. Where had he gone?
Rose leaned forward in her chair. “Are we going to the park this morning?” They usually went each Saturday if the weather was agreeable, and they all looked forward to the outing.
Kate hesitated. “Let’s wait until Dr. Foster returns to make our plans. But there’s no reason we can’t enjoy ourselves at home this morning.” At Kate’s forced cheerfulness, the older children exchanged questioning glances.
What was going on?
“Good morning, everyone.” Jon walked into the dining room.
Relief flashed across Kate’s face. She rose and greeted him with a kiss on the cheek. “I’m glad you’re home.”
“What did you learn?” Alex’s expression grew taut.
Jon looked at his friend, and Penny thought she saw some kind of message in his eyes. Then he glanced around the table. “I’m sorry I’m late for breakfast. I see you’re all nearly done.” He walked to the buffet and helped himself to eggs, toast, mushrooms, and a broiled tomato.
A frown creased Alex’s brows, and he glanced at Penny. She returned the question with her eyes. Apparently, Jon didn’t want to discuss where he’d been or what he’d learned in front of the children.
Jon carried his plate to the table, took a seat, and bowed his head for a silent prayer. When he lifted his head, the children’s conversation returned to normal while they finished their meal.
Finally, Jon looked around the table. “All right, children. You may be excused. Let’s gather in the library at ten. Until then, please find something to read or play quietly indoors.”
Jack frowned. “Can’t we go out to the garden?”
“Not this morning.”
“But Donald and I—”
“Jack, please don’t argue.” Jon’s voice was much more stern than usual, and the boys all straightened. “I need you all to do as I ask, and I’ll explain more when we gather at ten.”
“All right.” Jack quietly laid his napkin on the table.
The children rose and filed out of the dining room.
“Close the door, Lucy,” Jon called.
The girl’s lips pressed into a worried line as she pulled the dining room door shut.
“What is it, Jon?” Kate lowered her voice. “What did you learn?”
“The damage from the bombing is much worse than I’d imagined. They’re still searching through the debris, looking for those who are injured or missing. But we know this much: almost a hundred bombs were dropped. At least seven people were killed.”
Penny pulled in a sharp breath and lifted her hand to her mouth.
How terrible!
“The destruction to homes and businesses is…unbelievable.”
Alex’s face turned ruddy and his dark eyebrows drew together.
Jon continued, “I’ll be going to the hospital as soon as things are settled here.”
Kate’s face paled. “Of course. It
THREE
T he next morning Penny stifled a yawn as she spread strawberry jam on her toast. Looking around the table, she noted the children’s sagging shoulders and pale faces. They hadn’t gone back to bed until three o’clock, when the sounds of the air raid had finally faded and calm returned to London.
She looked toward the end of the table where Alex sat, and a small smile lifted the corners of her mouth. He’d been terribly brave last night, going up to search for Irene while they all stayed in the relative safety of the servants’ hall. Seeing him walk down the stairs tenderly carrying that little girl in his arms had touched her deeply.
“Where’s Dr. Foster?” Donald laid his knife across the edge of his plate and looked across at Kate.
“He…had some things he needed to attend to this morning. I’m sure he’ll be back soon.” Kate looked away from Donald’s curious gaze.
Penny shifted in her seat and glanced at Kate. Jon always ate breakfast with them, then read the Bible and prayed for the family before he left for the hospital and the older children left for school. But today was Saturday, and Jon was not scheduled to work at the hospital. Where had he gone?
Rose leaned forward in her chair. “Are we going to the park this morning?” They usually went each Saturday if the weather was agreeable, and they all looked forward to the outing.
Kate hesitated. “Let’s wait until Dr. Foster returns to make our plans. But there’s no reason we can’t enjoy ourselves at home this morning.” At Kate’s forced cheerfulness, the older children exchanged questioning glances.
What was going on?
“Good morning, everyone.” Jon walked into the dining room.
Relief flashed across Kate’s face. She rose and greeted him with a kiss on the cheek. “I’m glad you’re home.”
“What did you learn?” Alex’s expression grew taut.
Jon looked at his friend, and Penny thought she saw some kind of message in his eyes. Then he glanced around the table. “I’m sorry I’m late for breakfast. I see you’re all nearly done.” He walked to the buffet and helped himself to eggs, toast, mushrooms, and a broiled tomato.
A frown creased Alex’s brows, and he glanced at Penny. She returned the question with her eyes. Apparently, Jon didn’t want to discuss where he’d been or what he’d learned in front of the children.
Jon carried his plate to the table, took a seat, and bowed his head for a silent prayer. When he lifted his head, the children’s conversation returned to normal while they finished their meal.
Finally, Jon looked around the table. “All right, children. You may be excused. Let’s gather in the library at ten. Until then, please find something to read or play quietly indoors.”
Jack frowned. “Can’t we go out to the garden?”
“Not this morning.”
“But Donald and I—”
“Jack, please don’t argue.” Jon’s voice was much more stern than usual, and the boys all straightened. “I need you all to do as I ask, and I’ll explain more when we gather at ten.”
“All right.” Jack quietly laid his napkin on the table.
The children rose and filed out of the dining room.
“Close the door, Lucy,” Jon called.
The girl’s lips pressed into a worried line as she pulled the dining room door shut.
“What is it, Jon?” Kate lowered her voice. “What did you learn?”
“The damage from the bombing is much worse than I’d imagined. They’re still searching through the debris, looking for those who are injured or missing. But we know this much: almost a hundred bombs were dropped. At least seven people were killed.”
Penny pulled in a sharp breath and lifted her hand to her mouth.
How terrible!
“The destruction to homes and businesses is…unbelievable.”
Alex’s face turned ruddy and his dark eyebrows drew together.
Jon continued, “I’ll be going to the hospital as soon as things are settled here.”
Kate’s face paled. “Of course. It
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