Poppy's War by Lily Baxter Page B

feeling all right? You’ve gone quite pale. Perhaps we should get you outside into the fresh air.’
    Back in the nursery, Poppy wrapped her gifts in brown paper tied with scraps of red knitting wool that she unravelled from an old cardigan. She was just packing them all away in the chest of drawers when Violet burst into the room. She put the supper tray down on the table with a loud thud. ‘Mrs Carroll wants to see you in the drawing room, Popeye. Better go double-quick; I expect you’re in for it. What’ve you done this time?’
    Refusing to retaliate, Poppy closed the drawer and hurried from the room. She raced downstairs and arrived outside the drawing room breathless and expecting the worst. It must be something serious if Mrs Carroll sent for her, but try as she might she could not think what she had done wrong. It was cold and draughty in the hallway despite the central heating , and Poppy was shivering as she raised her hand to knock on the door.
    ‘Enter.’ Marina’s voice did not sound welcoming.
    The warmth in the drawing room almost took Poppy’s breath away. Marina was seated in her usual chair by a roaring log fire with her feet resting on a footstool. The curtains were drawn, shutting out the bleak chill of the December evening, and the room was bathed in lamplight.
    ‘Don’t stand in the doorway,’ Marina said sharply. ‘Come over here where I can see you.’
    Her tone and the tight-lipped expression on her well-moulded features did nothing to inspire Poppy with confidence. Her palms were moist as she moved closer.
    ‘You wanted to see me, Mrs Carroll?’
    Marina drained the last of her drink, and set the glass down on a side table. Unsmiling, she met Poppy’s anxious gaze. ‘I received a telephone call from your mother today.’
    ‘Is something wrong?’ Her lips were so dry that Poppy could hardly frame the words.
    ‘Yes and no.’ Marina hesitated, as if unsure how to break what must be terrible news. Poppy had visions of their home having been flattened by a bomb or one of her family having fallen ill with an incurable disease. She felt sick and faint all at the same time. ‘For heaven’s sake sit down, silly girl. There’s no need to look so terrified. The good news is that your mother will be arriving by coach tomorrow with other parents who have come to take their children back to London with them.’
    ‘Mum is coming here?’ Poppy could hardly believe her ears. Her hands flew to her face as she uttered a gasp of delight. ‘I’m going home for Christmas?’
    Marina shook her head. ‘No. I’m afraid not, but I’ll leave it to your mother to explain why.’

Chapter Five
    THE COACH WAS late. Poppy stood like a statue amidst the group of evacuee children who were stamping their feet and flapping their arms in an attempt to keep warm. Small powdery flakes of snow swirled around them and their shouts of excited laughter echoed off the buildings in the village square.
    ‘It’s wizard, isn’t it?’
    Poppy turned slowly to look at Vera, who was standing beside her. ‘What is?’
    ‘Us going home, of course. My mum will be on one of them buses and I can’t wait to see her again. I ain’t never coming back to this place, I’ll tell you that for nothing.’
    ‘So you’re going home then,’ Poppy said dully. She had not yet recovered from the shock of being told that Mum was coming to Squire’s Knapp for a brief visit only, and that she was planning to return home without her. The decision had been taken without asking her opinion. It had not made sense then and it did not make sense now.
    ‘Are you stupid or something?’ Vera muttered, frowning. ‘They ain’t coming down on a day trip with kiss-me-quick hats on their bonces.’
    A cheer went up as a coach nosed its way into the square and Vera surged forward with the rest of the children. Poppy remained standing at the back of the crowd, craning her neck as the occupants clambered stiffly down the steps. Despite the