Audrey recalled another line of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s poetry: “. . . and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.” She felt empty inside, knowing her own parents had never loved each other the way Eve’s had. They didn’t even seem to like each other much.
“I hope you’re happy up in heaven, Daddy . . .” Eve’s voice broke. “Give Granny Maud a big hug for me . . .” She lowered her head and covered her face as she wept.
Audrey started forward to comfort her, but Miss Blake stopped her. An unfamiliar emotion stirred inside Audrey, and she was surprised to discover that it was jealousy. How she envied Eve Dawson! In spite of her hard life as a servant, Eve probably never felt the aching loneliness that filled most of Audrey’s days. And Eve’s parents loved her and loved each other. Tears of grief filled Audrey’s eyes, not for Eve but for herself. She would gladly trade everything she owned to be her.
At last Eve stood and wiped her tears. She looked sad and broken and drained of strength. Audrey remembered the strawberries and wished she had a pocketful to cheer Eve. “Thank you for bringing me here,” Eve said. “I’ve wanted to come all my life.”
“You’re welcome. Are you ready to leave?”
Eve nodded. But she turned to look over her shoulder at the grave one last time before they walked outside into the sunlight.
“Let’s go see Buckingham Palace next,” Audrey said. She had to squint in the bright sunlight as they crossed several bustling streets and entered St. James’s Park. The path took them alongside a lagoon where children waded near the edge and ducks floated on the tranquil surface. Trees muted some of the city noises, but Audrey missed the peaceful grounds of Wellingford Hall. Nobody spoke as they walked the length of the park and emerged into the broad square in front of Buckingham Palace and the Queen Victoria Memorial.
“The king’s palace is enormous, isn’t it?” Audrey asked. “Dozens of people could live inside and never run into each other.”
“The king must need hundreds of servants,” Eve said.
They peered past the golden crests on the iron gates and saw the king’s guards in their red coats and bearskin hats. Eve still seemed subdued. Audrey longed to cheer her but didn’t know how. “Are you ready for tea at Fortnum & Mason?” she asked.
Eve shook her head. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to go back to the town house.”
Audrey’s emotions had swirled inside her all morning, and now anger rose to the top. She couldn’t disguise it as she said, “But I don’t want to go home. We still have all afternoon to see the sights.”
“Go without me. I’ll take a taxi back. I have money.” But Miss Blake insisted they both accompany Eve. The lovely day Audrey planned was ruined.
Her temper had a chance to cool by the time they reached the town house. “We’ll do all of the other things that I planned tomorrow,” she told Eve. Eve simply nodded without looking at her. They climbed from the taxi and Audrey bounded up the steps to the front door with Miss Blake. Eve left them as the taxi drove away and walked around to the servants’ door in the rear.
Eve waited all afternoon and evening to tell her mum about the Unknown Warrior’s tomb. They shared a bedroom high up in the attic of the town house while they were in London, and for the first time in her life Eve could talk to Mum every night before bed. But night fell and Mum didn’t come. The other servants trudged up the creaking stairs and settled down in their rooms after the long day. The town house grew quiet. Mum’s bed remained empty.
When she could wait no longer, Eve lifted Mum’s worn flannel dressing gown from the hook on the back of the door, put it on, and padded downstairs in the dark, barefoot. She slipped through the door into the forbidden part of the town house, hoping she wouldn’t run into Audrey. They hadn’t spoken a word on their way home from Buckingham Palace, and Eve knew Audrey was angry with her for not going to tea. But it seemed wrong to enjoy a fancy tea after mourning at Daddy’s grave for the first time.
A ribbon of light shone from beneath one of the bedroom doors. It was ajar. Eve approached quietly, listening for voices, then halted and peeked inside. Mum dozed in a flowered armchair beside the lamp, her head propped on her hand. Eve must have awakened her because she looked up. “Eve! Come here, love. What are you doing up at this hour?” The thick carpet felt soft beneath Eve’s feet as she hurried inside and knelt in front of Mum’s chair. The aroma of perfume filled the shadowy room, the same scent that trailed Audrey’s mother wherever she went.
“I came looking for you, Mum. I wanted to tell you that I went to the Unknown Warrior’s tomb today. I bought flowers with the money you gave me and put them on his grave.”
Mum took Eve’s hands in hers. “What did you think of it?”
“The abbey was so grand and beautiful. It’s like God really could live there. And the warrior’s grave is in the most important place of all. No one is allowed to walk over it like they do the other graves. He’s buried with kings and queens, Mummy!”
“It’s wonderful, isn’t it?”
“I think the warrior really is Daddy because when I talked to him, it felt like he was listening. Like he heard me.”
Mum bent to hug her tightly, holding her in her arms for a long moment. “I’m so glad you were able to go.”
“I wish you could have come with me,” Eve said when they separated again.
“I know. I do, too. I try to visit Westminster at least once when I’m in London. Maybe we’ll have a chance to go together.”
Eve thought the heaviness she’d felt all day would lift after she talked to her mum, but it didn’t. “I don’t understand why Daddy had to die. You and Granny Maud went to church and prayed for him, didn’t you?”
“I asked Granny the same question. She was a woman of deep faith, but I could tell she had questions of her own that had no answers. Especially when her husband died so soon after we lost Harry. It seemed so unfair. But then you were born and we knew you were a special gift to us from heaven. A little piece of your daddy lives inside you.” Mum traced her finger across Eve’s freckles. Angels’ kisses.
“Tell me about Daddy again,” she said as she leaned against Mum’s legs.
“Harry was honest and kind and hardworking. And so loving. He enjoyed a pint or two and a laugh with his friends, but he was never a troublemaker. When the war began, he was very courageous and signed up to do his duty. And he was determined to see the good in life in spite of all the bad. When the time comes for you to get married, don’t ever settle for anything less than courage and kindness and laughter in a man.”
“Audrey told me that the reason they come to London for the Season is so she can start looking for a husband.”
“I pity her. I truly do. And I’m glad you can fall in love with anyone you choose. You’re so pretty and lively, Eve. The young men are going to buzz around you like bees. But don’t fall for the first man who pays attention to you.”
“But you never went out with anyone but Daddy.”
“That was different. I knew Harry and his family from the village. They were good people, and Harry was steady and solid with both feet on the ground. He wanted a lifelong wife, not a fling. Don’t let any man take advantage of you, Eve. If he’s honorable, he’ll marry you.”