Free Love and War by Sian James Page B

if she falls ill and can’t get out to feed the animals and milk the cows? And the man himself, what does she really know of him? If he was even a moderately decent man, would he be prepared to let her risk her good name? Perhaps he’s a really sick man, wanting revenge, or money to escape.
    ‘If you stayed tonight, you could meet him,’ she says. ‘That is, if he manages to get out. You could have a lift back in the post van tomorrow. You’d probably be a bit late for school, but you could say you’d missed the bus, which would be true enough, in a sense.’
    ‘Is he married?’
    ‘That doesn’t come into it, girl. It’s friendship I’m offering him, not a future. Rhian, I’m nearly fifty.’
    ‘You’re 47 and still very beautiful.’
    ‘Very beautiful. Hark at her. Very beautiful, with my cheeks fun of thread veins and my hair full of grey. If I was a hen, girl, I wouldn’t be worth the boiling... Well, he was married, but I think his wife is dead. At least, he’s shown me a photograph of a big tomb with an angel on the top. He’s a Roman Catholic, of course, but as you always say, Rhian, no religion has a monopoly of God. There, I’m getting quite tolerant in my old age, aren’t I?’
    ‘I don’t know what to say. I’m frightened, I really am.’
    ‘ Frightened? Good gracious me, what is there to be frightened of. It’s the war, isn’t it, that’s to blame for everything? If it wasn’t for the war, he’d be home in all that lovely sunshine growing olives and those big tomatoes. And Huw would be home with you, and you’d have a baby by this time and another on the way, and not a minute to give a second thought to Mr Morgan, Art, or anyone else.’
    We walk on in silence. I’ve never heard her talking so fluently.
    ‘How did old Big Mouth get to know about Alfredo?’
    ‘Oh, that was a real misfortune, that was. She’d called about a concert they’re having in Saron, wanting to know if I’d play the piano, if you please. As though I’d ever play in public. Well, I gave her a donation, they’re trying to raise twenty pounds for the Forces Comforts Fund, but do you think I could get her to go? She sat so long in your father’s chair, I thought she’d taken root, and at last I said, “Well, Mrs Lloyd, I’ll walk a step with you since it’s getting so late.” And as we were putting our coats on, Fredo arrived and let himself in, and that was that.’
    ‘She’ll tell everybody.’
    ‘She promised not to tell a soul... Oh yes, she’ll tell everybody, no doubt, but will anyone take much notice? I shouldn’t think so. I don’t think anyone is going to take me for a dangerous woman, somehow. No, they’ll only think I’m a bit foolish and leave it at that.’
    ‘I don’t know. People are stupid enough for anything these days. There could be a lot of bad feeling towards anyone who doesn’t conform.’
    ‘My family has never conformed, girl. My grandfather burnt his ricks rather than pay tithes to the English church. Why should I take the English side, now? The enemies of the English people are not my enemies. Why should I pretend they are?’
    ‘I won’t have an easy moment after this. And what would happen to him if they discovered he was breaking out of camp?’
    ‘Come, come, Rhian, take a hold of yourself. What about Huw? Isn’t he in far greater danger? Think of all the men, of all nationalities, who know they may be killed tomorrow or the next day or the day after that. The risk Fredo is taking is negligible, isn’t it? But I suppose you’re worried because you think he may be some sort of ogre. That’s why I want you to meet him. Once you’ve met him, you’ll understand... you know what I mean. Come on now, I’ve got a nice piece of sparerib in the oven and some parsnips and roast potatoes. In a way, it’s a new lease of life for me.’
    When we get into the house, I can see that it is. Her eyes, always her best feature, are soft and glowing. With love, I