Free To Ride the Wind by Peter Watt Page A

but all in good time. For now you must try the fresh oysters and champagne. It appears that George was able to have a consignment of vintage wine shipped from France despite the dangers.’
    When Louise was distracted with the arrival of a new guest, Alex took his wife’s arm and strolled over to a table almost bending under the weight of the delicacies.
    ‘We get to eat bully beef and biscuits,’ Alex said, eyeing the abundance. ‘And my brother is able to have French wine. I wonder how much he is skimming off the top of the lucrative army and navy contracts.’
    ‘Your brother is doing his bit to support the war effort,’ Giselle said lamely, attempting to defend George. ‘Not everyone is able to don a uniform and fight for their country.’
    ‘I have a uniform,’ Alex retorted. ‘And I am not offered the opportunity to fight for my country.’
    Giselle did not reply. She had suffered her husband’s despair at being held back from overseas service to train men for the front and somehow felt that she was responsible for his misery at being denied what he felt was his right to prove his worth as a soldier. She had overheard a senior army officer at a similar function months earlier commenting that young Captain Macintosh might be with his father – except that he had married a German national. The officer had glanced up and smiled at Giselle, not recognising her as the German national he referred to. Giselle had not relayed this information to her husband. She was glad that Alex was being held back as she well knew that if he was overseas the chances of him surviving were very poor. He was very much like his father and would feel that he must take terrible risks to prove his worth.
    ‘Do you think that Louise looked different today?’ Giselle asked, trying to steer Alex from his brooding. ‘She appears to be growing thick in the waist.’
    Alex passed a flute of champagne to his wife, before taking one for himself. ‘I don’t know what you mean,’ he said, sipping. ‘She looks the same to me.’
    Giselle wanted to shake her head at the obtuseness of men. They were so ignorant of the subtle signs that it seemed only women could read. Giselle had noticed a strained expression in her friend’s smile when she greeted them. Giselle was determined that she would corner Louise and find out what was behind it. Her opportunity came when her husband was engaged by an old friend, Colonel John Hughes of the British army, who had been on secondment to the newly raised Australian army for many years now. Of all the faces at the garden party, the senior British officer’s was the only one Alex wanted to see. Engrossed in military talk as the two soldiers were, neither noticed Giselle slip away to join Louise, who for a moment was alone at the edge of the neatly kept garden.
    ‘The party is wonderful,’ Giselle said, approaching Louise from behind. ‘You do know how to entertain.’
    As Louise turned to face her Giselle could see the pain belying the friendly welcome her friend had extended to all attending. ‘You have noticed,’ Louise said. ‘But then, you are my dearest friend.’
    ‘What has happened?’ Giselle asked, gently touching Louise on the hand.
    ‘I am with child,’ Louise blurted bitterly, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. ‘I have been now for some months.’
    ‘Oh, but that is wonderful!’ Giselle exclaimed before stopping herself. Clearly it was not wonderful to Louise. ‘But why the tears? Is something wrong?’
    ‘Everything,’ Louise replied, wiping her tears with a small, lace handkerchief and attempting to smile for the sake of anyone who may be observing them. ‘I want the child, but not under the present circumstances.’
    ‘A child is welcome under any circumstances,’ Giselle said, thinking of the birth of her own son, David. ‘It is a time to look forward to.’
    ‘It is just that I am not certain that I should be with George,’ Louise said, staring across the