Free Lily’s War by June Francis

wondering what her family would do and say when she upped and left. She did not dwell on the thought for long, preferring instead to think of a sunlit future in foreign lands. She had not told the family but she had asked Matt to Sunday dinner. Albert had gone out so there should be no trouble.
    She caught up with Daisy, and her sister glanced sidelong at her and said with a grin, ‘Not bad. But can he dance?’
    ‘You can ask him. He’s coming round in an hour,’ she said nonchalantly.
    ‘To see you, I suppose?’
    ‘It could be that he just wants a pint of milk.’
    ‘Like hell you believe that!’ said Daisy, her smile vanishing. ‘What’s going on in your mind, Lil?’
    ‘Thoughts. What goes on in yours?’
    ‘I don’t fancy no vicar.’
    ‘He’s not a vicar. He’s a travelling preacher,’ said Lily, her eyes dreamy as she imagined the future.
    ‘So he’s travelled and you find that dead romantic?’
    ‘He’s also got that lovely voice and gorgeous eyes.’
    ‘You’re besotted.’
    Lily realised her sister was worried and slipped a hand through her arm. ‘Yes.’
    ‘Frank’s a safer bet and he only lives down the road,’ she said unhappily.
    ‘I don’t respect Frank. I respect and admire Matt,’ Lily replied.
    Her sister stared at her. ‘But that’s all it is, isn’t it?’
    Lily barely hesitated. ‘We’re going to get married.’
    Daisy stopped in her tracks. ‘Oh, come on, Lil! He’s not going to marry you! You’re different people from different backgrounds.’
    Any doubt Lily might have had herself about their varying backgrounds vanished and she gave her sister a dagger-like look. ‘He thinks I’m wonderful!’
    ‘He doesn’t know you!’
    ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ Lily was hurt and her temper rose even further. ‘When I think of the way I cook and clean for you lot, it makes me mad your saying that!’ She stormed away from her sister, past the wireless shop on the corner and up the street.
    Daisy raced after her. ‘Be sensible, Lil,’ she panted. ‘Let’s pretend we’re out when he comes.’
    ‘Not on your nelly! Me and him are for each other, so you might as well get used to the idea now!’ She burst into the house and went immediately to the kitchen and set about getting the dinner ready. Her father had not returned, thank goodness, and Ben was out with a mate from the Territorials.
    She glanced about the kitchen with its well-worn furniture, deciding the best that could be said of it was that it was solidly made and comfortable. Her surroundings had never bothered her before but now she tried to see the room with Matt’s eyes. It badly needed decorating. She glanced round at her family, at May playing with a doll, Ronnie sorting out cigarette cards and Daisy pretending to ignore her by twiddling with the knobs on the wireless set. Then she remembered Matt had seen the room before and had not been put off. Squaring her shoulders, she set the table with the best damask linen cloth and the heavy silver cutlery her mother had brought from Wrexham, and awaited Matt’s coming.
    ‘Yes, I can dance. You had to in Simla,’ replied Matt in response to Daisy’s question, his eyes glinting as he gazed across at her. ‘Would you like a demonstration? Charleston? Foxtrot? Tango?’ He glanced over at Lily who was clearing the table.
    She smiled. ‘Can you really dance the tango?’
    ‘I’ll prove it to you one day.’
    ‘Never mind dancing,’ said Ronnie from his perch on the stool at Matthew’s knee. ‘Is Simla in India?’
    ‘Yes. It’s in the Himalayan foothills.’
    ‘Was your father stationed there?’ asked Lily, drawing closer as she folded the tablecloth.
    ‘He mentioned it as having the reputation of the liveliest place in India.’
    ‘Did it have elephants walking in the streets?’ demanded May, looking up from playing with a doll.
    ‘Most of the streets are steep. You walk or go by rickshaw. And talking about walking …’ He looked up