Free The Forgotten Pearl by Belinda Murrell Page B

barracks, and the air-raid wardens are very jumpy about the town’s defences.’
    â€˜They don’t really think the Japanese will attack Darwin, do they?’ asked Cecilia, jumping to her feet, hands clenched by her side.
    Mark rubbed his forehead. ‘There are rumours that they will start evacuating all civilians from Darwin any day now, starting with the women and children,’ he explained, glancing over towards Poppy and Bryony and smiling reassuringly. The girls smiled back nervously. ‘Only women in essential services will be allowed to stay.’
    â€˜That’s ludicrous,’ argued Cecilia. ‘This is our home. Where would we go?’
    She strode back and forth across the floor, biting her thumbnail. Mark took her hand, stilling her. ‘I know this is our home, but we must think of the safety of you and the girls above all else. That’s the most important thing.’
    The ceiling fan whirred slowly overhead, stirring the muggy air.
    â€˜Of course, I would have to stay here,’ continued Mark. ‘I’m needed at the hospital and, if things start getting worse in the Pacific, Darwin will be an important base for treating injured troops. You could take the girls down toSydney or Adelaide for a few months until we know what’s happening.’
    Cecilia frowned. ‘I won’t leave you. This war might drag on for years. If Darwin becomes an important medical centre, then I should be here, too. I’ve nursed countless of our patients over the last twenty years, including the Great War. I won’t sit twiddling my thumbs in Sydney doing nothing when I’m needed here.’
    Poppy glanced at her father.
    Mark nodded, smiling ruefully. ‘You are a wonderful nurse, and I could ask for none better,’ he agreed, ‘but what about the girls?’
    Cecilia’s eyes filled with tears. ‘Perhaps they should go to boarding school down south,’ she suggested after a pause. ‘They’d be safe there, and I really should have sent them a couple of years ago. It was just with the war on, I didn’t want them to be so far away . . .’
    â€˜No,’ cried Poppy. ‘I don’t want to go to boarding school. I want to stay here with you.’
    Cecilia and Mark exchanged worried glances.
    â€˜Phoebe and Edward enjoyed boarding school,’ Cecilia reminded her, trying to be cheerful. ‘They made some lovely friends and had lots of fun.’
    Poppy crossed her arms and put on her mutinous face, which made Mark laugh. Her stomach was knotted with tension. She could sense the stress in the air as palpably as the humidity. Honey whined and rolled on her back. Absentmindedly, Poppy leant down and stroked her tummy.
    â€˜What about you, Bryony?’ asked Mark.
    â€˜Of course she wants to stay here,’ insisted Poppy.‘George is here!’
    Bryony flushed and then tossed her head, not a curl out of place.
    â€˜Of course I love Darwin, but I think it would be wonderful to visit Sydney. Phoebe says it’s a marvellous city – full of theatres, shops and dance halls . . .’
    â€˜Of course all you can think about is shopping !’ snapped Poppy. Her fear made her want to strike out at something, anyone, but particularly her smug, gorgeous sister.
    â€˜Well, you might want to start thinking a little more about how you look, Poppy,’ Bryony retorted. ‘You can’t spend your whole life looking like a ragamuffin hoyden.’
    Cecilia could not help but smile.
    â€˜Poppy, Bryony – there’s no need for sniping. Sisters should support each other, especially in troubled times.’
    Poppy rolled her eyes. Bryony smirked back.
    â€˜Girls, listen to your mother,’ Mark admonished impatiently. ‘I can’t believe you are baiting each other when we have to make life-changing decisions. We are trying to decide what is best – and safest – for