"Milady, a telegram just arrived for you."
Greta spoke softly so as not to startle her mistress, Viscountess Claire Illis, who was lost in thoughts, staring through the window of the Cutterstire mansion into the garden.
It was a beautiful morning, the flowers were in full bloom but Greta doubted her mistress saw it. Maybe her sad countenance had to do with the unhappy news that spread like wildfire - the invasion of Poland by the Germans. Another war was imminent.
Lady Claire had been chewing on her lower lip and it was visibly red. A sign that an issue weighed on her mind heavily. She turned and glanced at the small vintage silver tray holding the telegram before her amber eyes rested on Greta who held the tray.
Greta had been her maid since her marriage to Viscount George Illis three years ago. Shortly after the Viscount's demise, she promised to stay with Lady Claire as long as the noble, young lady needed her.
Lady Claire nodded her thanks, took the telegram and opened it.
War has been confirmed. Leave immediately and come down to Longparish. Take essentials only and leave by the next train. I will be waiting for you.
Lady Elsie W.
"Milady?"
Lady Claire looked up from the telegram in her hands with sad eyes. She cleared her throat, still her voice came out hoarse. "It's from my sister, Lady Elsie Wright. She requests….no, insists we leave immediately and travel down to the countryside at once."
Greta gave a small nod. "Good thinking milady. No one knows how this second world war will turn out. Do you want me to start packing?"
Lady Claire was lost in thoughts again as her eyes strayed longingly to the picture of her late husband in a silver picture frame with pearl edges sitting on an antique table beside her. Greta could see her mistress was torn between staying in the mansion which held the beautiful memories of their marriage and leaving everything behind.
Greta remembered the laughs, chuckles and music that filled the mansion when the Viscount was alive. She had never seen a couple more in love. Perhaps if they had a child or two, Lady Claire would have moved on. Despite the time that had passed, Lady Claire would not stop grieving nor give any of the gentlemen who had been calling at the mansion any attention.
"Milady, Lady Elsie is right. If we leave soon, we can be in Longparish before the afternoon tea."
Lady Claire sighed and looked at Greta. "You don't understand. How can I bear to leave everything my dear George owned behind? What if the Nazis take them away? Or what if this place is destroyed?"
"Milady, if I may. Your life is worth more than all these," Greta waved at the magnificent building. "Hopefully after the war, you can petition to have the estate restored back to you. I know the late Viscount would not want you to stay here while we are at war."
Lady Claire covered her face with both hands for a minute, groaned and then uncovered her face. Her hand accidentally knocked the silver picture frame to the floor. It fell faced down.
"Oh no!" She squeaked. Both ladies bent at the same time to pick it up but Lady Claire reached it first and turned the frame. She breathed a sigh of relief that it was not broken.
She held the picture frame and stared at her reflection in it. If only she could turn back the hands of time and have her George back with her. She lovingly traced the handsome, grinning face of her husband in the picture. She gasped and exhaled. The pain was still fresh like it was yesterday.
"Milady? Are you feeling alright? Might I get you a cup of tea?"
Lady Claire looked up, startled. "Oh, I'm sorry Greta. Just pack the essential things we need. We leave in an hour."
Greta nodded and left the room, already saying her goodbyes to the mansion that had been her home too.