Days Gone By

Helping Hands

April 1944 - Aubrey Hall, Kent

Kate blinked up at the house that was in front of her as the car rolled up the drive and felt her jaw drop.

Anthony had described Aubrey Hall to her but honestly, he had no way with words when it came to describing something. It was splendid and perfect and unlike some of the Country Homes she'd seen it was not at all gaudy. It was set back surrounded by trees and it just looked idyllic and she wondered if perhaps she'd get the chance to do some of her water colouring but she was eager to see Anthony again.

Whilst she had been sorting things with her superiors in London, she'd sent a temporary nurse to look after Anthony and ensure he was doing some of his rehab whilst she was away.

She'd meant what she said to Anthony after he'd asked her to marry him when they were on the boat back to London. It had been deemed too unsafe to fly him back due to his injuries but seeing the grandeur of his family home made her a little worried.

She had been in a home like this before, Penwood Park and Penwood House were both large homes, if not larger than Aubrey but there was something homely about Aubrey and it warmed her soul.

As the car pulled up in front of a small house just off the gardens, Anthony had called her the night before and explained that he was stopping in the Summerhouse, it was all set up for a person to reside there and they were working a ramp up to the main house but for the moment he would go in via the side door but the rest of the house wasn't wheelchair accessible.

She saw a man, who looked a lot like Anthony wheeling him out of the house and Kate assumed it was one of his brothers, she'd been told by Anthony that they were all very similar in stature and looks and Kate was shocked at how similar to the brother's were.

She got out of the car and smiled as she walked over to them both "Kate" Anthony beamed at her.

"I see you're still in the chair..." Kate grinned "so much for I'll be up and walking before you get here"

Anthony grinned at her "well i'm trying but Nurse Wilson doesn't have your gentle touch"

"I really do not need to hear any of this..." Benedict complained to his brother.

"Sorry Ben... Kate may I introduce my brother Benedict, he's currently in charge of the house since i'm being plied with painkillers and antibiotics" Anthony grinned

"Ben this is Kate Sharma, my nurse, lifesaver and Girlfriend" he grinned

"It's a pleasure to meet you Benedict" Kate said, offering her hand out which Benedict took and shook.

"The pleasure is mine and please call me Ben, it's the least I can do when you're having to deal with this invalid" he grinned at her "did you have a good drive down?"

"Yeah it's not too bad, these cars make it easier to get around now" Kate replied

"Shall we go inside? It's a bit breezy out here" Anthony said "some of us are literally in Pyjamas and a robe"

"I am not sure how you've ended up becoming more demanding since you've gotten injured" Benedict said "you might want to watch out or i'll roll you off into the lake"

"Yes but if you do that you get the title and everything and we both know you'd rather not" Anthony grinned goofily at his brother as he turned him around "leave your bags, I'll ask Humboldt to come and get them out of your car and then put it in the garage is that ok?"

"Yeah that's fine... but I'll grab my medical stuff" Kate said, grabbing her bag and following the brother's into the little house.

Benedict had made some tea and the three of them got settled down with a cup of tea within a few minutes "how's Sophie getting on?" Anthony asked, having heard alot about Kate's best friend on the boat over from France.