Maynard's War Chapter 20
Charleston
Thank you for reading Maynard’s War, and a warm welcome to my new subscribers. Chapter 21 will be published next Sunday, 4th May at 11am UK time. Do please share with anyone you think might be interested - it takes but a click.
If you’ve only just discovered Maynard’s War and would like to start at the beginning, then please click this button:
October 1916
Leonard was pleased to be left alone in the garden at Garsington with only the Morrell’s daughter, Julian, for company. She had persuaded him to play tennis, and he had been impressed with the ability of the eleven year old. After a closely fought set, Julian returned to the house leaving Leonard alone. As he relaxed back into a deck chair he wondered why Virginia had insisted they spend the weekend at this peculiar place. Among the artists and writers of his acquaintance only Vanessa was remotely normal, and Garsington was populated almost entirely by artists and writers. Apart from Lytton, he had little in common with any of these people, all of whom struggled to talk about anything other than themselves.
While he understood the Morrells’ compassion in creating a safe-haven for conscientious objectors, he couldn’t help noticing that entry was not open to all; only a select group of Ottoline’s artist friends. He also failed to understand how this arrangement afforded these people exemption from military service; as far he could tell no work was being done save the periodic collection of eggs from the chicken coop and a bit of weeding. It felt wrong that Duncan and Bunny were having to work eighteen hours a day with Vanessa and Maynard battling to maintain their liberty, while this bunch of ne’er do wells were able to hide out the war thanks to the hospitality of a well-connected Member of Parliament and his eccentric wife.
Virginia, on the other hand, thought the whole enterprise quite marvellous. She’d been nagging Leonard to accept the invitation for weeks, making thinly veiled threats that her recovery would be placed in jeopardy if she were denied the chance to see her friends. He knew there was there was only so much he could do to protect her. When she showed no signs of a relapse after visiting Vanessa in Suffolk, he capitulated. It was good to see her enjoying herself, just as it was good to see how impressive she was in company. Everybody loved Virginia. He only hoped it would last.
Before long his peace was shattered by footsteps heading his way from the house. “Leonard, is that you? Oh I’m so pleased you’re still here. I’ve been wanting to have a word.” It was Margot Asquith.
“Margot, you opted out of the visit to Bridges then?”
“Oh yes. The man should have stuck to medicine. I can’t read his work. Can you?”
“Not among my favourites,” Leonard agreed.
“I have spoken to Herbert about it, but apparently Poet Laureate is a lifetime appointment. Unless he commits some kind of criminal act we’re stuck with him, I’m afraid.”
“Couldn’t the government introduce legislation to make bad poetry a crime?” Leonard asked.
“Do you know I hadn’t thought of that,” she replied, before the noticing the smile on Leonard’s face. “Oh, you’re being humorous,” she said, smiling. “Now, I have something I need to speak to you about.”
Leonard sat up in his deckchair. “I see,” he said, “Please, go on.”
“I am very worried about Herbert. He’s been under a great deal of strain, well, ever since the war started, and it’s beginning to take its toll. And since poor Raymond died. He’s really taken it very badly. I’m worried about his health, and although he won’t talk about it, from what I hear, there may well be an attempt to oust him.”
“I see.”
“Now, I accept he can’t go on forever, but I do think he should be allowed to step down at a time of his own choosing, don’t you agree?”
Leonard didn’t care two hoots about Asquith. As far as he was concerned, with the exception of the small cross-party group campaigning for a negotiated peace, he had no time for any politician. And he doubted the replacement of Asquith by Lloyd George would make any difference to the duration of the war. “If I was in your husband’s shoes,” he replied, “I would do all I could to ensure I was in control of my own destiny.”
“Well that’s just it. Herbert doesn’t seem to be in control of very much at all at present. This challenge from Lloyd George is brazen opportunism. Kicking a man when he’s down is not how we go about things.”
“Perhaps they do things differently in Wales?”
“It would appear so.”
Leonard was unsure if she realised he wasn’t taking her entirely seriously but he didn’t want to upset her. “Margot, if I can be of any help, you must let me know.”
“Well that’s just it. You can.”
“Really, how?”
“I would have thought it obvious. Your close friendship with Mr Keynes. Now he and I have always got on wonderfully well, but I can hardly ask him to go into bat for Herbert myself. It would be crossing a line. But if you were to say something.”
“But Maynard has always been utterly loyal to your husband. He can’t stand Lloyd George.”
“I’m sure that is the case, but it wouldn’t do any harm to reinforce upon him the gravity of the situation. He has become a very influential figure in Whitehall, more influential than even he realises. I just thought if you could have a word, then perhaps it would help focus his mind.”
Leonard imagined the conversation he would be having with Keynes, who would find the whole episode hilarious. “Margot,” he said, “of course I will talk to Maynard. And I’m sure he will do all in his power to help.”
“Thank you Leonard. I knew I could rely on you. Now, what time are we expecting your remarkable wife back? I really must talk to her about my daughter.”
Things had moved quickly since Vanessa’s speculative trip to Sussex. Farmer Hecks turned out to be a rather grumpy man but was immensely cheered at the prospect of two strapping lads taking up residence in the neighbouring property and ready to work on his farm. He agreed to Vanessa’s suggestion for their weekly wage so quickly she wondered if she shouldn’t have started the bidding a little higher.
She also had high hopes for their new home. Although this part of Sussex – they were only six miles from Lewes – was not as remote as Wissett, the house, known as Charleston, was about twice the size. Again it would need a great deal of work, but in many ways it was more practical. Vanessa could even envisage living here after the war, something she couldn’t have said about Wissett.
She was pleased with herself: she had secured work for Duncan and Bunny which should keep them out of prison for the duration of the war. She had ensured that they would be together, which meant she could be with Duncan. And she had found them a rather lovely house. They would even be able to pay the rent from Duncan and Bunny’s earnings. It would be a relief no longer to have to rely on Maynard’s largesse.
Bunny was already in Sussex, staying at a nearby inn, a short bicycle ride from Hecks’ farm. He had insisted that one of the men start work within the week, so desperate was he for help to get the harvest in. The three of them had made the trip to London with huge quantities of luggage and assorted wildlife. The whole thing was chaotic and rather stressful. The garden at 46 Gordon Square, where Vanessa was resting up for a couple of days while Duncan returned to Wissett, was a sight to behold.
Keynes was now back at Gordon Square having given up his house in Gower Street after Vanessa pleaded with him to take the place over in her absence. “It’s actually worked out very well,” he said to her over breakfast. “I haven’t seen hide nor hair of Clive.” This had been the main reason for his reluctance to move back in.
“Well, he’s fully employed at Garsington by all reports,” Vanessa said.
“Not according to Leonard. Much partying but very little in the way of food production from what he saw the other weekend.”
“You know, I really don’t care that Clive is living another lie,” she said.
“Are you sure? I mean are you happy? This arrangement with Duncan and Bunny. Does it really give you what you want?”
“Duncan and Bunny will last just as long as they need each other,” she said, smiling.
“Presumably to the end of the war?”
“Yes, I hope so.”
“And you think that once Bunny goes, you’ll have Duncan all to yourself?”
“Perhaps not all the time, but enough, yes.”
“And what of this new home of yours? Will you be happy there?”
“I think so. There’s more space, and Sussex is lovely, as you know. Virginia will be nearby but not too close. I think it’ll work. You must come and visit as soon as we’re straight.”
“I fully intend too. It’ll be easier than Suffolk. You might find me a regular weekend visitor.”
He could be infuriating at times, but Keynes was the most generous and reliable of all her friends. She took his hand and squeezed it. “You’d be most welcome,” she said.
She’d enlisted the help of two friends – Barbara Hiles and Dora Carrington – to assist with the second half of the move to Charleston. Bunny would be at the other end to meet them, and Duncan would follow in a couple of days. As they settled into their seats on the train at Victoria, luggage successfully stowed and livestock safely deposited with the guard, it occurred to her that travelling was much easier when there were no men involved. At no point in what might easily have been an arduous hour since they arrived at Victoria in three taxi cabs, had she had to give any instruction to either Barbara or Dora. They just knew what to do. She wondered under what other circumstances men might usefully be dispensed with.
Bunny was at Lewes Station to meet them with an enormous farm vehicle. With the help of the friendly station master they had everything loaded in no time and were soon on their way, Vanessa, once again, sitting up front with Bunny. They headed east along the main road towards Hastings, Bunny explaining to Barbara and Dora that the house was just off the main road on the edge of the downs, about thirty minutes away. He had met the tenant from whom they were sub-letting that morning to collect the keys and had been able to open several of the upstairs windows to get some air into the place before starting work.
Once they’d unloaded and moved everything into the house, distributing boxes and items of furniture into various rooms, Barbara and Dora set off across the downs to explore and Vanessa was left alone in her new home. She made a tour of every room, and then each of the outbuildings before walking around the pond. Returning to the house, she went up to one of the front bedrooms which she had already chosen as her studio. She looked across the fields to see the girls laughing as they made their way back, and dared to imagine a life here with Duncan.
Thanks for reading Maynard’s War. Subscribe for free to ensure you never miss a chapter. Or take out a paid subscription and help me to deliver chapters on time.
And if you’re interested in all things Bloomsbury, and specifically 20th century British art, do check out Victoria K. Walker’s Beyond Bloomsbury. It’s fabulous.
