The Consequences of Fear by Jacqueline Winspear (speed reading book txt) 📕

Hunter nodded. Maisie could feel a change in her demeanor, as if a cloud of melancholy had enveloped her.

“Strangely, the book I have just finished writing touches upon this very thing. Mind you, it’s not going to leave me until I’ve read and reread my manuscript a thousand times—a nasty habit of mine that infuriates my publisher.” She sighed, then continued. “Maisie, paramount, above everything, is this word: honor. Honor is in the heart and mind of every citizen of France, from the aristocracy to the most lowly man or woman. It is at the very center of Liberté, Egalité and Fraternité, our moral code—whether we stick to it or not. Honor is a word that strikes a chord with so many peoples, but it’s different for the French.” She glanced out of the window as she paused for a moment, then brought her attention back to Maisie. “So, that’s the first thing—a thread that runs through the heart of every French man and woman.”

“And what else?” Maisie was anxious for Hunter to continue.

“We can be defiant. Our defiance becomes very strong indeed when we are scared, when we are threatened, when the stakes arehigh and against us at every turn—and we take defeat very, very poorly.” She became thoughtful once more. “Yes, I know theBritish are the same—and by god, there is resilience here in our country. But the French are a very interesting people—I amsure you know that British airmen would prefer to be shot down in occupied France rather than Vichy. I was told by a friend,one who knows about these things, that an airman will do his best to bring down his burning aircraft in the occupied area;he knows our people will help him because it’s one in the eye for the Germans, who they hate. But in Vichy, Petain has showna distinct paucity of integrity, a lack of respect for what France stands for; hence the Vichy authorities would hand overthat same airman to the Nazis; a gift, if you will, to curry favor. Their dearth of fidelity to what France stands for meansthat Petain might as well be an out-and-out traitor—and if there is one thing the French hate, it’s a traitor, though I concedehe may be acting because he fears the Nazis and is intimidated by their power, but that’s no excuse in my book.”

Maisie said nothing for a few moments, allowing Hunter’s words to settle inside her, words she would take out later and examine,along with the cache of information she had gathered since leaving her house this morning. There was a passion in the woman’ssummation of the situation in France, a passion that had escalated with every word as she responded to the question. However,Maisie had to know more. She came to her feet again and took the cup and saucer from Hunter’s hands.

“Another cup?”

“Oh, yes please, dear—and I’m sorry. I rather went on, didn’t I?”

“Not at all—your opinion is of great value to me, and if you don’t mind, I’ve a few more questions.” Maisie poured more teaand handed the cup and saucer back to Hunter before taking her seat once more. Even in her choice of china, Gabriella seemedavant-garde—the matching Clarice Cliff teapot, cups and saucers, sugar bowl and jug decorated in striking shades of orange,blue, red and green marked the woman as an individualist.

“It’s extraordinary—that you remember exactly how I like my tea. First a little milk, then the tea, and then just a littlehot water on top.”

Maisie laughed. “Some things you never forget, Gabriella. You didn’t have a housekeeper when Maurice first brought me here,so I always made tea while you two were catching up with your news, and then when I brought in the tray and poured for usall, you would discuss some subject or other and I was expected to contribute to the conversation.”

“I know—cruel, weren’t we? I always thought he expected too much of you.”

Maisie shook her head. “Perhaps, but it never harmed me, and what he did was show me the road ahead and give me the toolsto make the journey.” She looked down at her hands, trying not to be swept back on a wave of nostalgia. Bringing her attentionback to Hunter, Maisie continued her questioning. “Tell me about de Gaulle.”

Hunter gave a slight shake of her head. “The man is in a difficult position. He is not in France, so it appears to the French that he has left them behind to become victims of the Nazis. Yet on the other hand, they know he is over here, and there are a good number who believe he is doing all he can to help France from a safe place. Think of his speech last year, on the eighteenth of June. Parts still ring in my ears—and there are words we will all remember, we who love France. Every aspect of his speech was calibrated for the moment, but his call to arms was spoken with passion. ‘I call upon all Frenchmen who want to remain free to listen to my voice and follow me.’”

There was another pause in the conversation before Hunter continued.

“I suppose I get quite taken with emotion at times, when I think of the war. The troubling element in all of this is a collectivefear among the French that de Gaulle is collaborating with the British, that he is Churchill’s poodle, a tool of Britain.And we in Britain look quite vulnerable to the French, don’t we? They are convinced that Hitler will march in at any momentand fly the swastika over Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament, so they anticipate that de Gaulle will then becomeHitler’s puppet. Thus de Gaulle has to step with care, demonstrating to his countrymen that he has the upper hand over Churchill.He therefore appears haughty, arrogant and dismissive, and at the same time he has to show an element of gratitude for hislife and his ability to be a leader for France despite being in exile—when across the Channel