Beauty Chorus, The (23 page)

‘I didn’t mean—’

‘The rain has stopped,’ she said. ‘Thank you for the tea. I mustn’t take up any more of your time.’

‘Would you like to take that trip out to Cookham soon?’ Michael said as she slipped on her shoes by the fireside.

Stella ran a hand through her damp hair. ‘Yes, I’d like that.’ She forced a bright smile. ‘I’d like that very much.’

21

‘Where the hell have you been?’ Beau demanded as Evie walked into the Ops Corridor.

‘I thought you’d be pleased to see me, sir.’ Evie dumped her parachute on the floor. ‘Better late than never, isn’t that what we’re always told?’

‘It’s a bad show on your first flight. That twerp Teddy’s completely lost his wool over this one.’

Evie wasn’t going to let Beau spoil her good mood. She had been buzzing with happiness the whole flight. ‘But the Magister—’

‘Are you telling me it takes two days for the engineers to fix a simple mechanical fault?’

‘How do I know?’

‘It’s your job to know, Miss Chase.’

‘Hello, Evie!’ Megan stopped on her way past. ‘Good to see you!’

At least someone thinks so
, Evie thought. As Evie ran her hand through her hair, shaking it loose from her flying cap, Megan spotted the ring on her finger, and grabbed her hand.

‘Evie! Are you …?’

‘Shh. I’ll tell you about it later.’ Megan raced out to her aircraft, and Evie turned to Beau. ‘Well, I’m sorry, sir. It won’t happen again.’

‘Make sure it doesn’t.’ He looked solemnly at her. ‘I see congratulations are in order. At least that Yank has the decency to make an honest woman of you.’

‘What do you mean by that?’

‘You seem to get through men as quickly as you do aircraft. I would be careful, Miss Chase, you’re getting something of a reputation.’ He took her to one side as some pilots
pushed past. ‘You need to consider your position here. Gallivanting around the countryside is no way for a new officer to behave. You girls are under a spotlight. The slightest hint of a
scandal and you will all get a bad name, do you understand?’

‘Evie!’ Stella called out from the queue by the counter in the mess. ‘We thought you’d got lost.’

‘Very funny.’ Evie was still smarting from Beau’s warning, but she was determined not to show it.

‘Welcome back. We have missed you.’ Stella gave her a hug. ‘So, what have you been up to?’ As Evie raised her left hand, the sapphire sparkling in the sunlight,
Stella’s mouth fell open in surprise. ‘No!’

‘Congratulations, Miss,’ Jean said as the girls clustered around to look at Evie’s ring.

‘Thank you, Jean. These look good.’ Evie chose a slice of fruit cake from the display.

‘Well, when I saw how much everyone liked the cake your mother—’

Evie’s face clouded. ‘Stepmother.’

‘I thought why not bake a few cakes at home and bring them in? Make a few coppers.’

Evie took a bite. ‘Delicious.’

‘Who is he?’ Stella asked as they found a spare table. They flopped down in the armchairs and Evie told her the whole story. ‘Oh it’s so romantic,’ she sighed.
‘An American.’ She rested her chin on her hands. ‘What’s he like?’

‘Gorgeous,’ Evie said thoughtfully. ‘Handsome, funny, kind. He’s rather mad and impulsive …’

‘So are you,’ Stella said.

‘Jack said we could be twins, we’re so in tune with one another.’ She took a sip of Stella’s hot orangeade. ‘How’s it been here?’

‘Busy.’ Her face fell. ‘They lost dozens of pilots the day you got caught in Bristol. I finally headed back here, and even then I had to do a steep bank to miss Shottesbrooke.
Almost took half the church with me.’

‘I had the strangest feeling when I was flying into Whitchurch,’ Evie turned the cup in her hands. ‘I know it’s silly, but do you ever feel like you have someone flying
with you, even when you’re alone?’

‘Not your guardian angel again?’ she said. ‘Poppycock. It’s concentration and endurance gets you in.’

‘I don’t know,’ Evie said. ‘It’s a funny old game.’

‘Nothing funny about it,’ Teddy interrupted. ‘Glad you decided to join us, Miss Chase. Hear you’re marrying some Yank, is that right?’ He leant uncomfortably close
to her. ‘A British chap not good enough for you, eh?’

Instead of recoiling, Evie leant closer to him, whispered in his ear. ‘I should have slapped you that night you made a pass at me, and if you don’t back off I’ll do it now and
tell the whole base what a cad and a bounder you are.’

‘I’d watch him, Evie, he’s got it in for you,’ Stella said as he stormed off.

‘I can handle him.’ Evie glanced up as a pilot walked into the mess. ‘Hello, Stewart,’ she called. ‘I just met a friend of yours, Jack Whitman.’

‘Jack? Hell, fancy that. How’s he doing?’

‘Rather well as it happens. We’ve just become engaged.’

‘Congratulations, Evie.’ He shook her hand.

‘How are things with you?’

‘I just had a lousy flight. It was a P40 Tomahawk I. Did you know they have a French throttle?’

Evie shook her head. ‘Nope.’

‘Neither did I till I read the notes. It’s like easing off the gas in a car to speed up. Listen, I’ve got to run, but let’s have a drink to celebrate later.’

‘A reverse throttle? Most unnatural.’ Stella sipped her tea. ‘I had a dicey one too. I had to deliver a Magister to a new MU. You know how they tie the trees back at the
perimeter of these places when they’re being built, then release the trees to hide the unit? The last time I flew over there the trees were tied back and the strip was nice and clear. This
time I couldn’t find the bally place. I had to do a short stop bang on the field, it was a close-run thing.’

‘You’re doing so well,’ Evie said. ‘You’ll be a Second Officer before you know it.’

Stella blushed. ‘Sometimes I feel that there’s a peace in doing something worthwhile. I probably sound awfully silly.’

‘No, I know what you mean,’ Evie said. ‘How are things at the house?’

‘We have eggs! Megan’s very excited. She spends hours out there talking to the hens. I think Meggie finds them better company than me.’

‘Don’t be daft,’ Evie said. ‘It is good to be home,’ she sighed and closed her eyes, wondering when she would see Jack again.

22

The girls had slept late, exhausted after days spent ferrying planes all over the country, and several unlucky nights lurching home on the dreaded pitch-black night-trains.
They had only a couple of days off, but for once their leave worked out with Jack’s. His imminent arrival caused a buzz of excitement. It had been a beautiful day – soft rain in the
early afternoon clearing to a golden sunset. Evie had spent the afternoon cooking and baking for Jack’s arrival, the chickens clucking contentedly in the garden, Stalin dozing in a patch of
sunlight on the kitchen windowsill. Now the house was filled with the delicious scent of boeuf bourguignon bubbling away in the range.

Evie had arranged that they would meet friends at the Riviera that night. Cocktail gowns lay scattered over every surface in Stella’s bedroom, and the three outfits the girls had selected
hung carefully by the full-length mirror.

Megan lay on her stomach on the bed, her chin cupped in her hand. ‘Evie …’

‘Mmm?’ she replied distractedly. She was painting her nails scarlet, leaving the moons white.

‘You and Jack, did you …’ Megan blushed. ‘Did you do “it”?’

Evie laughed. ‘What do you mean “it”? Did we make love?’

‘Did you, Evie?’ Stella rolled on the bed next to Megan. ‘Did he clutch you in his manly arms?’ She hugged a pillow to her face, laughing.

‘Oh shut up, you’re just teasing me!’ Megan’s bottom lip stuck out.

‘Sorry, darling.’ She tossed the pillow at her.

‘Stella’s the old married woman,’ Evie said. ‘You should be asking her about this kind of thing, not me.’

‘Hardly,’ Stella said. ‘I can barely remember what “it’s” like.’ Her eyes fell for a moment.

‘So … what is it like?’ Megan asked finally.

Evie glanced up from her nails. ‘You mean you haven’t either? What about this chap of yours at home?’

‘Bill?’ Megan shook her head. ‘No, we’ve kissed, that’s all.’

‘Well, I always wanted the first time to be special. I’m glad we’re waiting for our wedding night.’ Evie’s eyes twinkled mischievously. ‘Listen to this
though.’ She unfolded a letter from her dressing-gown pocket. ‘My darling girl—’

‘Oh,’ Megan sighed. ‘I wish someone would call me their darling girl.’

‘I’m back on ops, and missing the future Mrs Jack Whitman terribly.’ Evie glanced up from the letter. ‘“Mrs Jack Whitman”, I like that.’ She skimmed
through the letter. ‘I’m all trussed up in my Mae West, ready to scramble, but I’d rather be in my birthday suit with you …’

Megan screamed with laughter, balling a handkerchief into her mouth. There was a sudden knock on the door.

‘He’s here!’ Evie leapt up, fanning her nails. Her stomach tightened with excitement. She pulled her red silk kimono around her, ducked down to look in the dressing-table
mirror. ‘How do I look?’

‘Beautiful.’ Stella smiled. ‘Well go on, don’t keep the boy waiting!’

‘Hello,’ Jack called. ‘Anyone home?’

Evie flung open the bedroom window, and looked down, the dark waves of her hair framing her face. Jack took his cap off, gazed up at her. In his hand there was a bouquet of white roses.
‘There you are!’ he said.

She flashed him a dazzling smile. ‘Wait there.’ She ran downstairs, and threw open the front door. Jack took her in his arms. ‘Missed me?’

‘You bet,’ he murmured, as Evie kissed his tired eyes, the dark circles new to her.

Megan paused on the staircase. ‘It’s so romantic,’ she sighed. They seemed an impossibly glamorous couple to her, Jack in his uniform, Evie in her beautiful scarlet gown with
the roses in her hand.

‘Come and meet the girls.’ Evie hugged the flowers to her chest. ‘Stella, Megan, this is my fiancé, Jack Whitman.’

‘That sounds good.’ He slipped his arm around her waist. ‘It’s a pleasure to meet you both. Evie’s told me all about you.’ Jack winked as Megan
self-consciously touched the rags in her hair. ‘If she’d told me how pretty you both are I would have brought some of the guys with me.’

Jack enjoyed the attention of the girls. He had been through a tough few days’ combat and it was a relief to be in a peaceful cottage, his girl piling his plate high with
stew, a cool glass of beer beside him. After dinner Stella and Megan retreated upstairs and Jack sat in his shirtsleeves by the stove listening to a Sinatra record he had bought especially for
Evie. ‘Tell you something, this war sure makes you appreciate the simple pleasures in life.’ He held his hand out to her. ‘I’ll always think of you when I hear “East
of the Sun”,’ he said as she slipped onto his lap. ‘Now you can play it whenever you want.’

‘They played it that night in the pub, do you remember?’

‘It’s our song.’ He affectionately flicked the end of her nose with his finger. ‘What’s up with the cat?’ Stalin glared at him from under the sofa.

‘You’re in his chair.’

‘Yeah? Well, mister, you’re going to have to get used to having another guy around the house.’ Evie kissed the top of his head. He cupped her jaw, brought her lips to his.
‘Baby, do we have to go out tonight? I have to go back to the base tomorrow.’

‘I thought it would be fun for you to meet some of my friends. I’ve been boring them all senseless telling them how wonderful you are.’

‘You have?’ He grinned.

‘Of course!’ She stroked his thick, dark hair away from his forehead. ‘You do look tired, darling. How’s it been?’

‘Busy,’ he said.

‘Have they moved you to Martlesham yet?’

‘Early April they reckon.’

‘You will be careful won’t you?’

‘Don’t worry about me.’ His eyes crinkled as he smiled. ‘Listen, I’ve been thinking, I want to ask your dad for your hand in marriage.’

‘Why?’ she said coolly. ‘It’s not his to give.’

‘Evie, I want to do this properly.’ He stroked her cheek. ‘You’re an old-fashioned girl and I respect that.’

‘You mean, about making love?’ She blushed. ‘I hope it’s not too hard, waiting.’

Jack broke into a wide grin. ‘Baby, you have no idea … But it will be worth it. As soon as I have the all clear from Mr Chase, we’ll set a date.’

‘Oh, fine,’ she said reluctantly. ‘But not tonight, please? There’s so little time and I just want to enjoy being with you.’

‘OK, I’ll write him. Maybe we can hook up next time.’ Jack settled back in the chair. ‘I bumped into one of your guys at the 43 Club last night.’

‘So that’s why you look so tired!’ She pulled a face and laughed. ‘Who was it?’

‘Jim Mollison. He’s a fun guy, had us all in stitches. Man, he has some good stories.’

Evie nudged him in the ribs. ‘What were you doing in Soho?’ She knew the club’s louche reputation. ‘Six floors of celebrities, drugs, aristos and sex from what I’ve
heard. I wouldn’t have thought it was your kind of place.’ As Jack stretched, she saw the flash of his bright green socks above his boots. She began to wonder whether there was another
side to him.

Jack shrugged, hiding his guilt. ‘We were just letting off some steam.’ His head still throbbed from the all-night bender. ‘It was kind of wild. We ended up in Mayfair with a
bunch of guys from home. They water-bombed the hotel stairs with their shower curtain.’

‘Sounds like quite a night. Any girls?’

Jack rubbed his nose and yawned. ‘Nah, nobody to touch you.’ He thought of the pretty blonde Polish WAAF he had left sleeping in her bedsit that morning. What was one night, after
all?

‘Come on, lovebirds.’ Stella appeared in the doorway wearing a midnight blue satin gown.

‘Boy, I have to be the luckiest guy alive going out on the town with you three girls.’ Jack straightened his tie as Evie stood and smoothed the silver silk of her favourite
Schiaparelli gown.

As the girls found a table at the Riviera, Jack went to the bar to fetch a bottle of champagne. While he was waiting to pay, Beau arrived.

‘Hey, you’re the guy who was in Bristol with Evie? Pilot Officer Jack Whitman, sir.’ He held out his hand to Beau. ‘I have to thank you for not taking her home with you
that night.’