Beauty Chorus, The (32 page)

‘Typical Daddy.’ She sipped gratefully at her drink. ‘I didn’t know you liked racing.’

Beau shrugged. ‘It’s something of a family tradition. I went with Olivia’s parents.’

‘Oh. I thought you and Olivia …’ She hesitated. ‘I’m glad if you’ve sorted everything out.’ She felt Beau watching her.

‘It’s not that simple. Her father and Hans were like brothers. He was very good to me after my parents split up, I can’t just cut them off. And Olivia is rather fragile at the
moment.’

Fragile like an iceberg
, Evie thought.

‘I’d arranged to go with them ages ago. It would have seemed rude to …’ Beau laughed and shook his head. ‘I don’t know why I’m trying to explain. What
is it you said to me? Never apologise, never explain?’

‘Hello, sir.’ A young ATA cadet walked in with Ace at his side.

‘Thanks for looking after him for me, Archie.’ Beau handed him some coins. ‘Now, what will it be?’

‘Beer please, sir.’

‘Hello, Archie,’ Evie said. ‘Oh look at this dog!’ She sank to her knees and ran her hands through Ace’s glossy fur. He panted happily, ears pricked.
‘Don’t you look well? Yes, you do.’ The dog rolled over and put all four paws in the air.

‘Miss Chase has quite an effect on men, as you can see,’ Beau said.

Evie looked up at the boy. ‘Are you old enough to drink, Archie?’

‘I’m sixteen, Miss.’ He puffed his chest out. All the young cadets were immensely proud of their blue RAF uniforms. ‘It’s my birthday today, and the Wing Commander
wanted to buy me a pint.’

‘Do you want to be a pilot when you’re older?’

‘Yes, Miss. I’m doing bits and pieces round here, delivering post and so on.’

‘How are you finding it?’

‘Most of the chaps are friendly enough, but Wing Commander Beaufort is the tops.’

‘Really?’ She eyed Beau curiously.

‘He’s lent me all sorts of books, and he’s let me go up and do his winding gear loads of times.’

‘Steady on, old boy,’ Beau said. ‘We don’t want to destroy my severe image entirely.’

Evie laughed. ‘Aren’t you full of surprises, Wing Commander?’

Beau handed Archie a glass and the boy clung to it as if he was afraid someone might take it away.

‘There you go. Happy birthday,’ Beau said. ‘Why don’t you take Ace outside? I’ll be along in a moment.’ He turned to Evie. ‘How’s your week
been?’

‘Non-stop. I’ve had the most awful day.’ Evie shook a cigarette from the packet in her pocket. ‘Took a Harvard up to Prestwick, train back last night.’

‘Those trips are always fun. No wonder you look tired.’

Evie frowned. She was just about to challenge him when she saw Beau was smiling. ‘Tired?’ she laughed. ‘Sometimes I feel like I’ve aged ten years in ten
months.’

‘I think we all feel like that at the moment.’ Beau leant against the bar at her side, his shoulder resting close to hers.

Evie’s head was swimming with tiredness, and the nearness of him. ‘God, those Harvards make a racket on the ground,’ she said quickly. ‘I don’t know what the
Americans put in them. Then when I made it back, Teddy was winding me up.’

‘He winds everyone up. Don’t take it personally.’

‘I’ll never forgive him for what he did to Jack.’ Evie stared quickly down at her drink. ‘And for what he said about you. I wish he were dead.’ She paused.
‘No I don’t, that’s silly of me.’

‘There’s not much chance he’ll cop any flak in the chairborne division.’ Beau exhaled a plume of smoke. ‘I’d keep an eye on him if I were you though. It
strikes me Parker has it in for you.’

Evie thought of Olivia. ‘It seems everyone does.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Oh, nothing. All those stupid lies he told about me. Even to my face he always behaves like I’m some spoilt brat who has led a charmed life.’

‘You have.’

Evie folded her arms as she turned to him. ‘I’ve changed.’

‘I know you have. It’s what happens when you’re facing danger every day. You soon realise what is important.’ Beau reached over and adjusted the wings on her jacket.
Evie’s skin prickled, made goosebumps at his touch. ‘How many times do I have to tell you to keep your wings level?’

‘You’re not my teacher any more.’

‘I know.’ He looked at her. ‘I could tell on your first flight what an excellent pilot you would become.’

‘Thank you.’ Evie felt awkward suddenly. ‘Listen, why don’t you take Montgomery out for a ride this weekend? Do you more good than being holed up in here.’

‘I’d love to, but I won’t be here.’

‘Why?’

‘I’ve been given the all clear.’

‘You’re going back to your squadron?’ Evie was surprised how the news hit her.

‘I can’t wait,’ he said. ‘As much as I love teaching you girls how not to break your necks flying, I want to be back in action.’

She tried to hide her disappointment. ‘Of course you want to get out of here.’

‘You will too, soon. I’m sure Pauline will have you all sent off to other bases.’

‘I hope not, White Waltham is by far the best.’

‘All the ferry pilots say that about their home pool. I think because you go through so much hardship together – the freezing cold, the lack of furniture …’

‘Don’t forget the mice.’

‘It’s the little things that help to unite you, don’t you think?’

Evie laughed. ‘Where are you based now?’ she asked casually. ‘Perhaps I could—’

‘East Anglia.’

‘Not Martlesham? That’s where Jack …’ Her voice trailed off. ‘You will be careful, won’t you, sir?’ She hesitated. ‘Perhaps now you’re not
my instructor any more I can call you Beau?’

He gazed at her, smiled sadly. ‘I do wish people would stop calling me that.’

Evie touched his wounded arm, the tanned skin warm to her touch. ‘Why? Because of this?’ She hesitated, wary of touching his face. Gently she touched her own cheek. ‘And this?
They haven’t changed you.’

He looked away. ‘Thank you, Miss Chase.’

‘Good luck, sir. Thank you. For everything.’ She waited. Finally he raised his eyes to hers. In the silence it felt to her as if the air between them contracted, shifted. She felt
light-headed, uncertain.

‘Evie …’

‘I should get going,’ she said quickly. ‘Take care,’ she said. As she walked out into the sunlight and the pub door closed behind her, she wondered whether she would ever
see him again.

33

‘Stay still!’ Stella laughed.

‘I can’t, you’re tickling!’ Megan giggled as Stella drew a line along the back of her leg with a kohl pencil. ‘And I smell like gravy!’ Evie was putting the
finishing touches to her other leg with a bowl of gravy browning.

‘I’m sorry I don’t have any stockings left for your big night.’ Evie dabbed at Megan’s ankle with a cloth. ‘I gave my last pair to Jean.’

‘There.’ Stella stood back to get the full effect. ‘Give us a twirl!’ Megan pirouetted in her slip and the high heels that had been a birthday present from Evie. Her room
was decked out with cards and a bouquet of yellow roses from Peter.

‘I’m so excited!’ Megan squealed. ‘My first dinner date, I can’t believe it!’

‘And Peter is a perfect gentleman, so you have nothing to worry about.’ Evie took the emerald green cocktail dress Megan was borrowing off its hanger, and helped her in. ‘This
suits you far more than me with your lovely colouring,’ she said as she pulled up the zip. ‘Why don’t you keep it?’

Megan gasped, turned this way and that in front of the mirror. ‘Thank you!’ She hugged Evie. ‘I don’t know what to say.’

‘Don’t say anything, just have a marvellous time and tell us all about it when you get home.’ Evie sprayed some perfume in the air, and beckoned her forwards into the mist.
‘Perfect. You don’t want it to be too heavy.’

‘It’s lovely.’ Megan checked the bottle. ‘Lily of the Valley.’

‘That’s you.’ Evie hugged her. ‘Our lily from the valleys.’

‘There’s something missing …’ Stella mused, looking Megan up and down. ‘I know!’ She ran to her room, and returned with a diamanté brooch, clipping it
carefully in Megan’s hair.

‘Oh, I look like a film star,’ Megan sighed. There was a knock on the door and they heard Peter call hello. ‘Thank you both so much, this has been my best birthday ever!’
She ran downstairs, and the girls listened to their excited voices. Stella and Evie stood by the bedroom window and watched Peter open the door of his car and help Megan into her seat.

‘They make a lovely couple, don’t they, Evie?’

‘I’m over the moon they’ve been getting along so well. I hope he asks her to marry him.’ She linked her arm through Stella’s as they walked downstairs. ‘We
could do with some good news for a change.’

‘Talking of good news, have you heard? I bumped into Rosemary in the Jolly Farmer at Hockett’s Hill. You know Pauline convinced Pop to let the girls have a go at operational
planes?’

‘Yes, they were at some party weren’t they? Clever old her to catch him off guard.’

‘Well, Winnie, Margie, Joan and Rosemary checked out on Hurricanes today at Cowley.’

‘No!’ Evie clapped her hands excitedly.

‘Apparently Winnie jumped out of the Hurricane cockpit and said “It’s lovely darlings!”’

Evie grinned. ‘Teddy owes me ten bob. That should sort him and his goons out. I heard him grumbling to Doyle yesterday that we Third Officers get the same rate of pay as a Squadron Leader.
We damn well deserve it too.’ She put her hands on her hips. ‘It looks like we’ve all finished our Class 2+ conversion at just the right time.’

Stella flopped into an armchair. ‘Oh, the Spitfire. Just imagine. Top speed of 400 mph and the power of six racing Bentleys.’

‘It doesn’t matter how much you’ve flown, it’s always nice to go faster,’ Evie said. ‘I can’t wait. When you see them quivering on the runway ready for
take-off, it always reminds me of a racehorse waiting for the gates to open.’ She hugged herself with excitement. ‘They say the cockpit fits you like a well-tailored dress.’

‘You’d know, darling.’

Evie poked her tongue out, and straightened the Spencer drawings over the fireplace.

‘Those frames are lovely,’ Stella said.

Evie stepped back to admire the pictures. ‘It was the least I could do to say thank you. When this bally war is over and we go our separate ways, whenever I look at my little Eve I shall
think of you.’ She smiled at her friend. ‘You haven’t seen Michael for a while have you?’

‘No.’ Stella looked at her hand, pushed back the cuticles on her fingers. ‘God, I made a mess of my nails tying up the tomato plants with Meggie.’

‘Are you going to? I thought you two were close.’

‘I don’t know,’ Stella snapped. ‘Can we just drop it?’

‘There’s no need to bite my head off.’

Stella chewed at the side of her thumb. ‘Sorry,’ she said finally. ‘It’s all a bit of a mess. He was so kind, and understanding. Somehow, talking to him really
helped.’

Evie perched on the arm of her chair. ‘You know you can always talk to me?’

‘I know.’ Stella smiled sadly.
What would someone like Evie know about how she was feeling? Someone who sailed easily through a charmed life.
‘I just don’t find it
easy to open up to people. The code at home was always “stiff upper lip”.’

‘It was the opposite with me growing up. Some of my earliest memories are my parents having humdingers of rows. Ingrid, my mother, was a big thrower. One night I swear she went through an
entire dinner service when she found out my father had been playing around.’

‘Lord, how ghastly.’ Stella screwed up her nose. The thought of all that unbridled passion made her blanche. ‘Is that why she left?’ She paused. ‘I wish … I
wish I could be a bit more like that. I wish I could let it out more often, instead of this, this …’

‘I’m sorry, darling. I didn’t mean to upset you.’ Evie took her hand, her face full of concern. ‘What’s going on?’

Stella took a deep breath. ‘Christ, I don’t know. After Richard, well, I thought I’d never feel anything again. It’s like the world turned grey overnight.’

‘I can imagine how you must be feeling.’

No you can’t
, Stella thought.
No one can.

‘You must miss him, and your baby, a great deal,’ Evie said kindly.

‘Yes, I do.’ Stella pressed her fingers to her temple and closed her eyes. ‘And now Mike, poor Mike. He’s been such a good friend, but when he kissed me, I just
panicked.’

‘He kissed you?’ Evie cried. ‘But that’s wonderful! I knew he liked you.’

Stella winced. ‘No, I’ve made the most frightful mess of it all. I can’t … I mean, I can’t give him anything more than friendship.’ She glanced towards the
kitchen. The back door was open and she could see through to the vegetable garden. ‘What are we having for dinner? There’s lettuce ready, and beans, broccoli …’

Evie could see Stella wanted to change the subject, and she went through to the pantry. ‘How do you like rabbit?’

‘I can’t say I’ve ever—’

She reappeared holding a rabbit by its ears. ‘I had a little accident on the way home.’

‘You killed a rabbit, on a bicycle?’ Stella laughed. ‘How fast were you going?’

‘Poor thing never stood a chance.’ Evie eyed it doubtfully. ‘I haven’t a clue how to prepare it, but it seemed a shame to waste it.’

‘It’s been the most wonderful evening.’ Megan turned her face to Peter’s as they walked by the Thames. Dog-rose petals floated downstream like confetti,
the full moon reflected on the water as crickets sang in the long grass. ‘I did enjoy
Hudson’s Bay
.’

‘I haven’t been to the cinema for so long. The Rialto is rather nice.’

Megan slipped her arm into his. ‘And the meal … That restaurant was far too expensive.’

‘Nothing is too good for you.’ Peter kissed the top of her head as they paused by the lock. ‘I do like you an awful lot, Megan, you know.’

‘Do you? Do you really?’

‘Yes. These last few weeks, well, they’ve been wonderful.’ He kissed her. Megan closed her eyes, waited for that special feeling she had read about in books, when your knees
melt and your heart sings. She waited to feel how she’d felt when Bill had kissed her.

They walked on along the towpath to Peter’s car. An RAF bus was collecting a group of WAAFs to take them back to their billet at Hockett’s, and Megan watched as they waved goodbye to
their sweethearts through the back window. ‘I don’t want this day to end,’ she said as Peter opened the door for her.