Beauty Chorus, The (47 page)

‘You mean it?’

‘Absolutely. Rhodri and Nia are so relieved about it all, and Bill will stay on in the farm cottage to run things. Apparently the dreaded cousins are livid. I keep thinking how happy Megan
would be—’

‘I can’t believe you’re doing this. It’s so generous of you.’

‘Nonsense. I need a tenant for the farm, and the airfield makes good business sense for me.’

‘Oh, it’s so exciting. I can’t wait to move to the farm. Do you remember how beautiful it was, that lovely beach?’

Evie thought back, remembered the first time Beau kissed her. ‘Yes, it was wonderful.’

‘Perhaps if I got a transfer to Whitchurch, I could convince my Aunt Dorothy to come up from London and help me with David when I’m flying.’

‘It will be good for you to have some company. I’m just looking forward to visiting you and Michael there.’ When Stella didn’t answer, Evie pushed more coins into the
slot. ‘Stella? He will be there, won’t he?’

‘I hope so. We had a wonderful time here, and he adored David. It was a bit strange for him, I think, meeting Richard’s parents.’

‘Let him get used to it.’ Evie checked the coins in her hand. ‘This is real life. What does he expect?’

‘The fairytale, don’t we all? Talking of Prince Charming, where’s Beau?’

‘I don’t know.’ Evie bit her lip. ‘I don’t like it, Stella. I haven’t heard a peep from him for weeks.’

‘Trust him, Evie.’

‘What if he’s seeing someone else, or Olivia has got her claws back into him?’

‘No, not Beau.’

‘Why not Beau? Men are all the same.’

‘No, they’re not,’ Stella said firmly. ‘There are good men out there.’

‘I just can’t shake this feeling there’s something going on.’

‘Look after yourself, Evie.’ Stella’s voice was strained with emotion. ‘I don’t know what to say, how to thank you.’

‘Be happy, darling, and get to Barafundle Bay as soon as you can. That’s all the thanks I need.’ The pips sounded. ‘I’ve got to go. Give David a kiss for me.’
The phone cut out, and Evie pushed open the door, jumping as Stent stepped forward.

‘Alright, Evie?’ He stood a little too close to her. ‘What you dicing with today then?’

‘Hurricane from Martlesham to Tangmere, and a Spit to drop back to Debden for No. 111 squadron. Nothing very exciting.’

‘Going to see your Jerry are you?’

‘He’s not German, and I’ll thank you to mind your own business.’

Stent’s eyes scanned slowly down her body. He had her trapped against the phone booth. ‘Bloody shame if you ask me. Americans, Germans, why don’t you give a proper Englishman a
try, eh?’ He brushed the back of her hand with his fingertips and she flinched. ‘No?’ His face contorted. ‘Well I’d watch my back if I was you. Couple of our lads got
shot at ferrying Spits yesterday. Messerschmidts appeared out of nowhere. It’s like someone is leaking information. Maybe someone with ATA and German connections …’

Evie pushed the door hard against his shin. As he doubled over she stepped neatly out of the booth. ‘I’d be careful what you’re saying, Stent. Careless talk and all that. Look
what happened to Teddy.’

At the counter she ordered an orangeade.

‘Everything alright, dear heart?’ Diana asked her. Her lustrous dark hair was neatly brushed into an elegant roll, and she had a leopard-skin coat draped over her shoulders.

‘Hello, Di.’ Evie pecked her on the cheek. ‘I’m so glad you’re here at last. You look marvellous.’

‘You’d never guess my face had been smashed up, would you?’ She inclined her head. ‘I’ve been terribly restless in hospital, just dying to get in the air
again.’

‘I promise you,’ Evie said wearily, ‘your feet won’t touch the ground. We are frightfully busy.’

‘Is everything OK? It looked like Stent was bothering you.’

‘Him? No, he’s nothing to worry about. I think the goons are vying for top position now Teddy has been suspended.’

‘Do you think they’ll let him back?’

‘Let’s hope not, or perhaps they’ll just shove him to some base where there are no women for him to terrorise.’ Evie sipped at her drink. ‘You do look pretty. Are
you going to town?’

‘Yes, there’s a party at the Embassy later. Would you like to come? There’s room in my car.’

‘Thank you, but I’ve got a chit.’

‘Another time. Can’t have you staying home when Beau’s not around.’ Diana picked up her gloves.

‘Di, do you know Beau well?’

‘Not terribly. He’s a bit brusque, but I can see why you’ve fallen for him.’

‘Do you know what he did before the war?’

‘He’s been in the RAF as long as I’ve known him. His mother has a stud in France, I think. I’d see him occasionally, skiing in Chamonix.’

‘What about his father? Did he ever go to Germany to see him?’

‘Why don’t you ask him?’ Diana nudged her. Her eyes opened wide in mock horror. ‘Goodness, do you think he could be a spy?’

53

The weather had closed in at Martlesham, and Evie spent a frustrating morning waiting for the cloud to clear so she could fly her Hurricane down to Tangmere. She had some
change left and decided to ring Leo to warn him she may not be home that night. There was no answer at the house, but the phone box took her money.

‘Damn.’ Evie thumped the handset down. She thought for a moment, then decided to ring him at work. She knocked on the Duty Pilot’s door.

‘Excuse me, do you have a telephone directory? I need to call the Air Ministry.’

He looked up at her through a haze of pipe smoke. ‘Oh dear, I hope it wasn’t something we said?’

Evie smiled as he handed over the heavy book. ‘Not at all. I just need to speak with my father.’ She rang the number and waited. ‘Hello? Yes, I’d like to speak with Leo
Chase.’ She tapped a pencil on the desk as she waited. ‘He’s not there? Thank you.’ She hung up the phone and frowned.

‘Chase?’ the Duty Pilot said. ‘There was a call for you earlier, put through from No. 1.’ He sorted through some papers and handed her a number. ‘I am sorry. One of
the chaps should have passed this on to you earlier. Your father was trying to get hold of you.’

‘May I?’

‘Help yourself.’ He turned the black Bakelite phone towards her again. ‘I was just going to get a cup of tea, can I bring you one?’

‘Thank you.’ Evie dialled the number and waited for the connection. ‘Hello, is that you, Daddy?’

‘Evie,’ he sounded relieved. ‘I am sorry to call you at work, darling.’

‘Is everything alright?’

‘No, not really, darling, but I don’t want you to worry—’

‘Daddy?’

‘I’m in hospital …’ The line crackled. ‘They want to operate tonight … The cancer …’

Evie sank back onto the chair. ‘Where are you? I’m coming straight there.’

‘No, no you’re not. Evie, I want you to find Alex. I want you both here before—’

‘Daddy, you will pull through won’t you?’

‘I’ll be fine. I won’t let them touch me until you both get here, come tomorrow if you can.’

‘But why do you want to see Beau? You told me to stay away from him.’

‘Evie,’ he said, laughing gently. ‘If I’d have told you quite how much I admire the chap you would have run a mile.’

‘No I wouldn’t, I—’

‘Darling, I know you.’

‘I don’t know where he is,’ she said, her heart racing. ‘Daddy, all the stories I’ve heard about him …’

‘Don’t listen to them. Alex is a good man. Trust your heart, Evie …’ The line hissed, crackled. ‘Trust him, in spite of …’ The line cut off.

‘Daddy?’ Her heart lurched, she felt sick. ‘Daddy?’

‘There we are.’ The Duty Pilot placed a cup of tea in front of her. ‘Oh dear, not bad news I hope?’

‘Thank you.’ The spoon rattled in the saucer as Evie took the cup from him. ‘It will be fine.’ Her mind was racing. ‘I just need to get out of here as soon as
possible.’

Evie paced to and fro in the mess, waiting for the cloud to clear. Being in East Anglia reminded her uncomfortably of the time she had flown over Martlesham, hoping to see Jack. She flung
herself down into an armchair by the stove and picked up a pack of cards. Evie skilfully shuffled the deck, her heart beating fast.
I have to get out of here
, she thought,
but how on
earth am I going to find Beau?
The thought of Leo, alone and in hospital, was unbearable to her. As she flicked the cards into an empty cup, a young pilot approached her.

‘Say, aren’t you Evie?’ the young American asked her.

She glanced up and smiled. He had sandy hair, a wide, friendly grin. ‘Yes, I’m Evelyn Chase.’

‘I recognised you from Whitchurch. Do you mind if I join you?’

‘Please do.’ Evie took her feet off the chair opposite. She felt sick, and shaky, but she tried to appear calm.

‘It’s great to meet you properly. My name’s Jim, but everyone calls me Red.’ He ruffled his sun-streaked red hair. ‘Jack Whitman was my best buddy.’

‘You’re Red?’ Evie sat up straight. She thought back to Bristol, to the man Jack had shared a room with. His face was vaguely familiar. ‘Jack told me about
you.’

‘He was a good friend.’ He turned the cup of coffee in his hand. ‘There aren’t many of us Yanks over here yet, but I think that’ll change now.’

‘Did you go home for his funeral?’ Evie had forced herself not to dwell on Jack. She was surprised now to find that instead of the keen pain and anger that had haunted her for
months, she felt a new peace when she thought of him.

‘I couldn’t get enough leave. Wish I had gone. We grew up together, you know. Same school, signed up together …’ Red paused. ‘Just a couple of buddies, it all
seemed like a big adventure.’ He fell silent. ‘Did you meet his parents?’ Evie shook her head. ‘They’re great, straight up, just like Jack.’ He stared around the
mess. ‘Half the time I don’t know where I am with these guys. There’s something going down again tonight.’ He sighed. ‘Jack had written his parents, you know, told
them about you.’

‘Really?’ She smiled sadly, thinking about that other life they had dreamt of.

‘In fact, I have something for you.’ Red pulled out his wallet and flicked through. He slipped out a photograph and handed it to her. ‘I’m guessing Jack never gave you a
photograph did he? He wasn’t that kind of guy.’

Evie ran her thumb across Jack’s smiling face. His cap was tipped back on his head, and he had a cigarette clamped in the corner of his mouth.

‘He was crazy about you,’ Red said. ‘Never seen him like that about a girl. Maybe he didn’t show it, I don’t know …’ Tears pricked Evie’s eyes
unexpectedly. ‘Hey, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.’

‘No, really, it’s fine.’ She wiped at her eyes with the heel of her hand. ‘I’ve had some rather bad news, and it’s just … it’s seeing his face
again. You forget, don’t you.’ She forced a smile. ‘Have you got a girl?’

‘Me? Sure I have, back home.’ Red flipped the photographs over, showed her a picture of a young girl sitting on a swing seat, her blonde hair tied back in a ponytail.
‘I’m going to ask her to marry me next time I’m home,’ he said proudly.

Evie looked at the photograph of Jack. ‘I have something for you too,’ she said, and pulled the long gold chain from around her neck. She unclipped it, and slid Jack’s ring
onto her hand. As she passed it to Red, the sapphire glinted in the winter sunlight. ‘Jack would have wanted you to have it,’ she said.

‘No, I couldn’t possibly …’

‘It seems right,’ she said, ‘you taking it home.’

‘But don’t you want it as a keepsake?’

Evie slipped the photograph into her breast pocket beside her cigarette case and laid her hand flat against where Beau’s brooch was pinned on the underside of her collar. ‘No, I have
everything I need here.’

The tannoy crackled. ‘Will Second Officer Chase go to the field. Hurricane standing ready.’

‘At last,’ she said, and quickly gathered up her charts and parachute.

‘Fly safe,’ he said.

Evie paused and glanced over her shoulder. ‘I always do.’

54

As the Hurricane roared through the skies towards Tangmere, Evie thought of everyone she had lost in the last few months. It seemed like a lifetime since Peter had introduced
her to Captain Bailey at the New Year’s party. She thought of her father that night, in his element at the heart of the party, so vibrant and full of life. She desperately wanted to see Beau,
to feel his arms around her, to feel safe. It was as if the whole world had keeled on its axis. The thought of her father gravely ill made her feel like a small, lost child.

She had flown this route so many times now, she barely had to check her maps. The only thing she had to worry about was every pilot’s nightmare, the odd stray ‘nomad’ barrage
balloon that might pop up unexpectedly. When she landed at Tangmere, she saw a black night fighter Spitfire Mk VB ready on the runway and guessed it must be hers. The clouds were still low, sleet
drumming on the roof of the hangar as she raced to the Watch Office.

‘How’s the weather looking?’

‘Well,’ the Duty Pilot said, his pipe clenched at the corner of his mouth. ‘It’s bally cold, low cloud, apart from that it’s perfect flying weather. Frankly you
were lucky to get in safely.’

‘Thank you,’ she said as he handed her the slip of paper.

‘Still, there’s a full moon tonight and they say it’s going to clear up later, so we mustn’t grumble.’

‘How are things here?’

‘It’s not the same since Jerry captured Bader. Morale is a bit low, but we carry on.’

‘Tell me, do you know Wing Commander Beaufort?’

‘Beau? Yes, he’s always coming through here. Super chap, and jolly popular. You’re the second gal we’ve had asking about him today. His fiancée was in
earlier.’ Evie’s heart sank as he carried on scanning the roster. ‘Then again she’s in most days …’

Evie gripped the back of the chair in front of her.
Fiancée?
she thought. ‘Is he here today?’

He made a show of checking the roster. ‘I can’t say.’

‘Please. It’s very important. My father—’

The Duty Pilot sighed. ‘Miss Chase, if I could tell you—’

‘You would?’

‘I really can’t tell you his movements.’ He waited until a couple of pilots left the office. ‘All I will say is, if you hold on a minute or two before taking off, things
might clear up for you.’