Soldier's Daughters (49 page)
Read Soldier's Daughters Online
Authors: Fiona Field
Sam looked down at her taffeta dress with the bumfreezer jacket that went over it. ‘But it’s uniform, isn’t it?’
‘You ought to have worn the dress you wore to the corporals’ club that time. That was dead classy. And Lu—’ But before Immi could continue she gave a squeak and jumped. ‘Jack! I wish you wouldn’t do that.’ She turned to Sam. ‘My fiancé,’ she explained. ‘His idea of a greeting is to pinch my bum. You remember Jack, don’t you?’ She flashed her left hand at Sam and showed her the stonking diamond on her third finger.
Sam goggled at the ring before turning to Jack. ‘Of course I remember you, Jack. Good to see you again. And in rather nicer surroundings. And congratulations.’
Jack Raven kissed her on both cheeks. ‘You’re looking well. Certainly better than when I last saw you.’
‘Thanks. I think that’s a compliment.’
‘It is,’ said Jack. ‘I think this look suits you better than the Wild Woman of the Jungle.’
Sam laughed. ‘I was a bit unwashed that time, wasn’t I?’
‘Hello,’ said James, returning with the drinks. ‘Is this a private conversation or can anyone join in?’
Sam smiled at him and took her drink gratefully. ‘James, you remember Immi Cooper, don’t you? And Jack Raven?’
James did a double take when he realised who Immi was. ‘Crikey,’ he said. ‘You look a bit different out of uniform.’
‘I should hope so,’ said Immi, giggling and swishing the fabric of her gown.
‘So, I want to hear all of your news,’ said Sam. She took Immi’s arm and towed her to the edge of the room, where there was more space and slightly less noise to contend with. ‘And the boys can talk shop and war stories. So… spill. What have you been up to in the past year, apart from getting engaged?’
Immi stared at Sam, her eyes shining. ‘Ma’a… Boss…’
‘Sam,’ said Sam firmly. ‘It’s Sam now.’
‘Sam, I can’t keep the secret any longer. Jack doesn’t want you to find out just yet, but I disagree. You need to know
now
.’
‘What secret? What do I need to know now?’ Sam was intrigued.
‘You’ve got to come with me,’ said Immi.
‘Where?’
‘Just… please?’
Sam shook her head, feeling bewildered as Immi led her around the edge of the room.
‘There,’ said Immi, triumphantly.
Sam stared. There was the CO and Mrs N., both schmoozing the CLF, General Sir William Pemberton-Blake, and a small woman who Sam assumed to be Lady Pemberton-Blake, and with them was a REME officer with his back to her.
‘And?’ said Sam.
Immi rolled her eyes. ‘Look!’
And then the REME officer turned and Sam didn’t notice the hand holding her drink go limp and the champagne pour out of the glass onto the floor, nor did she notice the triumphant look on Immi’s face, or the chatter of the people around her. Everything faded away, as if it was some amazing special effect in a movie, leaving her and Luke Pemberton-Blake, Lieutenant Luke Pemberton-Blake, in a bubble. Beside her Immi was babbling about the look on the CO’s face when not one but two of his ex-soldiers turned up on his doorstep for a house party, but Sam was oblivious to it. All she could see was Luke, in his mess kit, an officer… like her.
‘Hello, boss,’ he said, coming towards her.
‘Luke? Why? When?’
‘I went for a commission.’
Sam nodded. ‘I can see. But you hate officers.’
‘Not all officers,’ he corrected her.
‘No…’ She lowered her eyes, confused by the surge of emotions. She’d spent over a year – a whole year – trying to put her feelings and her memories of him behind her, to move on with her life because a relationship between them was impossible, and all the time it had been for nothing. ‘Why didn’t you tell me? Have you any idea…?’
‘I was afraid I might fail.’
‘Fail? But you’re the CLF’s son.’
‘So? They expect more, not less. You’re expected to excel if you have my sort of background, and to do well isn’t enough. Sam, I couldn’t tell you. I couldn’t bear to raise your hopes and then let you down.’
James came towards them.
‘I see congratulations are in order, Luke. Well done on the commission.’
‘Thank you, sir… James. Sorry, it’s tough to break habits. I called you sir for so long.’
James took Sam’s arm and drew her to one side. ‘I am so pleased for you, Sam.’
‘Sorry, James, I haven’t a clue what you are talking about.’
‘Yes, you do. Don’t fib to me, Sam, I’ve known all along about you and Luke. When you got off that helicopter back at Archers Post, I thought I spotted something. I was pretty certain something significant had happened between you and him.’
Sam stared at him, the crease of a frown between her eyebrows. ‘But how?’
‘Because you looked at Luke in a way that should have made me insanely jealous. Of course it didn’t… you’re not, ahem, my type.’
Sam gave James an understanding smile. ‘Oh, James, you are so lovely. And far too good for me, even if I had been “your type”.’
‘You guessed?’
‘Put it this way, I had a suspicion, only because I felt so completely safe in your company.’ Sam gave him a peck on the cheek.
‘And now Luke can take over the job of keeping you safe.’
‘He may not want it.’
‘After he went and got a commission? Come off it, Sam.’
Sam shrugged. ‘Well, maybe. And thank you. Thank you for being a friend. You made me feel welcome here from the start and when I felt lonely, after Luke left, you were always there. You couldn’t have done more.’
‘It’s been a pleasure,’ said James. ‘Only now you’ve got Luke back in your life I hope you won’t forget me.’
‘Never,’ said Sam with feeling.
‘So go and say hello to Luke properly,’ said James, sternly.
Sam turned back to Luke and let him fold her into his arms. Ignoring the scandalised look from Mrs Notley and Lady Pemberton-Blake, she then let Luke kiss her long and deeply.
~
We hope you enjoyed this book!
Fiona Field’s next book is coming in spring 2016.
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An invitation from the publisher
There is a danger, when you start to acknowledge the assistance people gave you when you were writing a book, that the ‘and-thanks-to’ list can get dangerously out of hand and lengthy … and thanks to my mother for giving birth to me, the stationers for supplying me with paper – that sort of thing. But, seriously, there are some people who were endlessly patient when I pestered them with questions, or helpful, or just plain supportive and it would be unfair of me not to recognise their contribution. My son deserves a medal for the advice he gave me about Askari Thunder, as do Jo Thoenes of BFBS Brize Norton and her friends Patricia and Jonathan, who have all lived in Kenya and made sure I got the details right. The team at Head of Zeus have been amazing but especially my editor, Rosie de Courcy, who has been such a lovely and encouraging person to work with, and I must thank my agent, Laura Longrigg, who makes sure my early drafts are fit to be seen
before
I send them off to my publisher. I am also blessed with some great friends who cheer me up, keep me going and generally make sure I stay focussed – none more so than the Chez Castillon crew; Janie and Mickey Wilson who own Chez Castillon and who provide the most wonderful writing space (and the most delicious meals!) and Katie Fforde, Judy Astley, Jo Thomas, Clare Mackintosh, Jane Wenham-Jones, Jan Sprenger and Betty Orme-Smith who are the best writing companions an author could hope to find.
The story of two girls who, on the surface, seem to have a lot in common…
Both motherless. Both sent to the same boarding school for ‘army brats’. Both, later, commissioned into the army themselves. Both desperate for their fathers’ love and approval.
Samantha Lewis puts everything into being the soldier her father wants her to be. But her heart will lead her in an unexpected direction and threaten her authority over the men under her command.
Michelle Flowers also craves her father’s attention, but her impulsiveness will drive her into an obsession with the husband of another woman – with disastrous consequences.
‘I couldn’t put it down.’
Katie Fforde on
Soldiers’ Wives
F
IONA
F
IELD
joined the army at eighteen, married a bomb disposal expert at twenty-one and then, at twenty-six, got thrown out for getting pregnant. Her youngest child is a soldier recently returned from Afghanistan.
Follow Fiona on Twitter:
@field_fiona
This page-turning soap opera interweaves the stories of three women trying to get to grips with military life.
Chrissie, orphaned young, finds solace in her career as a medic in the regiment, but will love for a married man prove her undoing?
Maddy, a brilliant Oxford graduate, is bogged down with a fretful baby and a super-ambitious officer husband. Will she be able to stand life as a regimental wife?
And Jenna - glamorous, bad girl Jenna, who doesn’t believe in rules and regulations. Will she destroy her husband’s career? Or will it destroy her?
Soldiers’ Wives
is available
here
.
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