‘I don’t know how you make that out. She’s from a very well-to-do family.’ He smiled wryly. ‘Maybe her parents are saying that about me.’
Rebecca gave a snort of derision. ‘I doubt it. They’ll have found out all about you, you mark my words. They’ll know that you’re not dependent on any sort of army pension you might have. I don’t think that would allow you a house near York and an apartment in London, do you? Does she know that you were left a lot of money by your parents and about all the money you’ve made since the war on the American stock market?’
‘I’ve no idea. It’s never come up in conversation. Any more than I have asked her what she’s worth.’
‘Is she heiress to this estate you say her parents have?’
George shook his head. ‘No, she has a brother, Robert, who will inherit that.’
‘There you are, then. I doubt she’ll have much. She’ll be dependent on her parents and then on her brother, unless,’ she added ominously, ‘she marries.’
‘So, you’re asking me to give her up, are you? To have nothing more to do with her.’
Rebecca sighed. ‘Dad, if she’d been a widow – a war widow – of a similar age to you, then it might have been different. But she’s not much older than me. Whatever reason can she have for marrying someone of your age, if it’s not for money?’
George’s mouth twisted into something between a wry smile and a grimace. ‘You don’t believe she could possibly love me?’
‘Do you want me to be honest?’
‘Of course.’
‘Then – no, I don’t.’
Seated across the table from her in their favourite restaurant, George toyed with a fork. ‘You’re forcing me to choose between you, are you? I either lose the woman I love – or my daughter. And I don’t think I need to remind you how very much I love you, do I?’
‘Oh Daddy . . .’ She reached across the table to touch his hand. ‘I’m only thinking of you.’
George remained silent because he was unsure now whether or not his daughter was speaking the truth.
‘You know, Pips,’ Robert said as he watched his sister pacing the long drawing room restlessly. ‘I really don’t know why you’re hesitating. George is a good man – a fine man – and it’s obvious to us all he adores you. Don’t you love him?’
‘Yes, I do, but . . .’
‘Don’t tell me you’re still hankering after Giles Kendall?’
‘Heavens, no! He’s the last man on my mind.’
‘Then, who?’ He paused and then asked incredulously, ‘Not Mitch Hammond?’
Now Pips threw back her head and laughed aloud. ‘Lord, no. He’s nuts. Nice nuts, but nuts, nevertheless. I’d never know a moment’s peace with him.’
‘And that’s what you want, is it?’ Robert asked softly. ‘A peaceful, quiet life?’
Pips wriggled her shoulders. ‘No, I don’t think I do. They’re just so – well – polar opposites. One extreme to the other. George is almost a pipe-and-slippers man whilst Mitch – oh my goodness, why am I even talking about Mitch Hammond? I’m not in love with him.’
‘Are you quite sure?’
‘Absolutely sure,’ Pips said firmly, but, fleetingly, Robert wondered if she was trying to convince herself as much as him.
‘But you are in love with George?’
Pips sighed. ‘I do love him dearly, but it’s not that heady excitement of falling in love. D’you know what I mean?’
‘I think so.’ There was a pause between them before Robert said softly, ‘There’s something I once heard or read – I can’t remember which now – but it might help you. When you marry, it’s not a case of finding someone you can live with, but someone you can’t live without.’ He was silent for several moments before saying softly, ‘I knew I couldn’t live without Alice. I wanted to be with her for the rest of my life and that’s why I was prepared even to risk upsetting my family – my dear mother in particular – to marry her.’
For several moments Pips was very still until she looked up and met her brother’s concerned gaze.
‘I would be very sad to think that I’d never see George again.’
‘And – Mitch?’
She laughed ironically. ‘Chance would be a fine thing. He’ll always keep turning up like the proverbial bad penny.’
At the race meeting at the end of May, Mitch sought her out.
‘I think you might have told me,’ he said.
Pips blinked. ‘What? What haven’t I told you?’
‘That you’re actually engaged to George.’
‘Sorry – I thought you knew. We’ve been together long enough.’
‘You’re making a big mistake.’
Pips glared at him. ‘I beg your pardon?’
Mitch smiled wryly. ‘You’re marrying the wrong man.’
Pips gasped. ‘You’ve got some cheek.’
‘You should be marrying me.’
‘Ha!’ Pips forced a laugh. ‘You have to be joking.’
‘No. For once in my life, I’m deadly serious. You know very well I’m in love with you, Philippa Maitland. I have been ever since you dragged me from my crashed plane in no-man’s-land and risked your life to rescue my photographs that, at that moment, I believed were more important than someone’s life – your life.’ He paused but Pips could think of nothing to say. ‘I was wrong,’ he went on quietly. ‘And you’re wrong now. George is a nice man – a good man. A soldier and a gentleman. He’s solid and safe and will take care of you for as long as he lives, but . . .’ He hesitated.
‘Go on,’ Pips said tartly. ‘You’ve come this far, you can’t stop now.’
Mitch took a deep breath. ‘But for you that security will turn into boredom. You don’t want a safe life, Pips. You want excitement and adventure – a reason to get up every morning.’
Pips shook her head. ‘You don’t understand him. George loves me. He won’t stop me doing anything I want to do.’
Now Mitch’s smile was sad. ‘He won’t manage it, I’ve no doubt, but he will try and that will then cause a rift between you.’
‘And you’d muscle in then, would you?’
He sighed. ‘You’ve got me all wrong, Pips. I love you with all my heart – more than I ever thought I could love any woman. I’ve always known I’m selfish. I like my own way. I like to follow my own pursuits and live my life the way I want to, but, d’you know, I’d give everything up in a heartbeat if you said you’d marry me.’
Pips was shocked. He was serious and all she could do was stare at him.
‘Don’t say anything . . .’ he said, softly.
‘I wasn’t going to, because I don’t know what to say, except that I’m sorry if I’ve hurt you. I – thought it was all banter from – from a lady’s man.’
‘Oh, I’m a flirt – I know that. I’ve had a string of girlfriends – and I’ll probably go on to have several more, if I can’t have you, but I’ve never asked any one of them to marry me and now, I never will.’ He took her hand and held it. ‘All I want is your happiness, Pips. If you’re sure about marrying George, then you won’t see me again.’
‘I’ll see you at Brooklands.’
‘Probably, but I shall keep my distance.’
‘But why? Can’t we be friends?’
‘No, Pips, it doesn’t work like that. At least – not for me. It’s all or nothing. That’s the sort of guy I am.’ He squeezed her hand. ‘But I’ll just say one thing: if ever you should need me, I’ll be there for you.’
‘Mitch, I . . .’
‘Don’t say any more.’ He leaned forward and kissed her cheek, released her hand, then turned and walked swiftly away without looking back.
After their involvement with the strike, life returned to normality and the weeks passed much the same as before until Paul arrived at Milly’s flat one evening in June.
‘I am the bearer of exciting news.’
The two women and George looked at him expectantly.
‘Go on
then, darling. Don’t keep us in suspense.’
‘The very first British Grand Prix is to be held at—’ He paused for effect and was not disappointed when the three of them chorused, ‘At Brooklands.’
He beamed. ‘However did you guess?’
‘Because, my darling,’ Milly said, kissing his cheek, ‘you wouldn’t be quite so excited about it if it was being held anywhere else.’
‘When is it?’ Pips asked.
‘Saturday, the seventh of August.’
‘We must all go.’ Milly clapped her hands. ‘I’ll organize it.’
‘Then you can all come and cheer me on,’ Paul said.
They stared at him.
‘You’re going to enter?’ George said.
‘Of course, and I think Mitch is entering too.’
‘I don’t suppose they allow women, do they?’ Pips asked.
‘No!’ the other three said vehemently.
But the day before the event, both Mitch’s car and Paul’s developed mechanical troubles that meant they had to withdraw from the race.
‘I’ll just hate watching,’ Mitch declared.
‘Me too, but let’s keep the ladies company.’
Mitch brightened. ‘At least he’s not coming.’
‘Now whoever could you mean?’ Paul grinned. ‘Come on, let’s pick them both up and take them to Brooklands. We’re meeting the other girls there.’
‘How does it work, this Grand Prix thing?’ Milly said when Mitch and Paul had joined them. ‘Do explain it to me, darling. I’m sure Pips understands it, but I don’t.’
‘There are five races in different countries decided by the International Federation and these make up the World Championship.’
‘France has already won two,’ Mitch said glumly, ‘and seeing as now there are only three British cars left in the race . . .’
‘Oh look. What are those sandbanks for in the middle of the track?’
‘Chicanes.’
‘What?’
‘They’re artificial tight corners to make the race more exciting.’
‘Come on, Milly,’ Paul said, taking her hand. ‘Let’s find a good place to watch.’
Mitch’s pessimism was unfortunately proved right. French cars took first and third place, sandwiching Captain Campbell’s Bugatti between them. They were the only cars to finish.
‘I’m not surprised,’ Mitch said. ‘Two hundred and eighty-seven miles is some distance. Let’s hope we can do better next year.’
Thirty-Six
Pips stood with her hands on her hips facing her brother as he sat near the window in the drawing room gazing at the flat landscape beyond. She was beginning to despair that they would ever manage to coax him into going out further afield than the safety of his home environment. Although he was now practising as a doctor again, he still only visited patients locally. He never went into the city and wouldn’t hear of going down to London to visit Pips, even though she had invited him to attend race meetings several times. Another Christmas had come and gone and still he clung to home, but now she thought that perhaps she had come up with a plan that he could not refuse.
‘Robert . . .’
‘Oh dear, I recognize that tone. I’m in for a telling off – again!’
Her patience was wearing thin. ‘Oh for goodness’ sake!’ She sighed heavily, dropped her arms and sat down in a chair opposite him.
More gently, she said, ‘It’s the inauguration of the Menin Gate on the twenty-seventh of July and that’s only two months away. I think we should go.’
‘Me?’
‘Don’t look so startled. Of course, you. And Alice and Daisy. And I think we should take Luke too, if his family will let us. We could take him to see where his father and two uncles are buried. He’s old enough now.’
‘But Daisy isn’t. She’s only nine.’
‘If it’s all explained to her very carefully before we go, she’ll understand.’
‘She’ll understand right enough, but don’t you think it will be all far too emotional for her? There’ll be veterans there who’ll have some horrific wounds, which are still obvious. There’ll be grieving families. It’ll be so traumatic for everyone. And for a young girl, well . . .’
‘Daisy has lived all her life with a wounded veteran and with her other grandparents grieving for their sons. She’ll cope.’ She paused before adding, ‘I think it’s more you who can’t face it. Am I right?’
There was a long silence before Robert whispered, ‘As always.’
‘I think it would help you. Get things in perspective for yourself. You’ve shut yourself away here, cocooned by a loving family. You haven’t seen the wounded in London – and, I’m sure, throughout the rest of the country – struggling to cope because they can’t find work – can’t support their families any more. The “land fit for heroes” is a joke.’
Robert winced. ‘You mean, I’m privileged?’
‘Well, aren’t you?’
‘I’m damned lucky, I do know that, but why would going back there make me feel better?’
‘I don’t know. I’m not a doctor or a psychiatrist. I just have a gut instinct that it’d be cathartic for you. Not closure, exactly – it’ll never be closed for any of us, will it? – but I truly believe it would help you. I think I can persuade George to go too.’
‘What does Alice say?’
Truthfully, Pips was able to say, ‘I haven’t talked to Alice about it.’
He was thoughtful for a moment before saying, ‘If Alice thinks it would be a good idea for us all to go, then yes, we will.’
‘Oh Pips, I don’t know. I don’t want to force him to do something he doesn’t want to. What if it made him ten times worse?’
‘I just think it’d help him, Alice. He’d see that Ypres is being rebuilt and that there’s a wonderful memorial to all those who perished in the Ypres Salient and who have no proper resting place. He’d see that the people who live there are trying to rebuild their lives, to move on, and it might help him to do the same. And we’d be able to see William and his family bringing up the next generation who – God willing – will never have to face another Great War.’ Pips paused as Alice chewed her lip. ‘Are you worried about Daisy going?’
‘Heavens no, she’ll take it all in her stride, even though she’s only nine. And Luke too. No, it’s Robert I’m concerned about.’
‘If all of us go, we won’t be able to stay with the Duponts. They won’t have room, but we’ll stay in Pop and then, if he really can’t face it at the last minute, he can stay at the hotel.’
‘I’ll talk to him about it.’
‘And don’t let him persuade you to take Daisy and Luke and go without him. It’s all of you or no one.’
‘Yes, Miss Pips.’ It had been a long time since Alice had called her former young mistress that. They both laughed and hugged each other, remembering all the times they had shared – good and bad.
After much heart-searching and talking it over with both Edwin and Henrietta, Robert agreed to go.
And now I’ve got Len to convince to allow Luke to go too, Pips thought. She didn’t know who would prove the most difficult, her brother or Len Dawson.
To her surprise, Len leapt at the chance. ‘It’d be good for him to visit his father’s grave. Thank you, Miss Pips, I accept your offer gratefully, but I want to pay for his fare.’
Pips thought quickly, not wanting to offend the man’s pride. ‘There’s no need, Mr Dawson, but if you wish to do so, then I agree.’
‘He’s a good lad. Already he does the work of a man. And when he leaves school in a couple of years’ time, he’ll be paid properly. At the moment, I’ve only been giving him pocket money, you might say, but he’s earned his trip. That’s if he wants to go, miss. I shan’t force him.’
Pips laughed. ‘Oh, he’ll want to go, Mr Dawson. Daisy’s going.’
‘George, you will come with us, won’t you?’
‘Of course. It won’t be easy, but if your
brother can face it,’ he laughed a little wryly, ‘then I must.’
‘There’s no “must” about it, but I would like you there.’
He took her hand and kissed it. ‘Then I shall be.’
‘What about Rebecca? Will she mind?’
George wrinkled his forehead. ‘I’m not planning on telling her.’
Daisy had travelled to Belgium before, for William and Brigitta’s wedding, but she could remember very little about the trip.
‘I can remember Uncle William,’ she told Luke as they sat together on the journey. ‘He’s big and strong.’
‘Granny Cooper’s always saying I’m like him.’ He was quiet for a moment before adding, ‘Ma explained it all to me. What happened with him in the war and why me granddad’s still so bitter about it all. He hasn’t said owt, but I think he realizes we’ll be seeing Uncle William and his family. Ma just said I was to be sure not to mention his name in front of Granddad when I get back.’
‘It’s sad, isn’t it?’ Daisy said. ‘Aunty Pips said Uncle William was very brave.’
When they landed in Belgium and travelled across the flat land, Daisy exclaimed, ‘It’s like home. It’s like Lincolnshire.’
Pips, sitting with George just behind the two youngsters, laughed. ‘That’s just what we said when we first came out here.’
When they arrived in Poperinghe and booked into a hotel there, Daisy, as energetic as ever, didn’t want to rest after their journey. ‘When are we going to see Uncle William and our cousins?’
‘Tomorrow. Then we’ll be able to find out about arrangements for Sunday.’
Daisy pouted, but Luke said quietly, ‘Leave it, Dais. Your dad must be tired and it’s a huge thing for him to come back here, you know. And for Major Allender – and, I expect, for your mam and Aunty Pips too.’
Pips cast him a grateful glance. What an intuitive and kindly boy he was. Daisy punched him playfully on the shoulder. ‘Trust you! Sorry, Aunty Pips, I’m just so eager to see and do everything.’
Pips chuckled, seeing, not for the first time, herself in the young girl. ‘We’ll make sure we do everything you want to whilst we’re here, I promise.’
The Brooklands Girls Page 24