‘He’ll have a good try,’ Alex replied, joining in the joke. ‘What did he say to that?’
‘He said that if there was a piano within ten miles he would find it. Did you know his sister and Ruth are at the military hospital here?’
‘No, I didn’t. I’ll go along and see them when I have a chance. I had a letter from your father to let me know he was back in the army.’
‘They wouldn’t be able to keep him away, though he is concerned that they might give him a desk job because of his age.’
‘Everyone is going to be needed regardless of their age. There is a piano in the mess, so I’d like to go and see if our musician has found it. Are you free to come with me? You can get me up to date with the family news.’
‘I’m not on duty for a while.’ James glanced at the tall man beside him. He had known him all his life, and while off-duty they talked without the army formalities.
When they walked into the mess they saw Lester with his head in the grand piano, and James groaned. ‘Oh, he’s found it and is tuning it. Hey, come out of that instrument and see who’s here.’
He looked up and snapped to attention. ‘Hello, sir. I didn’t know you were here.’
‘I was sent here three weeks ago. James tells me your sister and Ruth are working at the hospital. Have you seen them yet?’
‘I went straight over there, but they were busy. They come off duty at six o’clock so I’ll see them then. We are off-duty so I thought I’d come and see what shape this piano is in.’
‘And what is it like?’
Lester shrugged. ‘Not bad. At least it’s playable.’
When she saw her brother she ran and threw her arms around him in delight. ‘What a bit of luck you being posted here. It’s so good to see you.’
James greeted his cousin, Ruth, and then said, ‘Hey, don’t give him all your hugs. Save some for me!’
Amid gurgles of laughter it was hugs all round.
‘Can we go to the canteen and get something to eat and drink?’ Ruth asked. ‘We haven’t had time for food.’
‘They keep you busy, do they?’
She nodded to her cousin but said nothing.
‘Are you here permanently?’ Lillia asked as they settled at a vacant table.
‘No, we are waiting for orders, but before they tell us where we’re going, we have seven days’ leave. Guess who we saw today? Brigadier Stansfield.’
‘Mother told me he was coming here, but we haven’t seen him yet.’
‘Oh, how did she know he had left the academy?’ Lester asked.
‘He called to see Father, but he wasn’t at home – as usual. They are trying to contact as many ex-officers as possible. With their experience they might be able to help in some way.’
That was the first he had heard about the visit. ‘Do you know what happened?’
Lillia shook her head. ‘Mother gave Father the message, but she hasn’t seen him since. You know he can disappear on business quite often.’
‘Of course.’ He grinned at James and Ruth who were listening intently. ‘Our father keeps very unpredictable hours at times. I’ve been away from home for so long I had forgotten.’
‘When does your leave start?’ Lillia asked.
‘Next week and I’m looking forward to seeing Mother. Is there any chance you can get some time off?’ he asked his sister hopefully. ‘It would be lovely if we could spend Christmas together.’
‘No, sorry. Casualties are coming in all the time from France and keeping all of us busy. Let me know next time you’re on leave and I’ll see if I can arrange something.’
‘I will.’ Brother and sister looked at each other and they didn’t need words to know how unlikely that was. It wouldn’t be long before he was in France; the hope of meeting up was slim.
They sat with the girls for a couple of hours, laughing and joking about anything but the war.
The following week, he dropped his kitbag in the hall and gazed around. It was good to be home. How he wished his sister had been able to be here as well.
‘Lester!’ His mother ran and hugged him, and he lifted her off her feet, smiling with delight. ‘Why didn’t you let me know you were coming?’
‘I thought I’d surprise you.’
‘And what a lovely surprise it is. Adams, ask Cook to send in some refreshments. I expect my son is hungry.’
‘At once, madam.’ Adams gave a smart salute. ‘Welcome home, Lieutenant.’
‘It’s good to be home.’ He followed his mother to the sitting room and sat down in his favourite chair with a sigh of relief. He was desperate to get his hands on his piano, but he couldn’t rush to the music room the minute he arrived. Spending time with his mother was more important because he knew she was lonely with them both away.
When the tea had been served and they were alone, he said, ‘Lillia told me Brigadier Stansfield had been here and left a message for Father to contact him. Do you know if he did?’
‘He hasn’t mentioned it.’
‘Is he home now?’
Sara nodded. ‘Adams told me he arrived in the early hours of the morning, but I haven’t seen him yet.’
At that moment the door swung open and Gilbert strode in, stopping abruptly when he saw Lester. ‘What the hell are you doing here?’
Already on his feet, Lester was now taller than his father. He spoke calmly. ‘This is my home and I am here to see my mother. What are you doing here when the army is desperate for experienced men?’
‘That’s none of your damned business, and how dare you address me in that disrespectful manner.’
Lester took a step forward. ‘I merely asked a question. Brigadier Stansfield is looking for you. Have you contacted him as requested?’
‘No, I bloody well haven’t.’
‘Well, if I were you I would do so. There is a war on, but perhaps you haven’t heard.’ He took another step forward. ‘And watch your language when a lady is present.’
Sara’s first instinct had been to rush in and protect her son, but she soon realised he didn’t need help. The beloved children she had fought so hard to shield all their lives were now adults. With a supreme effort she remained seated and watched the confrontation, heart hammering uncomfortably. Her son had grown into a tall, strong and confident person who would no longer bow down to her husband. The exchange was heated, but she no longer heard the words. Gilbert was backing away from him.
‘Sara,’ he shouted. ‘Do something about your son. I will not be spoken to like this.’
She jerked back to the present and managed an innocent smile. ‘Lester is a man now and neither of us can tell him what to do. Those days are gone. You have always treated him abominably, so you can hardly expect respect from him now, especially as you are clearly shirking your duty as an ex-army officer.’
Without another word, Gilbert turned and slammed out of the room.
‘I apologise. I didn’t want to upset you, but that scene was long overdue.’
‘You did not upset me. I was relieved to see you stand up to him like that, and it has lifted a great weight from my shoulders. His domination of this household is at an end, and I could see in his expression that he knows it only too well.’
‘He obviously hasn’t any intention of replying to the brigadier’s request, and that is strange. Do you know anything about his army career?’
‘He has never talked about it.’
‘We’ve always found it difficult to understand why you married him.’
‘I didn’t have a choice.’ She paused and took a slow breath before continuing. ‘I had been showing too much interest in a man I could not possibly marry, and as a result it was felt that no man of breeding would ever offer to marry me.’
‘That is hard to believe.’ He smiled affectionately at her. ‘You are still lovely and must have been very beautiful when you were younger.’
She laughed and changed the subject quickly. ‘Such a charming compliment, and has my handsome son f
ound a beautiful girl of his own yet?’
‘There is one I am attracted to, and you already know her. It’s Ruth, but this is no time to form lasting attachments.’
‘She’s a lovely girl and so sensible. She has been a great help to Lillia.’
‘I know, and I have a feeling that James is quite in love with my sister, but like me, we would like to get the war over with before we think about the future.’
Sara’s face clouded with worry. ‘Please be careful, darling.’
‘Don’t be concerned,’ he told her lightly. ‘Your children have a dream to fulfil, and no war is going to stop that.’
Chapter Thirteen
September 1915
‘I wonder what this is about.’
James shrugged. ‘They’ve probably decided what to do with us at last. We are the only two remaining from our squad. The rest have been shipped out quickly, and that seems strange.’
‘I thought so as well.’
Waiting for them was the station commander, Brigadier Stansfield and Captain Eaton, who they had only seen once before.
‘At ease. I expect you are wondering why you are here?’
‘Yes, sir,’ they answered.
‘You have been receiving special training to ascertain your suitability for a certain career change. You have done well in the technical skills and have shown the ability to think quickly and make decisions in difficult situations. Today you are going to undergo a test which will be given by Brigadier Stansfield and Captain Eaton. They have convinced me that you are suitable candidates, so don’t let them down. Off you go.’
They saluted and marched out of the room.
‘What was that all about? Go where?’ James whispered once the door was closed.
‘No idea, but we’d better wait here and ask the brigadier when he comes out.’
The officers came out almost immediately and the captain grinned, emphasising his boyish looks. ‘Don’t look so puzzled. Come with us and you will see what we have planned for you.’
The boys followed them to a waiting car and got in as ordered, glancing at each other and shrugging. They said nothing as the car turned out of the camp, but this was intriguing. They had been left behind when everyone else they knew had been shipped out, and that had been hard to understand.
‘Lovely day for what we are about to do,’ Alex said.
‘And what would that be, sirs?’ James looked hopefully at the officers.
‘Stop teasing them, Alex,’ the captain laughed, turning round to face them in the back seat. ‘The mystery will soon be revealed, and believe me it will be worth the wait.’
‘They might not think so. Alan is so besotted with this he thinks everyone is going to feel the same.’
‘Of course they will. I bet you five shillings.’
‘Before you go throwing your money away, sirs, you should know that if it is anything to do with water, I can’t swim,’ Lester told them, highly amused by the informal chatter.
That sent them into peals of laughter, making the boys even more confused, and the rest of the journey was made in silence. When they finally reached their destination, James gripped his friend’s arm and muttered under his breath, ‘Bloody hell!’
Lester was speechless as he got out of the car and gazed around. This was the last thing he expected.
‘Beautiful, aren’t they?’ Alan said, looking at the aeroplanes on the field. ‘How do you feel about flying one of those? We need pilots desperately for the Royal Flying Corps. We’ll take you for a ride to see if you can handle being in the air. James, you come with me, and Lester will go with Alex.’
‘You’re a pilot?’ Lester asked the brigadier in astonishment.
‘I learnt to fly three years ago. Let’s get you into more suitable clothing.’
In no time at all they were tightly strapped in the two planes. James waved and grinned at his friend as they taxied for take-off.
Once in the air they dived, turned and spun until Lester didn’t know which was the right way up. It was the most frightening and exhilarating thing he had ever experienced. When they levelled out and flew straight, he sighed and looked around. Everything on the ground was so small, and above – it was breathtaking, giving him the same feeling he had when he played a beautiful concerto. At that moment he knew this was what he wanted to do.
‘Well, what did you think of that?’ Alex asked after they had landed.
‘Fantastic, sir. I would like to learn to fly.’
Alex was clearly pleased by his response. ‘I knew you would be the right choice. Let’s go and see how James got on.’
‘Captain Eaton said they want us to train as pilots,’ James told Lester the moment they reached him.
‘I know.’ He grinned at his friend’s animated expression. ‘I’ve already told the brigadier that I would like to learn how to fly like that.’
‘Oh, I say, this is very exciting.’
‘I take it you are both volunteering to join the RFC?’
‘Yes, sir!’ the boys chorused.
‘Good. You will be transferred here at once to begin your training. When you have flown solo you will be judged on your ability. If we don’t think you are good enough you will return to your regiment. Is that understood?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘You should also understand that this isn’t going to be a joy ride. If you become qualified pilots you will be asked to fly dangerous missions. You are going to need to be very good pilots.’
‘We will be, sir,’ Lester replied confidently, while James nodded enthusiastically.
‘Right then. Return to camp and collect your gear. I will expect you here at dawn tomorrow to begin your instruction.’
‘How long will the training take?’ James wanted to know.
‘That depends on your ability and how many planes you break while learning to land,’ he added dryly. ‘Watch this one coming in now. It’s his first solo flight.’
They turned their attention to the plane. It was wobbling from side to side.
‘Straighten those wings,’ the captain muttered.
And as if the pilot heard he levelled out just in time and hit the ground with a thud, bouncing three times before coming to a halt.
‘My word,’ James gasped, ‘that was a rough landing, but at least he’s in one piece.’
‘We’ve seen worse.’ The captain looked across at Alex and smirked. ‘Haven’t we?’
‘Much worse.’ He chuckled. ‘I ran out of grass and ended up in a hedge.’
The boys looked at him in astonishment, and Lester remarked, ‘You obviously got it right, because you are a superb pilot now, sir.’
‘My instructor pulled me out, sat me in another plane and told me to damned well go round again, and without crashing this time. Fortunately I did or I wouldn’t have qualified and I doubt he was ready to give me another chance. Ah, here’s our transport.’
The captain was based at Hendon, so they saluted smartly and headed for the car. Their minds were whirling with the unexpected opportunity to learn to fly.
Once back in camp, Lester was able to catch the brigadier on his own. ‘May I ask, sir, did you ever hear from my father?’
‘He hasn’t contacted me yet, but that is his choice. He doesn’t have to.’
‘Nevertheless, he should at least have had the courtesy to send you a letter. Mother told me you haven’t been able to find his army records.’
‘That’s true, but if we had more information we might be able to track them down. Do you know anything about his army career?’
‘He’s never talked about it with us. I wish I could help.’
‘Captain Bob Andrews has carried out a thorough search without success. He did say that if he could see something like a birth certificate that might give him more information. He hasn’t been able to obtain a copy of that. It looks as if documents have gone missing over the years.’ He studied the tall boy, and hesitated a moment before saying, ‘I didn’t like to ask you
r mother if I could see any personal documents she had.’
‘I’m sure she wouldn’t have minded. Would you like me to do that for you, sir?’
‘That would be appreciated. The captain is working on contacting all ex-military, though most of those are coming forward without being asked. Only a few are proving difficult to trace.’
‘Father should have contacted you. I’ll write to Mother tonight and ask her for any documents she has that might help.’
‘Thank you, and please give her my apologies for the unusual request, but it is our last hope. If some of our records are missing we need to find out what has happened to them. The more information we can gather, the better. Any documents your mother sends us will be given to the captain and kept in the strictest confidence. I will no longer be in charge of that section after today, because I am transferring as a temporary instructor to the RFC.’
‘Really, sir?’ Lester’s face lit up with pleasure. He had always liked this man and was delighted to know he would be based at Hendon as well. ‘That’s wonderful. James and I are very excited about learning to fly.’
‘Enthusiasm is what we need. I believe aeroplanes are going to play a vital part in this war, and in the future. Go and pack your gear and I’ll see you at Hendon tomorrow.’
‘Sir.’ He saluted and marched away to find his friend.
‘I say, where have you been?’ James was already packed. ‘We’ve got to see the girls and tell them we’re leaving.’
‘I’ve been talking with the brigadier. Do you know he’s transferring to the RFC to be an instructor?’
‘That’s terrific. I wouldn’t mind him as my instructor, but that is unlikely because he is friends with my family and is like an uncle to me. You might get him, though.’
‘We’ll have to wait and see.’ He began collecting his belongings together. ‘Let me pack and then we’ll go across to the hospital. Hope the girls will be free to see us. If not we will have to leave a message.’
They were in luck. The girls were just about to have an hour’s break.
‘Let’s get a cup of tea, I’m gasping.’ Lillia slipped her hand through her brother’s arm, happy to see him.
When the Music Stopped Page 10