The Girls in Blue

by Lily Baxter

  Miranda turned her head to see Raif walking towards them and experienced the familiar undeniable tug of attraction. He walked with a slight swagger and even his worst enemy would have to admit that he looked handsome in his immaculate uniform. Miranda could not help comparing him to Jack who appeared to have thrown his clothes on whilst half asleep, and it was obvious that he had not bothered to shave that morning.

  ‘Mrs Beddoes,’ Raif said, tipping his cap. ‘Miranda,’ he added with a hint of a smile. He glanced at her uniform with a question in his eyes. ‘Is this an official visit?’

  ‘No, Flight Lieutenant, it’s purely personal,’ Maggie said, answering for both of them. ‘Miranda is on compassionate leave and I had a family matter to discuss with my son.’

  ‘I’m taking them to the mess,’ Jack said hastily. ‘They’re waiting for a lift home.’

  ‘Better get them inside out of the rain.’ Raif inclined his head towards Maggie. ‘Good day, ma’am.’

  Maggie acknowledged this with a brief nod. She linked her hand through her son’s arm. ‘Is it far to the mess?’

  ‘No, Mother.’ Jack hesitated, casting a wary glance at Raif. ‘There’s something we need to discuss, Carstairs.’

  ‘Say what you’ve got to say and be done with it, man.’

  Miranda could feel the underlying tensions rising rapidly to the surface, but this was neither the time nor the place to air family matters, especially with her grandmother present, and they were all getting very wet. She laid her hand on Raif’s sleeve. ‘I’m only here for a short visit. Would it be asking too much for you to show me round the aerodrome? It’s quite different from Henlow Priory where I’m stationed at the moment.’

  Jack opened his mouth as if to protest but a frown from his mother silenced him. ‘Don’t be too long, dear,’ Maggie said, turning to Miranda. ‘We’ll leave as soon as Elzevir turns up.’ She walked off, leaning on her son’s arm.

  Raif waited until they were out of earshot. ‘Why did you come here today?’

  ‘We had something to tell Jack that changes everything.’

  ‘Does this have anything to do with Izzie?’

  She could feel the rain beginning to soak through her uniform. ‘Can we go somewhere a bit drier? I’m getting very wet.’

  ‘Of course.’ He led the way to a single-storey office block. ‘The clerks are at lunch,’ he said, opening the door and ushering her inside. ‘We won’t be disturbed.’ He pulled up a chair. ‘Take a seat and tell me what’s on your mind.’

  ‘Thanks.’ She sat down, wondering just how much she ought to tell him. ‘Jack really loves Izzie, you know.’

  Raif perched on the edge of the desk. ‘Yes, I had realised that.’

  ‘I saw her yesterday.’

  ‘How is she?’

  His offhand manner grated on her nerves, which were already stretched to breaking point. ‘How can you be so calm and detached from what’s been going on with your own family? Don’t you know that your sister is breaking her heart?’

  ‘Izzie will get over it. She’s very young and there’ll be other men who are much more suitable than Jack Beddoes. I’m sorry, Miranda, but even if Jack isn’t our half-brother, he’s not the sort of chap I’d want my sister to marry.’

  ‘That’s the real problem, isn’t it? You were against him from the start. You must have been delighted when Ivy spread that malicious rumour about your father and Granny.’

  ‘I’ve no doubt it was true.’

  ‘Yes, but only in part. I tackled Granny about it yesterday and she admitted having an affair with your father, but she swears that Jack is not his son, and I believe her.’

  ‘Even so, it doesn’t make any difference. He’s not the man for my sister, so I hope you won’t encourage her to think he is.’

  She leapt to her feet. ‘You have no right to dictate to Izzie. She can make her own mind up.’

  ‘Don’t be so dramatic. I’m not doing anything. She’s seen Beddoes for what he is – a philandering bastard.’

  The urge to slap his smug face was so strong that Miranda had to clench her fists at her sides. She would not stoop so low. ‘Your sister is pregnant, so I wouldn’t mention bastards in her company if I were you.’ She had the satisfaction of seeing him shocked out of his complacency.

  ‘You’re lying.’ White lines etched the corners of his mouth and his eyes narrowed as he stared at her in disbelief.

  ‘No, I’m not. She told me yesterday and she was so desperate that she was thinking of going to London to get an abortion.’

  ‘That’s impossible. Izzie would never do such a thing.’

  ‘She won’t now because Jack is going to telephone her the moment she gets back from work. He wants to marry her, Raif. For God’s sake leave them alone, and let them work it out together.’

  ‘What a bloody mess.’ He stood up and walked to the door. ‘This will destroy my family.’

  ‘That’s stupid, and so are you if you believe that.’

  ‘Izzie won’t be welcome at Thornleigh Court if she marries Jack Beddoes.’

  She stared at him aghast. ‘I can’t believe you said that.’

  ‘My parents’ marriage is rocky now. This will finish it completely.’

  ‘And do you think that Izzie being left with an illegitimate baby is going to bring them closer together?’

  ‘It would be better than having to associate with the Beddoes clan. Your grandfather tried to ruin my father’s career and very nearly succeeded.’

  ‘What utter rot. From what I’ve heard my grandmother wasn’t the only woman who fell for Max Carstairs’ charms. He’s had more affairs than Don Juan.’

  ‘My father is the most eminent man in his field and he’s in line for a knighthood. A scandal like this really could ruin him if the press got hold of the story.’

  ‘There won’t be any scandal if you all accept the fact that Jack and Izzie are going to be married.’ As she met his angry gaze Miranda experienced a sudden wave of revulsion. The glossy image of him that had haunted her dreams suddenly cracked and splintered into shards. ‘I always respected you, Raif. I thought you were something special, but now I can see that you’re just a shallow, selfish person who cares nothing for his sister or anyone else for that matter.’

  He turned his head to look at her and his lips tightened into a thin line. ‘I never encouraged your juvenile attentions, Miranda. You can’t say I did.’

  ‘Maybe not, but you certainly turned on the charm when we first met. You knew all about the family feud and yet you went out of your way to be nice to me. Why did you do that?’

  He shrugged his shoulders. ‘I’ve asked myself that a dozen times. I could see that you were impressed by me, and I suppose I was flattered. I think I was curious about the Beddoes family too. I needed to see the woman whose affair with my father almost cost him everything.’

  ‘And you wanted to get your own back.’

  ‘Nothing so crass.’ He turned away to look out of the window. ‘It’s stopped raining. Perhaps you should go and find your grandmother. I think we’re finished here, Miranda.’

  She picked up her handbag and gas mask case, pausing at the door to give him a pitying look. ‘I feel quite sorry for you, Raif. You’ve allowed your father’s mistakes to blight your life, and that’s very sad. Don’t ruin Izzie’s chances of happiness.’ She opened the door and stepped outside, taking a deep breath of the moist air and wrinkling her nose. The rich scent of damp earth was tainted with the smell of high octane petrol and engine oil that still lingered, even though the mighty Spitfires and Hurricanes were idling on the tarmac. She jumped as the frantic ringing of a bell from one of the huts sent aircrews racing towards their machines. Raif emerged from the building and hurried off towards the control tower. She stood for a moment, feeling very small and lost in the roar of the engines and the scramble of the crews to be airborne. It must have been just such a scene as this when Gil took off on his last fatal mission. She realised suddenly that she was
crying.

  Someone grabbed her by the arm. ‘Manda, old Elzevir’s turned up. Your gran says you’re to come right away.’

  She dashed the tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand. ‘Okay, I’m coming.’

  ‘What’s up?’ Rita demanded as she fell into step at her side. ‘What did that bugger say to upset you?’

  ‘Nothing really. I just saw him for what he is and realised what a silly fool I’d been.’

  ‘Don’t be so hard on yourself, ducks. He’s a bit of all right, but that’s just window dressing. He’s a cold fish when it comes down to it.’

  ‘How come you’re so wise suddenly, Rita Platt?’

  ‘Maybe I’ve just had a bit more experience of the world than you, love. You need to get out there and meet other blokes. Have a bit of fun. Life’s too short to bother about chaps like Raif. Give me Jack any time.’

  Miranda stopped for a moment, staring at her in surprise. ‘Jack? You fancy my uncle?’

  ‘It was just a manner of speaking, Manda. Jack’s top notch, but he’s not for the likes of me.’

  ‘Don’t say things like that. You’re as good as any of us; better than most.’

  ‘But I’m not posh like Isabel Carstairs.’ Rita hooked her arm around Miranda’s shoulders. ‘I’m a dandelion to Izzie’s delicate rose; she’s a lady and I’m a common girl from the East End. It’s the way of the world.’

  ‘Then perhaps this war will change all that. Maybe something good will come out of this damned awful mess.’

  They had reached the perimeter gates. Miranda could see her grandmother pacing up and down outside while Elzevir sat on the driver’s seat with a pipe stuck between his teeth. Jack was talking to the corporal but he broke off when he saw Miranda. ‘I hope you told Carstairs where to get off,’ he said angrily. ‘You shouldn’t have had anything to do with him.’

  ‘Leave her alone, Jack.’ Rita squared up to him, bristling. ‘It’s got nothing to do with you.’

  ‘It has everything to do with me if she told him about Izzie.’

  ‘I did tell him, Jack.’ Miranda met his angry gaze with a sudden sense of calm. She knew she had done the right thing. ‘There’s no use you speaking to him. He’s never going to change his mind. You’ll just have to go ahead and marry Izzie whether her family agree or not.’

  Jack nodded to the corporal. ‘Open the gate, please. My niece is just leaving.’

  ‘Cheerio, Rita,’ Miranda said, giving her a hug. ‘See you soon, I hope.’

  ‘You can bet on it.’ Rita sent a warning look to Jack. ‘She’s right and you know it.’

  His angry expression melted into a sheepish grin. ‘Trust you to keep me on the straight and narrow, young Rita.’ He leaned over to kiss Miranda on the forehead. ‘I’m going to get a special licence. If Izzie agrees to marry me we’ll tie the knot as soon as possible.’

  ‘Good for you, Jack.’ With a last grateful glance in Rita’s direction, Miranda hurried through the gate. Elzevir climbed down to help Maggie up onto the seat.

  ‘About time too, Miranda,’ Maggie said irritably. ‘You shouldn’t have gone off with that fellow. He’s so different from his father that I can hardly believe he’s Max’s son.’

  Miranda swung herself onto the cart to sit beside her. ‘I didn’t want them to have a row in public, Granny. It might have turned nasty.’

  ‘They’re grown men, my dear. It’s not your problem.’

  Elzevir encouraged his horse forward with a flick of his whip. ‘What shall us do if there’s an air raid warning, ladies?’

  ‘Travel on, Elzevir,’ Maggie said firmly. ‘Our boys have just taken off and they’ll sort Jerry out. I want to get home and we’ll work on the principle that a moving target is harder to hit than a stationary one.’

  Elzevir reached down into the well of the cart and brought out a familiar-looking bottle. He took the pipe from his mouth and uncorking the bottle with his teeth he took a swig.

  ‘I hope that isn’t what I think it might be,’ Maggie said suspiciously.

  ‘One of the last bottles to be found in Dorset, ma’am.’ Elzevir pushed the cork back into the neck of the bottle. ‘Got it in part payment for the logs.’

  ‘How did your customer get a bottle of that stuff in the first place?’

  ‘Well, you see, ma’am, it’s like this – sometimes I used to do a bit of trading on the side. In this case I think it was for a pound of blue Vinney. I got a real taste for that cheese and he’s the only farmer round here still making it, thanks to them bleddy Jerries, pardon my language, ma’am.’

  Miranda stifled a giggle. Elzevir’s guileless admission came as something of a relief after the tensions of the morning, and her grandmother’s face was a picture of outrage.

  ‘I certainly hope that was the last one in circulation,’ Maggie said, radiating disapproval. ‘You know what the major said about it, Elzevir.’

  ‘Aye, ma’am. I most certainly do – the embrocation is for external use only.’ He put his pipe back in his mouth. ‘There goes the siren. Shall us make a run for it then?’

  ‘Get us home as quickly as your poor old horse can make it,’ Maggie said, holding on to the seat.

  They arrived home safely and although the fighter planes were too far away for them to see the dogfights, they could hear the crump of ack-ack guns firing from the ranges along the coast. Maggie allowed Elzevir to help her down from the cart and she opened her handbag, pausing for a moment and meeting his expectant look with a frown. ‘I will pay you for your trouble, but if I discover that you’ve any more bottles hidden away I’ll have to tell my husband.’

  Elzevir held out his hand. ‘Thank you, ma’am.’ He closed his fingers over the coins, tipping his cap and winking. ‘But I hardly think as how the major would have me up in court over such a matter. Good day to you both.’ He clambered back onto the cart and drove off, leaving Maggie staring after him.

  ‘Well, of all the cheek. That sounded suspiciously like blackmail. What do you think, Miranda?’

  ‘He’d never do anything to hurt you or Grandpa. It was Elzevir’s heavy-handed idea of a joke, and anyway, Annie would give him hell if he stepped out of line. Let’s go indoors. I think it’s going to rain again.’ Glancing up at the gathering clouds, Miranda found herself thinking once again of Gil’s last moments. He had gone up on just such a day as today, just like the young pilots she had seen at Warmwell. How many of them would return, she wondered sadly. When would it all end?

  ‘Come along, Miranda. I’m dying for a cup of tea.’

  Miranda followed her grandmother down the garden path to the house. She could hear the telephone ringing even before the front door opened. Maggie hurried to answer it. ‘Hello.’ She paused, listening. ‘I’m sorry, this is a dreadful line. Who did you say was calling?’ She turned to Miranda. ‘Do you know someone called Janice? She says it’s urgent.’

  Chapter Sixteen

  ‘HELLO, JANICE. WHAT’S up?’

  ‘I’ve been trying to get hold of you all day, Miranda. It’s good news for a change. Mad Dog did manage to bail out after all. He was picked up by a motor launch that happened to be in the area and taken to hospital in Great Yarmouth.’

  Hardly able to believe her ears, Miranda took a deep breath. ‘Was he badly injured?’ She waited, drumming her fingers on the hall table. She could hear Janice speaking to someone in the background. ‘What’s going on?’

  ‘Nothing, pet. I was just asking Val if she had any more info. She was the radio operator when the news came through. We thought you’d like to know.’

  ‘Yes, thanks. I’m glad.’ It was an understatement but Miranda was in a state of shock. She had given Gil up for lost, but she knew enough about the injuries he might have received to be cautious.

  ‘Anyway, got to go. See you in a few days, love.’

  ‘Goodbye, Janice. Thanks again.’ Miranda replaced the ear piece.

  ‘Was it bad news, dear?’

  Miranda turned slowly to
meet her anxious gaze. ‘No, Granny. At least I don’t think so. I’ve just heard that someone I thought was killed when his plane ditched in the sea has survived.’

  ‘Well that’s wonderful news, isn’t it? Why the long face?’

  ‘He’s in hospital.’

  ‘Why haven’t you mentioned this young man before? He’s obviously more than just a friend.’

  ‘It’s complicated, Granny. Do you mind if I don’t talk about it now?’

  Maggie patted her on the shoulder. ‘What you need is a good strong cup of tea.’ She took Miranda by the hand and led her unprotesting to the kitchen. ‘Annie, put the kettle on. We need sustenance.’ She pressed Miranda down on the nearest chair. ‘We’ve had quite a day of it.’

  ‘What’s wrong with you?’ Annie demanded, peering at Miranda. ‘You’re white as a sheet.’

  ‘She’s had a shock. Now stop being nosey and make us a pot of tea. I’m black and blue from travelling on your brother’s wagon. It’s not the most comfortable form of transport.’

  ‘It got you there and back, didn’t it?’ Annie put the kettle on the hob. ‘You’ve got spoiled riding in that posh motor. I remember the days when you were happy to travel in the governess cart that belonged to old Mrs Beddoes.’

  ‘That was a long time ago and I was younger then.’ Maggie opened a cupboard and took out a bottle of brandy. ‘I think we both need a tot, Miranda. Purely for medicinal purposes, of course. Would you pass me a couple of glasses, please, Annie? You’re nearest.’

  Annie shot her a reproachful glance but she put three wine glasses on the table. ‘You’re not leaving me out, I hope. I’ve been slaving away all day making supper while you two were off gallivanting.’

  Miranda could see an argument brewing. She was used to their little spats and she knew that they enjoyed sparring, but she was not in the mood to listen. She stood up and taking the bottle from her grandmother she poured three large measures into the glasses. She passed them round. ‘We’ll drink to Jack and Izzie,’ she said firmly. ‘Bung-ho!’