‘Hopefully, we’ll see you all next week.’ She replaced the receiver and immediately asked permission to ring White Waltham and leave a message for Jack.
Alison agreed to her taking Thursday, Friday and Saturday as her accrued leave. ‘If you can make sure you’re here Sunday morning as we’ve got another consignment of Halifaxes to deliver all over the shop.’
‘I’ll get a flip back here Saturday; don’t worry, I’ll be here. We’re only spending Thursday night with my family and then leaving immediately after the wake.’
‘Are you going to stay at your soon to be new home?’
‘We are. It will be good to have another look round now that it’s almost ours. I’m going to be sorry to leave Hamble at the end of the year but can’t wait to live in my very own house with Jack. I expect I’ll be passing through here occasionally and we won’t lose touch completely.’
*
As always, she and Jack intended to wear their uniforms for the funeral which meant they didn’t have to find black clothes. He was waiting for her when she arrived.
‘Hi, honey, I can’t tell you how pleased I am to see you. If the guy hadn’t died, I was going to take my leave anyway and not come to the funeral. It’s been almost a month since we were together.’
‘Some women haven’t seen their husbands for years so stop moaning, Squadron Leader Reynolds, and be grateful that we can see each other so often.’
He snapped to attention and saluted much to the amusement of the onlookers. ‘Yes ma’am. Duly noted.’
‘So I should hope. Now stop fooling about and tell me what time the bus to Oxford leaves.’
‘As you’re going to become part of this pool eventually, Frankie’s letting us use the car again. It’s over there waiting, my bag’s already in.’
There were even fewer civilian vehicles than the last time she’d driven this way and apart from meeting a few army lorries the roads were deserted. She parked neatly against the curb outside the house she’d bought for her family to live in.
The front door swung open immediately and her mother rushed out to hug her. She still found this a bit strange as until last year they’d not been at all close.
‘Welcome, I’m so glad to see you both. Neil is having a nap and Fiona has joined him. She’s not been at all well this time and I’m quite concerned for her.’
Jack stepped up and kissed her mom on the cheek and she didn’t appear to object. ‘Sorry for your loss, ma’am.’
‘Good heavens, Jack, you make me sound like an old lady. Please use my given name.’
‘Okay, it’ll be Charlotte in future. Is George in London?’
‘Yes, he’s got tomorrow free but things are frantic at Admiralty House at the moment and he just couldn’t be spared for more than a day.’
It was pleasantly cool inside. Jack disappeared upstairs to dump their bags and Ellie removed her uniform jacket and tie. At least she was wearing a skirt and stockings and not trousers so wasn’t quite as hot as she might have been.
‘I much prefer to see you in that, Ellie, so much more feminine.’
‘We are supposed to wear skirts whenever we’re out and only wear trousers when we’re flying, but nobody takes any notice of that rule anymore. I just thought a skirt would be cooler and more appropriate for a funeral.’
‘George managed to get some pale ale and I’ve had the bottles standing up to their necks in a bucket of water in the scullery since yesterday. They should be lovely and cold. Do you think Jack would like one?’
‘I’m certain he would, and so would I. I do drink beer, Mum, just don’t like the flat, warm stuff they serve in pubs.’
Instead of being cross her mother smiled. ‘In which case, shall we share one? Probably far too early to be drinking alcohol but I’m just so pleased to see you both I’d like to celebrate the occasion.’
Jack joined them, also minus his jacket and tie, and gratefully took his glass of beer. ‘Great, just what the doctor ordered. Is everything organised for tomorrow or is there something Ellie and I can do to help?’
‘George took care of the arrangements. I’m afraid it will be a packed church full of his unpleasant cronies but as you have your own transport you don’t have to stay long at the wake.’
Mum listened attentively to the description of the house and its present occupant. ‘A modern witch? How amusing – I don’t suppose she’s welcomed at matins on a Sunday. You haven’t said a lot about Amanda and Nigel and the new arrival – I thought you went to see them as well?’
When she explained what had happened, her mum patted her on the arm sympathetically. ‘There are a lot of people who would react like that. As you said, you can time your visits to when he’s working or Amanda can come and see you with the baby.’
Jack looked hopefully at the empty bottle.
‘No more now, let’s save it for when George gets back. Commuting back and forth in this heat is very tiring for him.’
Ellie thought her mother was joking but then realised she actually believed her brother had a difficult job. She raised an eyebrow at Jack and he grinned.
‘I expect he’d rather be flying Hurricanes than be sodding about in an office.’
His use of bad language was deliberate and, as he’d intended, sent her mother, tight-lipped, into the other room.
‘Shall we go for a stroll? The pub might be open and I can get another bevy. We have to put on our jackets and ties again?’
‘Yes, we owe it to the uniform to be dressed correctly when outside the house. Golly – I sound like Margaret. Let’s be rebels and go as we are. I doubt anyone from the ATA is going to know.’
‘What would they do if they did find out? They can hardly give us the boot, can they?’
*
The following morning the atmosphere was remarkably cheerful considering they were about to attend a funeral. Ellie’s brother, sister-in-law and mother were in regulation black and her mother put on a smart hat with a black veil just before they left.
Baby Neil was being left with a friendly neighbour, which was probably wise as he was remarkably noisy when he was awake. He didn’t cry but burbled and banged anything he could reach with his precious wooden spoon.
‘George, how are you three going to get back if we leave early?’
‘Don’t worry about it, sister dear, all arranged. I must say I can’t tell you how delighted I am that you and Jack are back together and quite obviously happier than you’ve ever been before.’
‘I know, it took a couple of months apart for both of us to realise how silly we were being.’
Her brother went to talk to Jack, leaving her alone for the first time with Fiona. There was something particular she wanted to ask. ‘I’m a bit worried that despite sleeping together in the middle of my cycle I’m still not pregnant. Do you think there’s anything wrong with me?’
‘Heavens, give it a chance. You only see him every now and again, it’s not like you live together permanently. Do you want a baby?’
‘I do, but not right now if I’m honest. But I’d hate to think I can’t have any when I do want one.’
‘If I was you I’d just be grateful and carry on doing such a wonderful job. Women won’t be allowed so much freedom once this lot is over. The men will come back and start telling us what to do again.’
‘I’m sure you’re right. At least we’ve got husbands who aren’t so narrowminded they expect us to wait on them hand and foot and not appear without a pinny on.’
*
The funeral service was never-ending and Jack was bored after the first twenty minutes. The eulogy made Sir Reginald sound like a saint when everyone in the congregation must have been well aware of his shortcomings.
When they stood up for yet another hymn, he took the opportunity to whisper to Ellie. ‘Will we have to stand around the grave and throw a handful of dirt on the coffin whilst the vicar drones on again?’
‘We will. Now stop complaining and sing.’
‘
When I die just dig a hole in the ground and drop me in. Promise me there won’t be this rigmarole.’
Several heads turned and glared at him, so he obediently began to sing as loudly as he could. He had a decent baritone and after the first verse he began to enjoy it and she smiled and nodded her thanks.
They’d been so long inside the damned church he thought it would be dark when they got out – it certainly seemed like several hours. There was still the wake to get through but they didn’t have to stay long for that.
There was a remarkably good buffet provided and what tasted like real coffee as well as tea. There was even sickly sweet sherry for those who wanted it. He wasn’t one of them. He refused to pretend that he was in any way upset by the death of Sir Reginald and Ellie agreed with him.
‘Let’s just have something to eat and several cups of coffee and then we can sneak off. I think Fiona’s enjoying being away from the baby for a few hours. She’s had several glasses of sherry but I don’t suppose it matters now Neil’s weaned.’
‘I thought you didn’t know anything about babies.’
‘Mum told me. I think she was quite shocked that Fiona stopped so soon. I can’t imagine her feeding any of us and particularly not me – but maybe she was a good mother when we were little.’
‘Real bread, actual butter and proper ham sandwiches instead of margarine and fish paste. Almost worth coming just for this spread.’
They carried their piled plates away from the crowd and found themselves a quiet corner where they could lean against the windowsill and enjoy their food. George wandered over and he looked no happier to be there than they were.
‘I can tell you I’m heartily sick of being spoken to as if I was someone important. It’s a good thing I’m not a direct heir as I’d now be Sir George – can you imagine Fiona swanning about as a lady?’
‘I don’t suppose you can escape when we do. Charlotte seems to be enjoying being the centre of attention.’
‘You’re right. Ma won’t leave until after the last guest has departed. We’re staying overnight as there are some personal things she wants to take back with us. Ellie, she intends to repay you the money for the house from her inheritance, did she tell you that?’
‘She didn’t, but I’m not surprised. I don’t mind either way. To be honest I find myself uncomfortable that we have so much and some people don’t even have a roof over their heads because of the bombing.’
‘I hope you’re not turning into a socialist, sister? I’m surprised that Dad and Mabel didn’t come as I know that Ma invited them.’
‘It’s too far and travelling’s difficult. I wouldn’t have come if I hadn’t been able to fly to White Waltham in the taxi.
‘We’re not going to spoil things for Mum by saying goodbye. George, you give her and Fiona our love and say that we’ll visit whenever we get a chance. We don’t want to be travelling in the dark so had better leave now.’
The car had to be returned immediately to White Waltham so they would have to walk the four miles to The Rookery, which was what their new house was called. Eventually they arrived just after ten o’clock and saw as they reached the front gate that the house was in darkness.
‘Bloody hell! Mary knew we were coming and that we don’t have a key as the house isn’t legally ours yet.’
‘We’ll just have to wake her up because I’m not spending the night out here even though it’s warm.’
‘We can’t do that; we’ll have to look for an open window and climb in.’
‘We certainly won’t – if anyone sees us, they’ll think we’re burglars.’
‘At least we can knock quietly and see if that gets any response. She might have left the door open for us.’
The house was set back from the road and reached by a flagstone path. There was a drive that led to the rear of the building but this was at the side – presumably where the carriages had gone in the olden days. Ellie interrupted his thoughts.
‘Do you know that my mother was really shocked when I said the house was going in joint names and I thought it was because the money came from my side. But it wasn’t – she thought it should be in your name as you’re the man of the house.’
‘Good for her. She’s got her priorities right.’
Ellie punched his arm and before she could escape, he grabbed her; after a second’s hesitation she came willingly. They stood kissing passionately under the handsome portico.
‘Good heavens, you two, do you intend to remain out there all night making a spectacle of yourself?’ Mary was standing in the open door and they hadn’t noticed as, of course, there were no lights on in the hall.
‘We thought you’d gone to bed and were about to break in,’ he said, laughing as they hurried inside.
‘I’m more nocturnal than anything else nowadays and am usually up until dawn. I made an exception last time you were here so that I could make you breakfast. I hope you won’t expect me to do that every time you come?’
He spoke without thinking. ‘I suppose witches prefer the darkness to do their spells.’ It was meant to be facetious but she took it at face value.
‘We don’t do spells, young man, we do incantations…’
‘Mary, it doesn’t matter this time as you haven’t started your official role as our housekeeper. However, I think it only fair that when we are here that you adjust your schedule so you can take care of us.’
This seemed a bit harsh and he expected the old lady to be offended but the reverse was true. ‘Thank you for reminding me, my dear, I’d quite forgotten I was taking on new responsibilities. I don’t suppose you’ll be able to give me any notice as you never know when you have your leave.’
‘Unless things are really hectic, we both get two days off after thirteen days on duty. Unfortunately, we don’t often get them together. This means that Jack will be here—’
‘It means that I’ll be living here permanently, Mary, and that Ellie will come when she can. And I certainly don’t want to be waited on – as long as there’s food in the pantry I’m quite happy to make my own breakfast.’
‘You’ll do no such thing, young man. It will be my absolute pleasure to look after you both when you are doing such a splendid job for the country.’
Ten
November 1943
Ellie and Jack were happily settled at The Rookery and despite Mary having told them she was a practising witch, so far they’d seen no evidence of this. The weather had been typically November – grey and foggy – which had severely restricted flying.
They were curled up in front of the fire in the drawing room. Mary insisted that this room was out of bounds for her and she was quite happy to use the smaller room next to the kitchen.
‘I can’t believe I’ve only got a few more weeks and then I’ll be based with you and living here,’ said Ellie.
‘We’ve still not discussed our plans for this Christmas. I was wondering if we could invite everyone here – what do you think?’
‘I’m certain Fiona won’t want to travel when she’s so heavily pregnant and that means George and Mum can’t come either. Let’s have it here with just the three of us. I’m leaving Hamble on the twenty-second and don’t start here until Boxing Day.’
‘I don’t know if I’m working or not but I’ll be home before dark if I am on duty. We can have our Christmas dinner in the evening.’
‘That’s settled then. I expect I’ll be flying onward transit when I’m stationed here and this probably means I’m going to be away overnight more often than I am now.’
‘As the fighter bases are all in the south, I’m usually able to get home. The newspapers and so on are saying that Italy has surrendered unconditionally. This must mean the war will be over next year. I bloody well hope so as it’s gone on longer than the last lot already.’
‘Did you know that some conscripts are now being randomly selected to work in the coal mines? I think, on balance, I’d rather take my chance in the Armed Forces than work undergr
ound.’
‘Let’s change the subject, sweetheart, talk about something else for a change.’
This was the opportunity she’d been waiting for. She was dreading having to introduce a subject that was going to be difficult for both of them to discuss.
‘There something I’m becoming more concerned about as the months go by. We’ve been married more than a year and there’s no sign of a baby. I’m beginning to think there must be something wrong with me.’
‘I’m sure we’ll have children eventually. Once we’re living under the same roof things will be different.’ He kissed the top of her head affectionately. ‘I do want kids but won’t be devastated if we don’t have any.’
‘Thank goodness you’ve told me as I’ve been so worried. I feel exactly the same. Either way I’ll be happy.’
‘It won’t be for lack of application on my part…’
‘Jack, what a shocking thing to say!’ She scrambled from the sofa before he could put his actions into words. ‘I’m going to make the cocoa. It can be all milk tonight as there’s plenty in the pantry that needs using up.’
‘I’ll put the wireless on and we can listen to ITMA before we go up.’
*
She woke with a start when Jack sat up in bed. ‘Shush. Can you hear that? I think someone’s trying to break in,’ he whispered.
There was a slight sound outside and the hair on the back of her neck stood up. ‘Could it be a fox knocking something over?’
‘No, definitely someone out there. Stay here, I’m going to investigate.’
‘You’ll do no such thing.’ Before he could argue she jumped out of bed and switched on the bedside light then said in a loud voice, ‘I think there’s a fox after the chickens. Get the shotgun, Jack, this time you can shoot it.’
It had the desired effect and there was a second clatter and then she heard running footsteps. ‘There, whoever it was has gone. An opportunist thief wouldn’t hang about to be confronted.’
‘I’m going to nip downstairs first.’
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