“Of course I do! You’re just never around when any of my students are.” She swallowed and glanced around the pub. “And besides, the majority of my trainees are at other stations. You know that. However did you find this place? It’s absolutely jam-packed.”
“I told you it would be. They pour an outstanding pint, and the food is fantastic. You’ll see.” Fred set down his glass. “And don’t think I don’t realize what you just did. You really don’t like talking about your work, do you?”
She looked at him ruefully. “It’s not a matter of liking or not liking. I can’t talk about my work. I’ve told you.”
“Yes, yes, I know. Top secret and all that.” He tilted his head and studied her, his blue eyes dancing. “You don’t look very top secret.”
“Don’t I? And what does top secret look like?”
“Like something I wouldn’t look twice at,” he said promptly. “Very well. You keep your secrets, Assistant Section Officer. I won’t promise not to try to discover them, though.”
“Well that’s fair, at any rate.”
“You said your brother flies? Where is he?”
“He’s stationed at Duxford,” Evelyn said, relieved at the change of subject. “He flies Spitfires.”
Fred brightened noticeably.
“Does he? Now that’s a jolly nice kite. I’d love to jump in one of those and take it up. I’ve heard they’re terribly fast and handle like a dream.”
“He loves it.”
“How long has he been at Duxford?”
“Since last summer. His squadron has been doing much the same as you: constantly training.”
“And I’ll bet they’re getting bloody tired of it as well.” Fred made a face. “And now the weather’s gone and turned beastly. It’s bloody cold up there, you know. For that matter, it’s jolly cold down here, too. I thought my propellers were going to freeze up today.”
“Is that possible?”
He grinned. “Not the faintest idea!”
Evelyn chuckled despite herself. “Miles did write that his windshield had ice on it the other day.”
Fred raised his eyebrows and pounced on that.
“Miles? Oho! And who might that be? I thought you said your brother’s name was Ron.”
“Rob,” she corrected him with a laugh. “It is.”
“Then who is this mysterious Miles?”
“There’s nothing mysterious about him. He flies with my brother.”
“Mm-hmm.” Fred nodded knowingly. “And now the great riddle is solved.”
“What great riddle?”
“Why you, of course!” He leaned forward. “I knew you were hiding something. So, go on. Spill it. How long have you been seeing Miles?”
“Oh for heaven’s sake!” Evelyn laughed and reached for her drink. “Don’t be absurd. Just because we exchange letters doesn’t mean a thing.”
“Is that so?” He grinned. “All right. If you want to pretend, we’ll pretend. But I know, Evelyn. I’ve seen that particular look in a woman’s eyes before, more’s the pity, and I know what it means.”
“And what does it mean?”
“That I’ve got my work cut out for me. I give you fair warning, I intend to fight. All’s fair, y’know, and all that.”
She shook her head, unable to keep the laugh off her lips.
“Warning acknowledged, but I still think you’re being absurd. Just because I don’t think you’re the be all and end all of my existence, it doesn’t necessarily follow that there’s someone else.”
Fred winced comically. “Ouch! You’re awfully brutal tonight.”
“You deserved it.”
“There’s a party at the CO’s next weekend for all the officers,” he said. “That includes the WAAF officers, of course. Will I see you there?”
“I don’t know.”
Fred looked at her, amused. “Don’t you top secrets fraternize? Don’t worry. The other pilots aren’t as irresistible as yours truly. You won’t be tempted to stray from your Spitfire pilot.”
“He’s not my pilot, and that’s not it at all,” she exclaimed, exasperated. “I may not be here to attend.”
“Ahhh, the meeting you have tonight? Are they sending you away somewhere? More little chicks to mold?”
“Officers, not chicks, and quite possibly,” she retorted, her lips twitching.
“Well, I’ll be sure to toast your absence if you can’t make it,” he said gallantly, stubbing out his cigarette as a barmaid came to the table carrying their dinner.
“So kind of you, I’m sure!” Evelyn laughed as a dish of shepherd’s pie was set before her. “That makes me feel all warm inside.”
“As it should!”
19th January, 1940
Dear Evelyn,
How are you finding Northolt? Are you settling in all right? Quite a good lot of chaps in the Hurries over there. I think you’ll like it. Got to be better than Scotland, at any rate.
Can you believe the Finns are holding on? The Soviet forces haven’t been able to breach the Mannerheim Line defenses. I don’t know how long they can hold out, but it’s a miracle they’ve lasted this long. I think Finland has surprised everyone. I know I certainly didn’t expect them to put up such a fight. Perhaps they’ll pull through after all. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
I wish we were doing as well. If we keep losing our destroyers to the German U-boats, the Navy will be in a bad way. Rob and I were talking to the CO last night and he reckons the U-boats are the worst threat of the war. They’re sinking everything, from Danish tankers to our destroyers. We have to find a way to get on top of that. Thank God Churchill is the First Lord of the Admiralty. That man doesn’t play around. If there’s a way, he’ll find it.
This weather is absolutely appalling. Remember I said my windshield had ice on it last week? Well, this morning we took off all right, but when we came in to land, the ground was so muddy that we all barely got in. Rob’s kite is still stuck, I think. They were working on it when we came in from the ready. It’s a bloody mess out there. Did you hear that the Thames is frozen solid? And now it’s starting to snow! They’ll be grounding all flights soon if this continues.
I’m getting very restless. It
