Nick’s forehead wrinkled in an exaggerated frown. ‘I feel awful now. Are you sure you don’t mind?’
‘Why should I? We’re all friends.’ The music came to an end, and the band leader announced the band was taking a fifteen minute break. ‘Blow!’ Claire said. ‘We’ll have to go with plan B.’ Nick looked puzzled. ‘You must be first to buy the drinks. That way Johnny won’t get the chance to show off by flashing his money about. Then, when the band strikes up again, ask Ellen to dance before Johnny gets the chance.’
‘What about you?’
‘Don’t worry about me. I won’t sit at the table like a wallflower. Johnny is bound to ask me to dance. If he doesn’t I’ll ask him.’
‘And you’re not offended?’
‘Just get the drinks,’ Claire said, linking her arm through Nick’s and jokingly dragging him back to the table. ‘Gin and orange, thanks Nick,’ she said, as soon as Johnny and Ellen were near enough to hear.
‘Yes, of course. Ellen? Johnny?’
‘Gin and orange for me too, please,’ Ellen said.
‘I’ll come with you, old chap, help you carry them,’ Johnny said. Putting his arm round Nick’s shoulder, he looked back at Ellen and winked.
The dancing plot succeeded. Nick and Ellen danced the first couple of dances in the second set and Claire danced with Johnny. Johnny got the next round of drinks and they chatted while they drank. They danced some more and talked some more – and by the end of the night they were all pleasantly merry and danced off their feet.
Back at Dunham House Ellen and Claire gave in and went to Johnny and Nick’s room for a nightcap. They discussed Paratroopers’ Wings, and admitted to each other that they would love to wear them. They talked about spending Christmas with their families, and Nick said perhaps they could meet up in the New Year. Claire didn’t say so – she didn’t want to put a damper on their last night together – but it would be impossible for her to see anyone from Dunham again until the war was over – and perhaps not then. The SOE manual stipulated that, even if agents bumped into one another in the street, they must walk on without acknowledging each other.
The atmosphere was subdued at breakfast. Even Johnny was quiet. It was sad saying goodbye. They hadn’t known each other long, but working together so intensely, they had become close. Claire looked at each of her friends and hoped that, wherever they were destined to go, they would be safe.
At Manchester’s Piccadilly station, Ellen gave Claire her address. ‘Drop me a line sometime,’ she said. Claire lowered her eyes. She wished she could give Ellen her address, but… ‘I won’t ask for yours. I’d probably lose it anyway,’ she said. Claire hugged her friend goodbye. ‘Let me know you’re safe, if you can,’ Ellen whispered.
Claire’s train was first to come into the station, so after hugging each of her friends she picked up her suitcase and said goodbye.
‘Keep an eye on my bag, Johnny. I’ll carry Claire’s case for her,’ Nick said, taking the case out of Claire’s hand.
‘That’s very chivalrous of you, Nick.’
‘I have an ulterior motive, I’m afraid. I was wondering if we could write to each other?’
‘I can’t, Nick, I’m sorry.’
‘What, not even as pen-pals?’ Claire shook her head. ‘Take my address anyway and perhaps when the war’s over we could go dancing again, just you and me?’
‘This is my train,’ Claire said, and began to walk faster. Nick put the case in the train and helped her up the steps. ‘Thank you, Nick,’ she said, and as she bent down to kiss him on the cheek, he turned his face and their lips met. Claire heard a whistle blow somewhere in the distance, the train clunked and started to move, and she broke away from him. ‘I think you’d better go if you don’t want to end up in Rugby.’
‘If that’s where you’re going I shouldn’t mind,’ he said. Slamming the door on the moving train, Nick ran along the platform until the train picked up speed. The last Claire saw of him, he was waving in a cloud of steam.
Claire closed the window and found a seat a couple of carriages along. After putting her case on the overhead rack, she sat down and thought about Nick’s kiss. She could have sworn he was sweet on Ellen. He was when they first met, but the kiss he’d just given her said something quite different. She hadn’t thought about Nick in a romantic way until now. A smile played on her lips.
CHAPTER SIX
‘Anyone home?’
‘Claire? What on earth? Thomas, our Claire’s here. Why didn’t you let us know you were coming?’ Claire’s mother said. Wiping her hands on her pinafore, she crossed the kitchen with outstretched arms. ‘Bess would have fetched you from the station.’
‘Bess has enough to do up at the Hall. Besides, it was a last minute thing.’ Claire dropped her suitcase and hugged her mother. ‘A few of us were given forty-eight hours leave for good behaviour,’ she joked, ‘so I thought I’d surprise you.’
‘You’ve certainly done that,’ Claire’s father said. ‘Come here girl, let’s have a look at you.’
Claire threw her arms around her father. ‘Oooooo I’ve missed you, Dad. And you, Mam.’
‘We’ve missed you too,’ her mother said. ‘Go through to the front room, it’s warmer in there. Top the fire up, Thomas, the girl must be perished,’ she called. ‘Tea’s almost ready. I’ll bring it in shortly.’
‘Thanks, Mam.’ Claire followed her father through
