‘Friday’s all arranged,’ Raine said. ‘I’ll meet you at Victoria Station at ten o’clock. It’s a direct line. But give yourself plenty of time in case of delays. All right?’
‘Yes, that’ll be perfect.’
‘What have you told Maman?’
‘Only that you and I want to have a day together. She immediately said how wonderful it will be for the three of us. Oh, Raine—’
She heard Raine heave a sigh. ‘Don’t worry. Leave it with me and put her on the phone.’
Five minutes later her mother appeared at the kitchen as Ronnie was washing the dishes.
‘It is so disappointing. Lorraine can only have the Friday for her day off. I said I am not able to come. But you may go with her. I expect you want to discuss the job with the vet.’ She looked Ronnie up and down and frowned. ‘I wish I had the money for you to buy a dress to wear to meet your sister in London. I cannot remember the last time I saw you looking pretty.’
‘A dress isn’t practical for my kind of life,’ Ronnie said, breathing out. She was actually going to spend some time with Raine whom she adored. They’d never done anything like this before. Maybe her sister would stop treating her like a kid when she told her about the interview with Mrs Hunter.
Ronnie gave an inward smile. Raine was in for a shock.
Chapter Four
Ronnie could hardly believe she was on the train from Bromley to Victoria Station with Maman’s blessing. Her heart was beating wildly. She’d made a special effort to look dressed-up, but not used to wearing a skirt her legs felt cold and she wished she’d worn thicker stockings. As usual, the train wasn’t heated and on top of that it was draughty, but nothing marred her anticipation at seeing Raine, and having the luxury of talking to her and asking her advice.
And there was Raine in her ATA uniform, her forage cap perched on the top of her dark head, running along the platform as the train juddered and steamed to a final halt. Ronnie, who was standing in the corridor, her coat still unbuttoned, pushed down the glazed door panel and felt outside for the handle. She swung back the heavy door and jumped down to the platform. She barely noticed the fumes and curling smoke as she threw her arms round her sister.
‘Raine! Oh, it’s so good to see you.’
Raine laughed and hugged her back. ‘I do believe you’ve grown, kid,’ she said.
‘Don’t call me “kid”,’ Ronnie said seriously. ‘I’ve got something important to tell you.’
‘Then let’s go and have a cup of tea in the station café,’ Raine said, linking her arm through Ronnie’s.
They were soon sharing a table with another couple who couldn’t keep their hands off one another. Ronnie badly wanted to laugh every time Raine rolled her eyes. Smothering her giggles she swiftly told Raine about the canal company, and while Raine’s eyes widened in surprise she didn’t interrupt until Ronnie had finished.
‘Mmm.’ Raine drained the last of her tea. ‘I can see why it would appeal to you. Personally, I’d hate it. It sounds too much like hard work. And I know something – Maman’s going to hate the sound of it even more than you going into the Land Army.’ She looked at Ronnie. ‘Where are we going?’
‘Southall. The interview’s at noon.’
Raine glanced at her watch and rose to her feet. ‘I’m not sure exactly where that is so we’d better get going.’ She paused. ‘By the way, Ronnie, darling, I’m coming to the interview with you.’ Ronnie opened her mouth but Raine cut her off. ‘No argument. Maman would never forgive me if I wasn’t there, and we don’t want to risk her wrath any more than we need.’ She chuckled. ‘And I need to see what you might be getting into. Don’t worry – I’ll keep out of it unless absolutely necessary.’
Ronnie shrugged and followed Raine out of the warm café. Deep down she was relieved her sister would be by her side.
It had been a long walk from the railway station at Southall to the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company’s offices, but eventually the two sisters came to an enormous yard filled with a flurry of workmen.
‘Can’t see any sign of a canal,’ Raine said.
What had she got into? Ronnie braced herself.
A woman in her forties, dressed in a frumpy tweed skirt and pale blue twinset, came towards Ronnie and Raine. She looked from one to the other. ‘Veronica Linfoot?’
‘Véronique, actually, though I go by Ronnie.’ She extended her hand. ‘And this is my sister Lorraine.’
‘You haven’t come to volunteer as well?’ The woman eyed Raine up and down with a hopeful expression.
‘Oh, no.’ Raine took a step backwards.
‘No, of course not. Silly me. You have your pilot’s wings. Congratulations.’ She gestured for them to follow her, then waved towards two seats in front of an old battered desk in a windowless room and took the seat behind.
‘I’m Mrs Hunter, the supervisor, who wrote to you initially,’ she said, looking at Ronnie intently. She glanced at Raine again. ‘Actually, I’m glad you’ve come with your sister. She looks very young.’
‘I’m seventeen,’ Ronnie cut in abruptly.
Raine gave Ronnie a sharp look which she pretended not to notice.
‘Right. I’ll go through a few questions.’ Mrs Hunter regarded Ronnie with keen grey eyes. ‘First of all, why are you interested in working for us?’
The interview went on with Mrs Hunter reminding them it was a very responsible job which didn’t suit everyone. Raine occasionally interrupted with a question of her own, but mainly the two girls listened.
‘Can you swim?’ Mrs Hunter asked, her pen poised.
‘Oh, yes,’ Ronnie said enthusiastically. ‘I love swimming.’
‘We don’t take girls on if they can’t,’ the supervisor said firmly. ‘It’s too dangerous.’ She paused. ‘And your parents are happy about you working on the canals?’
Ronnie swallowed. ‘Our father died two years ago. He would
