‘Wouldn’t you rather have me looking glam in a pretty frock?’
‘When I first saw you, you were wearing scruffy dungarees and still looked beautiful. You’re not a silk stocking sort of girl and I want my photos to look like you and not someone else.’
She wasn’t sure if she was offended or pleased by his remark. ‘If we can find a camera I’ll get Jack to take some of each and then you can make a selection when we meet.’
‘I should have asked earlier, is Fred doing well?’
‘Yes, he’s itching to get back to full-time work but his doctor says he mustn’t overdo it for another few weeks. It wouldn’t matter, but the Ministry of Agriculture is demanding that all farms produce a lot more food but we’re not getting any extra labour to help with this.’
‘Britain imports a lot of our food and that’s going to be difficult with the U-boats patrolling the channel. I bet they’ll set up the Land Army again and then you’ll be able to get some girls to help out.’
She heard someone talking to him and then he was back. ‘I’ve got to go, there’s a queue of bods waiting to use the phone. If I can get a twenty-four-hour pass I’ll come to you, if not I’ll see you in Ipswich for lunch. I’ll let you know in the morning if I can meet you.’
The line went dead and she replaced the receiver. Being at war had changed everything – including her feelings towards him. Was it because he could be killed the next time he flew on a mission? Under normal circumstances she would have kept the relationship casual but now she thought she might be a little bit in love with him.
Nineteen
The second cohort of RAF cadets were as enthusiastic as the first and Ellie’s life settled into a well-ordered pattern. Unfortunately, Greg had been unable to get away to meet her, but they spoke on the telephone a couple of times a week.
Jack had borrowed a camera and taken a roll of film, mostly of her in her work outfit as well as something a bit more elegant. He’d also taken a few shots of the RAF boys and the aircraft. She had been a bit uncomfortable asking him but he’d laughed at her hesitation. He’d said that they were like siblings and therefore she could ask him anything she might ask Neil to do for her.
Someone in the village had a dark room and the prints would be ready in a few days and Mrs B had volunteered to collect them when she next went to the shop.
At the end of the month Greg finally got a weekend pass. ‘Now petrol’s rationed I’m not sure how often I’ll be able to drive down to see you after this. Nothing’s happening here and we’re all mooching about with nothing to do. The adjutant has told us we can have weekends free until further notice.’
‘That’s wonderful. Neil is coming Saturday so you’ll be able to catch up with him. George has got himself a girlfriend too and is going to stay with her family. I feel sorry for the families of the soldiers and sailors. There are quite a few homes without their sons at the moment. It must be horrible knowing that if your boy is a sailor his ship could be torpedoed like the Athenia. Imagine deliberately targeting a passenger ship like that.’
‘From what I’ve heard the army is having a grand old time in France. They’ve not seen any action either – it’s mainly at sea. Chamberlain thinks we can blockade Germany and stop food getting through but it works both ways.’
This was a depressing conversation and she didn’t want to think about Britain doing the same horrible things to German civilians. ‘What time will you be here on Saturday?’
‘Before lunch – if that’s all right? I’ll share with Jack like I did before. It’s a good thing there’s no food rationing yet or Mrs B might find it difficult to feed two extras.’
‘I don’t think we’ll ever be short of food here, one of the advantages of being on a farm. I’m helping out at the weekends and so is Jack to try and make Dad take it a bit easier.’
‘I’ll do whatever you want. A bit of physical exercise will do me good. After the initial training RAF chaps don’t do any square bashing or PE.’
‘It seems so long since I’ve seen you, I’m really looking forward to Saturday. By the way, I’ve got the snaps you wanted – you can choose two when you come. Have you got one of you in your uniform I can have?’
‘I think so, one of the bods took some last week.’
*
Ellie was busy cleaning out the cowshed when Greg turned up. ‘Gosh, I didn’t expect you before breakfast. I see you’ve changed into overalls – have you come to give me a hand?’
In some way she was relieved he had arrived when she was busy; they had become so close over the phone he would probably expect to kiss her whenever he wanted. She recalled her mother saying that well-bred girls didn’t indulge in any sort of intimacy until they were formally engaged. Mum had been gone for months, and if she was honest, they were all much happier with Mrs B in charge. But the rules of etiquette were ingrained in Ellie’s brain and however much she tried to ignore them they kept popping up at the most inconvenient moments.
‘I’ll do the sweeping now, you hold the hose,’ he said and removed the stiff broom she’d been using from her unresisting fingers.
‘You’re lucky I’ve already mucked out, hence the manure all over my gumboots. Did you bring yours with you?’
‘Don’t own a pair, I borrowed the overalls and boots. I hope whoever
