Miles raised an eyebrow. “You think he’s more prepared than we’ve been led to believe?”
She thought of the latest reports of Luftwaffe aircraft production that she’d seen last week and her lips tightened.
“I’m just saying it’s possible,” she said. Then, catching his sharp look, she smiled. “But enough talk about that. Tell me about the American.”
He blinked. “The Yank?”
“Yes. I think it’s fantastic that you have an American in the squadron. How’s he getting on?”
“Cool as you please,” Miles said with a shrug. “He gets quite a lot of ribbing thrown his way, but he takes it all in part. Jolly good flier.”
“I suppose he must be to land his plane with no wheels. I hope I can meet him one day. I’ve never met an American before.”
“Oh, they’re very much like us, you know,” he drawled. “Two legs, two arms...only one head.”
She laughed. “Imagine that! I was expecting at least two.”
“He’s actually keen to meet you as well,” he said after a moment. At her look of surprise, he grinned. “He was with me when I was reading one of your letters. Asked who it was from. Now he wants to see you for himself. He’s convinced you have three chins with a wart on every one.”
Evelyn gaped at him, horrified. “What on earth did you tell him?!”
“It’s the name, you see,” he told her apologetically. “Assistant Section Officer Ainsworth does sound a trifle militant.”
“Well I hope you set him straight.”
He nodded complacently.
“I did. I told him that you had four chins, but only two warts. He was quite impressed.”
“You’re horrid!”
“And you’re beautiful,” he countered with a wink. “I’ll race you to the next hedgerow.”
“Pardon?”
Evelyn was surprised out of her calm, but it was too late. Miles was already running towards the line of hedges in the distance. After a second of stunned disbelief, a laugh bubbled out of her and she took off after him in the morning mist, catching up with him a moment later. He turned and grabbed her hand and Evelyn found herself tearing through the grass, his fingers firmly around hers. The war faded behind them and, in that moment, she felt free.
It was an exhilarating feeling.
Evelyn looked up as a knock preceded her bedroom door opening. Rob poked his head in and, upon spotting her seated at the writing desk near her window, his shoulders and torso followed.
“Here you are,” he said, closing the door. “I’ve been searching for you. I haven’t had two minutes alone with you since you arrived.”
She set down her pen and turned to face him, her lips curving.
“I didn’t know you wanted two minutes alone with me. You’re not going to bore me with warnings about Miles, are you?”
Rob laughed and threw himself across the foot of her bed.
“Good Lord no. You can take care of yourself. Besides, Miles is a good old egg.” He lounged on his elbow and tilted his head to look at her. “Do you like him?”
“Of course I do. What’s not to like?”
“You know what I mean, Evie. Don’t play dumb.”
She hesitated for a second, then sighed. “It doesn’t matter who I like or don’t like, Robbie. It’s impossible to think about anything other than the war right now.”
“That’s a load of nonsense and you know it,” he said without heat. “What’s the war got to do with anything?”
“Well I can’t very well make plans for a future when I don’t know what that future holds, can I?” she protested.
Her brother rolled his eyes and then flopped onto his back, staring up at the ceiling.
“I never can understand the way your mind works,” he muttered. “Everyone’s rushing to get married precisely because they don’t know what the future holds. You’re the only one thinking the other way. You’ve always been like this.”
“Like what?”
“Marching to the beat of your own drum.” He paused and turned his head to look at her. “I’ll tell you this, though: Miles is a good choice if you ever do decide to stop breaking hearts all over Europe. He comes from good stock, and he’s not bad looking either.”
“You make him sound like a horse.”
He grinned. “I’m just pointing out facts. You can’t just settle for anyone, y’know. There are standards we have the maintain.”
“And Miles is acceptable,” she finished. “You know Robbie, you’re really starting to sound like a pompous old man.”
“Well as the head of this family now,” he began, attempting to lower his voice condescendingly. He caught sight of her face and burst out laughing. “Good God, I can’t even say that with a straight face.”
He sat up and swung his legs over the foot of the bed to face her.
“I just want you to be happy, Evie, and I can see that Miles does that.”
Evelyn smiled at him fondly. “I know you do, dearest. But you really must stay out of it. I don’t know how I feel, and I’m sure he doesn’t either. This is only the third time we’ve seen each other, really. Let us get to know each other before you have me married and pushing out babies.”
Rob looked horrified. “Who said anything about babies?”
She laughed at the look on his face. “They do tend to happen, Robbie.”
He shuddered dramatically. “Horrible thought!” Then, sobering, he cleared his throat. “I actually didn’t intend to talk about Miles at all.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Oh? What then?”
“I’m worried,” he said seriously, leaning his elbows on his knees and dangling his hands between them. “I don’t like both of us being so far away from Mum.”
“Because of Dad, you mean?” Evelyn asked, her brows creasing in a frown. “I think she’s doing all right. It’s difficult, I’m sure, but she seems in good spirits.”
“It’s not Dad, although that did worry me at first,” he said slowly. “It’s the fact that this house is so far away from everything. If anything were to happen...”
Her frown grew as his voice trailed off and her eyes narrowed.
“What is it, Robbie? Has
