Always in My Heart (47 page)

Peggy’s soft heart went out to her. ‘I’m flattered you trust me enough to confide in me, Jane – and I promise this conversation will go no further.’ She took Jane’s cold hands and rubbed them warm. ‘You were quite right to tell Anthony you needed time to think this over,’ she said quietly. ‘It sounds as if it’s a very responsible sort of thing he’s asking you to do.’

Jane gave a deep sigh. ‘I can only guess that the training must be something to do with breaking codes – and I think I’d really like that, and be rather good at it. But you see I’m only just finding my feet here and getting used to making decisions and holding down a job, and I don’t think I’m ready yet to take such a big step.’

‘Did you tell him about your accident, and how you feel about his offer?’

Jane nodded. ‘He said the accident didn’t matter a jot, and of course I must take my time to think everything through. But he urged me to meet this other person so I
had a better understanding of what the training would entail and where it would lead.’

‘If you don’t feel ready to do that, then you’ve done the right thing by refusing to meet this man.’

Jane lifted her chin, her wide blue eyes bright with unshed tears. ‘But I feel I’ve let Anthony down, Peggy,’ she whispered.

Peggy drew her into her arms. ‘You haven’t let anyone down, Jane,’ she murmured, kissing her soft hair. ‘You simply need time to settle into the way of life here, and it was a bit unfair of Anthony to put you in such a difficult position.’

‘I thought so too,’ she said with a sniff, ‘but I can understand why he did. You see, I passed all the tests with flying colours and he said I had a very rare and special talent.’

‘I have no doubt of it,’ said Peggy with a sigh, ‘but that doesn’t mean you have to feel guilty about turning down his offer.’

Jane lifted her head from Peggy’s shoulder. ‘But I do, Peggy. I can’t help it. And yet I know deep down that I must get used to working and being myself before I start to think about being completely independent. I’ve had people telling me how I should think and what I should do ever since I had the accident, and this new freedom is quite a heady thing and it may take some time before I can adjust to it.’

‘Then that is what you must do,’ said Peggy as she gave her a clean handkerchief.

‘I do love delivering the milk, and I absolutely adore
Mabel and the other horses, but I can see that it isn’t nearly as important as code-breaking,’ Jane muttered as she blew her nose. ‘Do you think I’m being awfully silly to want to stay at the dairy?’

‘All jobs are important in times like these,’ said Peggy firmly, ‘so I don’t want you thinking otherwise. And of course I don’t think you’re being silly – you’re still only seventeen, and far too young for anything more responsible.’

Jane was silent for a moment. ‘Anthony gave me a super reference,’ she said as she pulled the envelope out of her trouser pocket. ‘I thought I’d go and see Vera tomorrow and ask about an afternoon job. I don’t earn much at the dairy, and with Sarah not working, we need the extra money.’

Peggy smiled. ‘Sarah’s got the job with the WTC – she’s up at the estate now, in fact, and starts properly tomorrow.’

Jane gave her a beaming smile. ‘That’s wonderful news,’ she breathed. ‘I’m so glad she doesn’t have to worry about it any more.’

Peggy smiled. ‘And are you happier now we’ve had this little talk, Jane?’

‘I am,’ she replied, ‘and once I’ve really settled in and am feeling a bit more sure of myself, I might have another talk to Anthony and then meet his colleague.’ She gave an impish grin. ‘Never say “never”, Peggy. Who knows what I might be doing this time next year?’

Sarah’s walk home from the estate didn’t seem to take long at all, despite the unwieldy bundle of clothing she carried under her arm. The day was bright, the work at the estate office was manageable, and she was looking forward to welcoming all the other girls tomorrow.

She strode along the flat ridge which eventually dipped towards the town and Beach View, feeling warm and rather liberated in the WTC jodhpurs, shirt and sweater. Through trial and error, she and Mrs Cruikshank had managed to find jodhpurs that fitted her, and they’d both been pleased and rather surprised at how well they suited her. The new brown shoes that were issued with the rest of the uniform were a bit stiff and needed wearing in, but so far they hadn’t rubbed her heel or pinched at all, and she put that down to the thickness of the knee-length socks.

She hitched the bundle under her arm and adjusted her handbag and gas-mask straps on her shoulder. Her arm was aching now, for the bundle was heavy, and contained not only her own clothes and shoes, but the newly issued overcoat and mackintosh. The weather was so changeable, it was best to keep both at hand for the following morning.

Sarah reached the track which led steeply down to the lane that ran behind Beach View Boarding House, and her pace quickened in her eagerness to show off her uniform and tell the others about her first day.

There was no sign of Ron or welcoming bark from Harvey, and she realised they were probably both at the pub, for it was almost opening time. She ran up the
cellar steps into the kitchen where everyone else was gathered for the evening meal.

‘Well, look at you,’ said Peggy. ‘Don’t you look smart!’

‘You look as if you’re going riding,’ said Jane admiringly. ‘Those breeches are jolly flattering, Sarah.’ She grinned and rushed to give her a hug. ‘I don’t need to ask if you enjoyed your first day,’ she said. ‘Your face says it all.’

‘Goodness,’ muttered Cordelia as she peered over her half-moon glasses. ‘Are you in charge of the stables, dear? I thought you were supposed to be in the estate office?’

Sarah dropped her bundle of clothing on a chair and bent to kiss Cordelia’s cheek. ‘I am in the office,’ she said, ‘but I will be expected to muck in when there’s a delivery day, or if someone needs help.’ She grinned. ‘I was worried the uniform would make me feel as if I’ve dressed like a boy, but actually it’s very comfortable and lovely and warm.’

Cordelia looked from Sarah to Rita and then Jane. ‘I don’t know what the world’s coming to,’ she muttered, ‘with you young things rushing about in trousers and boots – riding motorbikes and cutting down trees and delivering milk. Whatever next?’

‘Well, I think we all look jolly good,’ declared Jane, ‘and as the men aren’t about to do these jobs, it’s only right we should take over.’

‘So, what’s it like up at the estate?’ asked Suzy as she finished laying the table.

Sarah described the house and the forest and how peaceful it was up there. ‘They’ve got a lot of people working on the estate already,’ she said finally. ‘There’s a farm as well as the forest to manage, and ten more lumberjills are due to arrive tomorrow.’

‘Lumberjills? Is that what you’re all going to be called?’ asked Fran.

Sarah nodded. ‘Why not? The men are lumberjacks, after all – and Jack and Jill went up the hill – and cut down all the trees.’

There was a murmur of laughter at this. Sarah picked up her bundle of clothes. ‘I’ll take these upstairs and out of the way,’ she said. Then she turned in the doorway and grinned. ‘Oh, I almost forgot,’ she said. ‘The American Army officers are to be billeted at the manor house. They’re due to arrive quite soon.’

‘Oh, you beast,’ squeaked Fran. ‘You left the best bit of news until last. How many will there be, and will you get the chance to meet them?’

Sarah shrugged. ‘I have no idea,’ she replied, ‘but I’m sure they’ll be far too busy to take much notice of anyone.’

‘But they’re bound to have dances and things,’ persisted Fran. ‘The Canadians and Australians do – it’s all part of introducing them to the area and giving them a bit of entertainment before they have to go off to some beastly battle.’ She hugged herself and giggled. ‘Goodness to mercy, how thrilling. Yankee officers – and right on our doorstep.’

‘We’ll have none of that,’ said Peggy, trying to look
stern. ‘They’re here to help us win the war, not to provide you with dancing partners – and I don’t want any of you girls having your heads turned. You’re to keep your hands on your ha’pennies and your knees together, you hear me?’

‘It’s only Fran getting excited,’ said Rita dryly. ‘Personally I think they’re overrated if the ones at the old airfield are anything to go by.’

Sarah left the kitchen as Fran and Rita argued about the merits and pitfalls of having the Americans stationed in Cliffehaven. She was still smiling as she unpacked her bundle and carefully hung everything in the wardrobe. The arrival of the Yanks had been a talking point for ages now, and the expectation and excitement was almost tangible. Sarah had a feeling that Cliffehaven was about to see great changes.

Having put everything away, she changed back into her own clothes and brushed out her hair. The precious photographs she’d brought with her were displayed on the narrow mantelpiece above the gas fire, and she took them down and sat on the bed as she looked through them.

They were snapshots of sunny, careless days when life had been easy and the dark shadows of what was to come had yet to appear in those cloudless skies. She looked at her parents standing on the veranda, captured in the moment just before their guests were to arrive for dinner, smiling and happy as they raised their glasses to the camera. There was one of Amah with baby Jane in her arms, and another of herself
with both of them on some lovely palm-fringed beach. She’d been a skinny little girl with fair plaits, a freckled nose and a wide smile.

She set them aside and picked up the photograph of her and Philip. They were celebrating their engagement, and he looked so handsome in his tuxedo that it brought tears to her eyes. The Americans could come in their droves for all she cared, for Philip was the only man she wanted; the only man who could touch her heart and make her feel treasured.

‘We’ll be together again one day soon,’ she whispered to him as he smiled back at her from the photograph. ‘Just keep me in your heart until then.’

‘The Yanks are coming,’ announced Tuppence Bailey excitedly as she crashed into the office and stood panting in the doorway, ‘Molly Douglas saw their jeeps coming down the lane. Hurry up or you’ll miss them arriving at the house.’

Sarah grinned. Tuppence Bailey was a sturdy country girl of eighteen whose real name was Maud. She had told everyone that on the day she’d been born her father had decided she looked as bright and shining as two pennies, and the nickname had stuck. She much preferred it to the rather dreary Maud, but her mother had insisted upon it in the hope that her wealthy, ancient spinster aunt Maud might leave her part of her fortune.

Tuppence was an energetic, fresh-faced girl who always seemed to be excited about something, and Sarah had come to like her very much over the past four weeks, for she was great fun to be with. So she left her desk and locked the office door behind her before following Tuppence down the path.

Sarah was curious enough to want to see what these Americans actually looked like, for the rumours about how handsome they were had been circulating
ever since the first influx had arrived in Ireland and Liverpool – but it was almost an idle curiosity, for she hadn’t looked properly at another man since she’d waved goodbye to Philip in Singapore harbour.

Tuppence joined the other lumberjills who were already hiding in a giggling huddle within the foliage of the enormous rhododendrons, and Sarah eased in beside her. She felt faintly ridiculous squatting there, but the other girls were such fun, and their excitement was infectious, so it didn’t seem to matter a jot.

‘They’re coming,’ hissed Molly Douglas, who was so excited she could barely keep still and kept treading on the others’ toes in her heavy studded boots.

Sarah heard the rumble of several engines and then the crunch of wheels on the gravel driveway. She leaned forward with the others as three jeeps roared into view with the yellow star of America painted on their bonnets. A gasp went up as they saw the soldiers sitting rigidly in the front, the officers in the back lounging in a much more relaxed manner. Two staff cars arrived with the American flag fluttering from the wing mirrors, and these were followed by four more jeeps.

‘Cor, I don’t ’alf fancy that one,’ growled Eastend Shirley, her eyes like saucers as a tall and very handsome Colonel stepped out of a jeep and returned the soldiers’ snappy salutes.

‘He wouldn’t fancy you or any of us in this awful get-up,’ retorted Tilly Rogers. ‘But I have to say that if this is an example of what the Americans look like, then we’re in for a treat, girls.’

‘That one over there looks like Clark Gable,’ breathed Tuppence.

‘They all look like film stars,’ replied Sarah as she took in the immaculate uniforms which fitted the broad shoulders and slender hips to perfection. Even the ordinary soldiers looked dangerously attractive in their camouflage battledress as they stood to attention in front of the mansion.

As the oohs and aahs went through the other lumberjills like a breeze through a field of wheat, Sarah gazed in awe at the tanned faces and lovely white teeth of these Americans. By contrast, the English soldiers who came into town from their barracks nearby were a pasty lot in their ill-fitting and unflattering uniforms, and they all seemed to have bad skin and teeth. And although the Canadians were regarded as quite dashing, and the RAF boys could still command huge attention, they didn’t begin to compare to these glamour boys.

‘I tell you what, girls,’ whispered Tuppence, ‘our chaps are going to have to smarten up if they’re to get a look-in from now on.’

‘I know who I’d rather dance with,’ sighed Molly as her adoring gaze followed one of the Lieutenants. ‘I bet
his
hands don’t get sweaty – and I wouldn’t care if he stomped all over my toes.’

There were stifled giggles and they all shifted forward to get a closer look. The soldiers were now standing guard around the perimeter of the turning circle as the officers climbed the steps to the front door
where the robust Lord Cliffe was waiting to greet them. He was a man in his vigorous sixties, with a snowy moustache and thick white hair, and the medals on his chest glinted in the sun as he gave the senior officer a smart salute before shaking his hand.