Beauty Chorus, The (14 page)

‘For years no one but me knew what he was really like,’ he said quietly. ‘He hid it very well. My mother had no idea.’ He felt the sour taste of fear again as he
remembered the swish of his father’s heavy belt through the air, the still, tense moment before the searing pain. He took a deep breath, cold air filling his lungs. ‘Ironically
he’s obsessed with the idea of the perfect family. He used to parade us around …’ He shook his head. ‘That’s why he was so pleased when Olivia and I became
engaged.’ Beau gently kicked Monty on. ‘He still thinks it can be alright, that Françoise, my mother, will take him back.’

‘Will she?’

‘God, I hope not. Hans blames me for keeping them apart. He can’t see it was him who destroyed the marriage.’ Beau remembered the horror on his mother’s face when she had
walked into his bedroom unexpectedly one night. He remembered lifting his head from the floor, his eyes filled with tears of humiliation, the shadow of his father towering over him. And behind his
father, Françoise’s face, her screams. She had held him in her arms that night, bathed the lashes on his back, and rocked him to sleep.

‘He sounds a bit bonkers if you don’t mind me saying.’

Beau laughed quietly. ‘You have no idea. That’s why my mother kicked him out finally.’

‘You’re related to Olivia aren’t you?’

‘Distantly. On his side. That’s the other thing – he’s rather keen to keep the title and the Beaufort land in the family. His family.’

‘But surely if your father’s keen on her, that must rather put you off the whole thing?’ Evie ducked as a low branch brushed over them. ‘I know it would if I was in your
boots. I can’t bear being told what to do.’

‘So I’ve noticed.’ He smiled as Evie turned to him. ‘It’s not that. We practically grew up together. I spent a lot of my school holidays with her family.’

Evie had a sudden image of them, the blonde, athletic boy and the slender, fair girl. She pictured them by a lake, running through long grass, white butterflies rising into a clear sky.

‘Maybe you’re right. When I found out how delighted he was it did rather change things. And then I had my accident. Hans has a lot to answer for.’

‘I can see how having a dogfight with your father might make things
difficult
,’ she teased him.

Beau laughed. ‘If it wasn’t him, it was a damn fine pilot who got me.’

‘This was during the Battle of Britain?’ she said gently.

‘Yes. Toughest day’s flying I’ve ever had. I kept thinking the other chap had to run out of fuel soon, but he just kept on me …. I couldn’t shake him
off.’

‘You managed to fly back to base?’

‘Yes, I made it back to Debden, but my kite was on fire by the time I hit the deck. I owe my life to my ground crew.’

Evie glanced down at his arm. ‘Does it hurt still?’

‘This?’ Beau flexed his hand. ‘It’s nothing.’

‘Flesh wound?’ Evie laughed. ‘I wouldn’t call what you’ve been through nothing.’

‘I was damn lucky, compared to a lot of the chaps.’

‘You look awfully well. I don’t mean to be overly personal, sir.’

‘That’s perfectly alright.’ He shifted slightly in the saddle. ‘Thank you. It’s a relief to be honest. I wasn’t quite sure what would be under the bandages
when they came off on Friday. The surgeons did a fine job with my face. Not quite ready for the Guinea Pig Club, am I? Once I’m fit again I’m hoping they’ll let me back on active
service. I’ve a few scores to settle.’

They rode in silence for a while. ‘Have you lost a lot of friends?’ she asked.

‘More than I can bear to think about.’

Evie felt his head fall slightly. ‘What’s it like? Being in combat? The Russians let their girls fight. I wish they would let us.’

‘No,’ he said firmly. ‘No you don’t.’ In the silence all Evie could hear was the sound of Monty’s shoes on the hard earth. ‘Have you ever seen a flock
of swallows feeding on a cloud of insects?’

‘Yes.’

‘That’s what a dogfight is like. Six, seven sorties a day, each a ghastly flurry, a feeding frenzy of wheeling birds. After a few weeks you are dead tired, too tired to get drunk and
try to forget about it even.’

‘But not too tired for romance? All the RAF chaps I’ve met …’

‘I can assure you that when you are on active duty, you can scarcely be bothered to look at a woman.’

‘It must be glorious flying the Spitfires though.’

‘They’re wonderful.’ He frowned. ‘But there’s nothing glorious about war. Sometimes I think with every kill, you lose a part of yourself. Every time some chap
doesn’t make it back …’ His voice trailed away. ‘The best you can do is to get the job done, and try to stay sane.’

‘Doesn’t it help to talk about it? To get it out?’

‘How?’ Beau shook his head. ‘This is part of me, part of all of us for the rest of our lives. It’s changed everything. Sometimes I think we’ll win our freedom, but
we’ll lose a part of our souls.’

Evie felt the tension in his body, sensed she should change the subject. ‘So, do you speak German?’

‘Fluently.’

‘I’m surprised you’re not a spy then,’ she said lightly. ‘Aryan good looks, fluent German, you’d be perfect.’ She felt him relax.

‘Are you teasing me again, Miss Chase?’

‘Maybe.’ She turned towards him, brushed a strand of hair from her face. ‘You’re quite different away from the base, you know.’

‘Do you think so? Perhaps it’s more the people than the base.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Oh, nothing,’ he said. ‘Perhaps, as you say, horses are more reliable than people.’

‘Well you’re welcome to ride Monty whenever you want. I’ll be keeping him in the stable here from now on.’

‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘I’ll take you up on that. It feels good to be back in the saddle.’ He pointed down the lane. ‘Is this it?’

‘Yes. Why don’t you come and have a spot of lunch with us? I’ve been practising my cooking and I’m dying for a new victim.’

Beau thought of the lonely tin of soup waiting for him in the larder at home. ‘How can I resist?’

‘The look on your face!’ Evie whispered as Stella held her wrist under the cold tap. The kitchen was cosy after the ride, full of the rich scent of the steak and
kidney pudding cooking in the range.

‘Well I certainly didn’t expect to see the two of you suddenly appear on horseback,’ she murmured as Beau and Megan walked in the garden. ‘Since when were you such good
friends?’

‘We’re not. We just ran into one another. Literally.’ Evie flinched as Stella pressed her thumb against her wrist, testing the bones. ‘Where did you get to this
morning?’

‘Oh, nowhere. I wanted to catch the early post and just felt like a bit of a walk first thing.’ Stella turned off the tap. ‘I didn’t sleep terribly well. A silly
nightmare,’ she said dismissively.

‘I thought the kitchen looked clean when I came down this morning. Do you always do housework at midnight?’

Stella pulled a face. ‘Very funny. I wanted to get ahead on the chores so I had time to sketch the church, actually. I bumped into Michael, the curate.’

‘The curate?’ Evie giggled. ‘What, that dishy chap from the memorial you were making eyes at?’

‘Yes, the curate,’ Stella turned her wrist over sharply.

‘Ow!’ Evie cried out.

‘Sorry. There, how does that feel?’

‘Better.’ Evie’s wrist was numb with cold.

‘I think it’s just a sprain.’

‘I’d be happy to take you into town if you’d like to see a doctor,’ Beau said as he leant in the doorway. ‘I do feel responsible for hurting you.’

‘You, and every other man.’ Evie tossed her hair.

‘Cute.’ Beau held her gaze. ‘I mean it. I should have seen you coming.’

‘Nonsense.’ Evie flinched as Stella wrapped a bandage tightly around her wrist. ‘We were both going too fast.’

‘Shall we have some lunch?’ Megan asked. ‘Evie, have you seen? Someone’s sent you a Valentine’s card! I got two,’ she said proudly.

Beau caught Evie’s eye. ‘If I’d have known, I would have brought you girls some flowers.’

‘Have a seat, sir.’ Evie offered Beau a chair. Her hand lingered for a moment by his shoulder. ‘Would you mind getting the pie out for me, Meggie?’

Megan took a chequered cloth from the hook by the range and opened the door. ‘Ooh, it smells good!’ she said as she lifted the golden pie onto the table. ‘I’ve been
sorting the bean seeds for planting this morning, and my mouth’s been watering like nobody’s business thinking about lunch.’

‘You girls are eating well. Thank you,’ he said as Evie put a thick wedge of pie on his plate.

‘Megan’s our little star, aren’t you?’ Stella said. ‘Eggs from the chickens, bartering cheese with the farmer. I don’t know what she’s doing for him on
that farm but it’s obviously working a treat.’

‘Stop it!’ Megan blushed. ‘It’s nothing like that. He’s just glad of some help over there. I won’t be able to do so much once we’re ferrying, but
he’s been smashing. We’re all set to plant turnips, carrots, all sorts.’

‘Megan’s digging for victory,’ Evie said to Beau. ‘Would you like a glass of Guinness, sir?’ She pulled a bottle from the shelf and flipped off the top, wincing
slightly.

‘Here, let me,’ Stella said and poured them each a small glass with a frothy head.

‘Thanks.’ He took a sip, and wiped his lip. ‘How are you all enjoying your ground training?’

‘Can’t wait to get going, frankly,’ Evie said.

‘Having seen the speed at which you ride, Miss Chase, I’m not surprised.’ He took a forkful of pie. ‘That’s why I shall be putting you through your paces in the
trainer on Monday. I was going to pass you on to Nora but frankly I wouldn’t inflict you on anyone else.’

Evie held his gaze as she cupped her chin on her hand. ‘How’s your pie? Sir.’

He smiled slowly. ‘Delicious.’

‘Is it true,’ Stella interrupted, ‘that the Luftwaffe is targeting the ATA?’

‘Where did you hear that?’ he said cautiously.

‘Teddy and some of the boys were talking in the mess the other day,’ Megan piped up.

‘I wouldn’t believe everything Parker says.’

Evie put her fork down. ‘We’re sitting ducks.’

‘It’s almost like they know when we’re going up though. You don’t think there’s a spy at the base?’ Stella asked

‘I doubt it,’ Beau said. ‘It’s too small. Everyone knows everyone.’

‘But I heard there are spies everywhere,’ Megan said excitedly. ‘They’re parachuting in disguised as vicars and nuns with their guns hidden under their
vestments.’

‘Don’t be daft,’ Evie said as she laughed.

‘It’s true! One was staying in a vicarage near here, and do you know how they caught him?’ She leant into the table, lowered her voice. ‘The vicar’s daughter heard
him going to the bathroom at night and he didn’t pull the chain after … you know. He was signalling with mirrors from the upstairs window.’

‘There are no spies in the ATA,’ Beau said firmly. ‘All I will say to you is to keep your eyes open when you are ferrying planes on the east coast. The Luftwaffe know the ATA
are vulnerable, and if they get lucky and can pick one of you off, they will.’

‘Well, it’s ridiculous they won’t let us have guns then,’ Evie said. ‘The women fighting for the Jerries even have a suicide squad planned. Not that I fancy that
much.’ She paused and looked at Beau.

‘I think you are quite dangerous enough without weapons, Miss Chase,’ he said. ‘Let’s get you safely in the air shall we before you start shooting everyone
down?’

12

‘This will do, Cullen.’ Leo tapped on the glass. His driver pulled the Rolls to the side of Kingsway and parked outside the Air Ministry.

‘Will you be needing the car tonight, sir?’ Cullen asked as he opened the door and handed Leo his briefcase.

‘No, I shall be staying in town tonight,’ he said as he stepped out onto the crowded pavement. He pulled on a pair of supple tan leather gloves and held his hand out to help Evie
from the car. ‘What about you, darling? Can I get Cullen to drive you back to the airfield?’

‘No thank you, Daddy.’ She buttoned the collar of her black wool coat, and stared up at Adastral House. ‘I have a few chores to do, and after I’ve picked up our uniforms
I can just hop on the train.’

Cullen nodded in farewell and the car pulled out sedately into the traffic. ‘Who’d have thought it, my little girl in uniform.’ Leo frowned as he planted a kiss on her
forehead. ‘I’m sure you’ll turn a few heads once you’re all kitted out.’

‘You look jolly smart yourself, Daddy.’ Evie smoothed his lapel and patted the medals pinned to his jacket. ‘Do you wish you were flying too?’

‘Me? No, it’s a young man’s game. I’m quite happy with all the other stuffed shirts in the Ministry.’

‘Or a young woman’s game,’ she corrected him. ‘Are we alright now Daddy? You’re not still mad at me?’

Leo’s tough facade evaporated and his eyes filled with love as he gazed at her. ‘I could never stay mad with you for long. I’m just worried about you, darling. I am glad you
suggested driving up to town together today. I feel like I haven’t seen you much lately.’ He flicked the end of her nose gently with his index finger.

‘Yes, well, I have no intention of coming home while Virginia is there.’

‘I do wish you’d be kinder to your stepmother.’

Evie bit her tongue – she knew from experience it was hopeless trying to talk to her father about this. ‘I had a feeling she would have been talking nonsense about me. You know I
don’t give a damn about all the loot, whatever Virginia says. All I care about is if you’re in a blue funk with me.’

‘You should care, Evie,’ he said sternly. ‘The only people who say they don’t care about money are those who have never had to worry about paying the bills. You’ve
never had to make your own way in the world.’

‘Neither have you!’

Leo’s brow furrowed. ‘Lucky by name, lucky by nature. But my father never let me forget where we came from. I worry I’ve been too easy on you.’

‘I do miss Grampy.’

‘So do I, my dear, every single day.’ Leo cleared his throat. ‘Now, run along. You don’t want to be late for your class this afternoon.’ Evie kissed his smooth,
cologne-scented cheek.