The Spitfire Sisters Page 6

  Luke’s eyes gleamed. ‘Really?’

  ‘And I hear from Daisy that you’d love a flight?’ Jeff said.

  ‘I would – but it’s expensive, isn’t it?’

  Jeff tapped the side of his nose. ‘I’ll have a word with Mitch. How about tomorrow?’

  Luke nodded, hardly able to speak for excitement. At last he managed to say, ‘That’d be great. I have to go home on Thursday and we’re coming here on Wednesday for the motorcycle racing, so that would be perfect.’

  The following day, Pips took Daisy and Luke to Brooklands again, where Mitch and Johnny were waiting to meet them.

  The two young men shook hands, a little warily, Pips thought, but it seemed they were both making an effort. They fell into step as they walked towards the aircraft where Jeff was waiting for them.

  ‘You’ll love it,’ Johnny told him. As they neared the aeroplane he shouted above the noise of the engine, ‘You know Uncle Mitch, don’t you? And I think you met Jeff yesterday.’

  Luke nodded. Now he was near the aircraft, his excitement was fever pitch. Far from being nervous, he couldn’t wait to get into the aeroplane and experience all the joys that Daisy described so vividly.

  As the aeroplane landed and taxied to a halt, Daisy and Johnny ran across the grass to greet them. They watched as Luke climbed down.

  ‘So, how was it?’ Daisy said as he came towards them.

  ‘Fantastic.’ Luke grinned. ‘It’s just so – so free up there, isn’t it? You feel as if you’re on top of the world.’

  Johnny laughed. ‘You are. Sort of. I saw Jeff doing a roll with you. Were you OK?’

  Luke nodded. ‘To be honest, when he told me what he was going to do, I thought I’d be a bit queasy, but no, I was fine. It was fun.’

  ‘Then you’re a flier, Luke. You ought to join the RAF with me.’

  Luke laughed. ‘Well, if my granddad sacks me when I get back, that’s what I’ll do.’

  Daisy stepped between them and linked arms. ‘Come on. Let’s go and find something to eat. I’m starving.’

  Luke rode his motorcycle to Brooklands the following day, whilst Pips and Daisy led the way in the car.

  ‘I’ve got you a go on the hill,’ Paul greeted them. ‘You need to take your motorcycle over there, where all the competitors are lining up.’

  ‘Is it a competition, Uncle Paul?’

  ‘Only an unofficial one, Daisy. The one with the fastest time gets a small prize.’

  ‘We’ll go and stand on Members’ Hill to watch you. Oh, there’s Mitch and Johnny. Come on, Aunty Pips.’

  ‘Daisy, I—’ Luke began, but Daisy was already out of hearing distance. Luke’s worried gaze followed her.

  Oh dear, Pips thought. He’s got the same look in his eyes as George has over Mitch! But aloud, all she said was, ‘Good luck.’ She squeezed his arm. ‘You’ll show ’em.’

  And he did. As machine after machine roared up the steep hill, each one having three attempts, Luke’s fastest time was placed second overall.

  ‘That’s brilliant,’ Johnny told him when they all met up again. ‘Only Petersen beat you and he’s got a bigger engine than you have.’

  ‘Thanks,’ Luke said a little curtly and then, realizing that he might have sounded ungrateful, he tried to make conversation. After all, they were being very kind to him – even Johnny. ‘Have you got a motorcycle?’

  ‘No.’ Johnny grinned. ‘Afraid I’m all about flying.’

  ‘You’re joining the RAF?’

  ‘Yup. I’ve already applied and will join next April when I’m eighteen.’

  Inwardly, Luke smiled, but at Johnny’s next words his heart sank.

  ‘I’ll be coming to Cranwell in Lincolnshire, so maybe I’ll be able to come up and see you all. I might even invest in a motorcycle. I’ll need something to get around.’

  Luke’s heart sank even further.

  Nine

  And so, the summer of 1933 was a glorious time for Daisy. Although she missed her family, in which she included Luke and Harry, there was so much going on in London that she scarcely had time to be homesick. Pips took her to see all the sights in the city and to Kew Gardens again. And at weekends, the three of them went further afield, often with Milly and Paul too. One particularly hot Sunday, they all motored down to the coast and wandered along the Dover cliffs. And, of course, they spent a lot of time at Brooklands. Sometimes, during the week, George was missing, but on those occasions, Jeff would take Daisy flying. And even though she was not yet sixteen, he began to give her proper flying lessons.

  ‘Of course, we can’t let you go solo yet, but no one else – not even Mitch or Pips – need know what we get up to up here,’ he told her as they headed for the clouds once more. More and more, he let her take control of the aircraft, until she could even take off and land it smoothly.

  ‘You’re a natural, Daisy,’ he told her. ‘As soon as you’re old enough, it won’t take you very long to get your licence.’

  ‘I can’t wait.’ Daisy grinned and thanked him politely for all the lessons he’d given her. ‘When will Johnny get his?’

  ‘I think he’s going into the RAF as soon as he turns eighteen next April, so they’ll train him to their requirements. He’s applying to be a pilot and I’ve no doubt he’ll be accepted,’ Jeff told her as they walked across the grass to where Pips, Mitch and Johnny were waiting for them.

  As they neared them, Johnny fell into step beside Daisy, whilst the other three walked on ahead. ‘How did it go?’

  ‘Marvellous.’

  ‘Jeff ought to hand the controls to you. Let you have a real go.’

  ‘Perhaps he will one day,’ Daisy said carefully.

  Johnny chuckled. ‘As if he hasn’t already! You can’t kid me, Daisy Maitland.’ Then, seeing her startled face, he whispered, ‘Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me. But I’ll tell you something, you must be good because Jeff is a hard taskmaster. He wouldn’t let you have a go until he was sure of you.’ He squeezed her arm. ‘Well done, Daisy.’

  To Luke’s surprise, Len had said nothing on his return but he gave him so much work to do that there were no further thoughts of ‘holidays’. When the new school year started, Daisy worked hard, only pausing in her studies to celebrate ‘the birthdays’ and Christmas with her family.

  The weeks and months flew by and in April the following year, shortly after his eighteenth birthday, Johnny arrived at Cranwell as an officer cadet and began his training to be a pilot in an AVRO 504 – a Great War biplane.

  ‘Only a few more hours’ flying time and my instructor reckons I’ll be able to go solo,’ he told the Maitland family when they welcomed him to the hall on a weekend visit, after he had roared up the drive on his noisy second-hand motorcycle.

  ‘He’s a very handsome young man in his RAF uniform, isn’t he?’ Henrietta said to Pips as the three women and Daisy retired to the Brown Parlour whilst the menfolk lingered around the dining table to enjoy their port. ‘No wonder you’re smitten, Daisy.’

  ‘Now, Mother, no matchmaking,’ Pips laughed. ‘She’s only sixteen and still at school, working hard for her School Certificate. At least, I hope you are.’

  She glanced at Daisy, who grinned. ‘Of course I am, Aunty Pips. Daddy says I can stay on until I’m eighteen for my Higher and go to university if I want to.’

  ‘And do you? Want to go to university, I mean?’

  ‘I’d sooner go somewhere where I can do some sort of a course in estate management.’

  ‘Oh!’ Pips glanced at her mother, who was serenely pouring the coffee.

  There was a pause as Henrietta handed the cups round. ‘It’s all been agreed. I think you know that Robert has always maintained that he didn’t want to take over the running of the estate. His sole ambition has always been to be a doctor and though it was touch and go for a while after he was wounded, at last he’s now back doing what he loves. So, with you happily established in London with George, there’s only Daisy.’ S
he glanced affectionately at her granddaughter. ‘And, much to my delight – and relief, I might add – it seems that Daisy is as keen to take over as her father is not.’

  ‘That’s wonderful,’ Pips said, genuinely delighted. It had been worrying her a little to think what was going to happen as her mother got older, though looking at her now – even though she had just turned seventy – Henrietta seemed as indefatigable as ever. She turned to Daisy. ‘And are there such places – universities or colleges for agriculture?’

  Daisy’s eyes sparkled. ‘I’ve been looking at one or two – though it’s early days yet. I’ve got to get through all my exams first and find out if they take women.’

  ‘Plenty of time,’ Henrietta said and then added, ‘Ah, now I think I hear the gentlemen coming. Ring the bell, Daisy dear, for Wainwright to bring fresh coffee.’

  The following afternoon, Daisy said, ‘Johnny, do you ride?’

  ‘Ride? What – horses, you mean?’

  ‘Yes. Luke, Harry and I go riding every Saturday afternoon. We have done ever since we were old enough.’

  ‘Can’t say I’ve ever tried it.’

  ‘Will you give it a go?’

  ‘As long as you promise me I won’t fall off and break my leg – or, worse still, my arm. I don’t want to jeopardize my RAF career.’

  ‘We’ll put you on Boxer, the most docile mount we have in the stables. He’s getting on a bit now, so he won’t gallop off with you or try any jumps. Come on, let’s get you kitted out. Daddy will have some jodhpurs and a hat you can borrow . . .’

  Luke and Harry arrived promptly at two o’clock and the five of them, including Jake, who insisted he should accompany them as Johnny was a novice, set out through the grounds of the hall and into the farmland belonging to the Maitland estate.

  Johnny was obviously nervous and clung onto the reins.

  ‘Don’t hang on so tightly,’ Daisy warned him. ‘The horse will feel your nervousness.’

  They came to a stream and the horses splashed through, all except Boxer, who stepped into the water, stopped and then bent to drink.

  ‘Aahh!’

  As the others turned to watch, Johnny seemed to slide in slow motion from the horse’s back and into the water.

  ‘Oh no!’ Daisy jumped down and waded through the shallows to reach him, whilst Luke could hardly hold back his mirth seeing his rival for Daisy’s affections soaked to the skin and struggling to get up. Harry had no such inhibitions; he threw back his head and roared with laughter.

  Daisy shot them an angry glance and helped Johnny to his feet. ‘Are you hurt?’

  Johnny was standing a little unsteadily, the water flowing around his ankles.

  ‘Don’t think so. Just my pride.’ He glanced up and saw them laughing. For a brief moment, he frowned and then, realizing how foolish he must look, he too burst out laughing.

  Jake turned his horse and came back through the stream. ‘I’ll go back with Master Hammond, Daisy, if you three want to go on.’

  But Daisy glared at Luke and Harry, none too pleased with their unfeeling behaviour. ‘No, it’s all right, Jake. I’ll go back,’ she said curtly. ‘You three go on.’

  As if it was an order to all of them, she gathered the reins of her own mount and Boxer’s. ‘We’ll walk back.’

  ‘Oh, but I don’t want—’ Johnny began.

  ‘You’re soaked and my feet are wet. Come on. We’re going.’

  Now it was Johnny’s turn to obey her and with an apologetic shrug towards the others, he turned and followed her up the bank of the stream.

  As he watched them go, Luke, no longer laughing, murmured, ‘I think we made a mistake there, Harry.’

  As he walked back with Daisy towards the hall, Johnny said, ‘I’m sorry I spoiled the afternoon, Daisy. I don’t think riding a horse is quite my thing. I’m much safer in the cockpit of an aeroplane.’

  ‘If you’ve never ridden before, it’s not easy. I’m just thankful you’re not hurt and that you were wearing some of Daddy’s clothes. I wouldn’t have wanted you to be in trouble because you’d ruined your smart uniform.’

  Johnny laughed. ‘No, I’d have been on a charge for sure.’

  Back at the hall, changed and warm and dry, they sat together in the Brown Parlour, surrounded by family portraits that lined the panelled walls. It was cosy in front of the fire, which was always lit in the late afternoon except on the warmest of days, and they drank coffee laced with a little rum.

  They talked for the rest of the afternoon, telling each other all about their lives and their ambitions.

  ‘My father was killed in the war, as you know. So, for a while, there was only Mother and me until she found herself a boyfriend.’ He grimaced. ‘I’m afraid I don’t get on too well with him, but Uncle Mitch has been a constant presence in my life. He’s a great guy. I don’t know what I’d’ve done without him.’

  ‘It’s funny he’s never married. He’s so handsome and well – just so nice.’

  ‘I’m sure he’s had plenty of chances.’ He was quiet for a moment, regarding her steadily before saying softly, ‘You do know that he’s in love with your aunt, don’t you?’

  ‘Aunty Milly hinted as much some time back and I have noticed there’s a bit of a frostiness between Uncle George and Uncle Mitch whenever they meet up.’

  ‘But Uncle Mitch admires the major. He’s told me so.’

  ‘I think the respect is mutual, but . . .’

  ‘Exactly. But . . .’

  Johnny was thoughtful. Although Daisy was still young, he knew he already had feelings for her and it was obvious that her cousin, Luke, harboured those same sentiments. And as for Harry, he had already made it clear on their first meeting that he intended to marry Daisy one day, though she seemed to regard that as a bit of a joke from a twelve-year-old. Watching her now as she sat with her hands cupped round her coffee and gazing dreamily into the flames, Johnny wondered just who it was that commanded her thoughts. She was growing into a very beautiful young woman, but she was still only sixteen and he doubted that her parents would welcome the romantic attentions of a young airman.

  ‘Daisy,’ he said suddenly as an idea came to him, ‘would you write to me?’

  Startled from her daydreams, Daisy turned to him. ‘I thought you RAF chaps did nothing else but fly and have parties in the pub. You won’t have time for writing letters.’

  He smiled. ‘Not all the time. It can get a bit lonely.’

  ‘But I won’t have anything really interesting to write about. I’ve got to get my head down and work hard at school. My letters will be a bit boring.’

  ‘Not at all. That’s exactly what I want to hear. Just – everything you’re doing.’

  ‘Then of course I will.’

  Now his smile widened into a grin.

  Ten

  In the summer of 1934, Daisy gained the highest possible result in all subjects in her School Certificate.

  ‘How clever you are, darling,’ Alice said, hugging her. ‘Thank goodness you take after your father and your Aunty Pips.’

  ‘Oh Mummy, don’t say that. You’re clever too.’

  ‘Perhaps with my needle and thread, but I was never very good at school.’

  ‘But you had to leave at twelve to go into service, didn’t you?’

  Alice nodded. ‘There was no chance in my family of staying on any longer than the school-leaving age. Even the boys had to leave and go into my father’s business, though William refused and came to work here at the hall.’

  ‘Did he? I hadn’t known that.’ Daisy chuckled. ‘He even stood up to Granddad before the war, then?’

  ‘Yes, he did. But then there were Bernard and Roy to work alongside my father – and Harold too.’

  ‘And now there’s only Luke to carry it on.’

  Alice pressed her lips together and nodded. ‘But at least he was allowed to stay on long enough to do his School Certificate.’

  ‘But not his Higher.’

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sp; Alice sighed. ‘In your grandfather’s estimation, he doesn’t need it.’

  ‘But what if he ever decides he wants to do something different?’

  ‘I don’t think he will, do you?’

  ‘Probably not, but I really think Granddad should allow him to have some time off now and again. If he doesn’t . . .’ She left the words hanging in the air, but they both understood her unspoken meaning.

  Johnny had become an infrequent, though regular, visitor to the hall, much to Luke’s – and Harry’s – disgust.

  ‘What’s he think he’s doing?’ the younger boy asked. ‘Daisy belongs to us.’

  Trying to be reasonable, Luke said, ‘She’s allowed to have other friends.’

  ‘But not boys. What if he falls in love with her? What then?’

  With an insight beyond his years Luke said, ‘Harry, we can’t monopolize her. If we try to, we’ll drive her all the more towards him.’

  ‘You think so?’ The twelve-year-old couldn’t yet quite understand his older brother’s meaning. ‘But he’s always here.’

  Luke laughed. ‘Not really. It just seems like that to us, but don’t forget, we’re here all the time – and besides, I don’t think he’ll try going riding with us again, do you?’

  Now Harry laughed too.

  ‘So, have you been following the news about your little corporal?’ Robert asked as he and Pips sat either side of the chess board set up in the drawing room on the first floor of the hall. The room, known as the Blue Drawing Room, was a long rectangle with windows looking out over the rear gardens. On either side of the white marble fireplace, ornate cabinets held Henrietta’s precious china and at the far end of the room stood Alice’s tapestry embroidery frame. Henrietta’s bedroom walls were lined with fine tapestries and it was Alice’s pride and joy to keep these in good repair. Now it was where she sat to work on a hassock to send out to William for the church in Ypres.

  Pips had just brought Daisy home after a three-week stay with them in London and now she was enjoying a few days at home with her family; riding, seeing friends and beating Robert at chess.