The Spitfire Sisters Read online

Pips sighed. ‘George says Hitler’s trying to get very cosy with Mussolini. Evidently, he admires him and some of the news that is emerging is, frankly, terrifying. Anyone that voices the slightest criticism of him just – disappears.’

  ‘And now Hindenburg has died, the way to total power for him seems to be clear.’

  ‘He didn’t waste any time, did he? Soon after the old man’s death, Hitler announced that there would no longer be a president, and then he proclaimed himself Führer and Reich Chancellor. He also appointed himself as Supreme Commander of the German Armed Forces and demanded an oath of unconditional allegiance to him from officers and men alike.’

  ‘Not to Germany?’

  ‘No – to him personally. From what George has hinted, it seems that very soon Hitler will be in complete control of Germany.’

  ‘It’s frightening,’ Robert murmured as he picked up a chess piece and moved it on the board. ‘Anyway, let’s forget about him. I need to concentrate if I’m to win this game. You’ve beaten me the last two times. I can’t have that.’

  Pips chuckled and moved a piece too. ‘Check.’

  In September, Daisy began her studies in the sixth form at school and, with the leaving age now set at fourteen, Harry had almost another two years to do – much to his disgust. He hated school and couldn’t wait to begin working full time in Len’s workshop. He was there whenever he could be; after school, Saturday mornings and during the school holidays. To everyone’s surprise, Len granted both boys and Sam a full Saturday off once a month, though he reduced their wages accordingly. Sam, who couldn’t afford to lose the money, decided not to take the offered extra free time. But for the boys it was a heaven-sent opportunity to spend a whole day with Daisy.

  The families settled into a routine in both London and Doddington. For Pips and George, the highlight of the following year, 1935, was the wedding of Rebecca and Matthew in August. It was a very quiet affair; neither wanted a grand ‘do’ and there were few relatives on either side. Rebecca had not come to know the other members of the Maitland family, nor even the Brooklands set, and so it was a small party of twelve that attended the morning service in a church which Rebecca attended regularly near the hospital. Afterwards, they gathered in a local restaurant for lunch.

  ‘It’s a shame you’re giving up your career,’ Pips said, as they wished the couple every possible happiness.

  ‘I’m not entirely. I took your advice and made some enquiries about private nursing. I’ll be working part time helping an elderly lady quite near to where we’ll be living.’

  ‘That’s wonderful. I’m so glad.’

  Pips and George visited Lincolnshire often and always made sure they were there for the youngsters’ birthdays at the beginning of December. Christmas, they had decided, should now be spent alternately between the Maitlands and Rebecca and Matthew, but they always travelled to Lincolnshire on Boxing Day to be there for Harry’s birthday. They stayed on to raise a toast to the New Year, but the hopes of the villagers of Doddington for 1936, along with the rest of the country, were dashed. It was to be a year of sadness and disappointment for many. In January, King George V died and his eldest son, Edward, succeeded him. In March, Hitler openly defied the Treaty of Versailles and marched into the Rhineland, although he then offered a twenty-five-year peace guarantee.

  ‘That won’t be worth the paper it’s written on,’ Robert said gloomily. ‘That is, if it is even written down.’

  In the summer, Daisy passed her Higher School Certificate with the expected ‘flying colours’.

  ‘So,’ Henrietta asked her as they sat around the dinner table celebrating Daisy’s achievement with champagne. ‘What are you going to do now?’

  ‘I’ve been accepted into the Studley Horticulture and Agricultural College in Warwickshire.’

  ‘Oh darling, how wonderful,’ Alice said. ‘That was your first choice, wasn’t it?’

  Daisy nodded. ‘It was set up by Lady Daisy Warwick and it’s an all-women’s college.’ Daisy grinned saucily. ‘No distractions!’

  The family all laughed, but then listened attentively as Daisy went on. ‘You can do a three-year course for a Diploma in Horticulture, but two years ago they began a three-year degree course for a BSc in Horticulture. So, that’s what I’m going to do.’

  Henrietta frowned. ‘That sounds all well and good, Daisy, but it’s not exactly agriculture, is it? Will it be useful on the estate?’

  Daisy grinned. ‘Actually, in time I’d like to extend the horticultural side of things here, if you’re agreeable, but the college has a farm and a dairy herd and offers a course in agriculture, so I’m going to do that alongside the degree course.’

  Alice frowned. ‘That sounds like an awful lot of hard work. Don’t take on too much, Daisy.’

  ‘She’ll cope,’ Robert said, confidently.

  Word soon spread around the village – thanks to Bess Cooper – that Miss Daisy was going away to a grand college housed in a castle in Warwickshire.

  ‘You’ll be an awful long way away for weeks at a time,’ Luke said dolefully. Daisy hadn’t waited for the gossip to reach him, but had gone herself to the workshop to tell him.

  ‘But once my course is finished, I’ll be back here for good, won’t I?’

  ‘Yes, I suppose so.’ A worried frown still creased his forehead.

  ‘I’ll write.’

  Still, that didn’t seem to wipe away his anxiety. ‘You – you might meet – someone.’

  Daisy laughed. ‘I’m hoping I’ll meet a lot of people and make some new friends. You wouldn’t begrudge me that, would you?’

  ‘Well, no.’ Luke wriggled his shoulders, feeling foolish now. Two years older than Daisy, Luke now had definite romantic feelings for her. There were one or two girls in the village who’d made no secret of the fact that they’d like to ‘walk out’ with him, but his heart belonged to Daisy and he believed it always would. And then there was Harry. If he still persisted in his childhood declaration that he was going to marry Daisy one day, Luke could see a family feud looming. He stared at Daisy, trying to read her mind. She grinned back at him, her eyes as affectionate as ever, but he could detect no real romantic love blossoming there. Perhaps, he comforted himself, she was still a little young and her head was so filled with her upcoming college course. He’d just have to be patient. At least Johnny Hammond hadn’t been posted anywhere near where she was going to be.

  As Daisy planned her further education, Harry, too, left school. On the morning that he was due to start work as a full-time employee of Len’s, he walked jauntily down the road towards the workshop. It felt good to be a working man now. No more ‘little boy’ jokes from Luke and at least he had a job to go to. Many of his contemporaries, who had left school that summer, had still not been able to find work. Times in many parts of the country were still hard, but here in Doddington, there was employment for everyone.

  ‘’Lo, Harry.’

  Harry glanced around and saw Kitty Page swinging on the front gate of the cottage where she lived with her parents directly opposite Len’s workshop.

  ‘Hello, Kitty,’ Harry said and sauntered across the road. ‘I’m starting work this morning. Full time.’

  ‘I know. Mam said. I’ve been watching for you comin’.’

  Harry grinned at her. She was a pretty little thing with blond curls and bright blue eyes and about the same age as he was.

  ‘Have you left school an’ all?’

  Kitty nodded. ‘I’ve got an interview with Mrs Maitland at the hall tomorrow to be a kitchen maid.’

  Harry grinned. ‘Good luck, then. My Aunty Betty, my mam’s sister, works there. She’ll look out for you.’

  ‘I’ve got summat for you.’ Kitty held out a four-leafed clover, twirling it between her thumb and forefinger. ‘To bring you luck.’

  ‘Aw, thanks, Kitty. Wherever did you find it?’

  ‘There’s a patch of clover in the field just outside our back gate. I’ve found one there before.�
� That was true, but she didn’t tell him it had taken her hours of careful searching to find this one for him.

  He fished in his pocket and pulled out a shiny, new leather wallet. ‘Me dad bought me this for starting work. I’ll keep it in here.’

  ‘Wait a minute.’ Kitty jumped down from the gate and ran up the path and into the cottage. She emerged a moment later with a piece of paper in her hand. ‘Put it in this,’ she said, folding the paper over. ‘It’ll keep it better. It’ll be like flower pressing. Me mam showed me how to do it.’

  Gently, he pushed the piece of paper, now with the clover laid flat inside its fold, into one of the compartments of his new wallet.

  At that moment a roar from Len came from the other side of the road. ‘Time you was at your work, boy. Never mind your flirtin’.’

  With a swift grin at Kitty and a saucy wink, Harry turned and, hands in his pockets, strolled across the road.

  ‘Morning, Mr Dawson. What are we doin’ today, then?’

  Len’s only answer was a low growl and a baleful glare at Kitty, who waved and smiled prettily.

  The night before she was due to travel to Studley, Daisy received a phone call.

  ‘Daisy? It’s Johnny. Just ringing you to wish you well for tomorrow – and guess what? I’ve been posted to Duxford. It’s about a hundred and twenty miles from where you’ll be, so I’ll be able to get to see you on my motorcycle.’

  ‘Johnny – that’s marvellous.’

  ‘I’ve got a seventy-two-hour pass next weekend, so I’ll come and see you then.’

  Daisy replaced the receiver thoughtfully. Some instinct told her not to mention Johnny’s proposed visit to any of her family – and certainly not to Luke or Harry.

  Eleven

  Daisy’s first letter home was full of enthusiasm for her life for the next three years:

  Dear All, she wrote, so that the letter would include everyone who would be interested.

  This is a fabulous place. Fancy, I’m living in a castle! Everyone is lovely and I’ve already made a friend – Gill Portus. She’s also doing the agricultural course alongside the degree, so we spend a lot of time together. She’s from the Yorkshire Dales where her family have a farm, has a wicked sense of humour and is great fun!

  Not only are there extensive orchards and vegetable plots here, but greenhouses with grapes and such, so we’re learning how and when to prune the different plants. There’s a proper farm too with a dairy herd. I am learning to milk a cow! And make cheese. We’ve got chickens, geese, turkeys: oh, there’s so much to learn. It’s wonderful. Thank you so much for supporting me coming here. It’s what I want to do for the rest of my life . . .

  Robert, in particular, grinned broadly when he read Daisy’s letter.

  ‘Lets you off the hook nicely, doesn’t it?’ Alice teased him.

  ‘Absolutely,’ he said. ‘But it seems it’s what she really wants to do.’

  ‘There’s no doubt about that, so you can stop feeling any guilt that you’re pushing her into it.’

  Robert guffawed. ‘Push Daisy into anything? You must be joking. Now, who else will want to read her letters, apart from Mother and Father?’

  Alice wrinkled her brow. ‘Luke, of course, and Jake. He’s so interested in all she’s doing. Probably Harry, and I would think my mam and Peggy too.’

  Robert chuckled. ‘You’ve forgotten someone?’

  ‘Have I?’

  ‘Bess Cooper. She’d love to be able to share all Daisy’s news with everyone.’

  ‘As long as there’s nothing private in the letters, then I don’t see why not. All the village are so interested in what the next manager of the estate is going to do.’

  ‘Can’t blame them. Most of them get their livelihoods from the estate – in one way or another.’ He was thoughtful for a moment before saying, ‘You know, we ought to go down to see her in a few weeks’ time. Jake could take us and then he could see what she’s doing for himself.’

  Alice beamed. ‘I’d love that.’

  ‘My goodness,’ Gill said, ‘who’s the dishy RAF pilot who picked you up on his motorcycle yesterday afternoon and didn’t bring you back until just after curfew? Mrs Gordon nearly had a fit when it got to ten past ten. You know what a stickler she is for the rules. I had an awful job persuading her not to report you.’

  Gill’s eyes twinkled and Daisy knew she was teasing her. Gill had bright red hair and green eyes. She was slim and energetic and was always the leader in any escapade.

  ‘I’m an only child, so the family farm will pass to me,’ Gill had told her when they had first become friends. ‘Luckily, I like nothing better than plodding around in muddy wellingtons, ploughing or feeding the animals. What about you?’

  Daisy had licked her lips and replied carefully, anxious not to alienate her newfound friend by appearing too grand. ‘Um – much the same, actually. My grandmother inherited the – um – land, but my father has never been interested in running things. All he ever wanted to be was a doctor, following in his father’s footsteps.’

  They chatted amiably as they walked between classes, finding themselves attending lectures together and gradually learning more about each other.

  ‘So, you still haven’t answered my question. Who was he?’

  ‘Johnny Hammond. His uncle’s a friend of my aunt’s.’

  ‘Has he got any brothers? I’m not one to pinch another girl’s chap, but oh, I could make a beeline for him.’

  ‘He’s not my boyfriend,’ Daisy said and then wished she hadn’t been so quick to deny it.

  Gill threw back her head and laughed. ‘Are you blind, Daisy Maitland? He’s besotted with you.’ She regarded her friend more thoughtfully. ‘But then, you’re so pretty that I expect you’re so used to having all the young fellows you meet gazing at you with cow eyes.’

  Colour flooded Daisy’s cheeks, but she said nothing. She’d never really thought about it, but the way Johnny looked at her was exactly how Luke, and even Harry, regarded her.

  Johnny had been her very first visitor, but towards the end of October, Jake drove Robert and Alice down to see her.

  ‘I wish you could have met Gill,’ Daisy said, as she showed them around the castle and its gardens, ‘but she’s working on the farm today and won’t be back until after evening milking.’

  Jake gazed around him. ‘It’s wonderful, Daisy. You’ll have so many ideas when you come home.’

  Daisy laughed. ‘I’m here for three years, Jake. You’ll have to hold the fort until then.’

  He grinned at her. ‘You mean your granny will, but I can’t wait to try all the new ideas you’ll have.’ For a moment, his face was pensive and Daisy guessed he was a little envious that she had had the sort of chance that he could never have had. But, as if reminding himself just how lucky a scruffy little waif and stray had been to find Henrietta Maitland, his expression changed and he smiled down at her. ‘You’ll have to teach me everything you learn, Daisy.’

  She put her arm through his and hugged it to her side. She loved Jake as a good friend. ‘I will, Jake. I promise.’

  As they parted, Robert said, ‘I think your granny and grandpa would like to come down. Maybe in the spring when everything is starting to grow again.’ He chuckled as he glanced at Jake, who was still gazing around him as if committing everything to memory. ‘I’m sure Jake wouldn’t mind bringing them.’

  Daisy worked hard and, at the end of the first term, came out top of her course. Much to her relief, Gill was a close second.

  ‘You must come and stay with us in the holidays,’ Gill said, as they packed up ready to go home for the Christmas holidays. ‘But bring your flannelette nighty. Winter can be a bit chilly up north. Eeh, what am I saying? You live not much further south than I do.’

  Daisy smiled, thinking of the warm fires that her grandmother insisted were kept constantly burning through the long, cold days – and sometimes even nights – of winter. ‘I’d love to,’ she said, making a mental note to
take her warmest clothes with her.

  But an invitation to visit Yorkshire during the Christmas holidays was not forthcoming. Christmas at the hall was a merry affair, with the Dawsons, the Coopers and the Nuttalls invited to a buffet lunch as usual on Boxing Day, which was also Harry’s birthday. Conrad Everton, the doctor who worked with Robert, and his wife Florence were included in the gathering too.

  Bess Cooper, as jovial and loud as ever, sought Conrad out. ‘I have to say, doctor, that when you came, we never thought you’d stay the course, but I must admit you and Master Robert make a good team. See, we’d had Dr Maitland’ – Conrad knew she was referring to Edwin – ‘for so long, we couldn’t imagine anyone taking his place, except Master Robert, of course, and even then it took a while for the older ones to accept the little lad they’d known in short trousers becoming their doctor.’ She laughed raucously. ‘But you’ve done well and we’ve all taken to you.’

  Conrad smiled modestly. ‘Thank you, Mrs Cooper. I’m relieved to hear it as both my wife and I love it here.’

  ‘He manages very well,’ she said, nodding towards Robert on the other side of the Great Hall, ‘but it took him a while to get back into it after the war.’

  ‘Understandable,’ Conrad murmured.

  ‘Well, here’s to you and your missus, young man.’ Bess clinked her wineglass with him. ‘And here’s to 1937. Let’s hope it’s a good ’un.’

  ‘I’ll drink to that, Mrs Cooper.’

  On the other side of the room, however, the talk between Robert and Pips was far more serious as they mulled over the events of the passing year.

  ‘It’s been a strange one, hasn’t it?’ Pips murmured. ‘I never – in my wildest dreams – thought we’d have an abdication.’

  There had been every sign that the new king would be sympathetic towards the ordinary working man. On his visit to Wales in November, he was moved by the plight of the unemployed there, which followed the Jarrow March to London in October, highlighting the sufferings of the jobless in the north-east. But at the beginning of December, the British newspapers broke their silence that the new king, loved by so many, was locked in a romance with a twice-divorced American woman. By 12 December, he had abdicated to marry the love of his life and the burden of monarchy fell upon his brother, George.