The Girls in Blue

by Fenella J Miller

  ‘Have you looked in the mirror lately? Come on, let’s see what they’re finding so interesting.’

  He sensed her approach and turned. His smile made her feel warm all over and she wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not.

  ‘At last, we thought you’d abandoned us.’

  ‘What are you two reading?’

  ‘There’s something on at the Ritz – an afternoon tea dance. I rather thought that would be perfect for us. It’s in the Palm Court and is being broadcast on the wireless. What do you think?’

  ‘It sounds wonderful but won’t all the other guests be dripping with diamonds and mink coats – not to mention grand afternoon tea dresses?’

  Elizabeth overheard her query. ‘There will be loads of people in uniform, I expect. Anyway, even if there isn’t, I don’t care. My only reservation is that it might be too expensive.’

  Roy was still studying the poster. ‘Not for us it won’t. It says here that anyone in uniform pays only half the cost. I think Oscar and I can manage the three and six a head. No, don’t argue, girls, this is our treat.’

  ‘Then that would be absolutely spiffing, but if you’re paying tomorrow then at least let us split the bill for dinner tonight,’ Jane said and Elizabeth nodded.

  ‘I know you get far more than us each week but unlike you RAF chaps, we don’t have massive bar bills to pay.’

  This remark was greeted by laughter but Jane noticed neither of them denied it. She rather thought that if she was a fighter pilot – in fact, any sort of pilot – with a very short life expectancy once battle commenced, she would drink herself silly every night too.

  *

  Oscar put his arm lightly around Jane’s shoulders and was relieved when she didn’t shrug him off. ‘Why don’t you two go into the coffee lounge and bag a table whilst Roy and I get some drinks in?’

  ‘That’s good as I’d much prefer to have my shandy there; that is, if we’re allowed to take alcoholic beverages in.’

  ‘I’m sure we are. I assume Elizabeth’s gone with Roy.’

  For some reason this information upset her. ‘I’m not sure I even want a drink now. Maybe I’ll go upstairs and leave you three together. I’ll come down later.’

  There was something going on here. He hated to see her so distressed and was determined to discover what it was. ‘No, let’s find a quiet corner and you can tell me what’s wrong.’

  He saw panic in her eyes and knew she was about to bolt. He put his arm firmly around her waist so she couldn’t escape and bundled her into the lounge, which fortunately was empty. She was trembling; he hoped to God it wasn’t his actions that had caused this.

  Her arms were tense when he gently pushed her into a chair. He swung another one round so that when he sat his knees were so close to hers that she couldn’t escape.

  ‘I need to know what’s wrong, sweetheart. You’re like a startled kitten. It can’t go on like this.’

  Her knuckles were white where she was gripping the arms of the chair. She refused to raise her head and look at him. Was she upset or angry? He tried again.

  ‘Jane, you need to share your secret with me if this is going to go anywhere.’

  She mumbled something but he couldn’t quite catch what she said. He leaned forward. As he did so she shot up and the crown of her head caught him square in the mouth. The pain was horrendous. His lower teeth had gone through his lip. Even worse, they appeared to have caused a gash on her scalp from which blood was flowing freely. His chair had toppled backwards.

  ‘Bloody hell – I’m sorry,’ he spluttered. Then snatching his handkerchief from his pocket, he pressed it on her injury.

  She looked up, eyes wide and tear-filled. ‘There’s blood dripping down your face. Quickly, take the handkerchief from my pocket and press it on your mouth.’

  Roy and Elizabeth walked into this carnage. ‘Sod me – there’s blood everywhere. Elizabeth, press this on top of the one Jane’s already holding on her head. Oscar, let me look. I hope to God you haven’t broken your teeth. You wouldn’t want to spoil your pretty face.’

  His mouth was full of blood and he didn’t think it would be appreciated by the management if he spat it on their pristine carpet. The concierge rushed in, having heard the racket. Took one look at the pair of them bleeding profusely and took charge.

  Moments later he was given a handful of napkins and was able to spit the contents of his mouth into a couple and then hold the others over his injury. He was more concerned about Jane.

  Roy pushed him into a chair. ‘Sit here, you silly bugger, someone’s sent for a medic. You’re both going to need stitches. Don’t try and speak – I can see it’s bloody painful.’

  The initial shaft of pure hell had now settled to an unpleasant throbbing. He was more concerned about the blood coming from both inside and outside, which was filling his mouth and causing him to spit repeatedly into the napkins. He had his tongue pressed firmly on the back of the injury in the vain hope this would at least stop it coming out from that side.

  Someone had told him a human had eight pints of blood. From the mess he thought he was probably down to seven by now. One was supposed to hold an injured limb above one’s heart to slow the bleeding but neither of them could do this.

  Moving his head just sprayed gore in every direction so he couldn’t even look across and see how Jane was doing.

  16

  Jane was watching Oscar with horror. There was so much blood. As fast as he mopped it up more came. This was her fault. If she hadn’t tried to run away the accident wouldn’t have happened.

  Elizabeth was kneeling beside her and looked as stricken as she felt. ‘What a disaster! Shall I hold the pad on your cut for you so you can give your arm a rest?’

  ‘Thank you. My head’s throbbing and I’ve not got a clean shirt and this one’s ruined.’

  ‘They’ve sent for a doctor so hopefully he’ll come and sew you both up. I hope neither of you has to go to hospital.’

  ‘So do I. What a waste of a thirty-six-hour pass that would be. I think this might be the doctor coming in.’

  Her friend looked round and nodded. ‘The black bag’s a bit of a clue.’

  ‘Tell him to go to Oscar first.’

  ‘There’s no need – he’s already doing that. Here, why don’t you drink your shandy. I seem to remember from my St John’s Ambulance course that one has to replace any blood lost with fluids.’

  ‘I daren’t move my head as I think I might faint or, even worse, be sick all over the floor.’

  Elizabeth hastily scrambled to her feet, letting go of the pad. Jane put her hand back just in time. A few moments later a china basin was dropped into her lap. ‘Just in case. How ever did this happen?’

  ‘I was looking down and then I think he must have been leaning over to talk to me when I decided to get up.’

  ‘Good gracious! I can’t believe doing something so ordinary could have caused so much damage.’ Elizabeth flopped down on the chair beside her. ‘I suppose we’re going to miss our dinner tonight after all this.’

  ‘How can you think of food when Oscar and I are mortally wounded?’ Her comment had the desired effect and her companion smiled.

  ‘I’ll go and speak to the head waiter and see if they’ll save us something.’

  ‘I think you and Roy should eat – the table’s booked and it would be a pity to waste the reservation. We can get a sandwich if we want one when the doctor’s patched us up. I couldn’t possibly go into the dining room looking like I do and Oscar’s uniform is in a worse state than mine.’

  ‘If you’re sure you don’t mind me leaving you, I’ll suggest it to Roy.’

  Jane was disappointed even though she’d suggested her friend leave. She wouldn’t have gone if their positions had been reversed. Maybe Elizabeth was a bit squeamish and the sight of all the blood was making her unwell.

  She risked a glance in Oscar’s direction and was disconcerted to see that he was looking straight at her
whilst the doctor completed stitching his injury. ‘I’m so sorry; I can’t believe how much damage I’ve caused by my stupidity.’

  Obviously, he couldn’t speak, couldn’t even move his head, but he raised a bloodstained hand and from his gesture she thought he was disagreeing with her.

  Unwanted tears trickled down her cheeks mingling with the blood already there. If only things were different – if only she was different – she really thought he could become someone special in her life.

  She didn’t have another handkerchief, or even a free hand to reach for a clean napkin, so closed her eyes and tried to pretend she wasn’t sitting in a public room, covered in blood, waiting to have her head stitched together for the second time.

  Then Oscar was beside her and gently wiping her face with a damp, warm cloth. ‘Don’t cry, Jane, none of this is your fault.’

  His voice sounded odd, as if he was talking with cotton wool in his mouth, but his concern was still apparent from the way he spoke and from his actions. No one had ever shown her so much kindness and this made the tears flow more freely. He put his arm around her shoulder and she leaned against him feeling protected, feeling safe for the first time in her life. Her free hand was held firmly in his.

  ‘Miss Hadley, I apologise for having to keep you waiting so long.’ The doctor spoke from beside her but she didn’t open her eyes and was incapable of a verbal response. ‘I’m going to take your hand away now and look at the injury.’

  An extremely unpleasant, but mercifully short, time later the stitches were in and the gash covered with a clean dressing.

  ‘There, all done. You will both need to see a medic at your base and, Miss Hadley, you’ll need to get the dressing changed in two days. I’ll leave a couple for you just in case. The stitches must come out in six or seven days.’

  Oscar mumbled an answer for both of them. ‘Thank you. Your prompt assistance is much appreciated. Please leave your bill with the concierge and I’ll deal with it before we leave tomorrow.’

  ‘No charge, Flight Lieutenant Stanton. Least I can do for two patients in uniform.’ The doctor rummaged around and handed Oscar something, then collected up his medical items, put them back in his bag and vanished.

  ‘He didn’t even introduce himself,’ she said. ‘I must go upstairs and clean up.’ She pointed to his uniform, which made him look as if he’d been in a major accident, not something as trivial as a few stitches in his mouth.

  ‘The medic has left us some painkillers as well. I think we should both retire, get ourselves sorted and then take a couple of pills and go to bed.’ His words were muffled and he winced every time he spoke. His lower lip was horribly swollen and she was to blame.

  ‘I’ve ruined your furlough with my clumsiness. Don’t try and answer me – I can see how painful it is for you. I don’t suppose eating or drinking is going to be easy either.’ Then she had a brainwave. ‘Wait there a minute, I’m going to get you a straw; then at least you can drink your beer before you go. You need to rehydrate after losing so much blood.’

  He waved a hand to indicate he agreed and she rushed off to find a waiter. He was only too happy to help and she came back with half a dozen paper straws. Oscar was leaning back, his eyes closed, his face much paler than usual. She felt strangely light-headed and thought it had been unwise to run so soon after being stitched up.

  She put out a steadying hand and took several deep breaths. ‘Here you are. They offered to bring some soup but I think that would be too hard to suck that up through a straw – and anyway the paper would probably disintegrate.’

  Although his face was pale his eyes were alert and he held out his hand for his beer, smiling his thanks. He took three long sucks on the straw and then raised his thumb to show it was working. Happy she’d been able to help for once she collected her own shandy and drained it in half a dozen swallows.

  ‘I think it was rather mean of Roy and Elizabeth to abandon us in order to have a delicious dinner. They haven’t even checked back to see how we’re doing. I know you and Roy have been friends for years, but I only met Elizabeth a few weeks ago and don’t really know her very well.’

  The revolting noise coming from the bottom of his glass indicated he’d also finished his pint. ‘You told them to go. Can’t blame them.’

  ‘Well, I didn’t think they’d take me up on my suggestion. Would you like me to get you another beer?’

  He shook his head and stood up smoothly. It was just her that was light-headed as obviously he was perfectly fine apart from his stitches and associated discomfort. This was a huge relief as she’d never forgive herself if she’d done him any serious harm.

  *

  Oscar was conscious that both he and Jane would put off the paying customers if they entered the restaurant in their blood-soaked clothes. Apart from finding speaking difficult, he was perfectly well. She, on the other hand, looked fragile and frighteningly pale. The sooner she was tucked up in bed with a hot water bottle the better. He held out his hand and she took it.

  ‘I’ll have a look and see if the coast’s clear. I’m sure the management don’t want us to be seen by anyone else if possible. If I look half as bad as you do then I’m certain we’d put them off their dinner.’

  She didn’t release her hold, but peered around the open door whilst still attached to him.

  ‘No one there. Have you got your key? Elizabeth has mine. I’ve asked a waiter to collect it for me.’

  He shook his head. ‘I’m sure Roy will hand it over at the same time. I asked them to put a jug of water in our rooms as well as a hot water bottle in our beds.’ He pulled gently on her hand and she moved closer.

  They lurked out of sight waiting for the keys to be fetched. A waiter arrived and handed them over. ‘Is there anything else you require? Miss, sir?’

  ‘No, thank you,’ she replied and took them, checked the numbers and handed his over. ‘It’s safe to go. The foyer’s empty now.’ She stepped forward but swayed and put her hand on the wall to steady herself.

  ‘Shock. Making you wobbly.’

  She nodded and allowed him to place his arm firmly around her waist without comment. ‘I was trying to ignore it, but I do feel very shaky. The doctor did some tests and was certain I’m not concussed.’

  He already knew the girls had the same room they’d had last time. If she stumbled again, he would carry her. The pint of beer had sorted him out and he now felt fully fit, apart from his face.

  They reached the second floor without mishap but when she attempted to unlock the door her hands were trembling. He put his over hers and guided the key into the aperture and then turned it.

  ‘I don’t know why I’m in such a state. I’ve already had an extreme response to my inoculations, was knocked senseless when that dog attacked our column and I didn’t feel like this. Why have I reacted this time in such a soppy way?’ He was about to answer when she twisted in his arms. ‘No, that was a rhetorical question. We can talk tomorrow when your face has gone down a bit. Good night, Oscar, hopefully I’ll see you at breakfast.’

  He cupped her face with his hand but obviously didn’t attempt to kiss her. Her eyes glittered. She turned away abruptly and closed the door firmly behind her. He was convinced someone had hurt her badly when she was young. A wave of fury surged through him. No one would ever hurt her again if he had anything to do with it. He rarely lost his temper and never swore, but then he’d never been in love before.

  Despite the circumstances, and his throbbing face, he made his way to his own room feeling happier than he’d ever been in his life. Whatever was coming – and he knew it was going to be bad – as long as he had Jane in his life he would be content.

  She’d tucked the spare straws into his top pocket and he carefully removed them before taking off his jacket. He stared gloomily at the stains. Tea at the Ritz tomorrow was impossible on both counts now. He stripped off his soiled shirt and wondered if soaking it in the washbasin might remove the blood.

  T
here was a tentative knock on the door. He strode across and opened it half-hoping it might be her returning to see if he was okay. There was a chambermaid smiling nervously outside the door.

  ‘Excuse me for disturbing you, sir, but I’m to take your jacket, shirt and tie to housekeeping and they’ll be returned to you by morning.’

  ‘Miss Hadley?’

  ‘Yes, sir, her uniform has been collected too. It’ll be tickety-boo tomorrow.’

  He handed over his garments along with half a crown. She beamed, thanked him profusely and all but skipped away. He’d been overgenerous with his tip, but tonight was different. He was praying that even if it took a year or more, eventually, he could persuade Jane to marry him.

  He drank two glasses of water through a straw and was about to remove his shoes and trousers but decided he’d use the WC first. He shrugged on his leather flying jacket and hoped if he met any other guests they wouldn’t notice he was improperly dressed.

  When Roy came in hours later he was pleasantly drowsy but not quite asleep. He pushed himself up on one elbow. The strong painkillers were working wonderfully.

  ‘Do you need anything, Oscar? I’ll nip down and get it if you do.’

  ‘No, thanks. Did you have an enjoyable evening?’

  ‘Good, thank you. I’ll not bore you with the details. You look a lot better and the swelling’s already gone down a bit. Good night. Tomorrow’s going to be interesting.’

  As Oscar was drifting off, he wondered what his friend had meant about tomorrow being interesting. A tea dance at the Ritz could hardly be called interesting, so what was he missing?

  *

  Jane woke when the early-morning tea tray arrived. The stitches in her head pulled at her scalp when she moved but apart from that she felt no ill effects from the accident. She sincerely hoped Oscar was also feeling better. She’d no idea when her friend had returned but she was obviously back. Jane waited for Elizabeth to get up but there was no movement from the shape in the bed on the other side of the room.

  The chambermaid knocked again slightly louder. ‘I’m coming, sorry.’