'There, isn't it beautiful?' he asked, pointing to where she could see some buildings at the edge of what looked no more than a large field. 'Walsall's Municipal Aerodrome, and over there is the Clubhouse. I belong to the South Staffs Aero Club, best in the country, and I should know, I've visited most of them!'
Kate could see various small aeroplanes standing at the edges of the field, and as they drove towards the Clubhouse they passed a few. They looked incredibly flimsy, and she began to wonder if it was a good idea.
To her surprise, when Peter ushered her into the Clubhouse he was greeted with enthusiasm by the other people there. Kate was relieved to see several women, and from the talk which swirled around her she gathered that Peter was considered to be a good pilot, and many of these women either owned aeroplanes themselves, or regularly piloted them.
Soon Peter detached himself from the crowd and spoke to Kate. 'I'll get my sister's gear from the motor,' he said. 'You can change in here.'
By the time she had struggled into the flying suit and high, fur-lined boots, Kate felt stifled. She found it difficult to walk outside, she was so bundled up. She carried the gauntlets, like those she had delivered to Peter the previous day, and an odd-looking helmet with ear-pieces and goggles.
Two men had been pushing an aeroplane across the field, and they touched their caps as Peter approached.
'All set, Sir. Extra clothing for the lady in the front seat.'
One of them held up a huge fur-lined coat.
'Go on, you'll need it,' Peter said, and she struggled into the coat, while he held the helmet.
'There's a rug to wrap round your legs and feet.'
'Thank you,' Kate managed.
'See this tube? I can talk to you through it. Too noisy up there for talk, especially as you'll be sitting forrard, and the wind would take my words away from you. It may sound odd at first, tinny, but don't worry.'
'Forrard?' Kate asked. 'But don't you – er – drive it from where you can see?'
The men laughed, Peter uproariously. 'Bless you, Kate, neither of us can see the ground once we're seated. Have to judge things by looking to the side. So you see, it don't matter a scrap where the captain sits.'
'Can't you ever see what's in front then?' she asked, pausing as she drew on the gauntlets. She was liking this less and less. Why had she ever thought flying would be an adventure? She stepped away from the machine, and glanced again at the wings, made of no more than struts of wood and canvas.
'Not while we're taking off and landing, but once aloft I can straighten out, and then you can see all round. Now, can you climb in? One foot here, this step, see, swing up, and then you'll be on the wing. Keep on the bit near the fuselage, it's strengthened to take your weight. Then you just step in. You can fix the helmet afterwards. As you're not used to it you might find the goggles hinder you.'
They were looking at her, waiting for her to move. One of the men who'd been preparing the plane had a scornful expression in his eyes, and Kate gritted her teeth and began to scramble onto the wing as they'd shown her. They were not going to laugh at her, mock her for being afraid.
Soon she was inside, and Peter was leaning over her, making sure the straps were properly fastened. 'Don't worry, even if I do loop the loop you can't fall out.'
Kate gulped, and nodded. Peter showed her how to make the helmet and goggles comfortable, pointed out the joystick and rudder, told her not to worry about the instrument panel, and then scrambled into the cockpit behind her. She was committed. She told herself that this was her dream come true, and she had to go through with it or for ever afterwards she would despise herself as a coward.
*
'You have to move,' George insisted. 'They'll be back. And they mean what they say, they'll harm your children. You have to get away.'
Maggie clutched the glass of sherry he'd fetched from his room and insisted she drink. She was still shaking, even after telling him all that had happened.
'How can I? They'll be watching me, they'd find me anyway. I'll have to get right away from here. But my job, the children! I can't afford to move!'
'Well, there is a chance. You're a charge hand, would your boss give you a good reference?'
'I think so. Why?'
'There will be many more aircraft needed if it comes to war. I'm here to set up a factory making parts for them, and we're planning to employ a lot of women. It's light, clean work, mostly operating machines. I could get you a job there as a supervisor. Would that help?'
Maggie was staring at him in surprise. 'You're very kind, but I'd still have to live here, the kids are settled at school.'
'It's away from the city centre, but I could solve your lodgings too. The only house I've found to rent for my family, which is convenient to the new factory, is much too big for us, and we'd have to let a couple of rooms. Why not rent them to you? Your children could go to school with my two eldest, and my wife would appreciate a bit of company in a strange town. We come from Northampton,' he added.
'Why are you doing this for me?'
'I'm sorry for you,' he said. 'You've had a tough time, with your husband and your mother. My wife Sheila would be able to keep an eye on your mother for you, and she'd willingly look after the little ones. They'd be company for the baby, who's been feeling left out since the others started school.'
Maggie didn't need time to consider. 'It's like a miracle,' she said. 'But if they – those men – know where I've gone your family might be in danger.'
'We can arrange it so that you move at night, no one will know where, and you'll be perfectly safe. Coventry's big enough to hide in. Well, what do you say?'
*
Kate was utterly entranced looking down at the tiny houses below them. Soon after taking off Peter had turned towards Walsall, and Kate looked down at the lake in the Arboretum. She'd meant to go there one day, to see all the trees. Phyllis had assured her it was a lovely park, different from the ones she was used to, different even from the wild expanses of Sutton Park. Now she could see it spread out below, and some of the people who looked up and waved to them.
Peter swung round towards the town centre, and Kate saw the winding hillside where the market was held, and the outcrop, almost a cliff it seemed from up here, on which St Matthew's Church stood, overlooking the town. She saw the George Hotel, and even the street beyond where she had her lodgings.
'Like it?' the disembodied voice startled her for as moment. It sounded tinny, but she could sense Peter's excitement.
'It's wonderful!'
'Put your hand on the stick, you can feel how it moves when I push it. And feet on the rudder. But don't worry, I'm doing all the work. You can't crash us.'
They stayed up for half an hour, and Peter pointed out all the landmarks. She didn't even mind passing over Sutton Park, which was much larger than she'd expected, but when she saw the Princess Alice Orphanage she felt sadness for her dead baby. The baby's death had freed her, but she knew she would always mourn for the little girl who'd never had the chance of life.
As they headed back towards Walsall Peter, who had been explaining what he was doing in a continuous stream of talk, suddenly announced that he was tired, and needed a rest.
'You can take over now. Go on, move the stick a bit, but be careful, it's very light at hand. Just a delicate sideways, or back and forth touch.'
Was he mad? Kate wanted to leap out, but she looked at the ground, which seemed to be hurtling towards them, and shuddered.
'Pull it back at bit, we don't want to land here,' Pater said, and Kate nervously jerked the stick towards her.
The plane straightened, and then all she could see was empty sky. She corrected again, and to her amazed delight found that she could keep the aeroplane level. She tried moving the stick slightly sideways, more aware this time of how little she had to push it, and the aeroplane tilted, they seemed to be flying with the wings at right angles to the ground. She gulped, and corrected it.
'Try the rudder,' Pe
ter's voice came over the tube.
She obeyed, and they flew in a gentle circle.
'This is utterly marvellous,' Kate breathed, exhilarated and no longer fearful she would send them hurtling to the ground in an uncontrolled spin.
'Want to try looping the loop?' Peter asked, and laughed.
'Not yet,' Kate answered, laughing, and at that moment realised that she had committed herself to wanting more lessons.
Back in the Clubhouse Kate was still overwhelmed with awe. Peter had been a different person when piloting the aeroplane. There was none of the frightening jerkiness with which he drove his motor car. They had soared effortlessly, and even when, having told her he would land them this time, he had banked steeply as they approached the aerodrome, Kate had felt total trust in his ability to control the machine and bring them down safely.
Peter was drinking whisky, but Kate asked for lemonade. Another couple joined them, and while the men plunged into a heated debate on the different merits of Hawks and Moths, the woman turned to Kate.
'Was that your first time?'
'Yes. I've always wanted to fly, but I hadn't realised just how marvellous it could be.'
'Neither did I until Basil, my husband, took me up. Then nothing would satisfy me until I learned to fly too. Are you going to have lessons?'
Kate's eyes glowed. Then slowly she shook her head. 'I don't think I could afford it. But I intend to save up and try!'
'It's only just over two guineas an hour, with an instructor,' she said airily.
Kate blinked. She might save that amount every few months. She was about to repeat her remark when Peter turned round.
'No need, Kate, I'll take you up whenever you want.'
'Just don't let him try to teach you,' the other man said, clapping Peter on the shoulder. 'He can fly himself, but he doesn't know his right hand from his left, so he'll get you thoroughly confused. Come on, darling, we'll be late for lunch.'
*
Norman and his bride, Penelope, had departed on their honeymoon. Daphne made certain that Robert was staying in Birmingham until after Christmas, and arranged a small party for some of her old school friends and the new ones from the university. She included a few of Robert's friends too, older than the rest, so that he would not feel conspicuous. It wasn't part of her plan to single him out and make him uncomfortable or suspicious.
Brian, who lived in Harborne, arrived early as Daphne had asked. 'I need someone to help me with mixing cocktails,' she told him, 'and from the ones I've seen you mix no one else can do better.'
Mr and Mrs Carstairs had gone to the theatre, saying they wished to escape from more parties. Lionel Summers, who had been attracted to Kate, was the next arrival. He was now studying languages at Cambridge, and had agreed to put the records on the gramophone. Daphne was ready. If she couldn't make Robert jealous tonight she'd have to try more direct tactics.
Lionel was the first to irritate her. 'Is your friend Kate coming?' he asked almost as soon as he'd set foot in the house.
'Kate? Kate who? Oh, you mean Kate Martins. No. We lost touch when she left school. It was all rather unpleasant,' she added. 'Oh, here's someone else, I must go and speak to them.'
It was late before Robert arrived, and Daphne had begun to fear he would not come at all. When she saw him enter the room, as she was dancing with Brian, she gave a huge sigh of relief. It had not all been in vain, organising this tedious party.
It took half an hour before Robert asked her to dance, and he was more than usually silent. As the gramophone wound down Daphne smiled up at Robert. 'That was like old times, in Paris. Robert, be a darling and get me a drink of lemonade. I'm so thirsty. There's some in the kitchen.'
He departed obediently, and Daphne went across to Brian, who was talking to another man, and touched him lightly on the arm. He turned and smiled at her.
'Brian, I'm feeling rather faint. Will you take me out to the conservatory for a moment. I don't want to cause a fuss.'
'You look rather flushed,' he said, and took her arm to guide her through the house, into the conservatory at the back. Once there she sank down onto a wrought iron bench and leaned back against the wall of the house, while Brian put his hand on her forehead.
'I shall be fine in a few moments. Sit down by me, Brian. I just need to cool down.'
He sat beside her, and Daphne dropped her head on his shoulder. Brian was holding her hand, feeling for her pulse, when Robert came in. Daphne started up with a cry of alarm, and then sank back onto the bench.
'Oh, Robert, it's you! I thought it might be my father. This is Brian Deacon, he's at med school with me, and he's going to be a wonderful surgeon.'
'Evening, Deacon,' Robert said, and turned back to Daphne. 'Why should seeing your father make you startled?' he asked.
'Oh, I don't know,' she said vaguely.
'Your pulse is normal now,' Brian added, swiftly dropping Daphne's hand.
'I – I felt hot and faint,' Daphne muttered. 'Is that the lemonade? Thank you, Robert, it will help me to cool down.'
'And I will leave you in good medical hands.'
Daphne gloated inwardly as he left. She was sure he suspected that she and Brian had crept out here for a purpose, and had not approved of seeing them so close together. It had been a bonus that Brian had been holding her hand, and his own hint of discomfort would add to the impression she wanted to give Robert. She sank down onto the bench again, keeping Brian there as long as she could, but finally said she felt perfectly normal again.
Whenever she thought Robert was watching her, Daphne made sure she was smiling at Brian, watching him even if he was on the far side of the room. Then Robert began to walk across towards her, and she lowered her glance. Her ploy had worked, she was sure. She was startled when Lionel appeared in front of her and asked her to dance.
She glanced over his shoulder to see Robert talking to another girl, and nodded to Lionel.
'I didn't have the chance to ask before,' he said as they danced a slow waltz, 'but I'd be really grateful if you could let me have Kate's address. Even if you haven't seen her, you must have some idea where she lives.'
Daphne was irritated. 'That was years ago,' she protested.
'Yes, eighteen months or so, but I've never been able to forget her,' he said simply.
'Then I advise you do!' Daphne snapped, her nerves raw, 'or you might find yourself accused of fathering her next bastard!'
Lionel stopped dead and another couple bumped into them. Abstractedly he apologised, and then dragged Daphne out into the hall. 'What do you mean?' he demanded. 'You do know something, don't you?'
'I want to dance! How dare you drag me away!'
'The music's stopped. You can go back in time for the next one. Tell me what the devil you meant!'
'Very well, since you are so anxious to know.' Daphne spoke slowly and clearly, irritated that all these men seemed to be utterly besotted with Kate. 'My mother found Kate a job, and she became pregnant. She accused her employer's son, but he denied it. He was at school with Norman, and my brother says he plays a straight bat. I gather that means he is truthful, and wouldn't deny something that was true. But as a gentleman he wouldn't have made Kate pregnant in the first place. Is that enough? Keep away from Kate Martins, she's no good for you, she's reverted to her slum beginnings.'
***
Chapter 10
Maggie looked through the window at the children playing in the garden. It was cold but bright, and they all wore warm hats and coats, even knitted gloves. She'd never been so happy in her life. George and Sheila had been so kind, welcoming her into their house. The children, initially suspicious of one another, had become friends, and Jeannie was content at her new school. Even Hattie seemed more content, and hadn't wandered away at all in the two months they'd lived here.
She went downstairs to the kitchen where Sheila was preparing vegetables.
'Can I help?'
Sheila, a pretty blonde, nodded towards the table. 'The
re's dried mint in that bag. I brought some with me from our old garden, didn't know what there'd be here. Can you make the sauce? The kiddies love it.'
Maggie sat at the table. 'It's more than I expected, having you cook for us as well as rent us the rooms. You don't know how grateful I am.'
'You work hard at the factory, and Hattie helps me. It keeps her out of mischief.'
Maggie grinned and they laughed. 'She's always wanted to live in a big house, and feel posh. She pretends it's her own.'
'That does no harm if it keeps her happy. She's for ever polishing that old sideboard. It seems to fascinate her. And it has so much carving I'm thankful not to have to do it. Tell me, Maggie, have you heard anything about Sam? Has he come out yet?'
Maggie shivered. Sam's absence added to her sense of freedom, but as the time for his release drew near she couldn't help worrying. If he found her his friends might too, and she was terrified of what they might do to the children.
'It's getting near, but I don't want to know,' she confessed. 'If they go after him, I'm hoping either he can give them whatever it is they want, or go right away.'
'You ought to know, to be prepared. If they don't get it from him they'll make more of an effort to find you.'
'Do you want us to move?' Maggie asked bluntly. 'It could be dangerous for you and your kids too. Perhaps I ought to go back to Brum.'
'That's one place he'd look for you. Of course I don't want you to go. We're friends, and I really didn't like the idea of moving to a new place where I didn't know anyone. You've been company. But we need to be prepared. Shall I ask George to find out when your Sam's due for release?'
'I suppose we must. Oh, Sheila, what shall I do if he finds me?'
'Tell him to get lost! He can't move in here, George would have something to say if he tried. From all you've told me he'd soon give up and find himself another place. He's never been any good to you, Maggie. Was he different when you married him?'
Maggie thought back. 'Younger. Better looking. And to tell the truth I was glad of an excuse to get away from Mom. She never stopped nagging. One mistake, and she never forgave me.'
Can Dreams Come True? Page 21
