Beauty Chorus, The (29 page)

‘Evie? Stella?’ She lifted herself easily out of the water, just as Peter appeared. He was in uniform, his arm in a sling. Megan shrieked, covered her breasts.

Peter stopped in his tracks. He had never seen anyone so beautiful in his entire life. Megan looked like the Venus de Milo to him, her slender pale limbs modestly curled in on themselves, her
dark hair running rivulets of water over her smooth shoulders. ‘I say, I’m awfully sorry,’ he stammered, aware he had been staring, transfixed. He turned away from her.
‘I’m Peter, Peter Taylor, a friend of Evie’s.’

‘Megan Jones,’ she said, blushing violently. ‘I would shake your hand, but ...’

‘I take it Evie’s around here somewhere?’ Peter laughed.

‘Over here, Peter.’ Evie waved an arm from the bushes. ‘Could you be a darling and fetch three towels for us?’

As Peter strode over to the pool house, Megan followed him with her eyes. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and his uniform accentuated his slender hips. She found she was a little breathless. He
brought a towel to her first.

‘Here you are.’ He held it at arms length, smiling wickedly. Once Megan had covered up, he turned to her. ‘You have the most beautiful eyes,’ he said, captivated by their
bright green, the frame of dark, wet lashes.

‘Gosh.’ She lowered her gaze.

‘You certainly know how to make a first impression.’ Peter held out his hand. ‘Delighted to meet you.’

‘Peter? Where are you? It’s freezing!’ Evie called. Reluctantly he let Megan’s hand fall.

‘Sorry, old girl.’ He strode around to the bushes and tossed a couple of towels over. Stella and Evie soon appeared.

‘You rotter.’ Evie pushed the hair from her face, and gave him a hug. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘Out of action.’ He gingerly lifted his arm in its sling. ‘Thought I’d see if anyone was at home, and I spotted your car turning in.’ Peter put his good arm around
her. ‘I’m sorry about your fiancé,’ he said quietly.

Evie nodded, squeezed his hand. ‘As you can see, we thought no one was at home,’ she said briskly, and linked her arm through his. ‘This is Stella Grainger, and I can see
you’ve already met our lovely Megan!’ She dug him playfully in the ribs. For the first time she could see Peter had eyes for someone else. ‘Why don’t we go and see what
Daddy has in the fridge? I’m ravenous.’

As Peter smoked on the terrace, the girls changed. Evie lent them a couple of dresses – Stella picked out an elegant red shift, and Megan a crisp white summer dress.

‘You have such beautiful things.’ Megan ran her fingers over the silver dressing-table set, looking at herself in the large triple mirror. ‘Where I’m from, well,
it’s lovely but it’s nothing like this.’

Evie looked around her room as if for the first time. She pulled on a simple black dress with a sweetheart neckline and a full skirt. ‘You know, things, money, they don’t count for
an awful lot do they?’

‘Mummy always said it’s better to be miserable with money than without it,’ Stella said as she pulled a brush through her hair. She glanced at Evie, saw the sorrow on her face.
‘Are you alright, darling?’

‘Me?’ Evie blinked away tears. ‘I’m fine. I just realised … he never had a chance to see where I grew up, or to meet Daddy. It’s funny how it catches you at
the oddest moments.’

‘I know.’

Megan sat beside her on the bed and put her arm around her shoulders. Evie leant into her. ‘What would I do without you two?’

‘Right,’ Megan said, ‘I’ve already scandalised your friend, let’s see what other mischief we can get up to.’

The kitchen was soon full of laughter and the smell of sausages cooking. Evie tossed the sizzling pan as Stella carved thick doorsteps of bread from the loaf, spreading them
with golden butter and mustard.

‘I haven’t seen so much food for a long time,’ she said. ‘I thought cheese was rationed now?’

‘Daddy has contacts. I think for some people the war has changed very little.’ Evie looked up. ‘Peter, why don’t you go and get the little gramophone from the
study?’

‘Good idea!’ In a few moments he reappeared, and cranked up the machine. Megan watched him shyly as he slipped out the record from its brown paper sleeve. There was a crackle, and a
hiss as the needle hit the groove, then ‘Tuxedo Junction’ filled the air.

Peter walked over to her. ‘Shall we, Miss Jones?’ He offered her his good hand, and swung her, laughing, around the long kitchen table. Stella sat in the old velvet armchair by the
Aga, where Evie was cooking, watching them indulgently. The chemistry between them was palpable.

‘I think love is in the air,’ she whispered to Evie.

She glanced over her shoulder and smiled. ‘I do hope so. Peter’s a doll. Practically like an older brother.’

‘Have you and he …?’

‘Peter?’ Evie said. ‘No. He had a bit of a pash on me. We have a silly joke that if I’m still single by my twenty-first he’ll make an honest woman of me, but no
…’ She smiled. ‘He’s adorable, but not my type. Though he’s perfect for Megan. Why don’t we help things along a bit? If you go through that door over there,
you’ll see the steps to the cellar. Bring a couple of bottles of champagne up.’

‘Champagne? What a treat. Does it matter which bottles?’

Evie shook her head. ‘Go for the dustiest ones. They’re normally the most expensive and Virginia’s the only one who regularly drinks champagne around here.’

That evening, as the last golden rays of the sun streamed through the terrace doors, it was hard to believe there was a war on at all. They were just a group of young friends,
listening to records, smoking, talking. As it grew darker Evie lit candles on the table, and Peter sat in his shirtsleeves, telling the girls the story of how he had been shot down in combat and
forced to land on a remote Norfolk beach. He was modest, evasive.
Just like Beau
, Evie thought as she remembered Jack bragging at the Riviera. She forced the thought from her head, and went
to pour more champagne, but the bottle was empty.

‘Golly, we whizzed through those quickly.’ She stood, and placed them on the draining board. ‘Would you care to dance, Mrs Grainger?’

‘Why, I’d be delighted!’ Stella took her arm and they danced off outside, drifting happily around the terrace.

In silence, Peter and Megan watched them, painfully aware that they were alone.

‘I …’ they both said at once.

‘Please, after you.’ Peter smiled.

‘I was just going to say I think you’re awfully brave.’ Megan looked up at him hesitantly. In the candlelight his face looked like a young boy’s, his fair hair touched
with gold.

‘I think you girls are the brave ones.’ As he settled back in his chair, the cotton of his shirt brushed gently against her bare skin. She could feel the warmth of his arm. ‘At
least they give us guns, so we have a fighting chance. I’ve heard all about the Jerries targeting you ATA chaps.’

‘So it is true! It’s almost as if there’s someone on the inside telling them when we’re taking off,’ Megan said.

‘Who knows? People think there are Bosch spies everywhere, but I wouldn’t be surprised.’ Peter was looking at her as she raised her eyes.

‘What’s it like, being shot down?’

He thought for a moment. ‘You don’t really have a chance to be frightened,’ he said. ‘You’re too busy trying to out-manoeuvre the other chap. Afterwards,
that’s when it hits you.’ He flinched slightly as he shifted in his chair to be a little closer to her.

‘Does it hurt?’ Megan gently touched his arm.

‘This?’ He was very close to her now. ‘I was supposed to get it checked and cleaned up today. Just couldn’t bear the thought of it. I’ll be glad if I never see
another hospital.’

‘I could have a look if you wanted me to?’

‘Are you a nurse as well as a crack pilot?’ He wanted to kiss her. He had never wanted anything so much in his entire life.

‘I take care of the animals at home,’ she said seriously.

Peter laughed, and the tension lifted. ‘Then I’m in good hands. You really are the most extraordinary girl I’ve ever met.’ As he leant in to kiss her, the kitchen lights flicked on.

‘What on earth …?’ Virginia strode into the room.

‘Virginia!’ Peter leapt to his feet. ‘Hello, sir,’ he said as Leo appeared at her side.

‘Looks like you’re having more fun here than we had in town,’ Leo said grumpily as he shook Peter’s hand.

‘And who are you?’ Virginia eyed Megan suspiciously.

‘I’m a friend of Evie’s. I’m awfully sorry …’

‘Oh, hello. What are you doing back so soon?’ Evie sauntered in from the terrace. ‘Hello, Daddy.’ She pecked him on the cheek, deliberately ignoring Virginia.

‘How are you, darling?’ His face was etched with concern.

Evie forced a tight smile. She couldn’t possibly break down in front of Virginia.

‘I’ve been wanting to talk to you,’ he said as he took Evie’s arm. ‘I received a surprising letter a couple of days ago at the office.’ Leo sorted through the
papers in his briefcase on the dresser.

Virginia tossed her hat onto the side with her white gloves. ‘Such a shame we didn’t get to meet your fiancé.’

Evie bit her lip. She was determined not to let Virginia get to her.

‘Ah, here it is.’ Leo handed her a slim envelope.

Her hand shook slightly as she ran her fingertips over the address. She recognised Jack’s handwriting. She slipped out the letter. It was formal, polite, so unlike the Jack she knew.
Dear Mr Chase, I am writing to ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage. We are very much in love …

She blinked away the tears, folded the letter back into its envelope. ‘May I keep this?’

‘Of course, darling.’ Leo patted her arm. ‘I’m so sorry. Do you know what happened?’

She nodded. ‘He was shot down.’ As she thought of the flames again, it was like a visceral, empty pain clutching at her stomach. ‘Gosh, look at the time,’ she said
briskly, ‘we must get going.’ She began to clear away the plates and glasses, taking them to the sink.

‘What are you doing?’ Virginia said. ‘Leave that for the housekeeper.’

Leo sat down with Peter at the table, while Virginia took a clean glass from the dresser and sauntered over to Evie. She lifted the champagne bottle hopefully. When she found it was empty, she
sighed. ‘Still, I imagine if you’d married this chap you’d have had to clean up after yourself. I can just picture you barefoot and pregnant on some farm.’ She frowned as
Evie refused to rise to the bait. ‘It’s just as well,’ she whispered. ‘Imagine getting engaged after only a couple of weeks. And to an American.’

‘He was a good man,’ Evie said steadily. ‘We loved one another.’

As Stella walked in, she saw the expression on Evie’s face. She strode over, put her hand on her arm.

‘Love? What has love to do with it?’ Virginia muttered. ‘You need to consider your position.’

‘That’s what my mother said to me.’ Stella glared at her. ‘She was wrong too.’

‘Have we been introduced?’ Virginia challenged her. She didn’t like the look on Leo’s face when the slim blonde walked in from the terrace.

‘Stella Grainger,’ she said coolly. ‘I fly with Evie.’

‘Goodness, pilots are a lot prettier than when I was flying in the last war,’ Leo called from the table.

‘I’ll second that, sir.’ Peter laughed.

‘Well, you’re safely behind a desk these days. I’m glad that’s one less thing we have to worry about.’ Virginia smiled at him. ‘I was just saying to Evie,
it’s such a shame about the wedding. I’m sure this Jack was perfectly charming.’ She put her glass down. ‘Not that I was looking forward to being a grandmother quite
yet,’ she said under her breath.

Evie rounded on her. ‘You think that’s why we wanted to get married so quickly? We were in love, and we realised we might not have much time together.’ Her throat constricted
as she fought back tears. ‘As if I’d be foolish enough to get pregnant.’

‘You wouldn’t be the first,’ Virginia said.

Evie’s temper flared. ‘My fiancé died, is that all you can say?’

‘Evie …’ Peter said calmly, walking over.

‘No! Not this time Peter. I’ve put up with this for years. That’s it, I’m done with both of you,’ she said to Leo. ‘As long as you’re married to this
harpy I want nothing to do with you, Daddy.’

‘Sweetheart,’ he said, reaching out to her. ‘I know you’re hurting, but you mustn’t call Virginia—’

‘Let her go, Leo.’ Virginia held the back of her hand to her forehead. ‘She’ll be back when this little tantrum blows over.’

Stella held Evie firmly by the arm. ‘Come on, darling, let’s go home.’

‘Tantrum?’ Evie was shaking with anger. ‘I loved him, how dare you ...’

‘How dare I? I wasn’t the one slinging names, was I, Evie?’ Virginia murmured, inspecting her nails as the girls filed out of the kitchen with Peter. ‘If you’re so
certain you want to cut us out of your life, you won’t be needing your house keys.’

‘That’s not necessary.’ Leo frowned at his wife.

‘No, Daddy. That’s fine by me.’ Evie rooted through her bag, and threw her keys onto the dresser.

‘It’s been lovely seeing you all.’ Virginia scooped the keys up, twirled them on her finger as everyone filed out of the kitchen.

‘Go to hell, Virginia.’ Evie pushed past her.

‘Do be careful, darling,’ she called, waving from the door. Her eyes hardened as she murmured, ‘The rate at which you pilots are getting bumped off, we don’t want you
beating me to it.’

SUMMER

30

‘Where are we going?’ Stella called over her shoulder. ‘We’ve gone miles.’ The warm breeze lifted the hem of her flowered dress as they cycled out
into the countryside. June rain overnight had washed the countryside clean, and as Stella freewheeled along the lanes, her tyres humming and splashing through shallow puddles, she felt alive.

‘It’s a surprise,’ Michael said as he caught up with her. ‘Come on!’ He raced ahead.

They had strapped sketchbooks and a picnic hamper to the back of his bicycle. ‘Are we going to the river?’ she asked as they reached Cookham.

‘No, I’m taking you to church.’

‘Church? On your day off?’ Stella leant her bike against a white picket fence. As she turned to Michael she thought he looked so different in a white, open-necked shirt – freer
somehow, younger.