Heart of War Read Online Free Page A

again. It was mad. She was mad. But he
did
need an assistant, badly; and she had drive; and intelligence … and more mathematics than he himself had, having gone direct from Wellington to Handley Page. And she was Mr Merritt’s daughter. Why couldn’t she have been his son, and then it would all be easy? But why
couldn’t
a girl do the work, if she had the maths?
    â€˜All right,’ he said.
    She leaned forward quickly and kissed him on the cheek, ‘Thank you, Ginger. You won’t regret it. Now I’ll speak to my father.’
    She moved easily through the crowded room, passing close to Stella and Johnny, who were densely surrounded. Both had champagne glasses in hand, Stella flushed, wearing a light tweed suit, tears of happiness and excitement gleaming in her eyes, Johnny standing straight beside her, one arm round her waist.
    Betty found her father talking to his widowed sister, Isabel Kramer, and Mr Cate. They turned to face her as she came up, and her father raised a hand. ‘You have something of great import to tell me, Betty. I can see it in your face. Are you sure it shouldn’t wait till we are alone?’
    â€˜We won’t have much time, will we, Daddy, as you’re sailing on Monday … Ginger – Mr Keble-Palmer – wants to hire me as assistant designer at Hedlington Aircraft.’
    â€˜Wha-a-at?’ her father exclaimed.
    Her aunt, who was petite and dark haired, with snapping blue eyes, said, ‘Are you sure you didn’t
tell
him he wanted to hire you, dear?’
    â€˜Well, I suggested it, but he liked the idea. He
needs
an assistant, and there’s no one available with better qualifications … or
any
qualifications, really. The men who might be are at the war. And there’s
no
reason why a woman shouldn’t do it. Now, is there?’
    Her father surveyed her with a measuring look in his eye. Mr Cate’s face was calm in repose, his eyes steady on her. At length her father said, ‘You really think you’ve found your mission in England?’ In an aside to his sister he said, ‘Betty’s been determined to stay in England, but has not – until this moment – had the least idea of what she was going to do.’
    â€˜I do,’ Betty said, answering his question.
    â€˜You always were a headstrong girl … good luck to you,’ Stephen Merritt said. ‘You can live with Johnny and Stella.’
    â€˜Oh no, Stephen!’ Isabel cried. ‘The groom’s sister living with the honeymoon couple? It’s out of the question. She must have a little apartment in Hedlington.’
    Stephen was frowning and Betty cut in: ‘Daddy, times are changing. Lots of girls live alone – they have to.’
    â€˜I’ll help you find a suitable place,’ Aunt Isabel said.
    Mr Cate broke his silence. ‘I will put you in touch with estate agents who might be able to help, Mrs Kramer.’
    â€˜Thank you …’
    Betty put her arms round her father’s neck and kissed him. ‘Thank you, Daddy … I’ll be starting work on Monday. And Ginger can fix my salary with Mr Rowland.’
    She waved her hand, and drifted off, heading by a circuitous route towards the little group of Gorses near the tall windows. The electric lights glowed in Florinda’s auburn hair, and the softer wave of her brother’s curls. Old Probyn was wearing a yellow four-in-hand tie, and had newly dyed his sparse grey hair to a rich henna quite comparable to his granddaughter’s auburn. Willum, Probyn’s eldest, the father of Florinda and Fletcher, stood a little apart in worn serge hand-me-downs, beaming aimlessly. Probyn’s Woman stood upright and severe at Probyn’s side.
    They all turned to face her, just as her father’s group had done. Florinda smiled at her, Probyn’s face remained neutral, as did the Woman’s. Fletcher, the gorgeous Fletcher, examined her