The Very Thought of You Read Online Free

Splendoso’s magic act, and Mr James will follow you. Beau is determined that Mrs Fletcher will have top billing.’
    Captain Fortescue’s painted eyebrows jerked up and down angrily, and he gave what sounded like a growl. ‘I call that a poor show, young woman. A damn poor show indeed.’
    Frances stood up. ‘Mr Baxter, when the order of performance has been decided, we won’t be changing it, and what’s more, I’d be very grateful if when you speak to me, you’d use your own voice and not that of the doll.’
    Tommy Rudd gave a low whistle. ‘My God,’ he whispered to Della, ‘she’s treading on dangerous ground. Eric Baxter is not someone to cross. I’ve heard that he can be a bastard if he takes against you.’
    Eric Baxter’s own voice, when he answered, had a sort of indeterminate northern inflection, almost as though he’d forgotten what it was supposed to sound like. ‘It’s called a dummy, Miss Parnell, not a doll, and I’d be grateful also if you could remember that.’ He stood up then and, opening his large suitcase, carefully packed Captain Fortescue inside it with the dummy’s head laid on a purple satin cushion. The suitcase was snapped shut, and picking it up and his grey trilby, Eric prepared to leave. ‘Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen,’ he said, as he walked towards the door. He spoke in the captain’s voice.
    The rehearsal ended on that sour note as more members of the local Home Guard shuffled in. ‘Hello,’ said one old man. ‘Who’s going to give us a turn?’
    â€˜Sorry, darling,’ Della grinned, ‘I’ve got to get my bus.’ She cocked her head at him. ‘Besides, my turn would give you a stroke.’
    The man who’d been in earlier listening to Della’s song chuckled. ‘You’ve missed a treat,’ he said to his colleagues. ‘This one’s a real saucy minx.’
    Outside, the sun had come out, promising a lovely end to the day. ‘Fancy a drink?’ asked Tommy. ‘There’s not a bad pub on the corner.’
    Della considered his offer. They’d be working together, so they ought to be pals; besides, he was a good accompanist and would be useful if she decided to take up singing full-time. ‘Yes, why not?’ she smiled. ‘A quick one, though, and you can tell me why you aren’t in the forces.’
    She thought about what he’d told her as they sat in the rattling truck. ‘Dicky heart,’ he’d said. ‘I forget exactly what the doc said, but it was enough to have me classified not fit for service.’
    â€˜Crikey!’ she’d laughed, looking for something cheerful to say. ‘I hope you’re not going to peg out in the middle of my act.’
    Tommy had taken a swig of his drink. ‘Depends what you do,’ he said. ‘Start stripping and you might be in for a shock.’
    He’d laughed it off as nothing important, but obviously it was, and when the truck slowed down at the guard barrier to the airfield, she noticed that he took a deep breath. Having to hang on as the truck lurched around the country lanes had not suited him.
    They stopped in front of a large Nissen hut and a corporal came running out with a wooden block to help them step down. ‘We’ve cleared an area in one of the hangars for the performance and cobbled together a sort of makeshift stage,’ he said, when everyone had emerged from the truck. He looked at Beau. ‘Are you Major Bennett, sir?’
    Beau nodded and held out his hand. ‘Civilian now, Corporal. Are we alright for the show to go on at six?’
    â€˜Yes, sir.’ The corporal looked at Catherine and Della. ‘The ladies could change in one of the empty rooms in the crew quarters, and the men in another, and,’ the corporal continued with a grin, ‘the Wing Commander wonders if you’d