Heartwarming and emotional story of one girl's courage in WW2 Fenella Miller (best books for 8th graders txt) 📖

on with things. ‘I don’t want to think about it now. Shall we talk about it after Dad goes up tonight?’

‘Let’s forget about it. Matters have moved on and it’s out of our hands now.’

*

He was right. It was far more important to continue to train as many young men, who could afford the £2 an hour, as possible. The country would need hundreds of pilots if the truce with Germany collapsed. This way she could do something valuable and would feel less bothered about not having passed on the information to the correct authorities.

Jack was slowly becoming part of the family and he had developed an interest in farming much to her dad’s delight. Neither Neil nor George had ever expressed any interest in continuing the family business.

Simpsons had been farming this land for generations and over the years more land and other farms had been added. There were four farms leased to tenants and a dozen or more cottages rented out, and these didn’t include the tied cottages for the farmworkers.

They didn’t live as though they were wealthy, which was the reason Mum had been so miserable. She suspected Dad was one of the biggest landowners in the area and could easily afford to build himself a grand house if he wanted. Finding the money for the new aircraft would have been easy for him.

Now she came to think of it, she and her brothers had gone to the most expensive schools and he’d never quibbled about paying for extras. Perhaps she could have been a debutante and swished around in silk gowns if her mother had had her way.

She’d not given Greg a second thought until Mrs B gave her an envelope several days later.

‘Ellie love, didn’t you see this from Mr Dunlop? It’s been on the dresser since he left.’

‘Thanks, I’d forgotten all about it. Been far too busy at work.’

She took the letter to her bedroom where she could read it in private.

She went to the window seat to read the letter:

Ellie

I thought it best if we didn’t speak to each other this morning. I understand why you didn’t want me to propose and I respect your views.

There’s a war coming and when it does anyone flying an aircraft will be vulnerable. I thought that having you in my life would give me something tangible to fight for – a reason to stay alive.

I imagine that you’re shaking your head and frowning, thinking I’m trying to manipulate you into doing something you’re not comfortable with.

You’re wrong, sweetheart, I love you and I should have said so last night. I’m pretty sure you don’t reciprocate my feelings at the moment, but you are attracted to me, and that’s a start.

Would you do me a favour? Write to me occasionally and maybe invite me to visit? I’m not going to pressure you into doing something you don’t want. I’d love to be able to take you out to dinner or dancing in Town, introduce you to my friends, but with no strings on either side.

We enjoy each other’s company. The fact that I love you isn’t a problem. All I want is to be able to spend time with you.

Take care of yourself

She put the letter down and wiped her eyes. He was right; she was attracted to him and might enjoy being escorted to nightclubs and smart restaurants. Tomorrow she would discuss this with Dad. If he was happy for her to go out occasionally with Greg then she might actually consider it.

Sixteen

The weeks slid by and towards the end of August Ellie decided to go to London to buy herself some new clothes. Elizabeth and Anna, the only two girls she’d kept in contact with after leaving school, were going to meet her at Liverpool Street. She had more than enough in her bank, since Jack had been paying her the same rate as himself, to buy what she wanted without asking her dad for a handout.

He’d been quite happy for her to have the occasional date with Greg and so she’d written back telling him this – which was why she needed a couple of new outfits. Her first invitation was to dinner and then to a party in Mayfair. He’d suggested booking her into the Savoy, which was reasonably close to the station, but she didn’t want to stay in a grand hotel on her own. Instead she would stay at his London home.

Jack insisted on driving her to Romford station on his way to work on the Saturday morning. ‘Make sure you catch the four thirty train. I don’t want to hang about waiting for you this evening.’

‘Don’t worry – if I don’t get off that train then I’ll get a taxi home.’

‘I’ll go for a pint.’ He grinned. ‘But I warn you, I’ll not be in the sunniest of tempers.’

‘Even more reason for you not to come and let me make my own arrangements.’

‘Stop arguing, Ellie, the only taxi you’re getting in today is this one.’

‘Are you going to put up the Anderson shelter that arrived the other day?’

‘Fred’s getting a couple of blokes from the village to do it and giving them a quid each.’ His expression became grim. ‘We’ve had those bloody gas masks for months, evacuation plans for the children have been made and Mrs B has put up the blackout curtains. That bastard Hitler is about to march. I just hope we’re going to be ready.’

‘The last time I spoke to Greg he said Britain began rearming in the spring and new planes are arriving all the time. Whatever the Prime Minister is saying about peace with Germany, I don’t think he believes it any more than we do.’

The car ground to a halt outside the station and she hopped out. ‘Thank you, see you just after five o’clock.’

Although the train stopped at every station the journey was completed in half an hour. She rushed towards the barrier, ticket in hand, and was relieved