Page 41 of The Spitfire Girls
‘You can and you will. And then you’re going to start following orders and proving that you’re not only the best, but that you’re also reliable and capable of being part of a team. We’re not all born with a silver spoon in our mouths, Elizabeth, and even those who are still need to work hard. Some of us have had to work for every step up the ladder, and I want to see the same attitude from you. Do you think I could have pulled stunts like that and got away with it?’
She listened, unable to take her eyes off his face. His expression had softened; he was no longer barking orders but coaching her like he actually wanted her to succeed.
‘No,’ she said honestly. ‘Of course not.’
‘You can’t expect to lead your own squadron back home if you can’t get your act together here,’ he continued. ‘So stop acting so entitled. No one likes a show-off, especially one who doesn’t seem to take the war seriously.’
He started walking and she scrambled to keep up. Just like that, he’d managed to give her the kick up the backside she’d needed. If someone else was given command of a squadron back home, if she missedthatjob? Then life truly wouldn’t be worth living. If this was her second chance, then she was taking it with open arms.
‘Thank you,’ she said, in a low, husky voice.
‘I’m sorry, what was that?’
Lizzie groaned. ‘I said thank you!’
‘Now that’s more like it.’
She still hated him, but for the moment at least, she respected him, and that was something.
‘Do you really know my daddy?’ she asked.
‘I’ve heard a lot about him from my own father,’ Jackson said. ‘Perhaps it’s time you wrote to him and asked him for some advice.’
And for once, Lizzie had to admit that Captain Montgomery might just be right.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
HAMBLEAIRFIELD,HAMPSHIRE,ENGLAND,
JULY1942
RUBY
The cloud cover had been thick all morning. ‘Like pea soup,’ May had muttered, storming back to her desk. Ruby knew there was as much pressure on her commander as there was riding on her today, but if they had to call the entire thing off due to weather conditions for a third day in a row it would be infuriating.
She sat outside, waiting. She was going to stare at the sky for as long as it took, because shewasflying that four-engine bomber today, and nothing was going to stop her. She still couldn’t believe she’d won against Lizzie, and she still couldn’t help but wonder if shewasactually the better pilot. If Lizzie hadn’t shown off, she would have won; she’d heard what Montgomery was saying. But Lizzie hadn’t won, and that meant that Ruby needed to believe in herself. If Tom’s letter, his words ofdiscouragement, hadn’t been sowing seeds of doubt in her mind, she might not have found it so hard.
Ruby’s stomach lurched at the thought of being the first, of the pressure of flying pitch-perfect. There would be hell to pay and she’d become the most hated pilot in the ATA if she failed in any way – as well as being plastered over every newspaper as the girl who’d thought she was good enough to fly a bomber made for men. She shuddered. It wasn’t worth thinking about. But if she mucked this opportunity up, women might not be permitted to fly four-engine aircraft after all.
‘Are you going up today?’ Lizzie asked, dropping down to sit beside her.
‘I think so. Well, actually I don’t know,’ Ruby replied. ‘I suppose I’m holding out hope that it’ll clear.’
‘Just remember that it’s your call. You’re the pilot. Don’t let anyone pressure you into it,’ Lizzie said, clasping Ruby’s hand. ‘The visibility will be terrible all day and you know it. It’s not your fault the weather’s been awful all week and the last thing I want is something happening to you up there.’
Ruby nodded. ‘It’ll clear,’ she said optimistically. ‘Thanks for your support though.’
Unlike the male RAF pilots, they got to make their own decisions about whether to fly or not. It was their risk and their decision. Some of the girls thought it made them more important, but Ruby wasn’t so naïve. It meant the authorities didn’t care so much if they lost them; though they’d be more than annoyed to lose a plane, she was certain.
‘Have this,’ Lizzie said, holding out her other hand. ‘This is me saying in the only way I know how, well, how incredibly sorry I am for my behaviour. The best pilot is taking to the skies today, and I want you to know it.’
Lizzie dropped something into her palm, and Ruby saw it was chocolate. ‘Ohhh,’ she murmured, salivating at the perfect dark square. ‘I suppose I can’t be angry with you now, can I?’
Lizzie grinned, and Ruby laughed when she produced a smaller piece of chocolate from her pocket. ‘I’ve saved a little piece for myself.’
Ruby popped the square into her mouth at the same time as Lizzie, rolling it around, and savouring the bittersweet taste.
‘You know, I’m really proud that you’re representing us all today, Ruby. I honestly thought I deserved it, that it was supposed to be me, but I was wrong.’
