Chapter 43
CHAPTER 43
T he turbulence was fierce as the plane descended, ready to land at the airfield. Lizzie held onto Hannah, who had fallen into a troubled sleep and was thrashing about.
‘This is it,’ said Jack, and Lizzie felt the wheels touch down and her stomach lurched as the plane bumped along before it slowed and skidded to a stop on the icy ground.
The navigator opened the door. ‘Welcome back to Blighty,’ he said, saluting, a wide smile on his rugged face.
‘Thank you,’ Jack and Lizzie chorused.
‘I’ll see if there’s a medic on hand.’ Jack jumped from the aircraft, and Lizzie stayed with Hannah. There was fresh bright blood on the dressing they’d used to bind her wound, and Lizzie was worried.
There was a screech of brakes and a minute later Val poked her face through the hatch and called cheerfully, ‘Welcome home, Seagrove. Oh, who have we here? And where’s Jack?’
Lizzie told Val how they had made it out in the nick of time, and Hannah had been wounded .
‘So, this is the legendary Hannah… Why is she wearing men’s clothes?’
‘Long story,’ Lizzie said.
‘Well, I’ll look forward to the debrief. They’re always fascinating with you!’ Val climbed aboard and looked at Hannah’s arm. ‘She’ll live,’ she said and went off in search of Jack.
Hannah was carried off the plane on a stretcher and was soon receiving emergency treatment in a hut they used for injured pilots. The verdict was she would indeed live, but she needed stitches at the hospital.
‘You’re very lucky. It could have been a lot worse,’ the medic said as Hannah winced when he cleaned her wound.
When they were alone, Lizzie asked Hannah how she was feeling.
‘A gunshot wound is a small price to pay to see Henry,’ Hannah muttered, her voice groggy.
‘You might not say that when the morphine wears off!’ Lizzie laughed.
Lizzie slipped outside and found Jack drinking tea with Val in another hut.
‘The medic said her arm will be sore for a while, but there shouldn’t be any lasting damage,’ Jack said.
‘What a relief. I feel personally responsible for urging her to come back with us,’ Lizzie replied.
Val patted Lizzie’s shoulder and went to organise mugs of tea for her and Hannah.
‘Now you know how I feel when my agents are in the field,’ Jack said. ‘It’s hell.’
‘So, I’m just another agent, am I?’ Lizzie asked coyly, tilting her head to one side.
‘Let’s just say it’s one hundred times—no, one thousand times worse when it’s you. In fact, let’s say you’re grounded indefinitely and be done with it. ’
They were alone, and Jack pulled Lizzie into his arms, and she nestled her head against his shoulder. ‘Welcome back to England’s green and pleasant land, my darling. I can’t tell you how relieved I am to have you home safely.’
They heard footsteps and jumped apart guiltily in time for Val to enter and hand Lizzie an enamel mug of steaming tea. ‘You’ll be pleased to know, sleeping beauty is sitting up and drinking tea. I’ve made arrangements to move her by ambulance. I daresay she could make it by car, but she’s certainly earned a ride to London in style.’
After another round of hot, sweet tea, Val fired up the Austin, and they piled in. Lizzie sat in the back and Jack and Val talked about the mission, and their voices lulled Lizzie into a deep sleep. Her head lolled against the seat, and she slept all the way to London. Her last thought was it was good to be back on English soil with Jack.
Hannah spent the night in hospital and was released the following afternoon.
Lizzie had her first driving lesson with Jack on their way to collect Hannah. ‘When Hannah stole the milk truck and drove us to the woods, I realised how critical it is to be a competent driver. It made me more determined to get used to driving,’ Lizzie said, her brow furrowed as she concentrated on the road.
‘Shall I see if we have an old milk truck knocking about for you to practice on? Failing that, we could get you a part-time job on a morning milk round before you come into the office,’ Jack said, his tone serious but his eyes gleeful.
Lizzie stopped at the traffic lights and turned to face him. ‘I think I’ll manage, thank you!’ she said, rolling her eyes but smiling at his teasing.
When they arrived, Hannah said, ‘I can’t believe I spent my first night in London in the hospital. All that time in the Resistance and I’ve not even been to a doctor.’
‘How are you feeling?’ Lizzie asked.
‘I’m fine. A bit sore, but the doctor said it’ll soon pass.’
‘That’s what the medic said yesterday, so that’s great news.’
‘Is there someone you’d like to see?’ Jack asked.
Hannah’s eyes lit up, and she looked around. ‘Is Henry here?’
‘Not yet, but he’s on his way to London. We’re taking you for tea at St. Ermin’s Hotel and he’ll meet us there shortly.’
Hannah’s blonde hair was tangled, and her man’s wig lay discarded on a chair. ‘I must look dreadful. It’s not exactly how I envisioned reuniting with my fiancé. I need to change out of this gown and at least wash my face.’
Lizzie helped Hannah out of bed, and they went to tidy her up. When they returned, her hair was rolled and gripped, and she was dressed.
‘We should have brought her a new outfit,’ Lizzie said to Jack.
There was blood on Hannah’s sleeve. She looked far from her best with her injured arm and bruised face.
‘I’ll telephone Baker Street and get them to organise her some temporary clothes until we can kit her out properly,’ Jack said.
‘I won’t be here long,’ Hannah reminded them.
‘Yes, I haven’t forgotten. You need to be here at least a few days for your arm to heal, so you’ll need some clothes,’ he replied.
Lizzie and Jack had been debriefed that morning and Val had given them both leave. ‘Take a few days off. That’s an order,’ she said, holding one hand up before they could interject. ‘Show Hannah a good time. I understand your brother is on his way home? ’
Jack offered Lizzie a cigarette, and she refused. ‘I’ve decided I only smoke undercover.’
‘Smart girl. It’s a dreadful habit,’ Val said pointedly, looking at Jack.
He inhaled and sat back in his chair. ‘Yes, Henry is on his way to London now.’
‘Very well, I’ll see you both in a couple of days. You’re under strict orders to enjoy yourselves and stay out of trouble.’
Jack and Lizzie left Baker Street together to collect Hannah, who was waiting for them, eager to escape her confinement.
Lizzie drove again, with Jack in the passenger street directing her when she wasn’t sure where to turn. The car crossed Westminster Bridge and Hannah admired the famous landmarks.
‘It’s amazing to be back,’ Hannah said as they passed Big Ben, the Palace of Westminster, and Westminster Abbey, before pulling up in front of an impressive-looking hotel.
‘The SOE was based at St. Ermin’s when I joined,’ Lizzie said.
‘In a hotel? How ingenious,’ Hannah said. ‘No one would suspect that.’
‘We can tell you now, without having to kill you,’ Jack laughed.
‘Of course, so I’m guessing I won’t be allowed access to your offices.’
‘Val, who you met at the airfield, wants to see you before you leave, but she’ll meet you here, I imagine.’
‘Fair enough. You wouldn’t want me divulging your HQ location if the Gestapo get hold of me.’
‘Let’s forget about all that for today. I’ve got a surprise for you girls,’ Jack said. I booked us a table in the grand ballroom for this evening, so it’s dinner and dancing for the four of us. And you and Henry can sleep here tonight before you visit my mother who will no doubt be pacing the floor the minute she knows you’re both here. I haven’t told her you’ve arrived yet for that very reason.’
As they entered the lobby of the iconic hotel, a tall, handsome young man dressed in RAF uniform, who looked like Jack, leapt from his seat and strode towards them. His eyes scanned the three of them and lit on Hannah. She rushed towards him and he towards her.
Lizzie felt a lump in her throat as she watched them meet in the middle and reach for each other. Hannah moved into Henry’s arms, and they clung together. Tears spilled from Hannah’s eyes. Lizzie had never seen the fierce Resistance leader so vulnerable, and tears rolled down Lizzie’s face. She glanced at Jack, who stood next to her, and she saw him swipe at his eyes with his sleeve.
Jack slapped his brother on the shoulder and said, ‘We’ll make ourselves scarce and leave you two to catch up. We’ll see you at seven for dinner.’
Lizzie waved to Hannah, who was so deeply engrossed in Henry, she didn’t notice. ‘Well, I don’t think we’re needed here until later.’ Lizzie turned to exit the lobby, but Jack caught her hand.
‘Remember, we’re under strict orders to relax and enjoy ourselves?’
‘Was that what Val said?’ Lizzie asked, beaming up at Jack, joy rushing through her at the thought of spending time with him and not having to worry the Gestapo would bang on her door at any minute.
‘Whatever she said, we’re not needed at Baker Street tonight, so when I booked Henry and Hannah’s suite, I took the liberty of booking us one, too.’ He extracted a large key from his pocket and waved it in front of her. ‘You’re all mine today, Seagrove. Tomorrow, I’ll return you safe and sound to your family. I imagine they won’t let you out of their sight for a few days.’
Lizzie squealed in delight. ‘What a wonderful surprise, darling. How thoughtful of you.’
‘The elevator is still out of action,’ Jack said when they crossed the lobby. ‘We’ll have to take the stairs. All the engineers have been conscripted. We’ll be lucky if we have a working piece of equipment in the whole of London if this war doesn’t end soon.’
Lizzie stood at the bottom of the staircase. ‘Race you!’ she shouted and ran up the first flight of stairs before Jack could catch her. She heard him thundering on her heels, and then his hand grabbed her shoulder and spun her around as they reached the second-floor landing.
‘Oh no, you don’t!’ he said, pulling her into his arms. She exhaled happily as she sunk into his embrace, and they leant against the wall, laughing and catching their breath.
They were home.