Courage for the Flying Nightingales by Vicki Beeby

Author:Vicki Beeby
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: DK
Published: 2026-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Hearing the heavy tread of the men’s boots on the stairs, she prepared to follow them down. A quick glance in the mirror revealed her pale face with a bruise blossoming around the dressing. Her hair was a mess, not surprising considering she hadn’t given it a thought since being flung around the cabin. She removed the grips and combed her fingers through it, wishing she had some lipstick to make her look more presentable. Then again, she had to spend the evening dressed in her unflattering slacks and jacket, so a bit of lipstick was neither here nor there. In future, she resolved to always pack a comb and emergency toiletries in case of an unexpected overnight stay.

Finally, satisfied she looked as good as possible in the circumstances, she made her way downstairs to where a grandfather clock stood in the hall, noting the passing seconds with ponderous tocks. Guided by the sound of masculine voices, she pushed open a solid oak door on the other side of the hall from the kitchen and found herself in the parlour. Sash windows on two sides of the room rattled in the wind and rain. The heavy clouds outside made the room dark but as her eyes adjusted she saw the three men gathered around a table. Rhys was shuffling a deck of cards.

‘We’re about to play a game of rummy. Want to join in?’

She shook her head, saying goodbye to any chance of having a quiet talk with Laurie, and retired to an armchair by the window. There was a stack of magazines on a small table nearby and, selecting an old issue of Britannia and Eve magazine, she settled down to make the most of an unexpected afternoon of leisure. Soon she had lost herself in a tale of intrigue at sea.

She was brought back to earth abruptly when Mrs Oldthwaite tapped on the door to let them know high tea was ready. They trooped into the kitchen to find it full with not just Mr and Mrs Oldthwaite and their two young boys but also three land girls. The table was spread with what looked like a sumptuous feast to Ruby’s eyes: a selection of pies, salad dishes and a steaming loaf of freshly baked bread. ‘My goodness! We must be eating you out of house and home, and we don’t even have ration books.’ Usually, if staying away on leave, they would be issued coupons to cover the period they would be away. But this unexpected overnight stay meant they were unable to compensate the Oldthwaites for the food they would be consuming. She glanced at her fellow crew members, who were clustered around the table, looking awkward. And hungry. ‘Perhaps we should go into Doncaster and find a place to eat?’ She was tired, hungry and her head throbbed, so a trip in the rain was the last thing she wanted, but it felt wrong to accept such lavish hospitality when rationing had tightened its grip on the country.

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