Letting in the Light by Charlotte Betts

Author:Charlotte Betts
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Published: 2022-01-20T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

June 1915

London

Mr Hammond brandished his newspaper at Pearl and Lucien. ‘This is enough to spoil anyone’s breakfast! There’s been an airship bombing raid over Stoke Newington and it’s left a trail of destruction over Shoreditch and Whitechapel too. It’s a pretty poor state of affairs when the German nation drops incendiaries on children, don’t you think?’

‘They dropped bombs on Essex and Kent, too, earlier this month,’ said Lucien. ‘The press call the Zeppelins “babykillers” now.’

‘It’s abhorrent that they targeted civilians,’ said Pearl.

‘And it’s what drove a well-brought-up young lady such as yourself to volunteer for what should be man’s work.’

Pearl smiled. Grandfather was so old-fashioned. ‘I can hardly believe I’ve been in London for more than a month already,’ she said.

Her grandfather peered at her over the top of his newspaper. ‘No regrets?’

She held out her hand. ‘Only that my fingernails are permanently ingrained with motor oil. The training has been challenging but it’s good to do something useful.’ Once she’d passed the driving test set for her by the Women’s Reserve Ambulance Corps, she’d learned to drive the various motorcars and ambulances garaged in the mews behind a townhouse in Duke Street. Mr MacTavish, dour Scotsman and former chauffeur, trained new recruits in motorcar maintenance.

Lucien, sitting opposite her at breakfast, said, ‘I never thought I’d see a sister of mine wearing khaki!’

‘What use would a muslin dress be to me when I’m changing a wheel or filling a petrol tank?’ Pearl rubbed at a smudge of dirt on the sleeve of her military-style jacket. ‘I do wish the wool wasn’t so itchy, though.’

‘I mustn’t be late for my lecture,’ said her brother, standing up.

‘Not more on worming horses?’ asked Pearl, a hint of laughter in her voice.

He shook his head. ‘Urinary problems in cats,’ he said, with an answering glint of humour in his green eyes.

‘Can’t abide cats,’ said their grandfather.

‘I may be a little late for dinner today,’ said Pearl. ‘If I’m not here in time, please don’t wait for me.’

‘Not meeting a young man on the sly, are you, Pearl? I’d have your mother to answer to then.’

‘Certainly not, Grandfather! And if I were, I’d hardly wish to hold an assignation in this oh-so-flattering uniform, would I?’

‘Who knows what goes on in the world these days? I expect women will be wearing trousers next!’ He snorted with laughter and picked up his newspaper again.

After breakfast, Lucien and Pearl walked briskly towards the Underground. Somehow, Pearl felt energised by the masculine style of her uniform. The shorter skirt, with hem raised to ten inches above the ground, gave her more freedom of movement. Sturdy laced boots and thick stockings meant she remained perfectly decent.

‘So who is it you’re meeting after your shift?’ asked Lucien. ‘Do I need to be worried about some cad threatening your virtue?’

Pearl gave him a sideways look. ‘I am meeting a man but it’s not what you think.’

‘What then?’ He took her arm to cross the busy road.

‘It’s Papa.’

‘Good Lord! Why do you want to do that? He’s never taken a blind bit of interest in us.

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