On Wings of Fire by Statham Frances Patton

Author:Statham, Frances Patton [Statham, Frances Patton]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9781619168503
Publisher: Bocage Books
Published: 2011-11-05T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

Ben Mark St. John, accumulating enough missions to qualify for a weekend pass, found his way to London. In his pocket, he carried the letter from Rennie, his mother. The whole sordid mess about Alpharetta’s breaking their engagement had finally come to light.

He was mad as hell at Belline for deliberately lying to him, making him think that Marsh was taking his fiancée away from him. Instead, he had been trying to get the two back together in the meeting at the Ritz.

“You’re going to be sorry, Belline Wexford,” he said aloud as he headed for Rainbow Corner, where Belline worked. She was going to pay for keeping him from Alpharetta that entire weekend.

Then, he remembered. She had a powerful weapon of retaliation that she would use whenever it suited her. Why had he been such an idiot to spend the weekend with Belline?

Walking along the street, Ben Mark couldn’t believe the new devastation to the city—whole blocks gone, buildings nothing more than rubble. But luckily, the rockets were coming down in a different place now, south of London, giving the city a breather until the Germans found out that the newspapers were printing the wrong information to throw them off track.

“Sorry, Captain. No officers allowed,” the voice said, smiling at him as he entered the door of the canteen.

“I’m not staying,” he replied. “I’ve come to see my cousin who works here. Will you tell Belline Wexford I’ve arrived?”

“And what name shall I give?”

“St. John.”

He felt awkward because of the enlisted men’s stares and salutes as they entered the building. He was so much more at ease at Grosvenor House, where the cafeteria served good American food. It was the only place where he could get ice cream on the entire island. But he was well aware of the contention it stirred up among the more conservative element, who censured the Americans for using up fuel for refrigeration. They didn’t seem to understand that ice cream was to an American what tea was to the British.

“Ben Mark, what a pleasant surprise,” Belline said.

He grunted in acknowledgment, “Can you get off duty?” he said.

“I’m sure I can. Just let me tell Agnes. How long are you going to be in London?”

“Depends.”

Belline smiled. “I’ll just be a minute.”

In the small café across the street from Picadilly Square, Ben Mark sat opposite Belline and watched her as she ate shortbread with her tea.

“Belline, why did you pretend that Alpharetta and Marsh were interested in each other?”

A surprised Belline set down her cup and frowned. “What is this? An inquisition or something?”

“Just answer the question, Belline.”

Playing for time, she inquired, “Who told you any different?”

“My mother. I had a letter from her yesterday.”

Belline shrugged her shoulders. “So I was wrong.”

Her nonchalant attitude angered Ben Mark. “I’d thought you’d grown up, Belline. Instead, you’re still acting the spoiled brat you were back in Atlanta, always causing trouble between people.”

A hurt look came into her eyes as they suddenly moistened. “Don’t you be down on me, too, Ben Mark.

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