We'll Meet Again by Anton Du Beke

Author:Anton Du Beke
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bonnier Publishing Fiction

Chapter Fifteen

HMS EXETER VICTORY PARADE

A Parade is Announced in Celebration of the HMS Exeter and HMS Ajax’s

Triumphant Return from the Battle of the River Plate

21st February 1940

Waterloo to Whitehall

T

HE NOTICE, TORN FROM THE pages of an Evening Standard, had been pinned to the board in the chambermaids’ kitchenette since the start of the month. Once or twice, Rosa had passed it by and rolled her eyes – but, the closer the day had come, the more tantalising the prospect had started to seem.

‘Well, it’s a reason for a party, isn’t it?’ she said to the other girls as they gathered around the wireless the evening before. ‘Six months of war, and one battle – but we won it. We might as well have a dance for that. What do you think?’

The BBC news said that the crews of the Exeter and the Ajax were safely back home. In a few days, they would march all the way from Waterloo to Whitehall – where they would be honoured with medals and garlands on the Horse Guards Parade – and all of London would pour out to see it.

‘The brightest news for a weary public,’ somebody was intoning, ‘and a day to give us faith that His Majesty will be victorious in the battles to come.’

‘Well, never mind about the battles to come,’ chirped Rosa, pouring the tea. ‘If it stays fine, if the sun’s shining and spring’s just about in the air . . . well, that’s enough for me. Who’s with me? You’re coming, of course, Frank?’

Frank, who often came to the kitchenette before heading back to the Brogans’ house – he still took leftovers from the hotel kitchens, even though the house was empty without the Brogan brood – faltered before he said, ‘Mr Arbuthnot wants us all in the studio tomorrow afternoon.’

‘Well, that’s perfect. The parade’s at 11. You’ll be back, Frank.’

Frank looked doubtful, but said nothing as Rosa dashed over to kiss him, twice on each cheek.

‘I’ll come to the studio and find you. We just need to convince your Nancy that we can get out of here early.’

*

This, it turned out, was easier said than done. By the time Nancy arrived in the Housekeeping Lounge for breakfast service the following morning, it seemed apparent that every last one of the chambermaids had their hearts set on attending the parade – and the chorus of voices that met her, as she walked in, was like a tidal wave. By now, Nancy had developed a distinct motherly stare that said ‘patience, girls’, and she duly delivered this as she walked through the lounge to the Housekeeping Office, where Mrs Moffatt was waiting.

‘You’ve some hearts to break today, Nancy,’ Mrs Moffatt smiled, knowingly, as Nancy looked through the rotas.

‘I’ve had it worked through for weeks,’ she smiled. Then, with the rota in hand, she walked back out to meet the banks of anticipatory faces. ‘Girls,’ she began – and Rosa strained, from the back, to catch Nancy’s eye. Nancy wasn’t oblivious

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