had arrived in England forty-eight hours before. The first week of June was coming to a close and there was still no word from
either John or James.
The Arnolds sat with their daughter in the gardens of the Dower House on a fine, warm evening. The longest day was barely a fortnight away and even now, at eight o’clock, the late-evening
sunshine had residual strength. Rabbits were out in force below the ha-ha, and the sparrows in the thick ivy that covered the rear of the house were settling into their bedtime chatter.
The three of them were drinking wine from crystal glasses that Lucy had brought to them on a tray.
‘Wedding presents from your grandparents,’ Mr Arnold informed his daughter, waving his glass in the air. ‘Once there were six; these are the sad survivors. Do you remember the
day you broke all the others?’
Diana winced. ‘Of course. I was three, wasn’t I?’
‘You were four. You watched your brother playing with his wooden skittle set and he wouldn’t let you join in, so you –’
‘– so I went and got your cricket ball,’ Diana continued the well-worn refrain, ‘took as many glasses as I could carry from the sideboard and put them together in the
drive, where I –’
‘– scored a full house with the first roll of the ball. I can still hear the exquisite tinkling noise now, and your screams of delight.’
Gwen laughed. ‘John was always frightfully mean with his toys, wasn’t he? The two of you never really hit it off until he went away to prep.’
Diana shrugged. ‘I was an extremely irritating little sister. I never gave him a moment’s peace. It was only after he’d gone to boarding school that I realised how much I loved
him.’
She put her glass down on the white-painted wrought-iron garden table and looked up at her parents.
‘Look, we haven’t really discussed it since I came home from Girton. But what do you think has happened to the two of them? Honestly? I’m worn out with worry and I don’t
think I have another tear to shed.’
Her father put down his own glass. ‘I was intending to talk about it over dinner. But OK, here’s what I think.’ He considered them both. ‘I’m optimistic. Truly, I
am. The papers have been pretty short on detail, but it’s clear our fighter squadrons have been operating over France until very recently, covering the evacuation. I keep saying it, but no
news really
is
good news. That was true in the last lot and it’s just as true now.
‘But here’s the thing.’ He leaned forward. ‘Williamson came to see me this afternoon at the office. All very hush-hush, cloak and dagger. He told me in strictest
confidence that the new Prime Minister was informed in no uncertain terms by the RAF that it’s time to stop fannying around in France and keep every last plane and pilot back here at home.
Williamson says he doesn’t believe a single Spitfire squadron was ever even based across the Channel. Apparently Churchill refused to allow it, in spite of tremendous pressure from the
French.’
He looked at his wife and daughter. ‘I know it’s all been absolutely awful, but I think we’re due for some good news about our John,’ he nodded towards Diana, ‘and
your James, my dear, very soon. Let’s drink to it, anyway, shall we?’
The three of them touched glasses.
‘
To good news
.’
28
Next morning, Lucy entered the garden room to open the curtains, but to her surprise they’d already been drawn. The armchair that faced out on to the lawns had its back
to her, but she could see a curl of cigarette smoke curling slowly into the air above it.
‘Oh! Good morning, sir. I didn’t realise you were up. Would you like some tea?’
‘Yes, please, Lucy. I’ve been sitting here since six, waiting for everyone to wake up.’
John stood up and stretched, turning to face the astonished maid.
‘Gorgeous morning, isn’t it?’
Diana thundered down the stairs in her pyjamas ten minutes later. ‘Where is
either John or James.
The Arnolds sat with their daughter in the gardens of the Dower House on a fine, warm evening. The longest day was barely a fortnight away and even now, at eight o’clock, the late-evening
sunshine had residual strength. Rabbits were out in force below the ha-ha, and the sparrows in the thick ivy that covered the rear of the house were settling into their bedtime chatter.
The three of them were drinking wine from crystal glasses that Lucy had brought to them on a tray.
‘Wedding presents from your grandparents,’ Mr Arnold informed his daughter, waving his glass in the air. ‘Once there were six; these are the sad survivors. Do you remember the
day you broke all the others?’
Diana winced. ‘Of course. I was three, wasn’t I?’
‘You were four. You watched your brother playing with his wooden skittle set and he wouldn’t let you join in, so you –’
‘– so I went and got your cricket ball,’ Diana continued the well-worn refrain, ‘took as many glasses as I could carry from the sideboard and put them together in the
drive, where I –’
‘– scored a full house with the first roll of the ball. I can still hear the exquisite tinkling noise now, and your screams of delight.’
Gwen laughed. ‘John was always frightfully mean with his toys, wasn’t he? The two of you never really hit it off until he went away to prep.’
Diana shrugged. ‘I was an extremely irritating little sister. I never gave him a moment’s peace. It was only after he’d gone to boarding school that I realised how much I loved
him.’
She put her glass down on the white-painted wrought-iron garden table and looked up at her parents.
‘Look, we haven’t really discussed it since I came home from Girton. But what do you think has happened to the two of them? Honestly? I’m worn out with worry and I don’t
think I have another tear to shed.’
Her father put down his own glass. ‘I was intending to talk about it over dinner. But OK, here’s what I think.’ He considered them both. ‘I’m optimistic. Truly, I
am. The papers have been pretty short on detail, but it’s clear our fighter squadrons have been operating over France until very recently, covering the evacuation. I keep saying it, but no
news really
is
good news. That was true in the last lot and it’s just as true now.
‘But here’s the thing.’ He leaned forward. ‘Williamson came to see me this afternoon at the office. All very hush-hush, cloak and dagger. He told me in strictest
confidence that the new Prime Minister was informed in no uncertain terms by the RAF that it’s time to stop fannying around in France and keep every last plane and pilot back here at home.
Williamson says he doesn’t believe a single Spitfire squadron was ever even based across the Channel. Apparently Churchill refused to allow it, in spite of tremendous pressure from the
French.’
He looked at his wife and daughter. ‘I know it’s all been absolutely awful, but I think we’re due for some good news about our John,’ he nodded towards Diana, ‘and
your James, my dear, very soon. Let’s drink to it, anyway, shall we?’
The three of them touched glasses.
‘
To good news
.’
28
Next morning, Lucy entered the garden room to open the curtains, but to her surprise they’d already been drawn. The armchair that faced out on to the lawns had its back
to her, but she could see a curl of cigarette smoke curling slowly into the air above it.
‘Oh! Good morning, sir. I didn’t realise you were up. Would you like some tea?’
‘Yes, please, Lucy. I’ve been sitting here since six, waiting for everyone to wake up.’
John stood up and stretched, turning to face the astonished maid.
‘Gorgeous morning, isn’t it?’
Diana thundered down the stairs in her pyjamas ten minutes later. ‘Where is
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