Bluebirds by Margaret Mayhew

hostility in their eyes. She had met this before in the Ladies’ Room of the Officers’ Mess, where she was still condemned to take her meals. Since they had all the advantages of pretty frocks, long hair, jewellery and unlimited make-up, she found this very strange. But then she was quite unaware of how well her uniform suited her.
    Squadron Leader Ross appeared before her, genially smiling. ‘Glad you could come. Have a drink.’ He thrust a full glass into her hand. ‘My patent mix. Guaranteed to make you forget all your troubles in one minute flat.’
    A sudden roar of laughter behind her made her jump and nearly spill the drink. She turned and saw that it came from a group of pilots standing close by.
    â€˜Badger’ Ross said: ‘Don’t mind that lot. They’ve never learned any proper manners. Too much time in the air and not enough on the ground, that’s their trouble. Don’t know how to behave like human beings, let alone gentlemen.’
    One of the group detached himself. ‘I say, sir, I heard that. Bit unfair of you, getting me off on the wrong foot, so to speak.’
    The squadron leader touched Felicity’s arm. ‘I take it you’ve been lucky enough to avoid meeting this jokerbefore. May I introduce Flying Officer Dutton, a member of my squadron, worse luck. You’d better behave yourself, for once, Speedy. This is Company Assistant Newman, and she’s both an officer and a lady.’
    The pilot shook Felicity’s hand reverently. ‘I can see that, sir. Best behaviour and all that, I swear . . . Scout’s honour.’
    â€˜I doubt if you were ever in the Scouts, Speedy. They wouldn’t have you. Too risky for the Girl Guides.’
    With that caustic comment, the squadron leader moved away to other guests. Speedy Dutton took out a silver cigarette case and flipped it open to offer to Felicity. She shook her head.
    â€˜No, thank you. I don’t smoke.’
    â€˜What, no vices?’
    â€˜Not that particular one.’
    He smiled at her. The most striking thing about him was his eyes. They were blue and very bright, and they shone with life and laughter. Otherwise, his looks were not remarkable. He was of medium height, slim and brown-haired with a small, neat moustache. Like many of the fighter pilots, he had a certain look that set him apart from all the grounded penguins on the station . . . an easy confidence, a casual outlook on life, signalled for all to see by the top tunic button left undone. He also had charm. In abundance.
    He squinted at her through the smoke from his cigarette. ‘Why on earth haven’t we met before? Where have you been hiding from me?’
    â€˜In Station HQ, actually.’
    â€˜Extraordinary!’
    â€˜I’ve seen
you
before, as a matter of fact.’
    His eyes widened. ‘I must be slipping badly . . . when and where?’
    â€˜It was soon after I arrived. You were standing with some others outside HQ when I came out with Sergeant Beaty after seeing Wing Commander Palmer. You all looked at us as though we’d just landed from Mars.’
    â€˜Good Lord, I remember now . . . you gave us the shock of our lives. Matter of fact, I only really saw that sergeant. I thought at first it was a chap dressed up for a lark.’
    She looked at him severely. ‘That was Sergeant Janet Beaty.’
    â€˜Almost had me fooled.’ He grinned. ‘I must say that uniform looks pretty splendid on you, though – much better than it does on us chaps.
Very
attractive. There’s something about a woman in uniform . . . on the right one, that is. It didn’t do quite the same for that sergeant of yours, I’m bound to say. Look, I can’t call you Company Assistant Newman. Too jolly formal. What’s your other name?’
    â€˜Felicity.’
    â€˜I say, that means happiness, doesn’t it?