After that, the mood around the farm had been heavy, with Jack showing little to no interest in what needed to be done. His whole purpose in life lost. He’d once told her he was only keeping the farm on so his son had something to come back to after the war.
Fitz found herself increasingly left to manage the day-to-day running of the farm. It was a two-man job really and she was having to work longer and longer hours trying to do everything. She’d had to resort to seeking advice from a neighbouring farm as she had no idea about what crops needed sowing and harvesting.
In the end, the Ministry of Agriculture stepped in and appointed a manager to take over the running of the farm. Jackand Peggy packed their bags and took what few possessions they had to go to live with Peggy’s sister in the West Country.
Fitz had been sorry to see them leave. They were more casualties of this war and it was so unfair.
The weeks rolled on and there was no sign of the war ending, in fact, it was only getting worse. The German Luftwaffe had started a sustained bombing campaign across the country. Air-raid sirens and running to the Anderson shelter in the garden had become part of everyday life for Fitz, just as it had for the rest of the country. The only pleasure Fitz derived from the war, was watching the RAF fly overhead. Plane spotting had become quite a pastime for her and Michael. He’d started up a journal and was recording the different types of aircraft he saw, and proudly showed Fitz each time he updated it.
Fitz had also become obsessed with spotting the Air Transport Auxiliary pilots flying planes around the country from one airfield to another or straight from the factory. She would love to do something like that, but when she had mentioned it in passing to her father, just to test the waters, one evening in late November, he had been adamant his daughter was not going to put herself in such danger.
‘You know what they did to London,’ he had said. ‘They did the same to Coventry. Practically flattened the city and now Southampton is under attack. It’s a firestorm there, by all accounts.’
It was true, the city was a prime target for the Germans. The Supermarine factory building where they manufactured Spitfires had been targeted earlier in the year, but it hadn’t ended there. The Luftwaffe was regularly targeting the Hampshire city.
‘I’ll be delivering the planes to help the RAF. I won’t be having dog fights with the Germans,’ said Fitz.
‘I don’t want to discuss it any further,’ said her father. ‘Help the war effort by all means, but on the ground where I know you’ll be safe.’
Fitz had managed to stop herself from arguing the point further with him. Even though she didn’t want to go against her father’s wishes, she debated whether she should simply go ahead with what she wanted to do in secret. By the time her father found out, it would be too late for him to do anything about it.
When a few nights later, Fitz overheard her father and stepmother discussing her, she knew she didn’t have time to waste dithering over whether it was the right decision or not.
Fitz had been coming down the stairs and stopped mid-tread as the conversation between Edward and Camilla drifted through the open door of the drawing room.
‘I know she’s joined the Land Army,’ Camilla was saying, ‘but it’s only at Jack Howard’s old farm. I wondered if she could benefit from a change of scenery. She doesn’t seem very happy these days. I think all this farm work is not good for her spirits.’
‘But she’s learning some life skills,’ placated her father. ‘She’s doing her bit. I think she’s happy as she is.’
He was wrong there, Fitz had thought. She obviously hadn’t made it clear to him when she’d told him about wanting to join the ATA.
‘Hmm, she could, of course, be doing something less … agricultural, shall we say,’ continued Camilla.
‘What do you mean by that?’
‘I know you’ve ruled it out before, but you should reconsider. My elderly aunt could do with a companion. She’s a very knowledgeable woman and would take Geraldine on any trips. I know it’s not exactly finishing school, but you’d be surprised what a young woman like your daughter could learn from my aunt.’
Fitz scrunched her eyes tight shut at this turn in the conversation. She absolutely did not want to go to Scotland to be a companion to an old woman, aunt or no aunt to her stepmother. Fitz had already told her father this and she couldn’t help being a little disappointed he wasn’t more robustly refusing to entertain the idea. In fact, the silence told her he was mulling this over with more thought than she wished.
Camilla obviously felt she had him on the back foot as she rounded with another assault of persuasion.
‘It will give her some more life experience,’ she was saying. ‘Scotland is a beautiful country and I know for a fact there are several eligible bachelors, with sizeable estates. She could do far worse than to find a husband in Aberdeenshire.’
‘I’m not sure Geraldine is ready for marriage,’ replied her father.
‘Too bloody right,’ Fitz whispered to herself.
‘Whoever takes her on will have his hands full, that’s for sure,’ continued Edward.
‘She just hasn’t met the right young man, that’s all,’ said Camilla. ‘Besides, she will be very safe in Scotland. Far safer than down here with all the bombings. Once Hitler has gained control of the skies, it will be an attack by land next. You said that yourself. Up in Scotland, Geraldine will be much safer.’
Fitz shook her head. Camilla was far more persuasive than she imagined. Using her father’s own words against him.
‘Maybe you and Michael should go with her?’ suggested Edward.
‘I’m not leaving you,’ replied Camilla. ‘My home is here at Badcombe House, and it will not do to run away, especially when not everyone in the village has the luxury of such choice. No, my duty is to serve the community in the best way I can.’
‘That’s very noble of you, darling,’ said Fitz’s father. ‘You’re a good woman.’ He paused. ‘What about Michael?’
