“Fine, sir. We will do that. Perhaps pick something out while we are flying there,” John said.
Miss Mills nodded.
“Alright. Well, I'm about to see where we slot into the line here. Hopefully, we'll be off shortly,” I said. “I promise to inform you when we're going to taxi.”
“Wait, are you... flying the plane?” Miss Mills asked.
I chuckled. “Yes, Miss Mills. That was the implication.”
“Oh, cool,” she said.
I expected more. I had few cards to play. The pilot flex usually worked. It should have been a panty-dropper. She acted like she was just as happy to watch paint dry.
“Come with me,” I said. “Just a second. I'll introduce you to my first officer.”
“Oh... okay.”
She followed me to the cockpit.
“Miss Mills, this is Lieutenant Chris Mitchell. Mitchell, this is Miss Eloise Mills.”
She smiled at him the way I desperately wanted her to smile at me. Adorably, flustered. I wanted to smack him for flirting with her, but it wasn't his fault. She was pretty and had a lovely accent. No one would be dumb enough to throw her out of bed.
“Well, I should leave you to get to it... whatever it is?” Miss Mills said. “I am excited to see Wales.”
She bowed slightly and departed.
“Who is she?” Mitchell asked.
“My babysitter,” I answered.
“She could babysit me any time she wanted to!” Mitchell chuckled. “Let her know.”
I laughed. “Nah.”
“I don't want you to whinge about anything back at the mess. Because you're living in luxury and that sweet little thing is livingwithyou, right?”
“She's got a cottage. And I'm not supposed to lay a finger on her.”
“I would struggle,” Mitchell said. “She's not your type, though.”
“What is my type, Mitchell?”
“Tall, thin. She's got more to hold onto than your average waif.”
“I much prefer it that way,” I admitted. “But society girls all seem to come in the same rail-thin package. She's fun, right?”
“Brilliant. I want you to behave yourself, but for now, I don't mind her being our minder, sir.”
The tower chimed in and we returned to the task before us. Time to focus.
10
RATIONALIZING THE IRRATIONAL
ELOISE
7 December
