The Iron Storm by CW Browning (classic literature books TXT) 📕

As the years went by, both their mothers hoped the friendship would develop into a lasting relationship, joining the two families. However, it was not to be. Evelyn never felt anything but a sisterly affection for Stephen, and the feeling was entirely mutual. They had remained good friends, however, and she reflected that she hadn’t seen much of him at all since her father died. It was a shame. The war was to blame, of course. Nothing would ever be the same as long as it was going on.

All thoughts of Stephen evaporated a moment later when she approached the restaurant entrance and saw Miles Lacey waiting just outside. He had his RAF cap under his arm and a silk, spotted scarf tied carelessly around his throat. His height drew attention and, as she approached, she saw a woman near the coat check throw him an appreciative glance. He did look striking in his distinctive blue uniform with his thick brown hair falling over his forehead in a careless wave. He had the air of a man used to being respected and confident with his station in life. Evelyn felt a surge of emotion go through her, her stomach fluttered, and she wondered if she would ever not feel this way when she saw him.

He turned then and saw her, his lips curving into a slow smile. His green eyes met hers and an answering smile spread across her face.

“I’m so sorry I’m late,” she said, joining him. “I was shopping, and I’m afraid it took a trifle longer than I anticipated.”

Miles slid an arm around her small waist and lowered his head to kiss her offered cheek. His lips lingered a little longer than usual and she couldn’t stop a little sigh of contentment from escaping. This was what she had been looking forward to all day, the feel of his arm around her and the musky scent of his cologne that she was beginning to associate only with him.

“It’s quite all right,” he said, straightening and smiling down at her warmly. “You look beautiful. Is that one of today’s purchases?”

“It is, as a matter of fact,” she said with a laugh. “Do you like it?”

“Yes, and it more than makes up for you being all of four minutes late.” He turned towards the desk where the maître de waited discreetly, not removing his arm from her waist. “Really, I wouldn’t have even noticed if you hadn’t said anything.”

“No? Then next time I won’t say a word!”

Miles gave his name to the man behind the desk, and he smiled and nodded.

“Of course, Mr. Lacey. It’s good to have you back. I have a table ready for you.”

They followed him through the restaurant to a table along the wall, partially concealed by a large pillar. After they were seated, he promised to send someone over from the bar and departed.

“I’ve been looking forward to this since we spoke yesterday,” Miles confessed, the faint dent in his cheek appearing with his warm smile. “It’s been too long since I’ve seen you. We really must get better at meeting more frequently.”

“I just had this very conversation with Robbie,” she said. “We’re not very far from each other, after all.”

“Yes, he told me. He’s coming by later for drinks. He and some of the others came up to town as well. They’re dining at a pub, I believe.”

“Did you all drive in together? That must have been a merry drive.”

“I drove myself,” he said. “Robbie drove the others. It would have been a bit too crowded with me as well. Anyway, I didn’t know if you’d need a ride back to Northolt. Do you?”

“Actually, I’ve been staying with my mother for the past few days. I’m not due back to Northolt until tomorrow, so I’ll spend tonight here in town and then take the train back to Northolt in the morning.”

Miles looked at her in surprise. “You haven’t gone back yet? I thought you were home only for the weekend. That’s what Rob said.”

“I don’t know why he thought that,” she said. “He knew I’d been there for a few days. At least, I think it was mentioned. Perhaps it wasn’t.”

“How strange. I thought you wrote that you were due back at Northolt on the twenty-fifth.”

“Did I?” she asked airily.

“Yes. I’m almost positive.”

Evelyn swallowed uncomfortably. Miles was looking at her with a question in his face, and a surprisingly keen look in his green eyes. He smelled a rat, and rightly so. How could she have forgotten that blasted letter she wrote while she was in bed in London after returning from Norway?

A server approached to take their drink orders and she turned to him in relief. Miles ordered a whiskey and soda, then looked at her with his eyebrows raised in question.

“I’ll have a...oh, I think I’ll have a sidecar,” she said, waving a hand vaguely. As the server left, she gave Miles a careless smile. “I don’t really know what I want tonight. Strange, isn’t it?”

“I don’t think so,” he said with an easy smile. “So why the delay returning to Northolt? Did you take some overdue leave?”

“No. I...” Evelyn exhaled. There was no help for it. She was going to have to tell him at least part of the truth. “Well, to be honest, I wasn’t very well. When I was on my training course in Wales, I became ill. The flu, they think. When I returned, I was quite poorly, so I was sent home on a kind of sabbatical.”

As she spoke, she felt her stomach clench and her heart drop. She hated lying to Miles, especially when he was looking across the table with such concern in his eyes, as he was now. He could never know the truth, and she’d accepted that from the start, but as the weeks went by, it was becoming harder and harder to lie to him without this crushing feeling of guilt.

“Why didn’t you tell me on the phone yesterday?” Miles asked,