The 9 by Madalyn Morgan (tools of titans ebook .txt) 📕

laughed. ‘I came over here after fifth grade, finished my schooling, and got into Oxford University.’ Ben reached out and took Ena’s hand again. ‘I have a confession to make.’

Ena held her breath. ‘What is it?’

‘I don’t live in London. I live here in Bletchley.’

‘Is that all?’ she said, exhaling with relief.

‘All? Ben laughed. ‘What did you expect me to say, that I was the Brighton Trunk Murderer?’

‘Not exactly. But I’m pleased you’re not.’ A draught cut across Ena’s ankles as the buffet door opened and Mr Silcott entered. ‘Sorry to interrupt,’ he said to Ena, and taking in Ben.

Jumping to his feet, Ben put out his hand. ‘Benjamin Johnson, sir.’

‘Pleased to meet you, Mr Johnson. Herbert Silcott.’ The two men shook hands. ‘I was wondering if you were ready to leave, Ena, or if you had decided to catch a later train?’

‘I have to go to work, sir,’ Ben said. Then, taking Ena’s hand, he said, ‘I would rather you didn’t travel on the train alone. Perhaps I could see you again, when you next visit your friend?’

‘The train leaves in two minutes. I’ll wait for you outside, Ena,’ her boss said, clearing his throat. ‘Nice to meet you, Mr Johnson.’

‘You too, sir,’ Ben said.

‘I’d better go then,’ Ena said, disappointed that she couldn’t stay longer with Ben. ‘Thank you for the tea.’

‘Will you write to me?’

‘I will,’ she said, looking up into Ben’s big brown eyes. He stepped closer, put his arms around her and lowered his head until his face was level with hers. Ena’s heart leapt with excitement. She stood on tiptoe, her mouth ready to meet his, when a sharp blast from a whistle sounded. ‘You’d better go.’

‘Yes.’ Ena giggled.

‘What is it?’

‘I can’t go until you take your arms from around me.’

They both laughed. Ben held his hands up as if he was surrendering. ‘Bye, Ena.’

‘Goodbye,’ Ena said, and ran out of the buffet. Mr Silcott was waving to her with one hand and holding the door open with the other. Ena jumped onto the train as the station master blew his whistle again.

Closing the door behind her, Ena pulled down the window and looked out. Steam hissed and smoke billowed from the train’s engine, enveloping everyone on the platform. She knew Ben wouldn’t be able to see her. She didn’t care and waved until the train was out of the station.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Taking work to Bletchley Park had become a regular event for Ena. She accompanied Mr Silcott who, when the MoD’s petrol coupons came on time and the garages in the area had petrol, drove them down in his motorcar. She still went down with Freda by train. But when the delivery date for work going to Beaumanor clashed with Bletchley’s delivery date, Freda took the car, and Ena and Mr Silcott caught the 9:45 train from Rugby.

When Ena knew in advance that she was travelling by train, she wrote to Ben saying she would be in the buffet on Bletchley station at 4 o’clock. Once or twice he didn’t make it. He either had to work or her letter didn’t get to him on time. When they did meet, they held hands across the table and talked about their families and friends. Ben read Ena letters that he’d received from his stepsister. In one letter, she’d written, “I can’t wait until the war is over, so I can meet the beautiful girl who has stolen your heart, Benny.”

Ena blushed. Stolen his heart? She had no idea Ben felt so strongly about her. ‘I love you, Ena.’ She looked at him and a self-conscious laugh escaped her lips. He went back to reading his sister’s letter, but Ena was no longer listening. She was embarrassed by his declaration of love. It was much too early in their relationship to know how she felt about him. She liked him, cared for him, but love? And meeting his sister? Did that mean his sister was coming to England, or did Ben expect Ena to go to America? If he did, it was a huge step, and one that Ena had never considered. Ben finished reading the letter, looked at Ena, and said, ‘Well?’

‘Well?’ she repeated, taken aback. ‘Your stepsister seems to think I shall be going to America when the war’s over.’

‘Maybe sooner than that,’ Ben said, his eyes bright with excitement. ‘I shouldn’t be telling you this, but my boss and I have been working with the British on a special project. I can’t tell you what it is, but the US top brass are sending us home. Not home exactly, we’re going to Washington to build the same kinda facility there as you have here at Bletchley.

‘Your guys do a great job, but the operation’s too small. We have the money and the manpower to set up a much bigger operation. We’d be able to do ten times what they do here. So,’ Ben’s eyes brightened, again, ‘if the British agree to what we want, I shall be going back to the States. And when I go,’ he said, leaning forward and looking into Ena’s eyes, ‘I want you to come with me, as my wife.’

‘Oh!’ Ena gasped, shocked this time by Ben’s out-of-the-blue proposal. ‘I don’t know what to say.’

‘Don’t say anything now,’ he said, putting his forefinger to her lips. ‘It takes time to get these things okayed by Washington. We may have months.’ He told her again that he loved her, and told her again that she didn’t need to give him an answer today. ‘Take your time, Honey, there’s no rush.’

Holding her at arm’s length, Ben leaned back, as if Ena was a painting that he wanted to admire from a distance. ‘You’re gonna love it in the States. You won’t have to work in a factory anymore,