“No misunderstanding,” Flick said abruptly. “Denise failed the course. That’s all there is to it.”
Denise made a disgusted sound.
Fortescue said, “I really don’t see how a perfectly intelligent girl from a good family could fail-”
“She’s a blabbermouth.”
“What?”
“She can’t keep her damn mouth shut. She’s not trustworthy. She shouldn’t be walking around free!”
Denise said, “You insolent cat.”
Fortescue controlled his temper with an effort and lowered his voice. “Look, her brother is the Marquess of Inverlocky, who’s very close to the Prime Minister. Inverlocky himself asked me to make sure Denise got a chance to do her bit. So, you see, it would be dreadfully tactless to turn her down.”
Flick raised her voice. “Let me get this straight.” One or two of the men nearby looked up. “As a favor to your upper-class friend, you’re asking me to take someone untrustworthy on a dangerous mission behind enemy lines. Is that it?”
As she was speaking, Percy and Paul walked in. Percy glared at Fortescue with undisguised malevolence. Paul said, “Did I hear right?”
Fortescue said, “I’ve brought Denise with me because it would be, frankly, an embarrassment to the government if she were left behind-”
“And a danger to me if she were to come!” Flick interrupted. “You’re wasting your breath. She’s off the team.”
“Look, I don’t want to have to pull rank-”
“What rank?” said Flick.
“I resigned from the Guards as a colonel-”
“Retired!”
“-and I’m the civil service equivalent of a brigadier.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Flick said. “You’re not even in the army.”
“I’m ordering you to take Denise with you.”
“Then I’ll have to consider my response,” said Flick.
“That’s better. I’m sure you won’t regret it.”
“All right, here is my response. Fuck off”
Fortescue went red. He had probably never been told to flick off by a girl. He was uncharacteristically speechless.
“Well!” said Denise. “We’ve certainly found out what type of person we’re dealing with.”
Paul said, “You’re dealing with me.” He turned to
Fortescue. “I’m in command of this operation, and I won’t have Denise on the team at any price. If you want to argue, call Monty.”
“Well said, my boy,” Percy added.
Fortescue found his voice at last. He wagged a finger at Flick. “The time will come, Mrs. Clairet, when you will regret saying that to me.” He got off his stool. “I’m sorry about this, Lady Denise, but I think we’ve done all we can here.”
They left.
“Stupid prat,” Percy muttered.
“Let’s have dinner,” said Flick.
The others were already in the dining room, waiting. As the Jackdaws began their last meal in England, Percy gave each of them an expensive gift: silver cigarette cases for the smokers, gold powder compacts for the others. “They have French hallmarks, so you can take them with you,” he said. The women were pleased, but he brought their mood back down with his next remark. “They have a purpose, too. They are items that can easily be pawned for emergency funds if you get into real trouble.”
The food was plentiful, a banquet by wartime standards, and the Jackdaws tucked in with relish. Flick did not feel very hungry, but she forced herself to eat a big steak, knowing it was more meat than she would get in a week in France.
When they finished supper, it was time to go to the airfield. They returned to their rooms to pick up their French bags, then boarded the bus. It took them along another country lane and across a railway line, then approached what looked like a cluster of farm buildings at the edge of a large, flat field. A sign said Gibraltar Farm, but Flick knew that this was RAF Tempsford, and the barns were heavily disguised Nissen huts.
They went into what looked like a cowshed and found a uniformed RAF officer standing guard over steel racks of equipment. Before they were given their gear, each of them was searched. A box of British matches was found in Maude’s suitcase; Diana had in her pocket a half-completed crossword torn from the Daily Mirror, which she swore she had intended to leave on the plane; and Jelly, the inveterate gambler, had a pack of playing cards with “Made in Binning- ham” printed on every one.