The Spitfire Girls(25)

But Lizzie had rattled her. Just as Tom had rattled her, his words playing through her head on autopilot, impossible to shut off. ‘You need me, Ruby. You’ve never flown like this before, and I’m just not sure you have what it takes to fly without me as your co-pilot.’

She glanced sideways at the empty seat, wondering if he was right, wondering if she was capable without him sitting beside her, telling her what to do, coaching her if things went wrong. Lizzie didn’t need anyone. Lizzie hit every mark without breaking a sweat.

Hell! She yanked the controls, pulling the aircraft higher, forcing it up as she narrowly missed another plane coming in; she was flying too low, and wasn’t scanning the sky as she’d been taught to do.

After landing, having barely completed the course she’d been asked to fly, she had to walk across the tarmac on shaking legs to face May. Her commander’s cheeks were as red as she imagined hers to be, but from anger, not embarrassment.

‘Don’t you ever make a rookie mistake like that again, Ruby. You could have had a mid-air crash and killed yourself and the other pilot!’

‘I’m sorry,’ she managed.

‘You get yourself sorted in here,’ May said, tapping her head, ‘or go home.’

She’d vowed then and there not to let Lizzie or Tom get in her head again, but it was proving easier said than done, especially when Lizzie hadn’t put a foot wrong. Not once.

‘Hello, ladies,’ Lizzie called out, bowing dramatically on the runway in front of them as if to rub Ruby’s nose in how incredible she was. ‘Textbook perfect?’ she asked, looking at May.

Ruby struggled not to roll her eyes.

‘It was a perfect flight,’ May agreed. ‘It’s a shame our newest American arrival wasn’t here to watch you, though.’

‘An American? Who?’ Lizzie demanded. ‘I have full control over every American pilot who joins us here!’

Ruby laughed at the look on Lizzie’s face. It was the first time she’d ever seen her rattled and it was impossible not to be amused.

‘I thought you might have received word, but no matter.’

Lizzie scowled. ‘I don’t like surprises, so whoever authorised this will have me to answer to. I don’t appreciate being blindsided.’ She almost seemed to have steam coming out of her ears. ‘Who is she?’

‘It’s a he, not a she, and his name is Captain Montgomery. He’s one of your country’s top pilots, apparently, but he was injured recently and spent time recuperating nearby. Unfortunately he’s still recovering, so he hasn’t been able to return to active duty yet,’ May said, and Ruby could have sworn she was enjoying herself. ‘But he’s been sent to assist us on the ground with operations and keep an eye on his fellow American pilots, from what I understand.’

‘Brilliant,’ Lizzie fumed. ‘So I’m to play second fiddle to some cripple just because he’s an American?’

‘Who exactly are you calling a cripple?’ boomed a deep male voice from behind them.

Ruby turned, eyes wide as her gaze fell on an American soldier in full dress uniform, his right arm in a sling. His blond hair was cropped short, his face tanned and his eyes as blue as the sky on a cloudless day. He nodded at both her and May, then fixed his regard on Lizzie and positively glowered at her. Lizzie’s nostrils flared, her eyes narrowing as she stared confidently back. Ruby couldn’t have been more transfixed if she’d been at the opera.

Lizzie seemed dumbfounded for a moment. ‘Well, I see you’re still rather capable after all. My mistake,’ she finally said, and stepped forward. ‘Elizabeth Dunlop. Pleased to meet you.’

‘Captain Jackson Montgomery,’ he said, clasping her hand.

‘And you’re here because?’ Lizzie asked.

Ruby traded glances with May, trying to hide her smile. This was exactly the little pick-me-up she needed.

‘To keep an eye on you, I suppose,’ he said. ‘I’ve been told you might need to be brought down a peg or two – is that what you British say?’

‘Yes,’ Ruby said. ‘I think you’ve got a very good grip on the local terminology and the pilot in question, actually.’

Lizzie glared at her, but for once Ruby didn’t back down. She already liked this Montgomery fellow.

‘Well, I don’t know what on earth you think you’ll do here with one arm. You’ll be as useless as a bull with teats, I suspect, but stay out of my way and I’ll stay out of yours.’ And with that, Lizzie stomped off.

Ruby stepped forward. ‘It’s a pleasure to meet you,’ she said, extending a hand. ‘I’m First Officer Ruby Sanders.’

‘The pleasure is all mine,’ he said politely, his blue eyes warm now that Lizzie had gone. ‘Tell me, is she always like that?’

It was clear from his brief nod to May that they’d already met, and Ruby wondered if May had been waiting all morning to land this bombshell on Lizzie.

‘Yes, unfortunately,’ Ruby told him. ‘But she’s one of the best fliers here and she knows it, so I suppose she can behave that way.’

She caught May’s frown and turned away slightly.

‘Well, she’s certainly the most confident,’ he said. ‘It seems my fellow countrywoman could do with a lesson or two in manners. You know, I was watching both your flights just now. And she might be a show-off, but you’re a solid pilot. Good work up there.’