The Spitfire Girls(41)

She was seething, but not at him. She didn’t like being taken for a fool, and she could just imagine a tableful of men sitting pleased with themselves for getting women to do the same job as men, but for so much less. Why had she never thought to investigate this before now?

Jackson grimaced. ‘You’re paid twenty per cent less, May. It’s grossly unfair,’ he murmured. ‘But that information hasn’t come from me.’

Her mouth went dry. A whole 20 per cent less? For the same job?

‘You needed to know so you could work out costings in the event your country allows women to fly. That’s why, isn’t it?’ May asked, everything falling into place. ‘Please don’t tell me the United States government will try to do the same thing if they establish a flying squadron?’ She felt foolish, stumbling over things she hadn’t even processed properly. She suddenly wished Lizzie was with her to hear all this, and she scanned the room to see if she’d arrived – Lizzie was being paid the same as the rest of them as an ATA pilot, but she’d be interested to hear about the disparity and that the same might happen in the US. ‘I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. Please don’t feel you have to answer.’

Jackson nodded and looked between her and Ben. ‘You’ll be discreet?’

May nodded, finally spotting Lizzie and waving her over. ‘Of course. But I intend to ask for equal compensation.’

He held up his glass again. ‘And so you should.’

‘Jackson?’ Lizzie said as she joined them, looking Jackson slowly up and down.

‘Nice to see you too, Elizabeth,’ Jackson said. ‘Don’t you look stunning tonight in your dress uniform!’

‘Well, I . . .’ Lizzie started, her cheeks turning pink. May wasn’t surprised she was stuck for words; Jackson did look awfully handsome all dressed up in his tux with his hair slicked back. She wished she’d worn a dress, but it had seemed more appropriate for them all to wear the uniforms they were so proud of.

‘You might not have recognised my dashing date. Seems Ben scrubs up rather well too, don’t you think?’ May said.

Lizzie raised a brow at Ben, still speechless, before turning back to Jackson.

‘Where’s Ruby?’ May asked.

‘She’s just powdering her nose. I said we’d meet her over there, where it’s not too busy.’

‘Let’s head over now,’ Jackson said. ‘Hopefully we’ll pass a waiter with drinks.’

Lizzie seemed to regain her composure, clutching her purse as she nodded and strode off ahead of him. May stifled a laugh as the crowd parted instantly.

‘Would you like my advice?’ Ben asked, leaning in so close that she could smell the woody scent of his cologne. ‘Because I can tell you’re chewing over that nugget of information like a dog worrying a bone.’

May nodded, wishing she weren’t so transparent. Or perhaps it was only because he knew her so well. ‘Of course.’

‘Just ask for it outright. Go for it – ask for what you deserve and don’t hold back.’ He caught her hand. ‘You deserve to be paid the same, May, because we can’t win this war without your pilots delivering those planes.’

May took a deep breath. ‘Thank you,’ she said. She felt lighter than she had in a long time. ‘I . . . I hope you know how refreshing it is to have a man like you around.’

‘So you’ll ask for it?’

‘I promise I will. I’m not going to take this on the chin, that’s for sure.’

Ben tugged on her hand. ‘Come on, we need to get another drink before Churchill finally arrives and wants to talk your ear off for the rest of the evening with a bunch of boring old farts. I need to enjoy your company while I can!’

May burst out laughing, and realised she hadn’t laughed so hard since sitting around her parents’ table with Johnny and his friends before the war. The memory was sobering but she tried to push past it, clinging tighter to Ben’s arm as she fought to stay in the moment, to actually let herself have fun.

‘Thank you, Ben,’ she whispered. ‘I needed you here with me tonight.’

She couldn’t breathe when Ben’s eyes met hers, his body close as his gaze dipped to her lips then moved up again.

‘It’s nothing,’ he said, but she heard a huskiness in his voice that hadn’t been there before. ‘We’re friends, right? That’s what friends do for one another.’

May bit down on the inside of her mouth, relieved when he started walking again. ‘Yes,’ she murmured. ‘Friends.’

‘Is that Ben?’ May turned at Ruby’s shriek, and saw that her friend had joined Lizzie and Jackson. ‘Well I never!’

‘He’s mine,’ May quipped, clutching his arm. She meant it as a joke, but it came out sounding oddly serious and she wondered who she thought she was kidding.

Then Jackson gathered them all together in a conspiratorial sort of way. ‘Ladies and gents, I can’t speak on behalf of my president, but I have a little secret that you might be interested in,’ he said.

They all crowded around.

‘Tell us immediately,’ Lizzie demanded.

Ben exchanged glances with May. Jackson certainly was a fountain of information tonight!

‘The first lady is planning a visit, and after meeting with the prime minister’s wife, they’ll be coming to tour White Waltham,’ he said. ‘I expect you’ll all want to be there on the day.’