The Spitfire Girls(44)
Lizzie decided to show the crowd below exactly what she was made of one last time, doing a slow roll in the ginormous Halifax before bringing it down and coming to a halt close to where she’d started. It might be a beast, but it was a beast she had full control over.
She’d done it! The flight had been perfect, and she’d even shown them that she could outmanoeuvre the enemy if she needed to with her perfect roll. Ruby had played by the book, but she’d shown them exactly how versatile she could be.
Lizzie climbed down, laughing as Ben helped her, taking off her flying helmet and running her fingers through her hair.
‘What did you think?’ she asked him, used to his ready smile and words of encouragement. ‘Was that a perfect run, or what?’
Ben said nothing, only pointed towards May and mumbled something she couldn’t decipher. Lizzie shrugged, unconcerned, and sauntered off, surprised to see Ruby staring at her feet and May looking furious. Where were Major Grey and Captain MacMillan?
‘So how did we do?’ Lizzie asked as Ruby slowly met her gaze.
‘How did you do?’ May asked, her face reddening as she lifted her chin and glared back. ‘How did you do?’
‘I wasn’t aware it was a loaded question,’ Lizzie teased, wondering why May looked so angry. ‘What’s going on?’
‘You embarrassed not only your commander, who has so generously hosted you here, but your country, Lizzie. Not to mention that Grey and MacMillan both stormed off in disgust before you even landed,’ Montgomery snapped, stepping forward. ‘It was a very easy decision to concur with them and tell Senior Commander Jones that I don’t believe you’re deserving of the first bomber flight for the ATA, and she wholeheartedly agreed with me.’
Lizzie baulked, and heard Ruby gasp.
‘Excuse me? Did you not see me up there?’ she asked, looking between them. ‘Is this a joke?’
‘No, Lizzie, this is no joke,’ May said, shaking her head, her eyes filled with such obvious disappointment that Lizzie stepped closer, only to be rebuffed as May stepped quickly backwards. ‘You took off before it was safe to do so and then attempted to entertain us with theatrics that had no place in your test, or in a Halifax, full stop. Flying recklessly like that could put an end to women being cleared to fly four-engine bombers at all! It’s as if you missed the entire point of this exercise and what we’ve been training for.’
‘May, please . . .’ Lizzie blinked away tears. Had she been so reckless? Had May truly believed in her so much, in her ability, and she’d thrown that respect away?
‘The decision has been made, and that’s final,’ Montgomery interrupted. ‘Rivalry is one thing; it helps to push pilots to their limits and encourages them to do their best. But you went too far.’
‘Too far?’ She lifted her chin, not about to let them treat her like this, even if she was struggling not to cry. ‘With or without your support, I know I’m the best pilot here. I’m going to make a name for myself in the sky just like my father did, and neither of you can stop me!’
‘You’re excused, Elizabeth,’ Jackson said.
‘Excused?’
‘Excused,’ he repeated. ‘And you’re nothing like your father. He would have been ashamed of you today.’
His words were a blow, but she refused to back down. ‘My father would have been proud to watch me fly like that! How dare you talk about him as if you know him!’
Montgomery walked closer, so close she could feel his breath on her face. ‘Our fathers were in the same squadron,’ he said, so low she doubted anyone else could hear. ‘And I know that your daddy flew for the team, for his squadron, and if they hadn’t been there supporting him, protecting him from enemy fire, he never could have had his victories.’
She stared back at him. ‘I don’t believe you.’
‘Ask him yourself, then,’ he said, backing away. ‘But your father wasn’t always the big gun out the front. He supported his crew and they supported him. There’s no point being the best out front if there’s no one on your tail or to your side to back you up.’
‘Congratulations, Ruby. You flew a perfect, textbook flight today, and you are a talented, respectful pilot who deserves to represent the ATA by being the first woman to ferry a four-engine bomber,’ May said in a loud voice, her back turned to Lizzie now. ‘We are all so proud of you.’
Ruby’s cheeks were flushed, and Lizzie couldn’t stop her mouth from falling open. Shivers raced down her spine as she stared at the people in front of her, unable to comprehend what had just happened. And how dare Montgomery act as if he knew anything about her father’s victories!
‘You know she’s not as good as me!’ Lizzie fumed, anger lashing through her body in waves.
‘I was speaking honestly in London, Lizzie. You were neck and neck until today, and I supported you both equally all the way, but the decision was simple in the end,’ May said bluntly, giving her no more than a cursory glance. ‘The best pilot has been given the honours, and that’s final. Depending on the success of Ruby’s first flight and your own conduct, you’ll be cleared to ferry four-engine bombers within the month, too.’
‘You spineless bastard!’ Lizzie screamed at Montgomery. ‘How could you not support me? How can you not see how capable I am?’