The Oslo Affair (Shadows of War, #2) by CW Browning (read after .txt) 📗

was only pure chance that brought him here today. If the plane he’d been flying hadn’t developed mechanical issues, she probably would never have seen him again. The thought sent a dart of dismay through her and she frowned in reaction. It was just her luck. She finally met a man who was interesting and worth getting to know better, and they were in the middle of a bloody war. It was really quite impossible.

She reached the end of the thickly carpeted hallway and started down wide shallow steps. It was probably just as well. She didn’t have time for any kind of relationship, and neither did he. Never mind that they had spent the entire afternoon laughing, or that he had the same sense of humor as herself. It didn’t matter that when she was with him she felt perfectly at ease and comfortable. Tomorrow she had to return to Scotland and he would go back to Duxford. And that was an end to it.

“Hallo.” A voice spoke behind her and Evelyn turned to see the man himself coming down the stairs behind her. He was dressed in his RAF uniform, a navy and white spotted silk neckerchief tied at his throat. “I'm not late, am I?”

“If you are, then so am I,” she said with a smile, pausing to wait for him.

“It’s very kind of your mother to entertain me like this,” Miles said, joining her. “It can’t be easy for her.”

“I think it might be the best thing for her, to be honest. She’s always loved having people to stay. Even though it’s only for one night, it’s a distraction for her, and a welcome one at that.”

“That’s a relief, at any rate.” He glanced at her as they went down the steps. “And you? Do you mind having your brother’s reckless friend hanging about?”

“Are you reckless?”

“’Course I am. I’m a pilot. Stands to reason I must be. No one with any sense would choose to go up when you can remain with your feet planted safely on the ground.”

“I must be reckless myself, then. I can think of nothing I’d like more!” Evelyn said with a laugh.

Miles grinned and his eyes met hers. “Really?”

“Oh yes. I’ve always wanted to fly. It just never came to be. And so I content myself with driving my car very fast and associating with people like you.”

“Touché,” he laughed. “Is that why you joined the WAAFs?”

They reached the ground floor and Evelyn turned towards the drawing room.

“Of course! Why else?”

“Do you know, Evelyn, I think I’m really starting to like you.”

She shot him a look full of mischief.

“Oh, I wouldn’t do that, if I were you,” she warned teasingly. “I’m dreadfully dull when you get to know me. I am an Assistant Section Officer, after all.”

He raised his eyebrows and looked horrified. “Good God, are you really? That sounds jolly official.”

“It does, doesn’t it?” Evelyn laughed. “And jolly ugly, too. Don’t get too comfortable with me. I fully expect to start growing warts soon.”

Miles held open the door to the drawing room for her.

“I think I’ll take my chances,” he murmured as she passed through.

“There you are!” Rob exclaimed from the other side of the room, a drink in his hand. “We were about to send out a search party!”

“Sorry I’m late down,” Evelyn apologized, moving forward to kiss her mother’s cheek. “I was reading and lost track of the time.”

“I have no such excuse, unfortunately,” Miles said behind her. “I’m afraid I might have dozed off.”

“We’re very informal here,” Mrs. Ainsworth assured him with a smile. “Never mind Rob. He’s just teasing.”

“What are you drinking, Miles?” Rob asked, setting down his glass and moving over to the sideboard where an array of bottles was set out.

“I’ll take a sherry, thanks.”

“And you, Evie?”

“I’ll have the same.” Evelyn sank down onto the love seat next to her mother. “Have you both been waiting long?”

“Not at all,” her mother said. “How was your ride this afternoon?”

“It was lovely. You were right. The fresh air was just what I needed.”

“Of course I was. You were looking quite strained, but you seem much better now.”

Evelyn looked up to accept a glass of sherry from her brother.

“Did you know that Miles hunts?” she asked him. “You should bring him round at Christmas and we’ll go out on Boxing Day.”

“Hunting on Boxing Day?” Miles asked, seating himself in a chair across from her.

“It’s a bit of a family tradition,” Rob explained, leaning against the mantle. “Been doing it for years. Course, now with Dad gone...”

His voice trailed off and Evelyn swallowed.

“We really must keep it going,” Mrs. Ainsworth said after a moment. “You know it’s what he would have wanted. It was always such fun.”

“And he wouldn’t want us to mope around,” Evelyn agreed. “We all know that.”

“This is all assuming that we’ll be able to celebrate Christmas this year,” Rob said. “Lord knows where any of us will be.”

“They’re saying in town that the war won’t last that long,” Mrs. Ainsworth said. “It may be all over by Christmas.”

“I wouldn’t bank on that, if I were you,” Evelyn said. “But that doesn’t mean we won’t be able to come home.”

“I hope you can,” her mother exclaimed. “I can’t bear the thought of spending Christmas alone.”

“But you won’t be alone, will you?” Rob asked. “Auntie Agatha is coming to stay. If we can’t get back, I’m sure she’ll stay on.”

“Oh, did you hear from her?” Evelyn looked at her mother.

“Yes. A letter came by the afternoon post. She’ll be arriving at the end of the week.”

“Oh good. That does make me feel better! Now I don’t have to worry about you rattling around in the house all alone.”

“Yes, but Agatha is such an old goat sometimes,” her mother grumbled. “I just know we’re going to rub against each other like wire wool.”

“At least you’re going into it with the right mind set,” Rob said with a grin. “Less disillusionment that way.”

Evelyn was surprised into a gurgle