mind, and was quick to learn. He seldom had to explain anything twice to her.
He glanced across the office where she was busy working. What was going to happen to her when he returned to his regiment? That day was fast approaching, and the problem was beginning to play on his mind. George had his own staff, so there wasn’t an opportunity there, and he had been making discreet enquiries here at the War Office, but there didn’t appear to be any vacancies at the moment. He hadtold her at the start that the job with him probably wouldn’t last for long, of course, so he shouldn’t be worrying about it. But he was, and he now understood why James had been so protective towards her. She had suffered a great loss, but she had kept going with courage and determination, keeping her grief a private emotion. If only he could find some way to take her with him. She was a competent driver now, but he couldn’t declare that he needed a driver when he was doing everything to prove he was fit again for active service. He could run faster than Sergeant Dickins, and the man was like a hare. He was having a final training session tomorrow, and then a medical examination later in the week. They couldn’t declare him unfit for duty now. He was stronger than he had ever been. Grace was going to be given a driving test by one of the transport instructors. She had been taught by the best and at least he had been able to do something for her.
It had been more than generous of them all to give of their free time like this, and to show his appreciation he was going to invite them to London for an evening at the Savoy Hotel. Grace, as well, of course. She had put up with a lot from him, and she had never complained.
‘How do you feel about the test?’ Dan asked Grace, as they headed out of London the next morning.
‘Nervous,’ she admitted. ‘I hope I’m good enough, because we won’t be coming here again, will we?’
‘No, this is the last session for both of us.’ Dan cast a quick glance at her. ‘I’m fully fit again. The sergeant has done his job well. I wouldn’t have made such rapid progress without him.’
‘They have been very kind, and I have enjoyed the challenge of learning to drive.’ She tried to keep her tone bright, but to be honest she was feeling a little sad. This wasn’t just the end of the early morning trips – it was more than that. He hadn’t said anything, but it didn’t take a genius to know that her job with him was coming to an end. The change in him was remarkable. The limp had completely disappeared, and for such a big man, his movements were now quite graceful. She smiled to herself. That seemed a silly thing to say about a man who exuded power and strength, but that was how she saw it. And that was what the medical examiners would see. There was no doubt in her mind that he would be declared fit for active duty again.
Helen had settled into whatever she was doing, and was happy. They wrote regular long letters to each other, but never mentioned their jobs. Everyone was continually reminded not to talk, as you never knew who was listening.
Grace had been lost in thought and hadn’t noticed the miles slipping away, so she was surprised when he stopped.
‘You drive now,’ Dan told her, getting out of the car and holding the door open for her. ‘Don’t look so worried. You need practice before we get there.’
Now she really was nervous. This was the last thing she had expected him to ask her to do. He adjusted the driver’s seat so she could reach the pedals. It had been pushed right back to accommodate his long legs. At five feet eight inches, she was by no means short, but he was over six feet.
‘That seems right,’ he said. ‘Can you reach the pedals easily?’
‘Yes, that feels fine. Thank you.’
He adjusted the passenger seat, and got in. ‘All right, Grace. You know the way by now.’
She drew in a deep, silent breath, and started the car, concentrating hard to
He glanced across the office where she was busy working. What was going to happen to her when he returned to his regiment? That day was fast approaching, and the problem was beginning to play on his mind. George had his own staff, so there wasn’t an opportunity there, and he had been making discreet enquiries here at the War Office, but there didn’t appear to be any vacancies at the moment. He hadtold her at the start that the job with him probably wouldn’t last for long, of course, so he shouldn’t be worrying about it. But he was, and he now understood why James had been so protective towards her. She had suffered a great loss, but she had kept going with courage and determination, keeping her grief a private emotion. If only he could find some way to take her with him. She was a competent driver now, but he couldn’t declare that he needed a driver when he was doing everything to prove he was fit again for active service. He could run faster than Sergeant Dickins, and the man was like a hare. He was having a final training session tomorrow, and then a medical examination later in the week. They couldn’t declare him unfit for duty now. He was stronger than he had ever been. Grace was going to be given a driving test by one of the transport instructors. She had been taught by the best and at least he had been able to do something for her.
It had been more than generous of them all to give of their free time like this, and to show his appreciation he was going to invite them to London for an evening at the Savoy Hotel. Grace, as well, of course. She had put up with a lot from him, and she had never complained.
‘How do you feel about the test?’ Dan asked Grace, as they headed out of London the next morning.
‘Nervous,’ she admitted. ‘I hope I’m good enough, because we won’t be coming here again, will we?’
‘No, this is the last session for both of us.’ Dan cast a quick glance at her. ‘I’m fully fit again. The sergeant has done his job well. I wouldn’t have made such rapid progress without him.’
‘They have been very kind, and I have enjoyed the challenge of learning to drive.’ She tried to keep her tone bright, but to be honest she was feeling a little sad. This wasn’t just the end of the early morning trips – it was more than that. He hadn’t said anything, but it didn’t take a genius to know that her job with him was coming to an end. The change in him was remarkable. The limp had completely disappeared, and for such a big man, his movements were now quite graceful. She smiled to herself. That seemed a silly thing to say about a man who exuded power and strength, but that was how she saw it. And that was what the medical examiners would see. There was no doubt in her mind that he would be declared fit for active duty again.
Helen had settled into whatever she was doing, and was happy. They wrote regular long letters to each other, but never mentioned their jobs. Everyone was continually reminded not to talk, as you never knew who was listening.
Grace had been lost in thought and hadn’t noticed the miles slipping away, so she was surprised when he stopped.
‘You drive now,’ Dan told her, getting out of the car and holding the door open for her. ‘Don’t look so worried. You need practice before we get there.’
Now she really was nervous. This was the last thing she had expected him to ask her to do. He adjusted the driver’s seat so she could reach the pedals. It had been pushed right back to accommodate his long legs. At five feet eight inches, she was by no means short, but he was over six feet.
‘That seems right,’ he said. ‘Can you reach the pedals easily?’
‘Yes, that feels fine. Thank you.’
He adjusted the passenger seat, and got in. ‘All right, Grace. You know the way by now.’
She drew in a deep, silent breath, and started the car, concentrating hard to
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