By the time Billy had got compassionate leave and arrived home, Lizzie had made it through that first long night and the next few days. She was still in the Leeds hospital, though there was a promise of her being transferred to Sheffield as soon as she was fit enough to travel.
‘We’ll hire a private ambulance, if necessary,’ Emily promised Bess, ‘and I’ll settle any hospital bills. You mustn’t worry about a thing.’
Bess wiped her eyes. ‘You’re very good to us, Emily luv.’
Although Emily had to return to Sheffield, she arranged for Bess to stay at the hotel in Leeds for a week, at the end of which she planned to bring her home. But she was willing to take her back any time she wanted to go until Lizzie could be transferred. Bess was at her daughter’s bedside each day for as long as the hospital would allow. But now Lizzie was out of danger, her visitors were restricted to the regulation hours.
‘Though we’ll bend the rules for her husband when he gets here,’ the sister told them. ‘We do a lot of rule-bending for the armed forces,’ she added, with a smile.
Emily had had little chance to speak to Lizzie alone, but on one of her visits when Bess left them briefly, Lizzie grasped Emily’s hand and whispered urgently. ‘He came.’
‘Who, love? Who came?’ She wondered if Lizzie was slightly delirious. She was often drowsy from the sedative.
‘Andrew – the – the RAF lad. I didn’t know he’d survived the bombing that night. I – I thought he must have been killed.’
Emily said nothing; she didn’t want to admit to Lizzie that she’d thought she’d seen him follow them out of the hotel.
‘I don’t know how on earth he found out about my accident, but he just turned up here.’ Tears filled Lizzie’s eyes. ‘He never said a word. He didn’t even speak to me. He just took one look at me, turned and left the room. He’s not been back.’
‘Good,’ Emily said stoutly. ‘Good riddance, I say. The man who really loves you is on his way home, Lizzie. He should be here tomorrow.’
Now the tears ran down her cheek. ‘I’ll have to tell him.’
Emily was thoughtful for a moment. Though she couldn’t ever imagine being unfaithful to Trip, she tried to imagine what she would do in Lizzie’s place, and she decided that, yes, she would confess.
When Billy arrived the following morning, it was outside normal visiting hours, but he was allowed in to see his wife briefly.
He kissed her uninjured cheek gently and sat close to the bedside, holding her hand.
‘Thank God you’re alive,’ he said huskily. ‘Don’t worry about a thing, darling. Just get better.’
‘I’m so sorry, Billy. I don’t know how you’re going to forgive me.’
‘Don’t be silly. It’s not your fault. I admired you for going into munitions, but you must have known the risk? I just wish you’d let me know where you were, though, and that you’d written to me a bit more.’
‘No – no, it’s not that. It’s – it’s something else. Billy – while you’ve been away—’
‘Don’t, Lizzie. Please, don’t say any more. Whatever it is, I don’t want to hear it.’
Already Billy had guessed what it was Lizzie was about to tell him. When he had arrived at the hospital, a young nurse had taken his name and said, in a surprised tone, ‘Oh, you ’re her husband. But I thought . . .’ Then the girl had stopped suddenly, turned bright red and had led him swiftly to Lizzie’s room, scuttling away in embarrassment. But it had been enough – more than enough – for Billy to guess that there had already been another visitor.
He leaned closer and whispered, ‘Just tell me it’s over, Lizzie.’
When she nodded, he patted her hand and smiled. ‘Just remember I love you with all my heart, Lizzie. I always have and I always will.’
‘But my face. I’ll be scarred for life.’
‘Not to me,’ Billy said, bravely. ‘To me you’ll always be beautiful.’ But inside his heart was breaking for her.
After a whole week’s compassionate leave, Billy went back to Sheffield before he had to return to duty. He called in to Emily’s home one evening. ‘I have to go back tomorrow, Emily. I don’t have to ask you to look out for Lizzie and her mam, ’cos I know you will. They’re transferring her back here next week, they think, but it’s when she’s out of hospital that I’m worried about. Her wounds are healing remarkably well, but . . .’ He stopped and bit his lip. There was obviously something else bothering him and Emily had a shrewd suspicion she knew what it was. She was unsure just how much Lizzie had told him and she didn’t want to make matters worse.
So she just said, ‘As soon as she’s well enough, I’ll see what I can find for her to do. She won’t be able to go back to munitions or to the buffing. For one thing, they don’t know if her arm will heal completely yet, do they?’
Billy shook his head.
‘And she mustn’t get any dirt in her facial wound either, so I’ll see what I can find for her. Maybe she could help out in the shop with your mother.’
‘Maybe, but she’s so upset about her face. I don’t reckon she’ll want to go out in public. She – she seems so depressed – I’m afraid she—’ He stopped, unable or afraid to put his terrible fear into words.
Emily touched his arm and said softly, ‘I’ll look after her. We all will. I’ll talk to your mam when Lizzie’s feeling better. See what we can come up with.’
He frowned. ‘I don’t know if she’ll be able to work and Bess is getting on in years. I send my pay home, of course, but . . .’
‘Now, you really needn’t worry about that, Billy. We’ve been through some tough times before and come through them. We’ll look after both of them, you have my word.’
His worried expression lightened and as he stood up to go, he hugged her swiftly. ‘Thanks, Emily. I don’t know what we’d do without you. Your strength and courage keep us all going.’
The following week, Lizzie was brought to a Sheffield hospital but it was another two weeks before she came home. She was still weak and sunk in gloom. Bess fussed around her, but it wasn’t until Emily went to see her in the evening that Lizzie brightened up.
‘Mam’s driving me mad,’ the girl confided in a low whisper. ‘Fuss, fuss, fuss. She won’t let me lift a finger.’
‘Well, it’s high time you did. And it’s time you came out for a little walk each day or you’ll never get stronger.’
‘I can’t go out, Emily. I couldn’t bear the stares and the pointing fingers.’
Emily put her head on one side and regarded her friend thoughtfully. ‘And why would they do that, pray?’
Lizzie laughed wryly, but tears filled her eyes. ‘Look at me! I’ll have kids following me in the street, shouting “Quasimodo” after me or worse.’
‘He was a hunchback.’
‘And ugly. Like I am now.’
Emily stood up suddenly. ‘Well, if you’re going to sit here and drown in self-pity, Lizzie, I’m going. I’ve better things to do and other people to help.’
‘Don’t go, Emily. Please don’t go. No one else comes to see me.’
Emily frowned as she sat down slowly. ‘What do you mean? You’ve had a stream of visitors. Mrs Bayes has been several times and Nell’s called, I know that.’
Emily saw the surprise in her eyes. ‘I have? I – I didn’t know. Mam must have stopped them coming in.’
Emily pursed her lips and said, ‘Mm.’
For the first time since the accident, Lizzie smiled, though her smile was a little lopsided. ‘Oo-er. I know that look and the ominous “Mm”. I wouldn’t be in Mam’s shoes.’
Emily laughed. ‘I’ll go easy on her. She only wants what’s best for you, but hiding yourself away, Lizzie, isn’t the best thing.’ She leaned forward. ‘Don’t you think our lovely city is scarred after all the bombing and a lot of folk have been injured? And what about the ones who’ve been killed? Don’t you think their families would give anything for them still to be alive, even if they were maimed? Sadly, you’re not the only one, love.’
‘I know, but it doesn’t make it any easier.’
‘No, I know that.’ Emily took her friend’s right hand in hers and squeezed it. ‘But what I’m trying to say is that people understand. They won’t laugh, because, sadly, they’re getting used to seeing wounded folk just like you.’
Lizzie gave a heavy sigh. ‘You’re right, Emily. Of course you are and I will try. Maybe tomorrow . . .’
As Emily left the house, she found Bess busy in the kitchen. She put her arm around the older woman’s shoulders. ‘Let visitors in to see her, Mrs Dugdale, there’s a love. It’ll do her the world of good.’
Bess wiped her eyes with the corner of her apron. ‘I can’t bear for them to see her like that. She was so pretty, Emily. I can hardly bring myself to look at her, ne’er mind strangers.’
‘We’re not strangers. And, like I’ve just said to her, there are countless folk in our city in the same boat. Soldiers wounded in the war, civilians injured in the bombing and in accidents like the explosion where she worked. And there’re a lot worse than Lizzie. One of those girls alongside her had lost her leg. At least they managed to save Lizzie’s arm and she’s getting the use of her hand back, isn’t she?’
Bess nodded. ‘But her face. What about her face?’
‘She’ll have to be very brave – and so will you. She’s going to go out tomorrow and start to face the world again.’
But tomorrow turned into two days, then three and, a week later, Lizzie had still not ventured out.
In the south of England, Harry continued to fly his Spitfire. The Battle of Britain was deemed to be over, but fighter pilots were still fully occupied with various duties. After a particular tiring tour, Harry requested permission to see the Commanding Officer. But first he had to get past the CO’s watchdog; Flight Lieutenant Hartley.
‘And this is about?’ Hartley asked him as he stood smartly to attention in front of the man.
‘I’d like to request permission to go home for a few days.’
‘Why?’
‘A close family friend has been injured in her place of work. I don’t know details – it’s all very hush-hush – but Lizzie has been badly hurt. Burned, so I understand.’
Hartley was staring up at him and his next words came out in a strangled whisper. He cleared his throat and repeated his question. ‘Who is this Lizzie exactly?’
‘Lizzie Nicholson. She’s been friends with my Aunt Emily for years.’
‘Is she – married?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘And – where is her husband?’
‘He’s in the army, sir.’
There was a long silence whilst Hartley shuffled his papers. Then he cleared his throat again and said, ‘It’s not really policy to allow you to go home for the illness or – or injury – of a friend. However, if it had been a member of your family, that would have been different – even if it had been your Aunt Emily – we would have considered it, but I’m afraid it’s out of the question.’ As if relenting a little and making a generous gesture, the flight lieutenant motioned towards the telephone on his desk. ‘But I could allow you to telephone home and make enquiries, if you like.’
‘That’s very good of you, sir. I would like to. I can phone my uncle at his works. He’ll likely have the latest news.’
‘If you know the number, then help yourself.’
Harry hesitated a moment as the man made no move to leave him alone in the office to make his private call, but then he moved forward and picked up the receiver.