“Destiny?” Fairchild said, looking stricken.

“Abso—”

“Absolutely not,” Mary cut in before he could ruin things even more completely, “and I fail to see how making a wrong turn constitutes expert driving. And the reason we met was because I couldn’t tell a flying bomb from a motorcycle.”

She turned to Fairchild. “Did you say there was a trunk call for me? I’d best go take it.” She started for the door. “It was nice seeing you again, Flight Officer Lang.”

“Wait, you can’t go yet,” Stephen said. “You still haven’t said you’ll go out to dinner with me. Bits, convince her I’m not a bounder.”

You are a bounder, Mary thought. You’re also an utter fool. Can’t you see the poor child’s in love with you?

“Tell her what a nice chap I am,” he said to Fairchild. “That I’m entirely trustworthy and upstanding.”

“He is,” Fairchild said, looking as though she’d been cut to the heart. “Any girl would be lucky to get him.”

“There, you see? You have my little sister’s endorsement.”

“Oh, but the two of you must have tons of catching up to do,” Mary said desperately. “Childhood memories and all that. I’d only be in the way. You two go.”

“I can’t,” Fairchild said, managing somehow to keep her voice natural. “I must go fetch a shipment of medical supplies for the Major.” And Stephen at least had the decency to say, “Can’t you get one of the other girls to go in your place?”

“No. We’ll do it next time you come. You go, Kent.”

And if I do, Mary thought, watching her make her escape, she’ll never forgive me. She might not forgive her anyway, but Mary had no intention of making it worse than it already was. “I really must go take that call from HQ,” she said, “and if it’s about what I think it is, I won’t be able to go to dinner either.”

“Then tomorrow.”

“I’m on duty, and I told you, I don’t believe in wartime attachments. There must be scores of other girls dying to go out with you.”

“None I knew in a previous life. The day after tomorrow?”

“I can’t. I really must take that call.” She started for the door.

“No, wait,” he said and grabbed her hands. “I haven’t thanked you yet.”

“I told you, I didn’t save your life. Tottenham Court Road is a very long road, and—”

“No, not for that. This is about the V-1s.”

“The V-1s?”

“Yes. Do you remember how you managed to slip out of my grasp just as I was about to kiss you before Bits and Pieces came in?”

“About to kiss—”

“Yes, of course. That was the entire point of all that Babylon rot, don’t you know?” he said, grinning. “And just as I thought it was working, you eluded my grasp, more’s the pity.”

“I thought you were going to tell me about the V-1s.”

“I was. I am. You did the same thing that day you drove me. Twice. My line of attack was working splendidly, and then suddenly I found myself totally thrown off course, even though I’d never got near enough to lay a hand on you.”