in the early throes of going mad arranging everything. Now I think they believe I have the names of other eligible London bachelors in my address book, and can initiate introductions to Elaine—who, I might add, is probably quite a handful for whoever takes her on.”
“Is she?”
“Well, independent, certainly—and such a good aviator, very much her father’s daughter. But on the other hand, she’s easygoing, likes to laugh and have fun. She lights up the room that one, but of course, she’s twenty-one, perhaps twenty-two now, as far as I know, so her mother thinks she’s on the shelf.”
“Heavens, what does that make me?”
James laughed, then continued to talk about John Otterburn. It was when he spoke of Otterburn’s friend Winston Churchill—the man whose beliefs and plans Otterburn was secretly supporting, by putting money into the design and testing of agile aircraft suited to combat in the air, rather than in the destruction of what lay below—that Maisie saw a deep respect and regard in his eyes, a loyalty and commitment that would take him across an ocean to be of service.
“Since Churchill’s speech in August, about Germany’s rearmament, John has been like a man possessed,” said James. “Elaine and Johnny—his son—will also be flying in Canada, so heaven knows when he thinks he will be able to find a suitor for his daughter. But that’s by the by. In the meantime, I think no one could be blamed for being worried about Germany.”
“I know. I’ve seen things in the papers I never imagined I might see. So I know why you have to go—you don’t have to persuade me, James. I do understand. What was it Churchill said? That there was grave reason to believe Germany was seeking to arm herself, despite the treaties signed in Paris.”
“Oh, he’s got Ramsay MacDonald’s number. This government has put forward ideas about allowing Germany to be on a par with France, in terms of armament—and they’ve been encouraged by our friends across the Atlantic, too. But Britain has to be as strong as possible—as he said, and I swear, I believe this will go down in history, ‘Britain’s hour of weakness is Europe’s hour of danger.’ ”
Maisie reached for James’ hand. “That’s why I understand why you have to go to Canada, James. Truly I do.”
James nodded. “Yes, I know.” He paused. “But you do know, India’s not looking much like a picnic at the moment.”
“I may not go to India. Who knows, we may be trying Polynesian dishes next.”
“Give me a chance to digest this one, eh?”
Later, with James sleeping soundly beside, her, Maisie looked out at the night, though no stars could be seen through a thick blanket of low cloud. Foghorns blasted along the river, starting loud, then echoing into the distance. Where will I be by Christmas? And the fact that she could not answer both thrilled and scared her at the same time. She would be leaving not a place that she disliked or people she could stand no longer, but instead she would be—perhaps for a short sojourn, perhaps for longer—leaving everything she loved most. She thought of all those in the world who were moving beyond the boundaries of their everyday lives, and upon whom the stars stood sentinel each night. There were the many Jews leaving Germany, bound for a new life in Palestine—some sixty thousand over the next six years, according to newspaper reports of the recent Haavara Agreement. A world away from the streets of Munich or Hamburg or Berlin; families were trying to find a place for themselves in a barren desert. And look at the people who had teemed into her own country. Gypsies from Bohemia, who had brought color with their flouncing skirts and stuttering language. Maltese grocers and purveyors of Italian coffee. There had been Indian sailors—lascars—who had remained in Britain when their ships docked, many to marry Englishwomen and merge into life on the streets of London. And there was Usha Pramal and Maya Patel, women who had come to another land with trusted employers, only to find themselves cast out. People leaving home with hope in their hearts. That’s what she clutched, a hope in her heart that “abroad”—a place in itself—might be the final step in bringing her home to herself. It was only then, she knew, that she could stand alongside another, could perhaps consider and accept James’ proposal and be his helpmeet, wife, and lover, for life.
She remained awake for some time, consideration