Page 21 of Wicked Deceptions
He smiles and we continue to walk, engaging in light conversation along the way. He really is charming.
When we get to my door, I turn toward Ben and say, “Thank you again. You definitely made a terrifying situation a little less scary.”
He smiles. “It was my pleasure.”
I turn and begin to walk up the steps toward my door. He touches my arm gently to stop me, causing me to turn back to face him. “Katie, I’d like to see you again.” He makes it sound like we have just returned from a first date or something. Well, if your first date is hiding in the Piccadilly tunnels praying the bombs don’t get to you. I can’t help the giggle that escapes at the thought.
I haven’t dated anyone since I moved to London. After what I have been through lately, I gave up on men. Though, I guess Ihavebeen waiting for the handsome Lieutenant Stanley; after all, it’s all part of the job. The thought of finally connecting with my mark makes me smile. “I’d like that,” I reply, and I am so thankful it’s dark out because I can feel the heat rise in my cheeks.Why in the world am I blushing?
Before he turns to leave, he says, “I’ll be in touch. Now get yourself safely inside.”
I nod and go unlock my door. Once I am inside my flat, I watch him linger on my front stoop for a few seconds and then he turns to leave.
Chapter 10
London, England
December 1917
Over the course of the last several weeks, I’ve anxiously waited for Ben to ask me out on a date. To my disappointment, I’ve only seen him a couple of times, and he’s never brought it up. I had assumed that him saying he’d like to see me again meant a date. Could I have misjudged him so erroneously?
It’s now two weeks before Christmas, and I have given up hope. I guess I will be spending another holiday alone. I try not to think about him and his charming smile, but it’s so bloody hard. This is a time for family, and Idon’t have any family left. I miss my family, and the holidays were always so special in Russia. Perhaps I am just longing for company or someone to share them with, even if it can never be anything more than a mission that will soon end.There was a time I was very close with my family. It is true what they say; war changes everything. I can attest to that. I was hoping Ben would change things for me this year, but he can’t. Nothing can change things, but at least he can make it bearable.
Today, Adam is letting me off work early, because I worked late last night, to tend to some personal errands. I want to buy a few things for Jenny and some of the other girls I work with for Christmas. Everyone has been so nice to me since I came, I feel it would be a nice gesture to repay their kindness. I really hate shopping alone, especially at Christmastime, but if I want to do this for them, then I have to do it while I can.
Even though the war is still raging, things have been unusually slow at the office for the last week or so. Mr. Balfour has been away on holiday, which I am sure is a contributing factor. As I am cleaning my desk and getting my things together to leave for the day, a very familiar voice says, “Hello, Katie.”
I turn around, knowing exactly who is addressing me, and I smile brightly. “Ben!” I’m sure I am being overly excited, but I have been feeling so down lately, the fact he is here and talking to me is truly making my day.
“Are you leaving?”
“Yes, Adam gave me the afternoon off. I have some errands to run in town.”
“Wonderful! Would you like some company?”
I know I must be beaming from ear to ear, but I can’t help it. I wasn’t wrong after all. I am so happy to be talking with him, and the thought of spending the afternoon with him sounds perfectly lovely. “Of course, I would like that very much.”
“Good.” He holds out his arm for me to take and then says, “Shall we?”
I take his arm happily. What I thought was going to be an awful day has now turned into something I am genuinely looking forward to. I look up at him as we leave the building. He is such a nice and kind man.
Ben and I spend the afternoon perusing shops, and it has been a very productive day. I found a lovely wool scarf for Jenny that I absolutely can’t wait to give to her. I picked up some specialty teas for some of the other ladies and also purchased a new jumper for myself. I usually don’t buy things for myself, but Ben insisted I get it because he loved the way it looked on me. How could I refuse? I haven’t had this much fun in months, and I forgot how much I missed it, until today.
After we spend the majority of the afternoon shopping, Ben suggests an early dinner, and I readily agree. I am famished. Assuming we would stop at some sidewalk café and get something quick and light, I am surprised when he takes me to Wiltons. Never did I think I would dine at Wiltons while I was here. Wiltons is the oldest restaurant in London, dating back to the mid 1800s. I’ve always wanted to go here, but it is a bit pricey for me and definitely for a class well above my own. It’s the type of place that emanates wealth and prestige.
Once we are inside, Wiltons is as beautiful as I imagined, but it is not a dramatic place. It has pale golden walls and green velvet chairs. The carpets are decorated with a curling “W” and are most elegant. The restaurant does not allow much for self-worship, as it is obviously a sanctuary catering to regular customers, who are indeed rich and sometimes aristocratic. It’s posh and very English, with the air of confidence the establishment deserves. I’m quite impressed and in awe of the place. I hope the food is just as good.
The food is just not good; it’s excellent. A silver carving trolley trundles through the restaurant. It holds a turkey—a vast headless thing served with stuffing—pigs in blankets, bread sauce, and solitary roasted potatoes, seared and sliced like a packet of crisps. It’s a spread unlike anything I have ever seen.
Over dinner, we talk about everything. Ben tells me he has been with the Royal Flying Corp for a little over two years. He’s worked hard to move through the ranks, and he is one of the very few lieutenants and pilots of his age with a high-level security clearance. His parents live in Derbyshire, just west of Chesterfield, and he’s planning on going home for the holiday. He has a younger sister, who just turned eighteen and will be attending university next fall. And an older brother who will be taking over the family business.
“My life is not nearly as exciting as yours.” I know I can’t tell him where I am really from, so I stretch the truth a bit. “I lost my parents when I was very young, and I have no siblings. I learned at a very young age to take care of myself.” I don’t elaborate on my life anymore. It’s a touchy subject and one I really don’t like to talk about, and at this point, I need to be careful not to reveal too much about myself. My background is definitely not a topic I would choose to discuss with Ben. “Once I graduated from stenography school, I worked in various typing pools until I moved to London and landed my job at the Admiralty.”
“So you are not from London?”
“No, I’m from Carlisle.” I lie again. He can’t know, no matter how nice he is.
“That’s pretty far north.”
