A Regimental Affair (17 page)

‘Colonel.’

‘Yes.’

Ginny swallowed. ‘I want a posting.’

‘Oh.’ Bob wasn’t entirely surprised. ‘I don’t suppose I need to ask you on what grounds?’

‘Personal reasons.’

‘Yes. I thought as much.’

‘When you speak to my postings branch, could you ask them to make it sooner rather than later?’

‘You can’t go before the end of the tour here.’

Ginny gave him a stony look. ‘I may be an embarrassment for you to have around, Colonel, but I’m not stupid. Of course I know I have to finish here first.’

Bob felt his face flood with colour. He wasn’t used to being put down like that and it was unpleasant. ‘No.’ Bob fiddled with his fountain pen while he regained his composure. ‘Is there anywhere you would particularly like to go?’

‘I thought the south of England, the far south-west if possible. I’ve relatives that way – my sister and her family.’

‘There will be questions asked. Do you want me to suggest that as a reason – that you need to be nearer your sister?’

‘Why not?’ said Ginny tiredly. ‘The truth isn’t an option, so does it matter what the lie is?’

Again Bob felt a twinge of shame. ‘Right,’ he said and took the top off his pen and made a note. ‘I won’t pretend that I like this decision of yours. Even though you’ve only been serving with the regiment a short time I can see the contribution you have made to it has been valuable. You’ll be a hard act to follow.’

‘Do you want me to tell my successor that she may be expected to fulfil other duties apart from pushing paper about? She might not be quite as good at sex as me but I could give her a few tips.’

‘That was uncalled for,’ said Bob quietly. ‘And I think you are forgetting that whatever else has happened between us, I am still your commanding officer.’

It was Ginny’s turn to blush. ‘Sorry,’ she mumbled.

‘Apology accepted.’

‘Thank you.’

‘Is there anything else?’ Ginny shook her head. ‘If you could ask Richard to pop in and see me on your way out?’

‘Yes, sir.’

A couple of minutes later Richard appeared in his boss’s office. ‘You wanted me?’

‘Sit down, Richard. Ginny has just announced she wants a posting.’

‘Good heavens. What brought that on?’

Bob looked him in the eye. ‘I think it’s got something to do with her sister, but I didn’t like to pry too much. She’ll be with us until we return from Kosovo, naturally.’

Richard nodded thoughtfully. ‘Well, that could explain things.’

‘Explain what?’

‘Why she’s been so moody. I thought it might have been something to do with the accident but if she’s worried about Netta, it makes much more sense. It just didn’t seem in character for Ginny to be rattled by an accident. Nerves of steel that one. But her sister? They are very close.’

Bob felt a twinge of worry. ‘I didn’t know you knew her sister.’ He hoped he sounded casual. If Richard was
au fait
with Ginny’s family, the lie about the posting might easily get found out. Talk about tangled webs!

‘Oh, I’ve not met her. But Ginny’s always talking about her and her huge brood of children.’

‘I didn’t know.’

‘Yes, she’s got four and a fifth on the way. Perhaps it’s all a bit much for her. Perhaps her health isn’t too good. I’ll have to ask Ginny if that’s what she’s worried about.’

‘Well, as I said, I wouldn’t pry too closely. Ginny wasn’t very forthcoming.’

‘Oh.’ Richard was surprised. ‘Oh, if you really think so.’

‘Mmm, yes.’

‘Have you seen this in the
Mercury
?’ said Sarah to Debbie as she pulled the newspaper clipping out of her handbag like a magician with a rabbit. The regimental wives, or those that could be bothered to turn up, had gathered in the ante-room of the sergeants’ mess for the monthly wives’ club coffee morning. The décor always reminded Sarah of a steak and chips restaurant – red plush upholstery, lots of wood panelling and a dark red and black swirly carpet. Still, it was warm and comfortable, the coffee was hot and the mess chef had produced a tantalising selection of cakes and biscuits.

‘You don’t mean to tell me that you get the
Mercury
?’ said Debbie.

‘Only when Alisdair’s away. When he’s home I wouldn’t dare, but I just love the gossip in this one, don’t you?’

‘Totally. Anyway, what is it that’s so fascinating?’

Sarah passed over the article. While Debbie was reading it, Lou joined them and peered over Debbie’s shoulder.

‘She’s got it absolutely right, this woman,’ said Debbie. ‘Especially the bit about COs’ wives.’

‘Ssh,’ warned Sarah, who was aware that Alice was only a few yards away.

Debbie glanced up and saw the danger. ‘Oops,’ she said. She finished reading and handed the article to Lou who was only halfway through.

‘God, this bit about the CO’s wife!’ squealed Lou in a stage whisper, snorting back a giggle. ‘It’s Alice to a T. God, isn’t it scary to think there’s more than one like her?’

‘Terrifying,’ said Debbie. ‘Hey, do you think it’s what happens to you when your old man gets to be a colonel?’

‘Hope not,’ said Sarah, who was nearer the prospect than the other two. The three of them suddenly got a fìt of the giggles and dissolved into peals of laughter.

‘Dunno where she got her stuff from but it’s spot on,’ said Debbie, regaining control of herself ‘All those things that drive us all nuts. I almost felt I could have written that article.’

Lou finished it and handed the cutting back to Sarah. ‘So what’s the connection between this woman – what’s her name …?’

Sarah glanced at the byline. ‘Tabitha Alabaster.’

‘… and the army?’ finished Lou.

‘It doesn’t say. She doesn’t name names though. Not proper ones,’ said Sarah.

‘Hardly surprising,’ said Debbie. ‘I mean it’s hardly very complimentary, and if the CO finds out which of the wives in his regiment has been talking to the press, he’s bound to have the husband in for an “interview without coffee”.’

‘Who would have an “interview without coffee”?’ said Alice, shoehorning her way into their group.

‘Oh, no one really,’ said Sarah.

‘Not one of your husband’s in trouble, surely?’

‘No nothing like that,’ said Sarah. ‘We were just talking about the dangers of talking to the press without permission.’ She hoped the other two would realise she was deliberately keeping the subject general. She didn’t think Alice would appreciate the newspaper article.

‘Why, has someone been selling their soul?’

‘Hardly,’ said Lou. ‘Just some article Sarah saw in the
Mercury
.’

Alice raised her eyebrows. ‘The
Mercury
! Fancy reading that.’

‘Yes, well,’ said Sarah, wishing Louise hadn’t delivered that bit of information to Alice. She shot her a look and Lou looked faintly sheepish for a moment.

‘Was that what you were reading just now?’ asked Alice.

Hell
, thought Sarah. She really hadn’t wanted Alice to see it but she could hardly deny it now. If Alice read it she might guess that they had all been giggling about her – in an oblique way.

‘Can I see it?’

‘Of course,’ said Sarah, pulling it out of her bag again. She handed it over and as Alice turned her attention to the clipping, Sarah raised her eyebrows at the other two women as if to say ‘now we’re for it’.

They stood patiently while Alice read through the feature. They could tell by the tightening of her lips when she got to the bit about the CO’s wife. Sarah wondered if Alice would realise the cause of their laughter. But then she consoled herself with the thought that Alice seemed to have the self-knowledge of a baked bean and so probably wouldn’t.

‘Well,’ said Alice with a disapproving sniff, ‘it all seems very disloyal. Fancy talking to the press like that. And as for what some of the wives said about other wives to this reporter, really!’

For ‘other wives’, read the CO’s wife
, thought Sarah. ‘Yes,’ she said out loud. ‘I expect half of it was made up. You know what journalists are like.’

‘Actually, I’m pleased to be able to say I don’t,’ said Alice tartly. She handed back the cutting and moved off. She had gone about two paces when she stopped and turned back to the group. ‘But you’re quite right, I would imagine that the army will take a very dim view of the wife who talked to the press. I would imagine her husband will be in very hot water.’ And then she swept off.

‘That told us,’ said Sarah rolling her eyes. ‘I think she guessed what we were laughing about.’

‘Oh, who cares,’ said Debbie defiantly. ‘Silly old bag. You know what they say: if you can’t take a joke you shouldn’t have joined.’

‘Well,’ said Sarah. ‘Maybe we were a bit unkind.’

‘No, we weren’t. Right, more coffee anyone?’

Chapter Eleven

‘Any other news?’ asked Debbie. Her voice sounded tinny over the satellite phone link.

‘Oh, yes. Ginny’s asked for a posting.’

‘A posting! No! Why?’

‘Dunno. She’s been really low since the accident. There’s obviously something troubling her. To begin with I thought it might be a reaction to having such a close call.’

‘I can’t see Ginny getting post-traumatic stress,’ said Debbie.

‘Exactly, but it now seems as though it might be something to do with Netta.’

‘She’s not lost the baby?’

‘Debbie, I haven’t a clue. I don’t think so, but Ginny’s really withdrawn at the moment. Colonel Bob doesn’t think we ought to pry, but I don’t know. What do you think? You’re a woman, surely you have an idea.’

‘It’s a bit difficult to know from this distance. I mean, if I was talking to her face to face it would be different. And if it was Netta’s baby I can see Ginny being a bit upset, but it’s not the sort of thing that would make her depressed.’

‘Yeah, you’re probably right. It must be something else but goodness knows what. She’s just so miserable. Not like her normal self at all. And she’s been like that for about three weeks now – ever since the crash, in fact.’

‘When is she due back?’

‘In a fortnight. I’m sending her home with the first lot.’

‘How about I arrange to meet her at Brize Norton?’

‘Would you?’

‘Course. Danny and I could do with a trip out. Tell Ginny it’s all fixed. Don’t take no for an answer.’

‘Debbie, you’re a star. See if you can’t work your magic on her and cheer her up.’

‘OK. Love you.’

‘And you. Big hugs to Danny.’

Richard put the phone down feeling a little better. Ginny’s listlessness and general unhappiness was really beginning to worry him. He’d never known her like this. Her work was fine. In fact, it was better than fine as she didn’t seem to do anything else but work, eat and sleep. She never relaxed with the others. When the junior officers had gone into the local village for a pizza she had just shaken her head and muttered something about catching up with a backlog of work. When they’d tried to organise a volleyball match – a sport Ginny excelled at – she had refused to take part, saying she wasn’t in the mood. Everything about her seemed so out of character, it was almost as though the woman the recovery team had rescued off the mountain were some sort of changeling. A couple of times Richard had asked her if she wanted to talk about what had happened and had been shocked at the ferocity with which she had declined. Not wishing to be told to mind his ‘own bloody business’ again, he hadn’t pried any more.

Richard had asked the REME captain who had dragged the Land Rover back up the slope if he thought the accident had been particularly bad. The captain had voiced the opinion that it might have been nasty but not so bad as to leave a lasting mental scar.

‘I mean, I’m no expert, but I’ve seen lots worse, honest,’ he’d said. ‘It didn’t roll for a start. It would have been a bit of a roller-coaster going down that gradient of slope but no one got badly hurt. Usually it’s when there’s a death or really serious injury that the surviving victims seem to go through some sort of guilt trip. But then that’s men. Dunno about women. Perhaps they get upset by more minor ones.’

Perhaps women
are
different
, thought Richard. Perhaps they reacted differently to that sort of brush with danger, but he was no psychologist. He didn’t know. He asked the doctor but he refused to give an opinion unless he examined the patient, and, as she hadn’t asked to see him, there was nothing he could do.

‘Well, tell her
you
want to see her,’ he had snapped in exasperation.

‘On what grounds?’

‘You want to check how her cut is healing up.’ But Ginny had told the doctor it was fine and said she wasn’t going to take up his time.

Even though it was still two weeks away, Richard felt relieved that Debbie was going to have a chance to talk to Ginny. Ginny’s misery was so deep it was almost tangible, and he was very worried about her. He hoped that talking to another woman might unlock whatever the problem was. The other officers didn’t seem to care, or perhaps they didn’t notice, but then Richard didn’t think they knew Ginny as well as he did. It was so completely out of character, he knew there had to be something serious behind it. And despite what Colonel Bob had said about it being to do with her family, Richard had a sneaking suspicion that there was more to it than that. A little part of his brain was telling him that it had more to do with the day of the accident than anything else. He couldn’t help asking himself exactly what had happened the night Ginny and Bob were trapped together on the mountain, and he couldn’t help finding that he reached the same answer every time. Then he dismissed his notion as preposterous and put the whole thing out of his mind.

‘Debbie!’ called Ginny across the concourse of the RAF airport.

‘Ginny!’ Debbie rushed forward, Danny toddling behind as fast as her fat legs would carry her.

‘It’s so good to see you again. And look at Danny! How she’s grown. And so good at walking – running, even.’ Ginny threw down her bags and swung Danny up in her arms then, almost crushing the little girl, she hugged Debbie. ‘It’s so good of you to come and collect me. I could have easily got the coach back with the lads.’

‘No way. And I want to have a chance to catch up on all the news. To find out what it was really like out there. Richard is hopeless at that sort of thing. God, it’ll be good to have you back. It’s been like death warmed up in the barracks with the regiment away.’