The Song of the Nightingale

Chapter Ten:

I was feeling much better. Naturally, my first objective was to check in with my subordinates.

I was sitting in front of my telegraph. (Which had recently gone off)

I read my message.

THIS MESSAGE IS TO BE DELIVERED TO ARTHUR J. KIRKLAND IMMEDIATELY STOP

FROM THE WAR OFFICES OF MISTER WINSTON CHURCHILL STOP

I TAKE IT THAT YOU ALREADY KNOW ABOUT THE LATEST AIR RAID ON LONDON STOP

THE CITY IS IN RUINS AND THE PEOPLE NEED THEIR COUNTRY STOP

YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH I CAN DO TO REASSURE THEM STOP

IT WOULD BRIGHTEN THEIR SPIRITS IF THEY COULD ONLY SEE HOW STRONG YOU ARE STAYING STOP

I EXPECT YOU TO MAKE PLANS TO REPORT BACK TO HEADQUARTERS IN LONDON AS SOON AS YOU READ THIS STOP

I LOOK FORWARD TO DISCUSSING OUR NEWEST STRATEGIES WITH YOU STOP

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON STOP

I blinked.

He wants me to report to London... Immediately?!

I was ever so tempted to throw the damned machine at the wall in front of me.

I have to stay here with Francis!
He needs me...

I pondered.

Maybe I need him too...

I scowled at the crisp telegraph.

I jumped as another message started coming through.

TOPIC STOP CRISIS STOP

FROM THE WAR OFFICES OF MISTER WINSTON CHURCHILL STOP

ARTHUR YOU MUST REPORT ASAP STOP

YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE TECHNICALLY AWOL STOP

I HAVE SENT WORD THAT YOU ARE TO BOARD THE ELEVEN HUNDRED TRAIN TO LONDON STOP

DO NOT MISS YOUR CARRIAGE OR IM AFRAID I WILL HAVE TO ENACT SERIOUS REPERCUSSIONS STOP

I felt my eye twitch.

"Those damned Jerries!" I yelled emotionally. "None of this would be happening if they would just admit defeat!"

I hear the machine begin to click, but I was too upset to put up with it any longer. I picked it up, and ripped the paper out, leaving it to press ink onto the black, cylindrical, plastic roll.

I didn't notice Francis standing behind me.

"Arthur..." He massaged my shoulders, obviously attempting to calm me down. "It's alright...You have your duty to your people. I can't expect you to put me in front of them."

No, you git...It's not okay! Who the bloody hell is supposed to hold me when I feel like the world is falling apart? Who is going to fall asleep next to me while my capital gets bombed? Who will be there to kiss me when I'm sobbing my eyes out?

I thought, tears threatening to spill over onto my face.

"Thank you for understanding." I choked out apathetically.

"I'll be back as soon as I can, Francis."

I stated flatly.

I tensed as he pulled me in and kissed me on my cheek.

"I'll be counting the minutes until then, mon amour." He smiled playfully at me. "Don't worry about leaving me here, Lapin. You won't be gone long anyways, and I can hold my own." He backed away from the embrace. "Besides, I have a promise I made to a handsome British officer that I need to keep." He chuckled as I felt a blush heat up my cheeks.

I checked my wristwatch.

"Damn. My train leaves in twenty minutes! I need to sneak back to the station."

I stumbled out of the door.

"I'll see you soon, Francis!" I called back to him.

He smiled and waved at me.

The sooner.

I thought to myself.

The better.