Winter of the World

‘I’m so sorry. Poor Joanne. Poor Woody.’

Their food came, and a bottle of wine. They ate in silence for a while. Daisy discovered that Mock Duck did not taste much like duck.

Charlie said: ‘Joanne was one of two thousand, four hundred people killed at Pearl Harbor. We lost eight battleships and ten other vessels. Goddamn sneaky Japs.’

‘People here are secretly pleased, because the US is in the fight now. God alone knows why Hitler was dumb enough to declare war on the States. But the British think they have a chance of winning at last, with the Russians and us on their side.’

‘Americans are very angry about Pearl Harbor.’

‘People here don’t see why.’

‘The Japanese kept on negotiating right up until the last minute – long after they must have made the decision. That’s deceitful!’

Daisy frowned. ‘It seems sensible to me. If agreement had been reached at the last minute, they could have called off the attack.’

‘But they didn’t declare war!’

‘Would that have made any difference? We were expecting them to attack the Philippines. Pearl Harbor would have taken us by surprise even after a declaration of war.’

Charlie spread his hands in a gesture of bafflement. ‘Why did they have to attack us anyway?’

‘We stole their money.’

‘Froze their assets.’

‘They can’t see the difference. And we cut off their oil. We had them up against the wall. They were facing ruin. What were they to do?’

‘They should have given in, and agreed to withdraw from China.’

‘Yes, they should. But if it was America that was being pushed around and told what to do by some other country, would you want us to give in?’

‘Maybe not.’ He grinned. ‘I said you hadn’t changed. I’d like to take that back.’

‘Why?’

‘You never used to talk like this. In the old days you wouldn’t discuss politics at all.’

‘If you don’t take an interest, then what happens is your fault.’

‘I guess we’ve all learned that.’

They ordered dessert. Daisy said: ‘What’s going to happen to the world, Charlie? All Europe is Fascist. The Germans have conquered much of Russia. The USA is an eagle with a broken wing. Sometimes I’m glad I don’t have children.’

‘Don’t underestimate the USA. We’re wounded, not crushed. Japan is cock of the walk now, but the day will come when the Japanese people shed bitter tears of regret for Pearl Harbor.’

‘I hope you’re right.’

‘And the Germans aren’t having things all their own way any longer. They failed to take Moscow, and they’re on the retreat. Do you realize the battle of Moscow was Hitler’s first real defeat?’

‘Is it a defeat, or just a setback?’

‘Either way, it’s the worst military result he’s ever had. The Bolsheviks gave the Nazis a bloody nose.’

Charlie had discovered vintage port, a British taste. In London men drank it after the ladies had retired from the dinner table, a tiresome practice that Daisy had tried to abolish in her own house, without success. They had a glass each. On top of the martini and the wine, it made Daisy feel a little drunk and happy.

They reminisced about their adolescence in Buffalo, and laughed about the foolish things they and others had done. ‘You told us all you were going to London to dance with the King,’ Charlie said. ‘And you did!’

‘I hope they were jealous.’

‘And how! Dot Renshaw went into spasm.’

Daisy laughed happily.

‘I’m glad we got back in contact,’ Charlie said. ‘I like you so much.’

‘I’m glad, too.’

They left the restaurant and got their coats. The doorman summoned a taxi. ‘I’ll take you home,’ Charlie said.

As they drove along the Strand, he put his arm around her. She was about to protest, then she thought: What the hell. She snuggled up to him.

‘What a fool I am,’ he said. ‘I wish I’d married you when I had the chance.’

‘You would have made a better husband than Boy Fitzherbert,’ she said. But then she would never have met Lloyd.

She realized she had not said anything to Charlie about Lloyd.

As they turned into her street, Charlie kissed her.

It felt nice to be wrapped in a man’s arms and kissing his lips, but she knew it was the booze making her feel that way, and in truth the only man she wanted to kiss was Lloyd. All the same she did not push him away until the cab came to a halt.

‘How about a nightcap,’ he said.

For a moment she was tempted. It was a long time since she had touched a man’s hard body. But she did not really want Charlie. ‘No,’ she said. ‘I’m sorry, Charlie, but I love someone else.’

‘We don’t have to go to bed together,’ he whispered. ‘But if we could just, you know, smooch a while . . .’

She opened the door and stepped out. She felt like a heel. He was risking his life for her every day, and she would not even give him a cheap thrill. ‘Goodnight, Charlie, and good luck,’ she said. Before she could change her mind, she slammed the car door and went into her house.

She went straight upstairs. A few minutes later, alone in bed, she felt wretched. She had betrayed two men: Lloyd, because she had kissed Charlie; and Charlie, because she had sent him away dissatisfied.