Page 17 of The London Girls
‘He’s the one who helped me up earlier,’ Florence whispered. ‘I don’t think he was very impressed that we were even here today.’
‘I didn’t even notice him,’ Olivia murmured.
‘Me neither,’ Ava said, running her eyes over him and noticing a little scar on his face that ran through his top lip. He didn’t smile, and she wondered why he looked so morose. ‘Where was he standing? With those Navy boys?’
The girls didn’t get a chance to reply before his eyes fell on them.
‘Ladies, I’m afraid only three of you have made it through today. If I read your name, please stay and receive your instructions. Those of you who don’t hear your name, you may leave and we thank you for your time.’
Ava held her breath as she waited, hearing first Olivia’s name, along with a commendation, and then another, before finally hearingWren Williamsonfall from his lips. She gave him her most dazzling smile, surprised when she didn’t receive a smile in return. It wasn’t like he was her type, he was far too plain for her, but she wasn’t used to men not finding her attractive.
‘Wren Hughes, we see huge potential in your vehicle-driving abilities, so someone will be in touch with you about potential positions, most likely driving an ambulance with the volunteer brigade.It will be a departure from your current employment as a Wren, and the choice is entirely yours, but we think it’s worth considering, given your aptitude. They are desperately seeking competent drivers.’
‘Thank you, sir,’ Florence said. ‘I’m prepared to be wherever the assistance is required.’
Ava glanced away from him to give Florence a quick wave, sad that her new friend was departing, but she was happy to at least have Olivia with her. She was also pleased that Florence had something to look forward to; she’d proven herself to be a spectacular driver, so today hadn’t been a complete disaster for her.
‘I’m Captain George Robinson, and for the next three weeks, beginning Monday, I’ll be coordinating your training,’ he said, nodding to the much older commander, who stepped forward and addressed them all again.
‘Ladies, if you succeed in your training, you’ll be partaking in one of the most dangerous activities in all of London and we need you to be able to ride fearlessly, no matter what the conditions. You must be prepared to risk your life to deliver each memo you’re entrusted with.’ He paused for a moment. ‘I’m now going to leave you in the capable hands of Captain Robinson; however, I’ll be keeping a close eye on your individual development. Good luck.’
Ava noticed that he seemed to look at Olivia the entire time he spoke, and she tried not to be jealous. But the truth was,shewas used to being the one who commanded the attention of a roomful of men without so much as batting an eye. She shook the thought away, refusing to be anything other than happy for her new friend. This was not the time to be jealous.
‘Over the course of the coming weeks,’ Captain Robinson said, addressing them again, ‘you’ll be taught how to ride at high speeds and through difficult terrain, how to react fast to changes around you, how to camp out overnight if need be, and also howto maintain your motorcycles. There will be no mechanic waiting to work on your bike at the end of each day, or anyone coming to rescue you if you suddenly break down an hour or more from headquarters.Youand only you will be expected to maintain and fix your motorcycle as required, to keep her running perfectly so that you’re always ready for the next assignment. This is not a job for the faint-hearted, so if you don’t think you can do it, then don’t bother turning up on Monday.’
Ava glanced down at her nails. She kept them clipped fairly short, but she loved how manicured her hands looked and she cringed at the thought of her skin being stained with grease or her nails caked with grime. Surely she could find someone to do that work for her?
‘For the record, I’m not a fan of women being in this role, but we are faced with a desperate shortage of riders. So, for the time being, you lot will have to do.’
Have to do?She bristled at his words, forgetting all about her manicure. Suddenly all she wanted to do was show this smug captain exactly what women were capable of. What was it with all the men in her life thinking women weren’t capable of anything!
‘You’ll be issued uniforms on Monday, but I suggest you wear something appropriate that first morning. If you have trousers in your wardrobe, Monday is the day to wear them. Skirts are not appropriate attire for your training.’
Her parents would have a fit seeing her in trousers, but in all honesty, her father was going to have a fit either way, so perhaps trousers would be the least of her worries. Telling them she’d made it on to the training programme wasn’t going to go well, not if her father’s threats were anything to go by, so it might be better to simply get changed before training each day. If only she could live away from home, it would make being duplicitous about her work all the more easy. She fisted her hands, trying to push thoughts ofher father from her mind. When he became angry, he was unpredictable, and she knew better than to underestimate how angry he’d be if he found out she’d disobeyed him.
‘You,’ Captain Robinson suddenly said, taking a step towards her.
Ava swallowed, forcing herself to look him in the eye. ‘Sir?’
‘I suggest wearing something heavy next week if you want to pass the physical during training,’ he said. ‘We don’t generally take applicants of your stature; however, as you can see, it’s slim pickings for new recruits, and you didn’t embarrass yourself with your ability earlier, so I’m prepared to make an exception.’
‘Yes, sir.’
She smiled, hoping it didn’t look as false as it felt. Ava didn’t need anyone to tell her she was too small; it was something her mother had always praised her for as one might praise the fattest goose ahead of Christmas – as something she should have been immensely proud of. But this past year, all her weight had done was threaten to hold her back from what she wanted to do. She’d barely made it into the WRNS, and heaven forbid she’d wanted to become a pilot – she wouldn’t have stood a chance. Even with her bottom padded with cushions she’d never have been tall enough to see out of the cockpit window! It was the first time in her life she’d realised that her looks and her beautifully tailored clothes weren’t enough, despite what her mother had always told her.
Captain Robinson slowly looked at each of them in turn, seeming to study them individually. ‘Ladies, the memos you’ll be delivering are of the utmost importance. I’m going to tell you the same thing I told the men who held these jobs before you, and that you’ve already heard from Commander Mac.’ He cleared his throat, as if the words were difficult to get out. ‘You deliver your documents, even if it kills you. You could be tasked with delivering a memo with sensitive information that could change the course of the war,which means that you have to be prepared to risk everything – to do anything within your power – to do your job.’
A shiver ran through Ava that left goose pimples forming across her skin, as she suddenly understood the enormity of what she was signing up for. In the beginning, all she’d seen was the freedom the position would give her, but now she could see that this job was truly her chance to prove how capable she was, to show everyone just how much she could achieve when given the chance.
‘One last thing, ladies,’ he said. ‘You may call me George.’
George?‘Not Captain Robinson?’ Ava asked, surprised.
‘As far as I’m concerned, you might be Wrens but you’re still women, not enlisted servicemen. George will do just fine.’
She watched him walk away, not sure if she liked him or hated him. She settled on the latter; his attitude was deplorable.
‘What an arse,’ she muttered.
