Page 27 of The London Girls
‘I was. But after what happened to my family, I just couldn’t carry on with it.’
‘I was training to be a teacher,’ Olivia told them. ‘Now I’d just be happy for Leo to come home so we can get married. All I’ve ever wanted was to have a family of my own.’
She and Florence both looked at Ava then.
‘How about you, Ava?’ Olivia asked.
‘Honestly, I’d never thought about a career. I expected to find some dashing man to save me from my father, or go travelling around Europe, but the war began just after my debutante ball which ruined everything for me.’
Olivia watched Ava as she drained her glass of champagne.
‘But none of that matters now, does it? Besides, you’re not the only one with a man.’
Olivia almost choked on her drink. ‘Please tell us that this is someone new and not your married man?’
Ava’s smile was wicked as Florence’s mouth hung open.
Olivia’s heart sank for her friend. ‘What about his wife?’
Ava shrugged. ‘He’s chosen me,’ she said. ‘He loves me.’
‘You’re going to get your heart broken, Ava, not to mention you’ll break his wife’s heart in the process if she finds out. Surely you can meet some gorgeous single man – look at you!’
Ava gave her the same defiant look she’d seen her give George at training. ‘Not that it’s any of your business, but he’s going to leave his wife for me. He’s barely seen her in months; she’s living with family in the country. It’s already over as far as he’s concerned.’
Florence looked rather pale, and Olivia knew she needed to change the subject. She certainly didn’t approve of Ava’s behaviour, but what more could she say?
‘And you trust him?’ Florence asked. ‘That he’s going to end his marriage for you?’
‘Of course I trust him!’
‘Just be careful. I don’t want to see you get hurt,’ Olivia said.
‘I’m a big girl,’ Ava said dismissively. ‘I’ll be just fine.’
Olivia wasn’t so certain Ava was going to be fine, but she knew it wasn’t her place to say anything more, and as a band started to play, she closed her eyes for a second and wondered where Leo might be. It had been a month since his last letter, and she missed him terribly.Don’t you forget to come home to me, Leo. I’ve so much to tell you, and I can’t wait for you to see me on a motorcycle. I’d give anything to see the look on that handsome face of yours when you come home!
CHAPTER SEVEN
AVA
‘Absolutely not!’ George folded his arms across his chest. ‘Take it off immediately.’
Ava smarted at his order, folding her own arms as she stood in front of him, not liking the way he was speaking to her. She had half a mind to ask him what his problem was.
‘What’s wrong with a little pink ribbon?’ she asked. ‘I just want to be able to glance over and recognise my bike. I don’t see why you’re so upset. Besides, it might even give me luck.’
‘This is a Navy-issued dispatch motorcycle, not a little girl’s toy,’ he said. ‘Your disobedience is unacceptable.’
‘I’m sorry, but you’ve gone to great lengths to tell us that we’re not real Navy personnel, hence your decision for us to call you George, and now—’
‘You’re treading a very fine line, Ava,’ George muttered. ‘I’m warning you, there’s only so long I’ll put up with your insolence. Our lack of dispatch riders doesn’t mean I won’t fire you.’
‘Sir,’ she said, trying not to smirk. ‘George, I mean. I only wanted to make it feel like mine. My intention wasn’t to upset you, quite the opposite in fact. Perhaps if you just let me have it today, so as not to jinx this ride? I put it there for good luck and I can be quite superstitious.’
He threw his hands up in the air and muttered something she didn’t hear, but Ava just continued to stand there and smile, eventually holding out her hand.
‘Do you have my first message for me to deliver?’ she asked sweetly.
