Page 3 of The London Girls
‘So, can I stop worrying about you running off and riding a motorcycle?’
‘You’ll barely see me once I’m back downstairs, so it won’t matter what job I have,’ she said, trying to sound bright, not liking that he was telling her what to do all of a sudden. She hoped her attempt at lightening the situation would work. ‘I think riding motorcycles sounds like quite the adventure actually, and you haven’t even seen me in trousers before. You might find you like it.’ She didn’t have the nerve yet to tell him why the job might work to their advantage, hoping she hadn’t read the situation wrong.
‘I doubt very much that I’d prefer a pretty girl like you in trousers,’ he muttered.
He didn’t say anything else, but she could sense his disapproval resting like a heavy cloak over her shoulders. Ava settled into her chair, ignoring it as best she could, and began typing up the notes from the meeting, at the same time trying not to get carried away with her thoughts. But a motorcycle dispatch rider?A shiver of anticipation ran through her as she imagined herself on a bike, racing around London delivering messages, being free. Before the war, her aspirations hadn’t amounted to more than finding a dashing man to marry and escaping the tense atmosphere of her parents’ house, but now she found herself loving the freedom of having a job and doing things she’d never dreamed of doing before.
She smiled to herself as she typed, forcing herself to slow down lest she make an error and have to redo the memorandum all over again.
Somehow, she needed to find out more. Perhaps she could create an excuse to go back to the Navy section and beg the other Wrens to find out information for her? Surely she wasn’t the only one excited about the opportunity?
‘Sailor?’
She cleared her throat and glanced back. ‘Yes, sir?’
‘Have you ever actually ridden a motorcycle before?’
Ava kept her composure, not even turning to face him. She was surprised he was still thinking about it. ‘No sir, I haven’t.’
‘Well, good, that’s one less thing for me to worry about. I doubt you’d even stand a chance.’
Ava let out a long, slow breath, not wanting him to know how badly she wanted it, or how much she hated being spoken to like that. As a child, she’d liked to defy anyone who underestimated her, and nothing had changed since then. But she refused to let his words sting, not before he knew one of the main reasons she was considering it in the first place. He’d shown her so much respect in the past, which was why his rebuke about her abilities hurt all the more. It was only days ago he’d told her she was so pretty and clever, and now he suddenly didn’t think she was even capable of learning something new!Just say it. Tell him why you really want to do it.
‘Do you remember when you asked me to meet you late one night, and I had to decline?’ she asked, turning in her chair and keeping her voice low.
His smile told her that he definitely remembered; it had been her first Friday on the job, the first time she’d wondered if he was possibly as smitten with her as she was with him.
‘Well, imagine if I hadthisjob? I’d have an excuse to be out every night if I needed one. My parents wouldn’t know a thing about my whereabouts, and I’d be free to do as I pleased after dark.’ She lowered her voice to a whisper. ‘I have to admit, it’s one of the reasons I was so immediately drawn to the job.’
She noticed the way his eyebrows raised, as if he was suddenly far more interested in her idea, and a little thrill went through her as she imagined saying yes to him next time he asked and arriving at his townhouse. She bet he wouldn’t doubt her ability to ride a motorcycle if it meant she was more available to see him.
‘Back to work,’ he said, going back to his own papers. ‘We still have a full morning ahead of us. But it’s certainly sounding far more promising now that you put it that way.’
‘Will you give me leave to apply then?’ she asked, holding her breath, hoping she hadn’t pushed him too far.
His eyes met hers and he nodded, but she knew what his long gaze meant. His permission was clearly in exchange for her saying yes next time he asked her to visit after hours, and it sent a shiver of anticipation through her body.
Ava fought against a smile as she went back to her typing, wondering how difficult it would be to apply, and then how difficult it would be to convince her parents to let her take part. Her father would likely explode; his temper was a beast at the best of times.
Riding motorcycles sounded like more fun than she’d ever had in her life before, and if it gave her something exhilarating to do each day, then as far as she was concerned, she’d be a fool not to apply. She closed her eyes for a moment and imagined the general opening his door to her, the look in his eyes as she stepped into his home after dark. Perhaps then he’d finally make his move and show her exactly how he felt, or even invite her to stay.
Ava hurried downstairs, her heels beating a fast clack on the hard floor as she rushed into the Naval section, head down as she made for the tea room. On her way she saw some of the other Wrens look up and she inclined her head, beckoning them to follow her. Fromthe corner of her eye she saw two of the women rise, whispering excuses as they followed her, and she only hoped that none of their superiors noticed her and questioned her presence. She had no good reason to be downstairs, and no excuse prepared, either.
She paced in the small room, her mind racing as she waited for someone,anyone, to join her. All she needed was information, and she’d thought of little else as she’d bided her time, waiting for an excuse to leave her office.
First through the door was Lucy, whom Ava had completed her training with earlier in the year.
‘Tell me what you know about the new recruitment,’ Ava said hurriedly. ‘The female dispatch riders?’
As Lucy went to open her mouth, Catherine – another woman Ava had known for months – stepped through the door, closing it behind her and turning with a big grin on her face.
‘Is this what you’re looking for?’ Catherine asked, producing a piece of paper she had concealed inside her jacket. ‘I had a feeling you’d be crazy enough to want to apply.’
Ava reached for it, her heart skipping a beat as Catherine placed the memo in her hand.
‘You’re welcome,’ Catherine said. ‘Although you owe me a favour, all right? This isn’t supposed to be distributed until tomorrow.’
Ava nodded, tucking the paper behind her back when the door opened, but it was only another Wren who’d come to see what all the fuss was about.
