Page 5 of The London Girls
She reached for the edge of the tablecloth and clenched her fingers around the starched fabric. ‘Regardless, Father, I’d still like to apply.’
He set the paper down then, and she clenched the tablecloth even tighter. ‘My dear, what exactly makes you think you’d becapable of doing this job? Please enlighten me.’ He sat back and smiled. ‘Perhaps your ability to balance on a horse?’
Ava didn’t tell him that was exactly what she thought. ‘I’m also very capable at driving your motorcar,’ she said, hating the quake in her voice.
‘The answer is no,’ he said, picking up his paper again. ‘No daughter of mine will be gallivanting around on a motorcycle. It’s unseemly.’
Ava looked at her mother, who just shook her head, lips pursed as she rose with the plates. They’d been delighted when she’d come to them and asked if she could become a Wren – it was something to boast about to their friends over dinner parties, after all.Dispatch riderclearly didn’t sound anywhere near as prestigious.
‘Father, if you’d just—’
His fist hit the table with such force that the remaining plates and cutlery jumped. ‘I said no!’ he roared. ‘Do not question me. Go to your room!’
Ava straightened her shoulders and levelled her gaze on him, even as her stomach clenched with fear. She’d pushed him to anger many times, but she’d always known when to back down. Tonight, she’d already decided not to take no for an answer, regardless of the consequences.
‘I am a woman of twenty years, with a prestigious job working for the Navy,’ she said quietly. ‘I think I’m well past being told to go to my room, don’t you?’
The glass tumbler that he threw came within an inch of her forehead. If she hadn’t been so used to his temper, and so adept at ducking, she would have no doubt sported an ugly scar for the rest of her life.
Her father’s face was red as her mother ignored the shattered glass and rushed to the drinks cabinet to fetch him another Scotch, his eyes dark as he leaned forward.
‘Unless you want to find somewhere else to live, Ava, youwilldo as I say,’ he said. ‘If I tell you to go to your room, you go!’
Ava rose, leaving her mother to clean up the mess as she walked to the door.
‘Defy me on this matter and you’ll never set foot in this house again, do you hear me?’
She turned, resisting the urge to tell him that she didn’t need his damn permission, instead addressing him in her calmest voice.
‘Father, this is something I feel very strongly about,’ she said. ‘Women are desperately needed to fill these roles, to free more men up for service, and I’m prepared to step up and do my bit. They’re expecting Wrens to come forward if they’re either experienced or capable of learning, and I’m certainly capable. It also doesn’t change the fact that I’m a Wren because I would still hold that title, if that’s your primary concern.’
‘Then let them take someone else’s daughter,’ he muttered, downing the new drink her mother had brought him. ‘As far asI’mconcerned, this conversation is over.’
Ava turned on her heel and went to her room, closing the door and flopping down on to her bed. With or without their permission, she was going to apply. This was the last time she was going to let him tell her what to do.
CHAPTER TWO
OLIVIA
Olivia hurried into the tea room, glancing at her wristwatch as she pushed open the door, almost colliding with a group of women standing in the small space.
‘What’s going on in here?’ she asked as she elbowed her way through. ‘Did I miss my invite?’
She reached for a cup, beyond tired and desperately in need of tea before she started work for the day. Sleep wasn’t something that came easily these days; between the long hours of work and then nights worrying about sirens or hiding in bomb shelters, there wasn’t much chance for shut-eye. She lifted the kettle, keeping an ear on the excited chatter behind her as she started to pour the boiling water into the teapot.
‘Haven’t you heard?’ one of the women asked.
‘Liv, they’re recruiting women to be motorcycle riders, and one of our Wrens is applying this morning!’
She narrowly avoided spilling boiling water on herself, setting the kettle down and tuning in properly to the conversation. ‘When did you hear about all this?’
‘Apparently they need dispatch riders to zoom all over London delivering messages, because they’re running out of men to do it,’ Lucy said. ‘Can you believe it?’
‘And who’s this girl who’s applying?’
‘Her name’s Ava,’ Lucy said. ‘She’s as crazy as they come, that one. I bet she’ll do just fine. In fact, I heard a rumour she was having anaffairwith the general she works for!’
There was a gasp from another Wren, but Olivia didn’t react. She wasn’t one for listening to gossip, but she did want to know more about the new job.
