Page 7 of The London Girls
‘Yes, you’re right. I just ...’ Florence’s voice trailed off. ‘It’s daunting, I suppose. That’s all.’
‘Florence?’ Olivia said as she turned back around. ‘If you do decide to apply, why don’t we meet downstairs after work. We couldhave drinks, or maybe even dinner out? I’ll try to find the other Wren who’s volunteering, see if she wants to meet too?’
‘I’d really like that,’ Florence replied, and Olivia noticed the way she stood a little straighter, as if she were suddenly more confident about applying. ‘See you about six then?’
‘Six it is.’ Olivia smiled as she walked away, glancing at her watch and gasping when she realised how late she was. Her boss was going to be furious with her!
But as bad as she felt about her tardiness, there was an excitement building inside her that hadn’t been there for a long time. A flutter in her stomach, the thrill of anticipation, the memory of what it had been like to ride a motorcycle when she was younger. It had been years, but she knew she could still do it.
Up ahead, Olivia saw a brunette standing talking, and she rushed over to her, surprised to find that it wasn’t who she was looking for. ‘I’m so sorry, I thought you were Ava.’
‘Ava?’ The Wren smiled. ‘She’s up working in the Army section this week.’
Olivia smiled her thanks and headed for the stairs to see if she could find her. She was already late, so what was another five minutes? She forced herself to slow as she entered the Army floor, trying to catch her breath from running up the stairs as she stopped by the first desk with a secretary sitting at it.
‘Do you know where I’d find Ava?’ she asked. ‘She’s a Wren, and I believe she’s temporarily working on this floor.’
‘In there,’ the other woman replied, inclining her head without looking up.
‘Thanks,’ Olivia said, continuing on and pausing outside the office she’d been directed to. ‘Ava?’
The brunette she recognised from earlier lifted her head and Olivia walked in, glancing around to make sure she wasn’t going todisturb anyone by talking. ‘Can you meet for a drink after work?’ she whispered. ‘To talk motorcycles?’
Ava’s eyes widened, her lips parting into a full grin. ‘You applied too?’ she whispered back.
Olivia nodded. ‘There’s another Wren as well. I thought we could all meet.’
‘Count me in,’ Ava said, before groaning. ‘Will you wait for me if I’m late though? My general works long hours, he seems to lose all track of time.’
‘We’ll wait,’ Olivia said, as a broad-shouldered man, presumably the general, entered. She couldn’t help but remember the gossip from the tea room; he was incredibly handsome, with his thick dark hair and broad shoulders, but a good sight older than Ava, although Olivia could see why the other Wren might find him attractive.
Olivia nodded to him and quickly walked out, before breaking into a trot as she rushed downstairs to her own office. If she were late for the Chief of Staff’s meeting, she’d be fired before she even got the chance to become a dispatch rider.
You’d be so proud of me, Petey.She smiled as she ran down the stairs, thinking of her eldest brother. She loved all her brothers to pieces, but Pete was six years older than she was and he’d always been her favourite. He was the one who’d scooped her under his arm and taken her on all sorts of fun adventures, including, much to their mother’s horror, teaching her how to ride a motorcycle. Her other brothers had done everything they could to get away from her, tonotinclude her, but not Peter.
‘What time do you call this!’ her boss barked, the moment she entered the room. ‘And where’s my bloody cup of tea?’
She forced a smile, lowering her head demurely and darting to her desk.
‘Sorry sir, I had some, ah,delicateissues to attend to.’
Olivia knew it was cruel – the poor man turned as red as a beetroot – but it did stop her from having to explain why she was unusually tardy. She’d grown up in a house full of men, which meant she knew exactly how to use her femininity when she had to.
‘Well, don’t let it happen again,’ he blustered.
She slipped into her chair, quickly gathering what they needed for the meeting. His bloody tea could wait until later.
Olivia had only been waiting a few minutes when Florence appeared, her cheeks pink as if she’d been hurrying. Her face broke out into a warm smile the moment she saw Olivia, and she found herself smiling back, as if the other Wren were an old friend.
‘You made it!’ Olivia said. ‘Does that mean you applied?’
Florence sighed. ‘I did. Something about what you said gave me the confidence to go ahead and do it, although I’ve doubted myself ever since.’
‘And?’ Olivia asked.
‘And he gave me leave to apply! Although he did frown when I told him I had no past experience. I mean, what woman working here would have experience riding a motorcycle, for goodness’ sake?’
Olivia shrugged, not wanting to make Florence self-conscious about her lack of practical experience by admitting her own.
