‘I’ll leave you two to it then,’ said Violet, turning back towards the living quarters, but not before registering the glance that Ruby exchanged with Reggie James. Then she told herself not to be silly. Ruby had hardly any friends, and sometimes could scarcely say hello to people she’d known for years, she was so withdrawn through sheer habit. She would be far too hesitant to make a new friend of an unfamiliar acquaintance. It must just be that she was pleased with the new business arrangement. Ruby liked the numbers to be in order. That could be the only explanation.

CHAPTER FOUR

‘Are you sure you don’t want to go to Lyons Corner House?’ asked Laura as she met Kitty off the train at Victoria. ‘Somewhere nice and warm?’ She was in civvies, and even though clothing was rationed and generally hard to come by, she’d somehow managed to look devastatingly fashionable as ever, with her swing coat and little matching hat on her beautifully cut blonde curls. Heads were turning as she swept along the concourse but Laura blithely paid no notice.

Kitty had come in her Wren’s uniform. Now she no longer shared a billet with Laura, her chance to borrow her friend’s clothes had gone, and she hadn’t felt like turning up in her slightly battered tweed coat, now several years old and looking it. Besides, she was proud of her uniform. She’d worked hard to be worthy of it, and she appreciated the approving glances it won from many of the other passengers whirling around them. She took her friend’s arm.

‘I’d really rather go for a walk, if you don’t mind,’ she said. ‘I’m cooped up inside most of the time, you know.’

‘Of course, I completely understand,’ said Laura at once. ‘But surely there are plenty of places to go walking where you are? What else is there to do, frankly? Count the cows?’ She glanced down at her feet. ‘Good job I didn’t wear my high heels. I found some divine ones in Peter Jones, did I tell you in my last letter? Anyone would have thought they were just waiting for me.’

‘Lucky you,’ said Kitty, meaning it. ‘Just don’t try driving your lorries in them. Tell you what, if we wander across Green Park we could find a Lyons after that. I don’t want to deprive you of your teacake.’