“I’m sorry it took so long,” she said as she reached the table and dropped into an empty chair. “Madame Beaupellier insisted on showing me the latest summer patterns.”
“Did you see anything you liked?” Mrs. Ainsworth asked.
“Of course I did, and placed an order. It will be delivered on Thursday, just in time for me to return to England,” she replied with a laugh, setting her bag by her feet and laying her purse in her lap. “But where are your packages? I know the three of you didn’t spend the past hour shopping and not buy anything!”
“Oh George has already collected them and taken them back to the house,” Gisele said gaily. “He’ll come back for us. They filled the entire back of the car!”
“It’s been too long since I was here,” Mrs. Ainsworth said with a sheepish laugh. “I’m afraid I may have got carried away.”
“And you deserve to,” Evelyn said promptly, reaching out and squeezing her hand. “Who knows when you’ll be able to get back.”
“That’s what I told her,” Adele agreed, motioning to a waiter. “Will you have coffee, my dear?”
“Yes, please!”
“Do you really think you won’t be able to come again?” Gisele asked once the waiter had gone. “They’re saying the Germans won’t make it past the Maginot Line.”
“They also said they wouldn’t take Poland,” Evelyn couldn’t resist pointing out.
“Who can tell, Gisele? But I have to assume that if this war goes on for much longer, then it will be more and more difficult to get over,” Mrs. Ainsworth said, casting Evelyn an exasperated look.
Evelyn dropped her eyes, her lips tightening. Despite the fact that everyone was preparing for the storm that they all knew was coming, her mother insisted on not discussing the very real possibility of her beloved France being invaded by the Nazis. France was her mother’s home country. She was born and raised here, and it wasn’t until she married Robert Ainsworth that she had moved to England. While Evelyn could understand her reluctance to acknowledge the dangers France faced, she couldn’t help but think that her mother was burying her head in the sand to some degree.
“Never mind, Madeleine,” Adele said cheerfully. “If things do get bad, we’ll come to you. I suppose I can tolerate London if I must.”
Evelyn laughed at her aunt’s mild teasing. Adele’s love for the London theatre was well known, and when she did come to England, she enjoyed herself immensely.
“We have ample room for all of you,” Mrs. Ainsworth said with a smile. “There’s nothing I would enjoy more, and I know Robbie and Evelyn feel the same.”
“Of course we do! It would be lovely to have you all stay at Ainsworth Manor,” Evelyn agreed.
“Maman, you won’t really leave France, will you?” Gisele demanded.
Adele looked at her and something akin to sadness crossed her face.
“I wouldn’t want to, you understand, but if it’s the only way to remain safe...”
“Don’t worry yourself, Gisele,” Mrs. Ainsworth said, reaching out to pat her hand. “It won’t come to that. Not that you wouldn’t be very welcome in any case.”
“Where is Auntie Agatha?” Evelyn asked suddenly. “Didn’t she come out with you?”
“She went back to the house with George. Her feet were hurting her. It was the new shoes. I told her not to wear them, but you know Agatha. She’s as stubborn as a mule.”
Evelyn grinned and nodded in thanks as the waiter set a cup of coffee before her. She sipped it thankfully.
“Mmm...this is delicious,” she murmured. “How is she enjoying Paris?”
“I think she’s having a fabulous time. If she eats any more pastry, though, she’s going to gain ten stone.”
“I’m so glad the two of you were able to come over,” she said, setting down her cup and smiling at her mother. “You needed to get out of that house.”
“Just them?” Gisele stared across the table at her. “What about you? I haven’t seen you since last August!”
“I’m afraid I’m not a lady of leisure anymore, Zell. The WAAF is a very serious business,” Evelyn said with a wink. “I’m lucky I got the time that I did.”
“Madeleine says you’re a training officer?” Adele asked, sipping her coffee. “What does that entail?”
“Oh, it’s terribly boring. I train enlisted ACWs, that’s short for Aircraftwomen. I’m stationed on one airfield, but I travel to others to lead the training. In fact, I think I spend less time at my posting than I do traveling around England!”
“That sounds exhausting,” Gisele said decidedly. “What do you train them to do?”
“I can’t say.”
“How mysterious!”
“Not really, I assure you.”
“Well, we’re very happy to see you again,” Adele told her. “It really has been an age since you were here. And, do you know, I think you even look more mature?”
Evelyn laughed, tossing her head. “I can’t imagine why that would be!”
Mrs. Ainsworth tilted her head and studied her daughter thoughtfully.
“I think she’s right,” she said slowly. “I hadn’t really noticed it before, but now that she points it out, you do look more...I don’t know. Worldly.”
“I think military life must agree with her,” Adele agreed. “Although the thought of women working alongside the men on active military stations still seems very odd to me.”
Evelyn swallowed and reached for her coffee. If she looked more mature and worldly, she supposed she could thank the war for that. Sneaking around in the shadows and fleeing from SD agents in strange cities was bound to leave its mark somehow.
“Do you think you’ll continue when the war is over, Evie?” Gisele asked.
“Goodness, I hope not!”
“Perhaps that nice Miles Lacey will have an alternative,” Mrs. Ainsworth said slyly, her eyes twinkling.
“Miles Lacey?” Gisele latched on to the name. “Who’s that?”
“He’s a pilot who flies with Robbie,” Evelyn said, shooting her mother an amused look. “And before you start making wedding plans, he is just a friend.”
“He’s one of the
