Gertrude frowned. “Are you sure, Wilz? I don’t think Papa would approve of you going to clubs.”
“He won’t know because I know I can rely on Ernest not to tell him, can’t I?” Both girls stared at their cousin, the younger man smirking.
“I have kept many secrets from my uncle and believe me, another one will be no cross to bear. Besides, after all of the snide remarks about my gimpy leg over the years, I have no qualms about what I say in return.” He moved to one side when the waiter placed his meal in front of him, nodding approvingly. “Don’t worry, Gertrude, I’ll take care of your sister and make sure she gets home safely. We can’t have any of those young rakes chasing after her now, can we?”
Wilz laughed at him and Gertrude blushed. What was he insinuating and why did Wilz find it so amusing? Certainly her sister was more worldly than she was, but Papa would have a blue fit if he found out where she was going. Not that it was unheard of in these modern times, but still, he wasn’t going to like hearing his eldest daughter had frequented a club.
Wilz reached out and touched her hand. “You won’t tell him, will you, Gertie?”
“Of course not. You know I won’t. Wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Tell me then, dear Gertrude. When are you thinking of joining the Red Cross?” Ernest lifted his knife and fork, poked at the meat on his plate before staring back at her. “Now or will you be able to hang out until your birthday?”
She thought about it, the commotion she would cause, the reaction from her father and the thought of waiting so long to get her own way. It would be so much easier to not tell him and go earlier. He would probably be thinking that she would be tempted on her birthday anyway being of age and not needing his permission. But she would be running the risk of being stopped if she waited and the thought niggled her. “I’m not sure. There are so many things to consider. I would love to join now, of course. It’d be terrible if I missed out. That’s why I’m asking you to sign the papers for me.” She reached for her water glass, her fingers closing around it like a lifeline to settle her nerves. “I doubt be will change his mind, but I can’t in all honesty not try.” Gertrude sipped the water, looking over as the band began to play.
“Make sure you leave me the papers to look over tonight before you head back to the house. I’ll return them to you tomorrow.” He winked at her. “I’ll deal with your father if you decide to leave earlier than your birthday. It would give me great pleasure to rub salt into that wound after all he’s done to me over the years.”
Gertrude frowned, knowing Papa had it coming, but still felt uncomfortable with Ernest’s eagerness to get a shot in at her father. “I have to be able to live my life the way I want to, not get stuck in the back of beyond playing at matrons when I could be out enjoying myself like this.” She caught the eye of a young man mouthing his trumpet in readiness to play. His black dinner suit hugged broad shoulders. His skin had a healthy out door glow and Gertie wondered if he was a soldier on leave. He noticed her looking his way and winked sending a wave of heat up her cheeks.
“What do we have here? Little Gertrude taking an interest in a man, how very quaint.” Ernest wiped his mouth with a napkin before lifting his hand to summon a waiter. “I think this deserves a glass of champagne, don’t you, Wilz? Not every day your sister takes the first step towards a new life for herself.”
“Of course, I totally agree. Champagne for all of us.”
Ernest ordered a bottle and resumed eating, while Gertrude did her best to focus on her dinner with short glances over Ernest’s shoulder toward the band where the mystery man started to play, the haunting notes sending a shiver over Gertie’s skin.
Chapter 9
Sydney 1980
Billie woke, rolled over and groaned. In the back of her mind she cursed the wine over dinner last night. It had seemed warranted at the time. Her mother had gone off in a huff and Billie decided to drown her sorrows with a glass or two of cheap bubbly. Lucy really didn’t get it, did she? It was their idea she move back home and Billie had complied, knowing it was far easier to start again here than where everyone knew about her fall from grace.
3rd July, 1940
My dearest Gertrude,
It’s been a mere few weeks since I waved you goodbye on the dock but it feels as though months have passed. I’m not sure how I can stand to be without you after only recently discovering the girl of my dreams. We will work this out, I promise my dearest. The absence will only make our fondness for each other grow.
While you’re away, I’ll try to keep busy and hope this makes my loss easier to bear. The boys and I played at a wedding last weekend. So very sad to see young soldiers getting married only to ship out the following day.
I feel for them so much so that I wish I could join up but alas, that will not happen until I throw in my job. After all the years of study I have endured to get to this position, I fear my family would disown me if I turned my back on the bar. My dream was always to be a barrister and I don’t want to give up now.
I’m sending
