“Good. There’s a dance in the village hall tonight for some American officers. You two girls need to be there.”
“Sorry, but I can’t go, ma’am,” Eve said in her most contrite voice. “My boyfriend, who is fighting in North Africa, wouldn’t approve.”
“And I don’t dance very well,” Audrey added.
“I’m not asking you to marry them. Just show them some British hospitality for an evening. They’re saving our necks, for heaven’s sake. Would you rather be sitting in a pub entertaining Hitler?”
“No, ma’am,” Audrey replied.
“Good. Spiff yourselves up, then. The lorry will pick everyone up at seven thirty. I expect to see both of you there.”
“I’d rather drive an ambulance across the English Channel,” Eve said as the woman stalked over to her next victim. Audrey eyed her curiously.
“I thought you liked to dance.”
“I do. But not with a bunch of loudmouthed Americans.”
“Remember the dance you took me to after King George’s funeral?” Audrey asked.
“That seems like ages ago. In a different lifetime.”
“You taught me to dance that night. And we had fun, didn’t we? It helped us forget that the king had just died and that everything was changing.”
“What’s your point?”
“Maybe we need another night of dancing to help us forget.”
The other girls in their dormitory seemed thrilled with the idea. Eve listened to their chatter as they crowded around the mirror, giggling as they primped. “Every American I’ve seen is as handsome as a film star,” one of them said.
“Even their uniforms are glamorous. Not like the drab, baggy ones our men have to wear.”
“I hear they give away cigarettes.”
“And lovely silk stockings.”
“Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve worn a real pair of silk stockings?”
“Since 1939!” someone shouted. Everyone laughed.
Eve had to admit that the band sounded great. She tapped her feet and sang along to all of the American big band tunes and her favorite Vera Lynn songs. She was glad she’d been coerced into coming after all and was content to sit at a table with Audrey and enjoy the music. Let the other girls flirt with the Americans. “I miss Alfie,” she said as she watched the couples dancing. “He’s a wonderful dancer.” Until he gets drunk, she added to herself.
The hall was so crowded that she didn’t notice the two Americans approaching until they halted in front of her. Both of them were, in fact, as handsome as film stars. One had blue eyes and ginger hair, the other dark eyes and ebony hair. Both were tall and well-built. The ginger-haired one would need to duck to clear the doorframe, and the dark-haired one was only an inch or so shorter.
“You gals look lonely over here,” the ginger one said. “Wanna dance?”
“No thank you,” Eve replied.
“Come on. Just one dance. That’s all. We aren’t looking for true love.” His cocksure American boldness made Eve’s blood boil.
“My friend and I aren’t interested in you American GIs,” she said heatedly. “We don’t need your chocolate bars or your nylons or your cigarettes. You spin a fancy line but you’re here today and gone tomorrow.”
“Geez! Take it easy!” he said, holding up both hands. “I only asked if you wanted to dance!”
“Please excuse my friend,” Audrey said. “We’ve heard stories about love affairs with American servicemen. Most have ended badly.”
The ginger one slid into an empty seat at their table, his long legs barely fitting beneath it. “What kind of stories?”
Eve was about to order him to leave when she saw the Mouse standing a few feet away. Eve huffed in frustration. “There was a girl we knew who believed all your love talk. She ended up in the family way. Next thing she knows, the American father gets himself transferred out of here. No forwarding address. Now, what’s she supposed to do?”
Ginger gave a long, slow whistle. “Geez . . . that’s tough.”
The dark-haired one gestured to the second empty chair. “May I?” he asked politely. “Would you mind? We’ve been on our feet all day.”
“Of course not,” Audrey replied. He pulled out the chair and sat.
“You know what they’re saying about you Americans?” Eve asked. “You’re ‘overpaid, oversexed, and over here.’” Ginger laughed and the sound was warm and friendly, not at all mocking.