“I’m very sorry for the way that some of our fellow Americans have behaved,” Dark Hair said. “My friend Louis and I are just looking for a night off, away from all thoughts of the war.”
“I’m a married man with a baby back home,” ginger-haired Louis said. He held out his left hand to show Eve a gold band on his finger. “Want to see pictures?”
“Yes, in fact, I do,” Eve replied, calling his bluff. He looked too young to be married—in his early twenties like she was, she guessed. He was very fair-skinned with deep-blue eyes and a smile that looked like an advert for tooth powder. Oh yes—as handsome as a film star.
He reached into his back pocket for his wallet. Eve studied the black-and-white photograph of a young woman holding a bundled baby. She handed back the photo. “Being married doesn’t stop most American men from behaving badly. They think British girls owe them something for coming to our rescue.”
Louis ignored her comment as he returned his wallet to his pocket. “My friend Bob here is practically married. He has a longtime girlfriend waiting for him back home. Wanna see her picture, too?”
“That’s not necessary,” Eve replied. “Just so you know where you stand. I would show you a picture of my boyfriend but I don’t have one with me. He’s fighting in North Africa.” She felt a fist in her stomach at the thought of Nazi artillery shells raining down on Alfie. “I don’t think I’ll survive this war,” he had said.
“Well, this is a very good arrangement, then,” Louis said, tilting his chair back on two legs. “We’ll all have a good time, you won’t have to worry about us making a move, and our girls back home won’t need to worry about you. Can we agree to be friends?” He stuck out his hand for Eve to shake. She hesitated for a moment, then reached for it. The warmth and strength of it made her ache for Alfie’s touch.
“Deal,” she said, clearing her throat. “Just friends.”
“So what are your names?”
“I’m Eve Dawson and this is my best friend, Audrey Clarkson.” She wondered what Audrey thought of these Americans as she gave them her shy smile and shook hands.
“Pleased to meet you, Eve . . . Audrey. I’m Louis Dubois and this is my friend Robert Barrett. We’re best friends, too, ever since grammar school.”
“From what we’ve seen over here,” Robert said, his voice a soft contrast to Louis’s booming one, “this war has been very hard on you ladies.”
“It has been,” Audrey replied, just as softly. “My home in London was destroyed during the Blitz. Eve and I both lost our mothers.”
“That’s terrible,” Robert said. “I’m so sorry. That must have been awful for you.”
Eve didn’t want to think about what they’d suffered and lost. She wanted to listen to the music and forget about the war and her grief for one night. Louis must have felt the same way because he asked, “Can we get you ladies a drink?”
“I’m set,” Eve said, pointing to her half-finished one.
“No thank you,” Audrey said. “I don’t drink.”
Eve knew why, and it was another bitter reminder of Lady Rosamunde’s selfishness and the loss it had cost her. She rose to her feet. “You know what, Louis? Maybe I’ll take you up on that offer to dance.” Audrey and Robert could sit by themselves and talk about morbid things if they wanted.
Louis stood and took Eve’s hand. “Great! I like this song.” They wove through the press of people and swing danced to three fast tunes in a row, enjoying every rollicking minute. Then the music slowed. Eve went into Louis’s arms as if it were the most natural thing in the world to do. He was an excellent dancer—better than Alfie, if she dared to admit it. She closed her eyes as Louis held her close, and she pretended he was Alfie.
“My boyfriend’s name is Alfie,” she told him. “What’s your wife’s name?”
“Jean.”
“I’ll bet she misses you. And your baby’s name?”
“Karen. She won’t know who I am when I get home.”
“Where are you from in America?”
“Connecticut. Not far from New York City. And you’re from London?”
“No, I grew up in a little village out in the country, then moved to London to work. I don’t really know where home is, nowadays. The ATS keeps moving us all around, wherever we’re needed.”