The Last Night in London by Karen White (reading list .TXT) 📕

It was then that Eva noticed the bottle of champagne on the console table, the two empty champagne glasses, the lipstick mark on one of them.

“He was here.” The relief removed the bones from Eva’s legs, and she collapsed on the sofa. “He’s alive.”

Precious sat down next to her, grabbed her hands. “Yes, Eva. Sophia didn’t find out until yesterday, and she didn’t want to spoil the surprise. But isn’t that the best news? He parachuted into the water and was picked up by a Danish fishing boat. David believes the mission was compromised, that the Germans were somehow alerted and expecting them. The Danish had to hide Graham until they could get him back to England. They weren’t allowed to broadcast his name or confirm he’d survived until he reached British soil.”

Eva nodded, her heart constricting in her chest, making it difficult for her to breathe. “Did you tell him where I was?”

Precious’s smooth brow furrowed. “He guessed. But I told him you didn’t want to go.”

Eva wanted to laugh at the earnestness in Precious’s face, but she was so very numb. “Is he coming back?”

Precious shook her head. “He said he might not have leave for some time.”

A sob escaped from Eva’s throat. Precious put an arm around her shoulders. “He dropped something on the way out. I think it might have been meant for your Christmas gift.”

Eva thought of the gold cuff links she’d bought Graham at Selfridges, how she’d saved her money to get him something special. They were shaped like dolphins, and she’d known they’d be perfect. But they were still in her wardrobe, wrapped and beribboned, waiting. “He did?”

Precious stood. “It wasn’t wrapped, so I can’t be sure it was meant as a gift—but it definitely seems like a present to me.”

Eva’s eyes stung as she remembered the day in the park when Graham had given her the ivory dolphin, and she’d told him how she felt about surprises.

Gently, Precious placed the object in Eva’s outstretched palm. A small brooch in the shape of an airman’s winged patch, sparkling with pavé diamonds and the letters “RAF” across the top in red stones. Eva looked at it and wanted to cry.

“It’s lovely. I wish he knew that I loved it.”

Precious chewed on her lip. “He . . .” She stopped.

“He what?”

“He asked me about the mink—where it had come from. He guessed it was from Alex. It was pointless to lie. He wouldn’t have believed me.”

Eva began to shake. “And what did he say?”

“He said . . .” Precious closed her eyes, as if she wanted to make sure she remembered correctly. “He said for you to give his regards to Alex. That he hoped you’d be happy together.”

Eva stood abruptly, her head swimming. “I’ve got to go to him. To explain. Where did he go?”

Precious shook her head, her eyes pooling with tears. “They’re moving him to a new air base. He said he wasn’t sure where.”

“And then he left? He didn’t say anything else?”

“Just . . .” Precious swallowed, lowering her head so the light of the chandelier turned the tips of her hair to gold.

“Just what?”

“I didn’t understand it. Something about . . .” Her brow furrowed. “Something about a house by the sea being only a silly dream. I wanted to ask him what he meant so I could tell you, but he didn’t wait.”

Eva felt the room begin to sway and spin along with her heart and her head. Soundlessly, she slipped to the sofa, the brooch clutched tightly in her hand, cutting into the skin until she bled.

CHAPTER 28

LONDON

MAY 1940

Throughout the winter and early spring of 1940, Eva barely slept, floating through her days and nights like a ghost. She recalled her mother saying she felt dead on the inside the year they’d spent in the poorhouse. Eva had never understood how a person could continue to draw breath but feel as if they were dead. But she did now.

She spent her days at Lushtak’s modeling, perfecting her acting skills by portraying a woman without any cares. The work kept her busy; it seemed the prospect of war and the new rationing hadn’t yet reached Madame’s clientele. They still purchased clothes for the upcoming social seasons, including appropriate hunting outfits for Scotland in the fall. Mr. Danek would shake his head, then pocket his paycheck. One had to eat, he said.

Eva also pocketed most of her paycheck, saving larger and larger portions for her mother. She gave the money to Alex on his promise it would end up where it was intended, but he wouldn’t divulge the address. It was one more thing he held from her, another tie binding her to him. One more thing for which she had no recourse. She was completely and utterly at his mercy. And she had to trust him that he was telling her the truth. She had no other option.

On her days off, and in the evenings when Alex didn’t require her company, she worked side by side with Precious and Sophia in the Women’s Voluntary Service, serving tea to the night wardens and running the canteen at Paddington Station for soldiers and sailors.

And waiting. Waiting for bombs to fall, for shelters to be used for more than just drills.

She had not received any word from Graham, not a letter or even a message passed on through Sophia. Sophia did keep her apprised of his whereabouts and what he was doing—as much as he was able to share—but that was all. He’d been made squadron leader, was tolerating the food, and complained of being cold when up in the air for extended periods of time; would Sophia please send him extra gloves? It was impersonal, curated by Sophia, Eva was sure, in order to placate both her brother and her friend.

She longed to hear his voice, to hear him tell her even the dullest parts of his life. She dreamed of boating