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

“And what did Graham say to that? Daughters of country doctors don’t usually move in the same lofty circles as the St. Johns.”

Eva sat taller and straightened her shoulders. “Graham said he loved my resourcefulness, and he admired my courage. He also said that since he believes me to be wonderful and worthy of spending time with, Sophia would, too. They’re very close.”

Mr. Danek’s eyes were kind, softening the harshness of his words. “But you will tell him the truth, yes? Because lies are not a good foundation for any relationship. They will unravel everything built on top of them.”

“I will tell him. I will. I just want more time so I can be sure of his feelings for me.”

Mr. Danek’s eyes narrowed. “You are a very clever girl, Eva. And very ambitious. Both are to be admired.” He uncrossed his legs. “Just remember not to forget your good judgment.”

She bristled. “I always have good judgment. I do. I couldn’t have come all this way without it, could I?” With horror, she realized that her Yorkshire accent had slipped in. It happened sometimes when she was tired or agitated. She had to be more careful. Especially with Sophia’s dinner party approaching.

Mr. Danek pulled out another cigarette for himself and lit it. “What else can you tell me about your Graham? Humor me, Eva. I feel as if it’s my place to play the father.”

Eva smiled, appreciating the new lightness in his tone. She picked up her coffee cup and took a sip, considering her response. “He has a great interest in architecture, and his mother would like him to be an architect instead of in government. She thinks it’s more seemly.”

Mr. Danek blew out smoke rings, and Eva watched them rise to the ceiling before vanishing. She rushed on, eager to steer the conversation. “Graham’s promised to take me to the Eton and Harrow match at Lord’s Cricket Ground in July. He attended Eton and is quite proud that Eton has been the victor for thirty-one years. It should be a smashing time.”

“And you are a fan of cricket?” This time Mr. Danek’s smile was genuine.

“I don’t know the first thing, but Freya has promised to teach me enough so that I don’t seem ignorant. She has three brothers, and they all play. She’s been to more matches than she cares to recall.”

“And Freya, she’s doing this for free?”

Eva shook her head. “No. In return I’m letting her borrow my new cape with the fox fur collar for two nights of her choosing. I thought that was a fair deal.”

Mr. Danek appeared thoughtful, pulling on his cigarette while regarding her with slightly narrowed eyes. It made Eva nervous, as if she’d given the incorrect answer in an exam.

“Was that your idea or hers, to offer payment?”

“Mine, of course,” Eva said proudly. “Nobody should get something for free. It’s just not the way it’s done.”

“So you always expect payment for kindness?” He almost appeared to be laughing at her.

Eva found herself coloring. “I’ve offered to pay for the makeup. . . .”

Mr. Danek waved his hand in the air. “I would not accept. It is a gift, given freely. That is how it should be between friends, no?”

“Yes, of course.”

“So may I give you free advice, as a friend?”

Eva, painfully aware that she hadn’t fooled Mr. Danek at all, considered standing up and leaving the café but instead remained where she was and nodded.

“There is an old saying in my country. Čeho nelze předělati, darmo na to žehrati. Loosely translated, it means, take the world as you find it.”

Eva frowned, not understanding. She was always much better with black and white, with numbers and exact prices for goods exchanged. Proverbs were like the fairy tales her mother had told her as a child, stories about make-believe people in pretend worlds that had nothing to do with putting food in her stomach.

Mr. Danek took one of her hands in his. “It means that you cannot control everything, Eva. Let things happen as they are meant to happen, or you will go mad.”

Her anger boiled to the surface, and she spoke before she could think better of it. “Like your country? Why fight Hitler if he’s going to win anyway?”

Mr. Danek kept smiling. “Maybe it is more about choosing what is most important to us. And choosing the time to fight for what we believe to be right. You, Eva, are too young and beautiful to be doing anything but enjoying life right now.” His face darkened. “Life is short and unpredictable. Enjoy it while you can.”

She looked down at her hands. “I love Graham. I don’t want anything to change.”

“Things always change, Eva. You cannot control change. You can only be prepared for it.”

She wasn’t sure what he meant but was eager to leave before his words intruded into her conscience too deeply. “I must go. Good-bye, Mr. Danek. We’ll talk again soon.” She stood and began to walk quickly toward the door.

Mr. Danek called after her, “I have another lipstick for you. Brand-new, from Max Factor, only available in Hollywood. I hear it is a favorite of Carole Lombard.”

Eva wanted to leave, to show him that she didn’t care, that she couldn’t be tempted by a lipstick. But he’d taken off the lid to show her the deep cherry red shade, the perfect color for the gown she was planning to wear to Sophia’s dinner party. Against her will, she walked back, her hand reaching to accept the lipstick before she could tell it to stop.

“It’s beautiful,” she said. “Thank you.” She turned toward the door again but paused. “Mr. Danek, it’s not my way to let the world unfold as it wants. If it were, I’d be doing laundry in Yorkshire with my mother.”

“Very admirable. That sort of courage will steer you well. And your Mr. St. John would agree, yes? If he knew, of course.”

Eva wanted to be angry with him for judging her.