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“But Sylvia, there isn’t anyone else.”

For the first time since Sylvia had spoken to Izzie by their mother’s grave, Izzie sounded defeated.

“Is there really no one else?” Sylvia asked.

“No one.”

She sighed. “Tell me how you think it would work.” When Izzie straightened, she added, “I’m not saying that I will do it. Just explain it to me.”

“Right,” said Izzie, taking a deep breath. “I have to register and then wait to be called up. I don’t know when that will happen. I can work up until that moment and leave you notes or, if you really think that it would help, you could come in a few times and I could show you where things are.

“Then, while I’m serving, we can write each other. You can send me questions about anything I haven’t explained, and I can tell you what to do. You don’t have to do much,” Izzie promised.

A plan that simple would never be foolproof. There would be problems at the shop that needed sorting, or Miss Reid would need guidance, and Sylvia would inevitably find herself back where she had been at eighteen.

But then she thought about Hugo, who had been so dismissive when she told him about her inheritance. Hugo, who had turned up his nose at anyone in “trade,” managing to insult Izzie, their mother, and Sylvia in the process. Hugo, who hadn’t even had the decency to offer her his condolences when she’d told him that her mother had died.

She looked up and found Izzie watching her with an expression that was at once guarded yet desperate.

“I suppose that all of this means that the sale is off,” Sylvia said.

“Only until the war ends,” said Izzie.

“Fine,” she said.

“Fine?” Izzie asked, her eyes widening.

“I’ll do it. I’ll run the shop. We can correspond via letter, and whenever you can take leave, you can come and check up on me, since I know you’ll be itching to do that.”

Izzie gave a little laugh of disbelief. “You really mean it?”

“Don’t you?”

“Trust me, if I had any other options, I would have exercised them. You’re certain Hugo won’t object?”

Oh, she had no doubt that her husband would have all manner of objections, but she had no intention of telling him. His assignment in London was temporary, and soon he would be off on whichever base or ship the Royal Navy decided needed him.

“Leave Hugo to me,” she said.

There was a pause as they simply stared at one another.

“I feel as though we should shake hands or something,” she said.

“I don’t think that will be necessary, do you?” asked Izzie.

“No.” Sylvia sighed. “No, I don’t suppose it will be.”

Instructions for Running Mrs. Shelton’s Fashions

The shop is open from ten o’clock to five o’clock Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and from ten o’clock to two o’clock on Wednesday and Saturday. On days you are expecting deliveries, it is best to arrive by no later than eight o’clock in the morning. Please be certain that all deliveries are cleared from the shop floor and the dressing room before any customers arrive.

There are two books that are vital to running the shop. One is the appointment book and one is the order book. All appointments go into the appointment book and then are confirmed the day before by telephone. If a lady wishes to place an order, either by coming into the shop or by telephone, her order is noted down in the order book. You can also, at this time, schedule her first fitting. Please be sure to speak to Miss Reid before agreeing to any expected timeline for the completion of an order so that she may be certain that the work can be done in a timely manner.

There is a box in the workroom in which we keep cards that detail all customers’ measurements. Miss Reid will no doubt do most of the work measuring the ladies, but please do be discreet and never suggest that what a lady tells you her measurements are may not be accurate based on the information on her card. It is always best to insist that remeasuring is our policy for each new garment.

You will, of course, be familiar with the coupon system for clothing rationing as a customer; however, it is a little more involved as a business. All coupons must be noted down and then cross-checked against the Board of Trade’s records. This is vital. Any error could bring an investigation into the shop’s business practices. The last thing we need is to be accused of working with the black market.

Chapter Ten