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“I’m very sorry to hear that,” said Izzie. “Lift your right arm, please.”

“On top of losing his brother, my father had to take on an entire set of responsibilities that he never anticipated would be his.”

Izzie nodded and placed a couple of pins along the side seam of Alexandra’s tunic. When she’d begun helping her mother take customers’ measurements, she’d quickly learned that a dressmaker’s shop was not just a place where dresses were made. It was where many women revealed their deepest secrets and insecurities. It was also vital that, no matter how intense her curiosity, a seamstress never push a customer to divulge anything that woman didn’t wish to say.

“If you could lift your left arm now,” she said.

Alexandra did as she was told, and Izzie set about pinning to match the right side. Then she stood back to check everything. “Lift your arms to shoulder height and cross them in front of you. I want to be sure that you have enough room in the shoulders.”

Alexandra followed her instructions. “It feels good.”

“How is the length?” she asked.

Alexandra peered down. “A little long, I think.”

“I agree,” she said, folding the hem. “About here?”

“Yes,” said Alexandra.

After she’d pinned the hem, Izzie stepped back again. “It needs a little shape. If you’re willing to risk Corporal Murphy’s wrath, I can add a couple of darts at the bust.”

“Would you?” breathed Alexandra. “It would be wonderful to feel more like a woman and less like a sack of potatoes.”

Izzie laughed and traced out where the darts should go.

“There. You’re all done,” she announced after a final check.

“Thank you. When do you think you’ll start?” Alexandra asked.

“I can start on the shirts tonight, if you like. That seems to be the most pressing need after this morning,” she said.

“That would be wonderful. What will I owe you?”

All at once, something in Izzie deflated. She wasn’t at the shop, and she hadn’t thought once about charging this charming, guileless woman. She’d only offered to help because she’d wanted to.

Immediately, Alexandra seemed to sense something was wrong. “I’ve offended you. I’m very sorry. Sometimes I just put my foot straight in it.”

“You didn’t offend me,” said Izzie quickly.

“I did, and I’m very sorry,” said Alexandra putting a hand on her forearm. “I really am.”

There was such genuine feeling in the other woman’s apology that Izzie gave her a small smile. “Why don’t you buy me our next cup of tea at the NAAFI, and we’ll call it even.”

“That’s far too little for the work you’re doing,” argued Alexandra.

“Two cups of tea then.”

“Three cups of tea and chocolate to go with each. You choose the time and the place,” said Alexandra, sticking out her hand.

Izzie laughed and shook her hand. “You drive a hard bargain.”

“I really should go. I must tidy my bunk for the next inspection, or I’ll be sent to the brig.”

“Do they do that to WAAFs?” Izzie asked.

There was an amused sparkle in Alexandra’s eye. “I shouldn’t like to find out.”

As soon as Alexandra was gone, Izzie began to tidy her sewing things away into their tin.