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“No,” she said slowly. It had been the opposite. Sylvia had said yes without hesitation or protest, and even though Izzie thought her efforts were misguided, Sylvia had written to her consistently over the past few months. Izzie had to begrudgingly admit it sounded as though her sister had thrown herself back into the business.

“Well, that must count for something,” said Jack.

“Maybe.” She hesitated. “She offered to sell her share of the shop to me as soon as I can find the money.”

“Will you say yes?” he asked.

“I already have.”

“Then there’s no problem, really. You’ll own it soon enough, I’m sure.”

“Thank you.” But something made her pause. Being away from the shop and reading about Sylvia setting to rights all of the things that were wrong at Mrs. Shelton’s Fashions made Izzie feel strangely… distant. Certain aspects of the business terrified her, there was no denying it, but before Mum had died, she’d been champing at the bit to prove that she could run the shop. However, the thought of returning after the war and picking up where she’d left off seemed daunting. Sylvia had made so many changes and with such confidence, would Izzie even know where to begin when it came to bookkeeping or managing unpleasant customers?

As though reading the doubt creeping into her thoughts, Jack said, “How about we not talk anymore? Why don’t we just dance?”

Izzie swallowed down her hesitation and let him pull her a little closer. “Yes. Let’s.”

A half hour after the band played its last song, Izzie, Alexandra, Lottie, Amelia, Molly, and Grace all spilled through the door of the barracks, buoyed by beer and jubilation.

“You should have seen the expression on Harry’s face when you kissed him on the cheek, Grace,” said Amelia, buckling over with laughter.

“It’s a wonder the man didn’t float away,” said Alexandra.

“He’s sweet,” said Grace with a dreamy smile.

“Do you know who else is sweet?” asked Lottie, rounding on Izzie with a grin. “Staff Sergeant Jack Perry.”

“Oh, look at her blush!” said Amelia, pointing at Izzie as she collapsed onto her bed.

“I’m not blushing,” said Izzie.

“You are,” said Molly.

“She’s right,” said Alexandra.

“Did you kiss the staff sergeant?” Lottie demanded.

“I did not,” she said primly, although by the end of the evening she’d been tying herself up in knots wanting to. But Jack had been a gentleman through and through, walking with her as he and his friends escorted them back to the gate of their base.

“He asked if he could write to me,” she said.

There was a loud chorus of “Ooo!” and then the girls fell over themselves giggling.

“Hey, where’s Nancy?” asked Amelia looking around.

“She’s probably still necking with that flying officer Lottie shoved at her,” said Molly.

“Necking?” cried Amelia.

“I saw them around the corner of the pub as we left,” said Molly.

“And you didn’t say anything?” asked Amelia, incredulous.

“Of course she didn’t,” said Lottie. “That would have ruined things for Nancy.”

“But imagine the expression on her face if she knew we’d caught her,” said Amelia with a grin.

As Amelia and Lottie bickered good-naturedly back and forth, Alexandra leaned over to Izzie and asked in a low tone, “If the dreamy Staff Sergeant Jack Perry is good to his word and sends you a letter, will you write back?”