Page 28 of The Dressmakers of London

“Thank you.”

Sylvia watched her sister walk away, people swallowing Izzie up.

She stood there, staring after her sister until well after the 10:04 train had blown its whistle and pulled out of Paddington on its way west.

Part II

19 December 1941

Dear Sylvia,

I have thought of a few vital things that I neglected to put in my notes before I left.

Mrs. Thomas is meant to come in for the final fitting on Tuesday, but it is noted down in the book as Monday because she was confused when she telephoned and rang back while I was fitting a customer. Please ensure that Miss Reid is aware so she can be prepared.

Miss Keynes might come in soon to pick up a skirt. Mum was rather lenient on when she settled her account due to Miss Keynes being on her own, and you can expect Miss Keynes to make good when she can. (There could be more, but that is what I have gathered from the order book.)

Do not forget to telephone Harbour & Farrow Mills to inquire whether they will have any fawn tweed this season. We are running rather low and it’s far more appealing than the dark stuff that they saddled us with last time we ordered from them. I know there’s only so much selection on offer at the moment, but really, they can do better than that.

Please write me back soon and with news of how things are going at the shop.

Sincerely,

Isabelle Shelton

22 December 1941

Dear Izzie,

Happy Christmas if this letter reaches you in time!

How are you? How are you settling in to your training? Is it simply dreadful or are the other girls nice? I imagine that joining the WAAF would be something like going back to school but with rather more war involved. And airplanes, of course.

I wonder if you’ll meet a nice man in blue. The Royal Air Force really does have the best uniforms…

Since it has only been three days since you left, there is not a great deal to report. I do appreciate your note about Miss Keynes. I shall use a firm but polite hand with her because really she must pay. And you did note down the fact that Mrs. Thomas’s appointment was now on Tuesday, never fear. I imagine that you forgot amid all the excitement of leaving for your training.

Miss Reid continues to be a source of great jocularity and general good spirit in the workshop. Just yesterday she deigned to speak to me in order to ask me to pass her a seam ripper she had left on the cutting table as I was passing through the workroom. Of course, she did first ask me if I knew what a seam ripper was, as though I don’t have one in my own mending basket at home…