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For a moment she thought he would let her, but then he reached down and plucked her hand away and dropped it on top of the duvet.

“Don’t make a fool of yourself, Sylvia.”

“Is it so foolish to want one’s husband?” she asked, more than a little stung by his scorn.

“It’s late, and I need to be at the Admiralty early tomorrow.”

He reached over and snapped off his bedside light, plunging them into darkness and leaving Sylvia alone with her thoughts.

11 May 1942

Dear Sylvia,

This is just a quick note to apologize if my husband was an absolute bore on Saturday evening. I fear that he was because he heard from someone at the club that I had been out with Patrick Alcott. Well, I don’t need to tell you that that simply isn’t true! Patrick was seated next to me at dinner a fortnight ago, and he danced with me a couple of times that evening out of pity for a poor old married woman.

I’m afraid Rupert has always had a bit of a jealous streak, and it probably isn’t helped by the fact that Patrick is nearly half a head taller than him.

I hope you don’t think I’m too wicked for saying that I will be glad when his leave is over. I’ve become rather used to my little habits while he’s been away.

Yours,

Claire

May 11, 1942

Dearest Izzie,

I hope you don’t mind me calling you “dearest” because that is what you are. The dearest girl I’ve ever met.

I have not stopped thinking of you all weekend, and I would have written sooner if I hadn’t been running around the countryside. It feels as though I did nothing but push the jeep out of the mud every few miles, but we managed to make good progress on our assignment and my commanding officer is pleased.

I am delighted that you decided to write to your sister. I have no doubt that she will appreciate the sketch, and you can be proud that one of your dresses will be modeled at her fashion show.

I want nothing more than to see you again. I am working hard to figure out when I can come up Norwich way again.

Yours,

Jack

Chapter Twenty-Nine

All of the balloon girls except for Alexandra stood, hands on their hips, as they stared up at their balloon. Despite a forecast that Monday morning that had called for calm weather all day, the wind had picked up around three o’clock, and now the balloon’s wires were beginning to creak ominously.

“I think we should take her in,” said Grace.

Molly worried her lip. “I don’t know…”

“We’ll see what Alexandra finds out,” said Nancy, but the way her brow furrowed told Izzie everything she needed to know. If they didn’t take the balloon down soon, there might not be any balloon left.

“Oh!” cried Izzie as she spotted Alexandra’s tall frame racing up from where her friend had been using the field telephone. “There she is.”

“Take her in!” shouted Alexandra. “Quick!”

Immediately, the girls scattered to their positions to haul in the massive balloon.

“Start winch!” Molly shouted. “Haul in winch!”

A moment later she triggered the mechanism on the back of their vehicle to pull the balloon in.