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to Canada, was it?”
    â€œNina,” Madame looked into the hopeful, smiling face of this woman who had come to London to make her fortune on the stage and had spent the past six years sliding further away from the variety theatres to hostess clubs and bottle parties and finally the streets around her. A silly woman, many would judge, who stubbornly refused to give up her dreams of stardust and handsome leading men, but who nonetheless had survived all the knocks her aspirations had taken along the way and still managed, in the candlelight, to retain her handsome features and her sense of hope. A face which seemed to Madame as wholesome as a freshly baked loaf of bread. A wave of sympathy rushed over the fortune-teller and with it came the loosening of her tongue.
    â€œIf you would just listen to me, for once, please take some advice.” Madame took hold of Nina’s hand as a puzzled expression crossed the blonde woman’s features. “I don’t want you to go out with any more servicemen,” she said. “In fact, it would be better for you if you went back with your husband now, at least until the war is over. You know I don’t like to give advice that is contrary to your hopes, but believe me, it is for the best.” She gave the hand a squeeze. “There are worse things than chickens out there, ma cherie .”
    Nina’s mouth fell open. “Well,” she began, shaking her head, “I don’t know what to say …” Then a change came across her features and she pulled her hand away. “Has he put you up to this?” she said, scowl lines appearing on her forehead.
    â€œ Quoi ?” Madame was thrown. “What do you mean?”
    â€œHarry,” said Nina. “Has he told you to come here and say this? Did he pay you?”
    â€œNo, of course not, where ever did you get that idea from?” Madame sprang to her feet. She had never seen an enraged Nina before. Luckily, her client had crossed Madame’s palm with silver before the session began and, equally fortuitously, Madame had chosen to sit on the side of the bed that was nearest the door.
    â€œâ€™Cos that’s all you’ve bloody talked about,” Nina glowered over her. She was at least a foot taller than the little Frenchwoman. “Him and his flamin’ chickens! Even if it’s not, what right have you to tell me what to do and who to see?”
    Madame stuffed her handbag firmly under her left arm. Her eyes flashed, defying the other woman to come any closer.
    â€œNina, you asked me to read your cards for you and that is what I have done. If you don’t want to take my advice, you don’t have to. But I can assure you,” she stepped backwards, feeling behind her with her right hand for the doorknob. “I have never so much as met your husband. I cannot be paid to do anything so despicable as you suggest and I will not stand being treated like this.”
    â€œIs that right?” Nina jutted her chin. But the anger was cooling in her almost as quickly as it had ignited, replaced by a feeling of despair. She had been so sure Madame would tell her that a new future awaited her in Canada. Even though it was better than the farm, the life she had here was taking its toll on her.
    â€œI’m sorry, chuck,” Nina said, sinking back onto the bed. “Don’t mind me, I just …” She twisted her hands, as if wringing out an imaginary rag. “I’ve just got too much on me mind, that’s all. You go, I’ll be all right.”
    â€œIf you are sure?” Madame was caught between the remnants of her sympathy and the urge to flee.
    â€œBe seeing you,” Nina said, turning her head away.
    â€“ . –
    Next door, sitting at her kitchen table, Ivy tried to keep her eyes on Swaffer’s column in the Herald . But she couldn’t help overhearing the conversation taking place between Nina and her strange little friend.