The Lost Sapphire by Belinda Murrell Page B

in the pit of her stomach. Mention of the war always made her feel sick with sadness. ‘You must have been very brave.’
    Audrey waved her hand as though swishing away a bothersome fly. ‘It had nothing to do with bravery. I just wanted to do something useful with my life. I thought I’d die of boredom staying here and knitting socks while the men went off and had all the adventures.’
    Audrey pulled a face, mocking her own naivety. ‘Of course the reality was vastly different – dirty, dangerous and despicable. Our adventures included no water for washing, barely any food, never enough sleep and driving at great speed over the most impossibly rough roads, all the while getting shot at.’
    Violet shivered. ‘That sounds terrifying.’
    â€˜Many of the poor men I ferried back to the hospitals had terrible injuries, and all of them were infected with lice,’ Audrey explained, frowning at the painful memories.She paused then shook her head. ‘So most of the nurses and drivers cut off their own hair. I must say it is a lot easier to maintain.’
    Imogen smiled. ‘Not to mention extremely fashionable – it makes you look like a film star!’
    Audrey pursed her lips and bunched up Violet’s hair. ‘Not as short as mine, perhaps. Your hair is so curly, but perhaps just mid-cheek. It would be très chic .’
    Violet stared at her image in the mirror and wondered if she’d look as chic as Audrey with short hair. She couldn’t imagine cutting off her hair. But she could imagine what her father would have to say about it.
    â€˜How about you, Violet?’ asked Audrey. ‘Are you going to do something useful with your life? Or are you going to be like your sister, Imogen, and marry a wealthy grazier and spend your life organising bridge and tennis parties and having loads of deliciously beautiful but naughty little scamps?’
    â€˜I … I’m not sure,’ Violet stammered. What did she want to do with her life? It was unheard of for girls from her background to work. Most of them finished school, were presented into Melbourne society, enjoyed a whirlwind season of balls and parties, then were married as soon as possible to a respectable young man from a wealthy family. Only poor girls worked.
    Imogen flushed slightly at Audrey’s teasing. ‘Who says I’m going to marry a wealthy grazier? I might choose to marry a … a poor medical student. Or not get married at all!’
    Violet looked from one to the other. Audrey patted Imogen on the arm with a knowing look. ‘Come on then, cherie . Let’s go down and see if we can rustle up a handsome but impoverished young medical student for you.’ Audrey drew one arm through Imogen’s and the other through Violet’s. ‘We live in a modern new world with endless possibilities. Life will never be the same again – so let’s go and have some fun!’
    Under the trees stood a long trestle table covered with a crisp, white cloth and set with silverware, glasses and orange-and-black china plates. The other guests were already seated on an odd assortment of chairs, chatting, laughing and drinking lemonade. There were seven young men dressed in white tennis flannels and striped jackets, who all stood up as Audrey and the girls approached.
    Audrey rattled off another string of names, but Violet only caught Jim Fitzgerald, Tommy O’Byrne and Theodore Ramsay. Violet realised she had met Theodore Ramsay at the Henley-on-Yarra rowing regatta the previous weekend, which she’d attended with her father and Imogen. Theodore’s father was one of Albert Hamilton’s business associates, and Theodore looked particularly pleased to see the girls again.
    Everyone exchanged pleasantries. Imogen and Violet sat in the vacant chairs on either side of Tommy.
    Three maids dressed in black dresses, snowy starched aprons and caps circulated with jugs of