Free Ark Royal 2: The Nelson Touch by Christopher Nuttal

girls from Sin City.  But at least she still looked fresh-faced.
     
    “Come on inside,” she urged, quickly.  “I put the kettle on.”
     
    Inside, the house felt almost empty.  Kurt couldn't help feeling worried as Penny pottered about making tea, even though it was a great improvement on her behaviour before he’d gone to war.  He’d read the reports from the expensive private school – thankfully, his share of the prize money ensured he wouldn't have to take his kids out of school – and noted a very definitive improvement in both her marks and her conduct.  Clearly, the new nanny was making a great impression on his daughter.  But where was Molly?
     
    “Percy is at the Combined Cadet Force,” Penny explained, as she put a mug of tea in front of him.  “They’re actually talking about forwarding his records to Sandhurst.”
     
    “He’ll hate that,” Kurt predicted.  The last he’d heard, Percy had his heart set on flying starfighters, just like his dad.  But competition for slots in the Academy, even now, was still fierce.  It would be at least another year before the facilities were significantly expanded, allowing them to take in far more trainees.  “But I’m glad to hear he has other prospects.”
     
    Penny nodded, then sat down facing him.  “I was hoping to talk about my own future,” she said.  “There’s an offer open for students to go to a French Finishing School.”
     
    Kurt bit down on a laugh.  “I thought you hated French,” he said.  “You certainly picked quite enough fights with the teacher.”
     
    His daughter flushed.  “It’s Gayle,” she said.  “She actually taught me how to put the words together, rather than telling everyone that ‘the pen of my aunt is in the garden.’”
     
    “Good for her,” Kurt said.  He leaned forward.  “And do you think we can afford it?”
     
    Penny hesitated.  “You’re rich,” she said, finally.  “And I ...”
     
    “Money is not to be wasted,” Kurt said, firmly.  “And do you need a finishing school?”
     
    He saw the rebellious look in her eyes and sighed, inwardly.  He’d been a moderately successful investment banker, but he’d been nowhere near as wealthy as some of the other parents who sent their kids to private school.  Percy and Penny had been confronted by children whose parents could afford to give them vast amounts of pocket money per week, enough to enjoy the latest designer clothes or electronic toys and games.  He understood just how badly they resented being poor, at times ... but he wasn't about to waste money, just so they could keep up with their classmates.  It helped that he simply didn't have the money.
     
    “It’s a great opportunity,” Penny muttered.
     
    “To do what?”  Kurt asked.  “What do you want to be when you ... get out of school?”
     
    Penny hesitated.  “I keep having different ideas,” she admitted.  “I wanted to be a doctor, then a vet, then I thought about trying to study the aliens ... you could get me into a study course, couldn't you?”
     
    Kurt rather doubted it.  “You might be better off with being a doctor,” he said.  “There’s always work for doctors.”
     
    He leaned forward.  “I imagine your career advisers have talked to you about the requirements?”
     
    Penny nodded, sullenly.  “They say I may have to retake some exams,” she said.  “And that I’ll have to work very hard.  But I’m not even sure it’s what I want to do.”
     
    “That could be a problem,” Kurt agreed, dryly.  He smiled at his daughter.  “Look, it’s the start of the summer holidays.  I’ll have a word with a doctor I know and ask if she’ll let you observe her work for a few days.  Or there are emergency clinics that are always keen on volunteer manpower.  I don't know how much they’d let you do, but they might let you volunteer for a few weeks.  If you like it, I will pay for you to train as a doctor.”
     
    He