She had not learnt to shoot when she was in Italy with Aunt Mildred. She would have been horrified at the idea of her doing anything so ‘unladylike’.
It was one of her Italian friends with whom she stayed almost every year who had what they called a ‘shooting school’ in the basement of their Palazzo.
It was used mainly by her three brothers, who vied with each other in hitting the bullseye in the target.
They had been amused when the girls had challenged them.
As Solita and her friend were so eager to do so, the older brother gave them lessons.
“You never know when you might need it,” he said, “you could be captured and held to ransom and it is a good idea for women to know how to shoot as well as men.”
It was something Solita wanted to do, so she begged him to give her a lesson almo
