Occasionally Ellen helped out in the shop, serving the customers, and Bill often referred to her as his niece if anyone ever asked if they were related.

Lizzie and Roland were planning their wedding and both had agreed that they would marry in the ancient church of St Mary’s in Sculcoates in October: Roland in particular was pleased with the choice of church as he said that whenever he passed it he’d be able to think of a happier time rather than the sad memory of the boys’ funeral.

‘It’s such a time for weddings,’ Ellen remarked to Harry. ‘Edyta and Karl have arranged for theirs to take place in September and I’m so delighted that her brother has agreed to attend the ceremony and bring their mother too. I hope she’ll come to ’party afterwards so that I can see her again. I’d become very fond of her.’

‘I know that you did,’ Harry acknowledged. ‘I’m sure she’ll be there if her health permits, but what about Lizzie and Roland’s wedding? Will all of ’Holderness relatives come? I know your sisters will want to be here; they’ll be curious about Roland.’

‘They’ll not all be able to come, but Lizzie says that Roland is in charge of ’arrangements and he’s going to book a room in an hotel for ’party afterwards; someone he knows, he said, and I wondered if it might be Mrs Lucan’s place, but I didn’t like to ask. I can’t believe that Lizzie’s allowing him to do everything; she’ll have a hand in it somewhere. Sarah and Mary are so excited since Lizzie said they can be flower girls,’ she told him, and added, ‘and I’ll have all on to do the baking.’

‘No,’ he said. ‘You don’t need to. Roland is arranging ’food for reception, he told me so.’

‘Oh!’ Ellen seemed disappointed. ‘I was looking forward to doing it.’

‘No!’ he said again. ‘You’re going to relax and enjoy it and not worry about whether or not you’ve made enough bread and cakes for everybody.’

She laughed. ‘You’re right,’ she agreed. ‘I am going to enjoy it. The last wedding we went to was ours, and that was ’best one ever!’

Harry put his arms about her and swung her gently round in their small parlour. ‘It was,’ he whispered, and nibbled her ear. ‘And I got ’best girl ever! What a lot has happened in such a short time, Ellen.’ He looked tenderly down at her. ‘Three lovely children, ’best gift anyone could give a man – and oh, this last year! How lucky we’ve been to emerge from such a harsh beginning to our life in Hull.’

‘But we’ve survived, Harry,’ she said softly. ‘We’ve come out of ’bad times and into ’good.’