‘Excellent.’ He smiled showing off his straight white teeth to perfection and again Ivy’s heart did a little flutter. Completely unused to such feelings she took a long gulp of her tea, almost choking herself in the process and then blushed crimson. What must he think of her? They were clearly poles apart in class yet for all that he was talking to her on a level and she was sure she had never seen such a handsome young man in her life. They talked of the happenings in the city for a short time then and Ivy felt herself beginning to relax a little, until she caught sight of the clock on the café wall and told him apologetically, ‘I really ought to be going now. My friend will be worried if I’m late. But thank you for helping me and for the tea. I feel much better now.’

He rose from the table with her. ‘It was my pleasure, but please let me see you home. I’m sure it isn’t safe for attractive young ladies like yourself to be walking the streets all alone at night.’

‘Th-thank you.’

Back out on the pavement, he took her elbow again and Ivy felt as if her heart was going to burst out of her chest with joy. By the time they reached the shop she was smiling from ear to ear.

‘This is it then. Thank you again.’

He doffed his hat and gave her a little bow. ‘As I said, it was my pleasure entirely. Goodnight, Miss Massey.’ And turning on his heel he strode away while Ivy stood watching him, mesmerised, until he turned a corner and was out of sight.

Her fingers were shaking so much that she could barely get the key in the lock and when she finally managed it she thundered up the stairs. Holly was sewing when she burst into the living room and she looked up. ‘Oh, here you are,’ she greeted her. ‘I was just beginning to get a little worried. Did your course run over?’

‘No.’ Ivy took her hat off and flung it on the table along with her folder, then, grinning from ear to ear, she told Holly about her fall and the way Jeremy had helped her.

Holly tutted when she saw the state of Ivy’s palms and hurried away to get a bowl of warm water and a cloth to bathe them. She had never seen Ivy in such a high state of excitement before. Despite the fall, there was a glow about her and her eyes were sparkling and she wondered if it might just have something to do with Jeremy Pilkington-Hughes.

‘This young man sounds very nice,’ she commented as she gently bathed Ivy’s hands and her friend stared dreamily off into space. ‘Oh … he is, and he’s so handsome!’

‘Hmm.’ Holly looked up from what she was doing and eyed her friend thoughtfully. If she wasn’t very much mistaken Ivy was smitten!