‘See the weeping willow at the edge of the pool over there? A hundred yards away?’ The tandem moved slightly as she shifted in the seat to look. ‘We’ll head towards that. Don’t worry, I’ll brake before we get to the water!’

‘Oh blimey,’ she muttered. ‘I’m not sure about this.’

‘Just pedal as much as you’re able,’ Ray said firmly. ‘Don’t wriggle. Keep everything, apart from your legs, as still as you can.’

Before she could change her mind, Ray pushed his foot down on the pedal. The chain creaked and clanked – blimey, it needed more oil – but they were moving.

‘Wayyyyy heeeeyyyy!’ Maggie yelled.

He was sitting in the saddle now. The grass was bumpier than he’d expected and, at first, it was hard going. Blimey, they were hardly moving. He pressed down harder.

‘Pedal!’ he yelled and felt Maggie start to push down too, behind him.

That was it, this was better. They’d straightened out now, and they were picking up speed. They were doing it. They were riding the tandem!

Chapter 27

The following Wednesday evening, Maggie, Pam and Nancy piled into Miss Sharp and Elsie’s room, along the corridor. It was the same size as theirs but much tidier. Maggie always made her bed – something drilled into her by Dad since she was small – but Pam and Nancy’s were regularly a crumpled mess, covered in discarded clothes, rollers, stockings and hairpins.

There was an armchair near the window, which Elsie had commandeered. Miss Sharp was pinning up her hair in front of the mirror. Maggie and Nancy sat on one of the beds, Pam was stretched out on the other.

‘You were awfully hard on us on Saturday, Cynthia,’ Pam said, prodding her stomach gingerly. ‘Ouch! I’m still paying for it!’

Nancy pursed her lips. ‘Well, you know what they say: “No gains, without pains”! Pam, to be fair, you did say you wanted a washboard stomach rather than—’

‘—a blancmange, I know! I’m only saying it was jolly hard!’

Miss Sharp took the last hairgrip out of her mouth, stuck it into the back of her bun and then answered Pam’s reflection. ‘It’ll have done you the world of good. It’s like deportment once you’ve mastered it; an upright spine can lead to better moods and overall health. Even in wartime, one mustn’t lose interest in one’s personal appearance.’

‘Oh no,’ agreed Nancy. ‘We simply must, “Stay beautiful!”’ She sighed. ‘You’re so knowledgeable, Cynthia.’

Miss Sharp looked pleased, as she swivelled around from the mirror to face them. ‘Actually,’ she said, looking around the room until she found her handbag, ‘something else I can recommend is “skin airing”.’

The others exchanged puzzled looks.

‘Swimming,’ she announced, ‘in the nude!’

Elsie started to cough and had to be slapped on the back.

Pam sat up, eyes wide. ‘You wouldn’t, would you, Cynthia?’