As they reached the pub door, he called out. ‘My grandson’s fighting in France! I don’t know if I shall ever see him again.’

Ray hesitated, his hand on the door handle.

‘Ignore him,’ Bill said.

‘Swim in the pool every morning, don’t you?’ Ted added and a few of the men jeered.

Ray felt a surge of heat in his chest. He’d just about had enough. He turned quickly and staggered a few steps towards Ted, jabbing his finger at him. ‘What the hell do you want me to do?’

He wasn’t expecting an answer and sure enough, none came. He seemed to have stunned them. Bill had opened the door now and an icy blast blew in from outside.

‘Come on!’ Bill urged.

In the blackness, somewhere down the road, Geoff and Norm were singing, ‘Ee-i-ee-i-o …!’

‘There is summat you can do!’ Ted yelled, as they were stepping outside. ‘All you so-called men up at the Big House!’

Bill and Ray looked at each other.

‘Seven o’clock tomorrow in the village hall!’ Ted said. ‘Be there! And don’t be late!’

Chapter 29

‘He’s awfully nice, Jack, isn’t he?’ Pam mused at breakfast, the morning after the air raid drill. ‘So debonair.’

She stretched out a hand and admired her nails. ‘You know, if I wasn’t already spoken for …’ She let the words hang in the air and when no one chipped in with encouragement or surprise, she looked up and frowned.

‘Yes, I saw you making glad eyes at him, Pam,’ Elsie said, ‘but you don’t stand a chance!’ She covered her mouth with her hand, as she chewed her toast. ‘Not while a certain someone’s around. I’d say he’s got his eye on Maggie here!’

Maggie blushed.

It had been mortifying, the way Jack had made a beeline for her at the air raid drill. Even in the gloom of the cellar, everyone had seen it. Ray had definitely noticed; she’d seen the surprise on his face. Lord Ashford had even watched them, for a while. What was going through their minds? She hoped no one thought she’d encouraged him.

Jack had sat so close on the bench she’d felt the heat from his thigh on hers. Someone like him couldn’t possibly be interested in her, could he? It was as though someone was playing a trick on her. She wouldn’t have been surprised to hear someone yell, ‘Fooled ya!’

When Bill had sounded the ‘all-clear’ and they’d all trooped out of the cellar, Pam had invited Jack to join the girls in the drawing room.

Maggie’s heart was in her mouth when he accepted. What if he found it dull? Or flirted with the others? Or – worst of all – let slip that Maggie spoke German?