‘Do you hate me now?’ she asked, only half joking.

‘Don’t be daft. I dunno why you’ve kept it a secret, though. From me, I mean. I don’t hold a grudge against the Germans. They’re bombing us but we’re bombing them right back. They’ve been dragged into this war too.’ He toyed with the apple in his hands. ‘Imagine being able to speak another language though! I have enough trouble with the King’s English! You’re bilingual and Charity plays piano like a professional. And then, there’s me. What am I good at?’ He put his hand out. ‘No, don’t answer that. Playing the fool, I know.’

Maggie laughed. ‘No, it’s more than that, Ray. You’ve got a real talent. When you make people laugh, you make them feel better.’

She stretched out her legs, regretting for the first time that she was wearing slacks. Once you were cycling, it wasn’t cold. It would have been nice to feel the fresh air and the sun – weak though it was – on her bare legs.

She considered rolling up the legs of her trousers but thought better of it. It probably wasn’t the done thing.

If no one else had been around, she wouldn’t have minded showing off her white pins. Ray wouldn’t care about her milk bottle legs, just as he didn’t care that she was half-German. She leaned back on the bench, closed her eyes and lifted her face to the sun.

That was the good thing about Ray, with him, she could be herself.

Chapter 41

There was a loud bang as the drawing-room door burst open and slammed against the wall. Maggie looked up from the armchair by the fire, where she was knitting. Gwen had been unravelling her late husband’s old pullovers and had given Maggie some yarn. She was making presents for Christmas.

It was Geoff. He flew into the room, looking pale and agitated, so different from the confident, calm Geoff at the gatehouse the other week.

‘Crikey! Watch out!’ Nancy cried. ‘Aw, look! They’re all over the place!’ She and Elsie had been playing rummy. Cards had been blown off the table and onto the rug. They tutted at Geoff and set about picking them up.

At the far end of the room, the gramophone was playing, furniture had been pushed against the walls and amid much laughter and toe-treading, Miss Sharp was trying to teach Bill to foxtrot. Pam was cuddled up close to Norm on the sofa.

Maggie stood up and peered at Geoff. Was he drunk? She put a hand on his arm. ‘What’s the matter?’

She had to raise her voice over the music. His breath smelled of cigarettes and cold air clung to his shirt.

‘W-w-w …’

‘Ray?’ Maggie prompted. Ray was out, on a Home Guard drill. He wouldn’t be back until later.