She’d passed the language test and the security clearance and in a few days’ time she’d receive an envelope containing a railway warrant for her new destination.

It was exciting and terrifying all at the same time.

And before that, she still had her dad’s funeral to get through.

* * *

Joseph slammed down the telephone receiver and stood up.

‘Yeees!’ He clenched both fists in the air and tilted his head towards the ceiling. He wasn’t a religious man but if there was ever a time to send a small thank you heavenwards, this was it.

He glanced at his watch. He had a couple of hours to kill. Now, what?

He should have a smoke, to celebrate. He opened the cigar box on his desk, thought better of it, slammed it shut again, put on his jacket, marched to the window, turned and marched back to his desk.

He snatched up Sebastian from the desk. ‘We’ve done it!’ he told the bear. The glass eyes stared at him impassively. ‘If only Miss Corbett were here, old chum, eh?’

Joseph put the bear down and drummed his fingers on the desk. For the first time in his life, he wished he could dance. Like Fred Astaire. The thought of twirling a cane and tap-tapping his way down the Long Gallery, between the rows of desks, was suddenly immensely appealing. The look on everyone’s face! Miss Sharp – oh, he’d pay good money to see Cynthia Sharp’s face! And then, they’d all clap. And Mr Maguire would rope him in to do a turn at the concert in two days’ time.

Ha! The thought of it made him laugh out loud.

But Maguire wasn’t there. That was a bad business. Joseph didn’t blame him for requisitioning his car and driver and making a mercy dash to London to find Miss Corbett. He’d probably have done the same. Of course, Joseph had had to give Brummie a ticking off – essential journeys, rationed petrol and all that – but they’d both known he hadn’t really meant it.

There’d been no sign of Maguire since that day, almost two weeks ago. New Year had come and gone. It was 1941 now and the lad had disappeared off the face of the earth. It was a worry.

Miss Corbett had come to his office. Black didn’t suit her, she looked thin and wan, poor thing, she’d been through such a lot. She’d told him the rumour was that Maguire had joined up.

‘He and Brummie had a talk about it, you see, Sir, on the journey down to London, to find me. Brummie had suggested he join the Sappers.’

‘The Royal Engineers?’

‘Yes. Because it’s not fighting, as such. He wouldn’t be sent overseas. It would be …’ Her voice had faltered. ‘Bomb disposal.’

Joseph rubbed his chin and tried not to show his shock.