‘No, no I haven’t heard …’ Gwen says at last. She leans forward, lowering her voice as if she does not want Tom to hear. ‘The truth is, Mrs Hamer, I haven’t heard anything for such a long while that …’ She contrives an expression of dismay. Mrs Hamer is central to village life. She is loose-lipped – well-meaning perhaps, but a gossip nonetheless – and Gwen sees how she can turn the unfortunate conversation to her advantage. The baker’s wife clutches her glass of sherry to her chest.

‘Oh, but my dear, you mustn’t think like that. If something had happened you would have heard.’

‘Would I? I’m not even sure where Jack is. He was never one for writing – just the occasional letter, you know. They’ve been few and far between and over the past few months … She shrugs at her handiwork – truth gift-wrapped in lies.

‘Oh, Gwen, love, you mustn’t give up hope.’ Mrs Hamer grips her arm. ‘I’ll pray for his safe return.’

Gwen hears her name being hollered from the bar and making her apologies she manages to extricate herself from Mrs Hamer’s company. Nora is stretching over a sea of shoulders, Gwen’s half pint in her hand. Gwen takes it as the beer’s creamy top oozes down the side of the glass. She brings it straight to her lips to draw off the excess, while Nora weaves her way through the throng to join her, breathless and giggling.

‘Blimey, what a crush. Everyone’s in such good spirits though. Cheers!’ She crashes her glass rather unnecessarily against Gwen’s, jolting more liquid over its rim.

‘Oh, did you get a drink for Tom?’ Gwen asks. ‘Tom, do you want a lemonade as a special treat?’ She looks down to her side, but the space that Tom had occupied is empty. ‘Where’s Tom?’

‘I thought he was with you?’ Nora says, licking froth from her top lip.

‘He was, just a minute ago.’ Gwen searches at Tom height through the forest of legs around her, but there is no sign of her boy. She calls his name, but it is lost in the general buzz of conversation. ‘Where is he?’ A lump of panic lodges in her chest.

‘Don’t worry, he can’t have gone far. You look here and I’ll go and have a look in the snug.’