‘I’m always proud of you, silly girl. How could I not be? But you’ve got me intrigued now, so hurry up and let me have a look.’ Her mum crouched down in front of the laptop and Prue smiled.

‘I’m actually looking at photography courses, proper full-time courses at university.’

‘Oooh, lighting, creative skills, digital techniques, film production, working in TV … This looks really interesting, and right up your street, love,’ Faith said, peering at the list of course contents on the screen. ‘And food placement. What’s that when it’s at home?’

‘No idea, Mum,’ Prue said, ‘but I fully intend to find out.’

Chapter 30

MADI

Madi woke up with a start. Someone was banging, loudly, on the front door.

She climbed out of bed and switched on the light, pulling on her dressing gown as she ran down the stairs.

‘Miss Cardew, Miss Cardew …’ It sounded like young Donny. What on earth could be so urgent? She stopped in the hall to check herself in the mirror, noting the rumpled nightie, the lack of make-up and the stubbly hair that reminded her she had left her wig upstairs by the bed. Still, what did any of that matter if there was some emergency requiring her attention?

That evening’s second rehearsal had been a busy and productive one, as she and Patty had worked away at the back of the hall, altering and embellishing various donated dresses and waistcoats to make costumes, hemming the old stage curtains where some of the stitching had come undone, and clapping the burgeoning acts as they each took their turn on stage. She had come home exhausted and gone to bed early. The clock on the wall in the kitchen told her now that it was not yet ten o’clock. She could only have been asleep for half an hour. She flicked on the porch light, yawning, and opened the door.

‘Miss Cardew, come quick. There’s a fire.’

‘A fire? Where?’

‘In the village hall, Miss. There’s smoke and flames and everything.’

‘Has anyone dialled 999?’

‘Yes, and they’re on their way.’ He sounded excited, as only a schoolboy faced with the prospect of blue lights and sirens can be. ‘I was first to see it. Mr Bishop’s already gone running down there, and he said to come and tell you. Our stuff’s in there, from the rehearsals. The microphone and the costumes …’

‘But no people, Donny? Costumes can be replaced but …’

‘No, everyone’s out, Miss. We all left at the same time, soon after you did, when Mr Bishop locked up just after nine.’

‘Thank God for that.’ Madi felt a shiver run through her. She was still in her nightie, her feet bare, so it wasn’t surprising she felt cold, but this was more than that. It was a shiver of fear. Tom! What was he thinking, running towards a fire, when any sensible person would make sure they ran away? But then she remembered he had been a fireman. At least he would know how to stay safe. He wouldn’t take any risks, and perhaps there was something he could do, before the fire engines arrived, to help put out the flames.