‘I wondered if Katie’d like to come for a walk with me?’ Angus asked shyly.

He had appeared at the front door instead of coming round the back, in the hope of avoiding William. Mummy was startled. The realization that she had a daughter who was now sixteen and who might not want to wear hand-me-downs and be counted for ever as one of the boys had scarcely dawned on her.

I was up with Granny, who beamed triumphantly on hearing Angus’s invitation. I was immediately flustered. ‘Me – on my own?’

‘Go on with you,’ Granny commanded. ‘I told you he’d get round to it one day. He’ll not bite you. Just relax and enjoy yourself. After all, you’ve known the boy since you were knee high.’

He watched me walk downstairs, smiling. He was dressed in cream flannel trousers and a pale blue shirt and I laughed nervously and said, ‘Look – we match today!’ My skirt was pleated cream with a print of cornflowers. I had slimmed down a bit now I’d grown taller and liked to think of myself as ‘curvaceous’. I took more trouble with my hair too, curling the ends and pinning it back so that it waved round my shoulders instead of pulling it into any old Alice band. I did feel self-conscious about the size of my bust, though. It pushed rebelliously at the buttons of every blouse I wore.

‘It’s so heavy and embarrassing,’ I complained to Granny.

‘Never you mind,’ she told me serenely. ‘You may not appreciate it, but believe me, there’ll be others who will. Now stop finicking. You’re lovely.’

‘I was wondering if you’d fancy a walk to Cannon Hill Park?’ Angus said. ‘It’s such a good day.’

‘I’d love to come.’ Then just in case I’d got him wrong, I added, ‘Shall I fetch William as well?’

‘I’d much rather you didn’t,’ he said quickly.

It was beautifully warm outside, with lilac and laburnum coming into flower and bluebells still in some of the gardens. We walked through the shade of the mature trees at the end of Chantry Road and down the hill towards the park.

I felt very conscious that we were alone. Since Angus had kissed me that day we had scarcely had any time without someone else’s company. We had all met, of course, with Olivia home for the Christmas holidays, had talked and joked together and been to the park and the pictures. And Angus had often called round at the house, but everyone assumed he had come to see William and we’d ended up as a threesome or more. But even then, I knew that every time Angus and I were close there was more between us than was spoken. We were inhibited of course. Angus was shyer even than I was, but an undercurrent of glances and thoughts developed between us, which of course Olivia had not failed to notice.

At first we walked in silence. I was acutely aware of his every movement, as I’m sure he was of mine. Eventually I said, ‘So next term’s your last? Things won’t be the same when you get a job, will they? No more long hols.’