‘Marriage shouldn’t just be about duty,’ Tilly said. ‘If things had been different, if you hadn’t had me, you’d never have looked at him.’

‘And what would life be without my daught—?’ Elaine bit the words off. ‘I’m sorry, love. I forgot about Francie when I spoke.’

‘It’s all right, Mum.’ Tilly’s smile slipped as once echoed again in her heart. ‘It still hurts to remember – it always will – but I don’t want to forget her either. And lately I’ve felt more accepting of things . . . not that I have any choice. But life does go on. I suppose it must if one is to survive.’ She wondered briefly if she should tell her mother the truth, that Gerry still lived and was almost certainly engaged in criminal activity. But why wreck her peace of mind? Instead she said, ‘And as a matter of fact, just recently I’ve met somebody I rather like. I’m not saying we’ll ever have a relationship, but just being interested shows I’ve given up grieving, doesn’t it?’

Elaine abandoned her tea-making task to give her daughter a hug. ‘I’m glad to hear it, love. No, stay there, I can find stuff.’

When both were seated with their cups before them, Tilly turned hers in its saucer, saying slowly, ‘Then you don’t think it’s wrong?’

‘Of course not. What an idea! The heart knows, Tilly. And we all need love. Am I going to meet him?’ A thought struck her. ‘It’s plainly not Luke – he’s only a lad.’

Tilly laughed at the idea. ‘And madly into a gorgeous student called Jane. And before you ask, it’s not Matt either.’

Elaine’s face cleared. ‘Good. I shouldn’t say it, but I haven’t really taken to him. I thought him a bit shifty.’

‘Oh, he never meets anyone’s eye,’ Tilly said, understanding perfectly, ‘but he’s okay. A hard worker, just not very social.’ The last thing she wanted was for Matt to suspect dislike or caution in her mother’s manner towards him. Unless he was a very good actor – though, of course, he must be, Tilly mused – he had yet to discover that his stash in the drum had vanished.

‘So?’ Elaine prompted.

‘He’s a botanist and his name is Connor. He’s staying in the camp and yes, I expect that you will meet him. But no embarrassing questions, okay? In fact, no questions at all, Mum. I want you just to act as though you’ve never heard his name before. He is not to become a talking point with you and Sophie hatching plans.’