‘And Captain Priestley will now present to Max Remer, Captain of North House, St Dunstan’s Inter-House Rugby Trophy,’ the headmaster announced to a storm of applause.

‘He’s popular, then, our lad,’ her father said to her, flushed with pride.

Aware that she had been in danger of missing her elder son’s moment of glory, Vicky dragged her thoughts to the occasion in hand and joined in the enthusiastic clapping.

Max proudly walked up onto the platform and Adam presented him with a trophy so big Max could hardly be seen once he held it aloft.

Fifteen minutes or so later it was Hugo’s turn to walk up to Adam and receive a certificate for scholastic achievement in English and maths.

‘And one day I will walk up there and get a big silver cup and a certificate,’ Nancy said, her stocky little legs jutting straight out in front of her. ‘And the cup will be for playing rugby even though Max says girls can’t play it.’

Despite all her emotional turmoil Vicky’s mouth twitched in amusement. Nancy was such a tough little character that, where her future was concerned, nothing would surprise her mother.

Later, as schoolmasters mingled with parents, glasses of sherry in hand, and as pupils scurried about euphoric at the prospect of three weeks’ Easter vacation, Adam strode through the throng towards her.

She was ready for him. Neither her smile nor her eyes betrayed the nature of the feelings his nearness aroused in her.

‘You carried off your task with great panache,’ she said lightly, as if he were a brother or a cousin.

For a moment there was a jolt of surprise in his eyes and then he said in a tone of answering affability, ‘Thank you. It isn’t something I ever imagined myself doing when I received the Inter-House Trophy at Max’s age. It was Harrogate’s mayor who presented it to me and, as far as I can remember, I thought he was as old as Noah.’

‘I doubt Max thinks the same of you. He was thrilled when he knew you would be doing the presentations.’

Her facial muscles ached with the effort of keeping a carefree smile on her face. They were being jostled on all sides, for nearly every woman there wanted to have a few words with him and all the men were eager to shake his hand and congratulate him on his decoration.

‘You look very well,’ he said. ‘I take it there’s been no bad news from Berlin.’

‘No. Berthold was arrested, but then released.’

‘Good. You must be vastly relieved. When will the two of you be reunited?’

‘Probably not for ages. The situation in Berlin is dreadful. Berthold says there are riots in the streets and Bolsheviks are occupying the Remer factories. He’s told me not to even try and join him until things are safer.’

A couple knocked into them, trying to get a closer look at Adam’s medal.

He smiled courteously, allowed them the closer look and exchanged a few polite words with them. When they had gone on their way, he said, ‘It’s too crowded in here to talk properly. Let’s go outside.’