‘I want to sing, Mum, I don’t want to work there as a doxie, do I? I will put on a nice dress and hat and just do a few lively numbers to get everyone in a good mood. That’s all. Abel will be there to keep his eye on me, and Briony and Tommy. Where’s the bleeding harm in that?’

Striking a pose that looked ridiculous in her pea-picking clothes, she began to strut up and down the kitchen, singing:

‘Jeremiah Jones - a lady’s man was he - Every pretty girl he liked to spoon. Till he found a wife, and down beside the sea, Went to Margate for the honeymoon.’

Briony and Molly creased up with laughter as Kerry began. Coming to the chorus, she swept out her arms and roared at the top of her voice:

‘Hello, Hello, who’s your ladyfriend? Who’s the little girlie by your side...’

Molly wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. As much as she scolded Kerry, she had to admit that the girl was talented and could be hilarious when the fancy took her.

Kerry knelt down in front of Briony and implored with her eyes. ‘Oh, come on, Bri. Give me a chance.’

Briony grinned. She had needed a bit of fun today and should have known it would come from Kerry.

‘I’ll talk to Tommy about it. But that’s all I can do, so don’t get your hopes up.’

Kerry cuddled her sister close and shrieked out loud in excitement.

‘Oh, thanks, Bri. Thanks. You won’t regret it.’

Briony looked at her mother. ‘What about you, Mum? What do you think?’

‘Abel will be there as she says, and you and Tommy. It can’t do any harm.’

None of them had noticed a jealous Bernie slip from the room.

Eileen came down the stairs and smiled at everyone and Briony looked at the thin vague-faced girl who had once been her bright and chatty sister, and felt depression descend again.

Sometimes life stank. And the worst of it all was, hers had hardly even started.

She tried to make conversation with her sisters for the rest of her time there, but her mind was on Benedict once more.

Briony had taken Kerry out shopping and bought her a green, high-necked, natural-waisted dress. It suited her perfectly and was respectable enough to please not only Briony but her mother and Abel as well. It had long sleeves with hanging three-quarter flounces in black lace. She had her black hair piled high on her head, and wore a large-brimmed black and green silk hat over it. She also had a green silk parasol which finished the outfit, and black button boots.