Peggy shook her head, still smiling. ‘She and Doris don’t get on, so she hasn’t been invited even though she’s family. Anne will meet us there. She’ll be driving in with Brendon’s wife, Betty, and then there’s you, me, Suzy, Cordelia, Sarah, Danuta – and of course Doris.’

‘A good number, then. I’m looking forward to meeting Betty after all you’ve said in your letters – and to seeing Anne again. It’s been years since we’ve been in the same place. I feel as if I already know Danuta and Sarah from your letters, so it will be lovely to see them in the flesh as it were.’

She picked up a grizzling Archie. ‘This one needs his nappy changed and a feed. I’ll be back down in a minute.’

During a supper of fish cakes, salad and new potatoes fresh from the garden, Doreen tried to come to terms with how much Charlie had grown since she’d last seen him, how old and frail Cordelia had become despite her lively spirit – and how very little had changed at Beach View since Peggy had taken over from their parents. But hearing all of Peggy’s plans to refurbish and renovate, she offered enthusiastic encouragement and urged her to do it before all her ideas went off the boil.

As Charlie had delivered her car earlier, Doris had driven Suzy up to the Officers’ Club, and they were already settled in the members’ lounge with drinks when the others arrived. She was rather surprised that Peggy had come by taxi, but then she supposed Cordelia would never have managed the hill otherwise.

‘Hello, Doris,’ said Doreen with a bright smile, but making no attempt to kiss or hug her. ‘What a lovely venue. Are you having your reception here as well?’

‘We’re having it in the private reception room at the golf club, actually. John is up for the captaincy next year, and they think most highly of him there.’

Doris didn’t see Doreen’s expression harden as she turned to wave rather imperiously at a waiter who came to take their drink orders, then settled back in the comfortable chair, curious to discover more about Doreen’s life in Swansea and the lover Peggy had hinted at.

‘I’m just the headmaster’s secretary,’ Doreen replied, aware that Peggy had tensed beside her. ‘But the job comes with a lovely ground-floor flat in the school grounds, and there’s a generous discount on the girls’ fees, so I’m extremely lucky.’

‘Indeed you are,’ said Doris. ‘Your girls are the first in our family to have the privilege of going to a private school. I hope they are taking full advantage of it – seeing as how intimate you seem to have become with a particular member of staff.’

Doreen ignored the sly jibe, having absolutely no intention of talking about her new man to Doris. ‘They’re both bright, and Evelyn is at the top of her year, so they’ll do all right, Doris.’ She changed the subject by raising her glass. ‘I’d like to propose a toast to Doris and wish her all the very best for her new life with John.’