‘How much does Lord Cliffe want for it?’ she asked, blushing at being the centre of attention.

‘Fifty quid,’ he replied, ignoring the fact it was worth three times that.

‘You are sure of this?’ she asked with a frown.

‘Lord Cliffe wants shot of all of them quickly so I paid for a job lot,’ he said airily.

‘Is good car?’ she asked, clearly still suspicious that he was asking too little for it.

‘Chumley bought it for his housekeeper and she rarely used it. I’ll give it a good tune-up, and you’ll be all set.’

‘I’d snap it up if I were you,’ said Rita. ‘Think how easy it will be to do your rounds and get up to Cliffe to see Stan without having to cycle about in all weathers.’ She grinned naughtily at Danuta. ‘How is he, by the way?’

Danuta went a deep scarlet and couldn’t meet her gaze. ‘He is not very well. The doctor says he needs to take things very quietly for a while.’

‘You’d better warn him that Doris will be back from her honeymoon next week and is planning to ask him round for dinner,’ said Peggy.

‘Stanislaw is not well enough for that,’ said Danuta firmly. ‘He has much to do before he is fully recovered.’

She looked across at Jack. ‘May I take a drive in the car before I buy it?’ she asked. ‘Only I have not driven since I was in Poland and will find it strange to be on wrong side of road.’

‘I’ll take you out early Sunday morning for a test drive while there’s not much traffic about,’ said Jack. ‘You’ll soon get the hang of it again.’

‘Perhaps you could take Stan out for a run in the country,’ said Rita with a teasing light in her eyes. ‘He’d enjoy getting away from the hospital for a while.’

Danuta met her gaze, knowing that she somehow knew things had progressed with Stanislaw but determined to give nothing away. ‘I’m sure that he would. But only if the doctor gives his approval.’

The evening broke up shortly after that exchange, and once all the dishes had been washed and put away, and cardigans and jackets collected, Jack stood rather unsteadily by as Rita and Peter were kissed and hugged and wished the very best of luck for the future.

Peggy and Cordelia were close to tears, and Jack wished he could give in to his own – but there would be plenty of time to cry once his beloved girl was gone. For now he would hold back the emotions that churned inside him and see that she left with no regrets.

He closed the door as the two cars were driven away. ‘That went well,’ he said. ‘Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, and that was a lovely bit of turkey, Rita.’

She put her arms round him. ‘You don’t fool me, Dad,’ she murmured against his chest. ‘I know you hardly tasted a thing. But thanks for being so brave and supportive when I know how hard tonight must have been.’