‘Where’s she going?’ asked Peggy.

‘The Red Cross London headquarters where she’s been promoted to the chairman’s office as his private secretary.’ He shot her a wan smile. ‘Despite what she said in that letter, I’m immensely proud of her and wish her well. She’ll be nicely set up there with the flat, a good salary and the opportunity to travel with her boss to Geneva quite regularly.’

Peggy had a sudden memory of Pauline laughing and joking with the prosperous-looking man outside the distribution centre and wondered fleetingly if he’d had something to do with her promotion and the eagerness with which she’d left husband, home and family. She’d certainly smartened up these past few months, and there had been a glow about her Peggy had put down to her feeling pleased with herself – or had that been for a very different reason?

The idea of Pauline having an affair was quite shocking – but then her upping sticks and going off to London so abruptly was equally startling. It just went to show one never really knew the people who were so much a part of one’s life.

‘How do you really feel about all this, Frank?’ she asked.

‘I was stunned at first, but now I’ve had time to think about it, I just feel relieved that it’s all over and I can come home without fear of having to face another row and more histrionics.’ He regarded her rather sheepishly. ‘I’m sorry if that sounds heartless, Peg. But I couldn’t have taken much more of it, to be honest – and there’s been little love between us for years.’

‘Not heartless at all,’ she replied, refilling his cup. ‘What was Ron’s reaction?’

‘I went round there before coming here. He didn’t say much after reading the letter, but I could tell he wasn’t too bothered by her leaving. They’d never got on, as you know, and he was more concerned about how I was feeling.’

His smile was easier now and lit up his blue eyes. ‘I think he had visions of me rushing off to London to bring her back – but that’s never going to happen, Peggy. We’ll be very much better apart.’

Peggy agreed with him, for he’d threatened to leave Pauline many times over the past years, and she suspected he’d soon find his feet and get on with his life without much of a backward glance.

He drained the remains of his tea and glanced at the clock. ‘We’d better get a move on. The match will start in half an hour and we mustn’t miss our young Charlie’s ninety minutes of glory. I’ve got the truck outside, so I’ll drive you all up there.’

Peggy knew that despite his smile and cheerful words Frank was hurting inside – not because he loved his wife still, but because she’d abandoned him with barely a thought after all the years he’d stayed with her out of loyalty to his marriage vows.