Compounding this misery, the cold and wet had rotted the winter harvest, so the price of bread and potatoes had soared, and it took all of Peggy’s ingenuity to put a decent, filling meal on the table every night. Frank helped by bringing some fish now and again, and Ron brought home the occasional rabbit or pigeon, but now all the old hens had been used for stock, stews and soups, there was precious little meat to be had and only one egg each once a week on the ration.

Peggy was bundled up in layers of cardigans and sweaters beneath her overcoat, with a woollen scarf around her neck, gloves, hat, and thick socks inside her boots to keep her feet warm. She climbed out of the car and was immediately blasted by the icy wind coming off the sea, so she gathered Daisy into her arms and ran up the front steps, shielding her from the bitter elements. It had been a long and tiring day at the factory with everyone moaning about the cold despite the bank of electric heaters Solly had provided, and Peggy was looking forward to putting her feet up with a cup of tea and a fag.

The hall was relatively warm as she closed the door behind her, and she hurried into the kitchen where the heat was positively blissful, and the aroma of rabbit stew came from the oven.

‘Hello, Cordelia,’ she said, noting how the elderly woman was sitting so close to the fire she was in danger of singeing the blanket over her knees. ‘Would you like me to make you a hot-water bottle for your poor hands?’

‘No thank you, dear,’ she replied. ‘Charlie’s just done one for me. There’s fresh tea in the pot too.’ She regarded Peggy over her half-moon glasses. ‘You look tired, Peggy. Busy day?’

‘Every day’s busy, Cordy,’ she said, helping Daisy off with her layers of clothing. ‘It’s the cold that’s getting everyone on edge and grumpy.’ She poured cups of tea for herself and Daisy and sat in the other fireside chair to light a cigarette. ‘I’m glad Charlie’s been looking after you, but where’s Danuta? Shouldn’t she be back by now?’

‘Charlie’s been a godsend,’ sighed Cordelia. ‘There’s no way I could have managed to put the stew together without him. As for Danuta, she’s been popping in all through the day to make sure I’ve wanted for nothing, so I expect she’s having to catch up on her nursing duties.’

Peggy closed her eyes, finally relaxing to let the warmth flood through her. ‘May seems so far away,’ she murmured. ‘It’s strange, isn’t it, but now I know Jim’s coming home the time seems to be dragging even slower than before. When I think how many years it’s been, a few months is nothing at all really – but it feels like an absolute age.’

‘You’ve got the winter blues,’ said Cordelia. ‘Once spring comes, the time will go much faster.’