‘My darling little Danuta,’ he managed through his tears of joy. ‘I have done it. And it is all for you, my love – my dearest love.’ He took her hands and kissed them. ‘For us too,’ he murmured, holding her gaze. ‘I hope you will forgive me for not kneeling, but I’ve yet to learn how. But now I have good job, will you marry me?’

‘Yes,’ she breathed. ‘Oh, yes, yes, yes.’ She threw herself into his arms and almost knocked him off balance as a huge cheer went up from those watching down below.

He clung to her, laughing with such joy he didn’t realise his face was wet with tears. ‘I’ve come home, Danuta,’ he finally whispered to her, placing a diamond ring on her finger. ‘And together we will make a good life. I promise you.’ He grinned. ‘But first I must get down these steps.’

The men waiting below didn’t wait for her to help him, but swept both of them up and carried them to the office hut on their shoulders. Stanislaw roared with delight. ‘I have champagne,’ he shouted. ‘We must celebrate.’

Peggy was glad it was Sunday, for she was feeling the effects of too much champagne and excitement. The party had carried on long after she’d come back with Cordelia and Daisy, and she thought she’d heard Danuta stumbling in with Charlie at about two o’clock.

She tutted at the thought of her son drinking too much, and then concentrated on getting dressed and ready for the day. It had been the most romantic and heart-melting moment when Stanislaw had asked Danuta to marry him, and she wasn’t ashamed of the fact that she and Cordelia had sobbed their way back to the hut to get stuck into the champagne.

Daisy was awake and playing quietly with her toys in her bedroom, so Peggy helped her to dress warmly and took her downstairs for breakfast. Cordelia was snoring quite happily, so she’d leave her to wake slowly and come down in her own time.

‘Good heavens, Danuta. I didn’t expect to see you this early,’ she gasped as she saw the girl sitting at the table with a cup of tea.

‘I was too excited to sleep,’ she confessed, getting up to fetch the teapot. ‘Stanislaw stayed the night with Anne and Martin because our house has no furniture. He is flying to France tomorrow with medical supplies, so we are going to the big market in Dover to see what we can find to make the place ready and comfortable for him.’

‘I’ve got some old curtains and spare sheets and blankets,’ said Peggy. ‘But not much else, I’m afraid.’

‘That is very kind, Mama Peggy. We are most grateful. Rachel has promised us a beautiful bedroom suite, but the room is so small, only the bed will fit in it. I hope Stanislaw doesn’t feel too cooped up there. It’s a very cosy little house.’

‘I’m sure it will be fine for starters,’ said Peggy comfortably, putting out cereal and orange juice for Daisy.