As the deep bass of the ship’s hooter blasted out and they sailed through the Straits of Malacca, Jim said a final farewell to Jock and Philip and Amah – and all the men, women and children who would never return home.

He remained on deck in the blistering noonday heat until the coastline of Thailand was merely a blur on the distant horizon and the ship began to head into the Indian Ocean. He made his way to the bow, and as the troopship ploughed through that vast, glittering stretch of blue water his spirits soared.

‘I’m coming home, Peggy,’ he breathed. ‘At long last, I’m coming home.’

28

Cliffehaven

Peggy was in a complete tizzy that April morning, for she’d received Jim’s telegram telling her he was at long last boarding a ship for home, and he should be docking at Portsmouth in five weeks. However, beneath that happiness was a deep worry that simply wouldn’t go away, for she hadn’t heard from Ruby since before Christmas.

‘I just don’t know what to make of it,’ she said to Cordelia as they sat at the kitchen table. ‘Surely the snow must have melted by now, so why hasn’t she written?’

Cordelia took off her glasses and set aside her newspaper. ‘I don’t know either,’ she murmured with a frown. ‘And it’s very odd she hasn’t let us know if the baby arrived safely.’

‘That’s what’s really worrying me,’ said Peggy fretfully. ‘I have this awful feeling that something’s gone horribly wrong over there, and she’s afraid to tell us.’

‘There’s no point in speculating, Peggy dear, for it will drive us both mad.’ She gave a sigh. ‘I’m sure that if anything has gone wrong, she would have told us as soon as possible. She and Mike are probably having a honeymoon of sorts after he’s been away throughout the winter, and looking after a baby is exhausting as well as time-consuming. I expect she’s simply settling in at last and hasn’t had time to write.’

Peggy nodded, feeling marginally reassured. ‘You could very well be right, Cordy,’ she said. ‘And after all, it’s what we both wanted, isn’t it – for her to find her feet and settle down in Canada?’

‘It certainly is,’ said Cordelia. ‘So I suggest you stop worrying and imagining all sorts, and learn to be patient. We’ll hear from her soon, I’m sure.’

She must have seen that Peggy was still to be totally convinced, for she patted her hand and softened her tone. ‘Let’s just be thankful our Jim’s on his way home, and that we have Danuta’s wedding to look forward to, and concentrate on them today.’

‘Of course I must,’ said Peggy, ‘but the lack of news from Ruby has sort of taken the shine off everything.’

Cordelia clucked her tongue and looked up at the mantel clock. ‘Aren’t you supposed to be going to Sally’s for a last fitting?’

‘Lawks, I completely lost track of time,’ Peggy gasped, rising hurriedly from the chair to pull on her jacket and collect her handbag. ‘Daisy will be over at Anne’s all day, so you don’t have to worry about her, and Charlie’s gone out with Ron before his last rugby match of the season this afternoon. Danuta’s down at Tamarisk Bay, so there’s no need to think about doing much for lunch, as it will only be us two.’