Anne grinned. ‘Like a log once I knew there were no nasty consequences of Grandad’s daft carry-on with those ferrets. I was coming out of the bathroom when I overheard you giving Grandad earache and I asked Martin what it was about. He reluctantly confessed, and I thought we’d be in for a disturbed night, but the girls slept right through without a murmur.’

‘I’m glad to hear it,’ said Peggy. ‘Perhaps it would be a good idea to take them to the Anchor on Sunday so they can see the ferrets in their cage and get to understand them a bit more. It would be a shame if they stayed frightened of them. They’re quite sweet really.’

Anne tucked her shining dark hair back from her face. ‘I’ve never been that fond of them myself, but as Grandad seems intent upon carrying them about wherever he goes, I suppose they should get used to them.’

Anne settled the girls at the table and tied bibs around their necks. ‘I’ll wait until the last minute to dress them,’ she said. ‘They’re bound to get dirty otherwise, and white is so unforgiving.’ She glanced at the cleared table. ‘Has everyone already eaten – and where’s Daisy?’

‘She’s still asleep after all the excitement last night. I’ve left her to it so I can get on and clear up before Sally comes to do any last-minute alterations.’

Peggy glanced at the clock and doled out bowls of porridge and glasses of the free orange juice provided by the government to all children under five. ‘Cordelia and the girls have had theirs, so I’m surprised Martin hasn’t come down yet with all the noise they’re making up there.’

‘He was up at the crack of dawn as usual,’ said Anne. ‘I suspect he grabbed some bread and jam before he left for the airfield.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘He and Roger are evidently conferring about the meeting that’s planned with the town council next week.’

‘Then I hope he doesn’t lose track of the time. Rita’s counting on him being one of the ushers.’

‘He’ll be there,’ said Anne firmly.

Peggy raised an eyebrow, but Anne wasn’t going to elaborate further, and changed the subject. ‘I’m so glad Sally’s got her home dressmaking business up and running again. I thought she was quite potty when she started buying all those old wedding dresses and tatty ballgowns from jumble sales and so on, but she’s actually been very clever and forward-looking.’

‘Sally’s always had a sensible head on her shoulders,’ said Peggy, sitting down with a cup of tea.

Anne nodded. ‘It’s a case of having to grow up quickly with a useless mother like that, but it’s stood her in good stead. I popped in to see her the other day and that front room is positively crammed with all those second-hand cast-offs, but she’s slowly using the material from each and every one of them to make something new and utterly gorgeous.’