Danuta smiled back. ‘I can imagine.’

‘It was difficult for all of us. None of us spoke much English, and we Poles found RAF procedures and formalities very strange. The British are very cool and formal, but we Poles have fire in our hearts and bellies and are not afraid to show it. The British commanders did not approve of our aggressive skills and tactics during the fighting, but we were here to kill the hateful Germans. It was not a time for good manners.’

Danuta nodded. ‘I can see how the differences must have made things frustrating on both sides,’ she said. ‘Did you and Aleksy meet again before he was killed?’

‘For a few hours before the Germans began to blitz London. We were both on leave and met in a pub outside the town of Croydon. We drank the place dry, I remember, but that was the last time I saw him.’

‘The last time I saw him was in Warsaw shortly before he left for Spain. I came to Beach View too late, so I never had the chance to tell him what had happened to our family.’

Stanislaw gently placed his large hand over Danuta’s. ‘This is not the day for sad memories, little one,’ he said softly. ‘I can guess what happened to them. But how did you get here? Did you come alone all that way?’

Danuta nodded, unwilling to go into any detail of her hair-raising escape across Europe. ‘It wasn’t easy,’ she said, ‘and discovering I was too late to ever see Aleksy again, I counted myself lucky to have found a safe and loving home with Peggy.’

Stanislaw glanced across at Peggy who was now being whirled round the floor by Ron. ‘She has a very beautiful soul,’ he murmured. ‘Her heart is on her sleeve as the English say. I am glad Aleksy found a good home with her before he went into battle.’

He knocked back the remains of his wine and poured more. ‘Peter tells me you are planning to return to Poland soon.’

‘At the end of the month.’

His expression was suddenly very solemn. ‘It would be most foolish to go back, Danuta. The Russians have been given control over most of Poland, and Stalin is determined to rid the country of all who may resist him. He does not believe in democracy, and already he is enforcing Communist rule.’

‘But Poland’s my home,’ she protested, oblivious now that they were still speaking Polish. ‘I’ve waited many years to return, and there is much need for my skills as a nurse now the hospitals are so overwhelmed with all the returning prisoners from the camps.’

‘I share your desire to return to our fatherland, Danuta, but it is no longer free, democratic or independent. Our people fought for freedom from the Germans, but now are crushed once more beneath the Russian boot. No one is safe, Danuta, and I beg you to think again.’

‘But the plans have already been made,’ she replied. ‘And I won’t be travelling alone. Besides,’ she added. ‘I pose no threat to the Russians. I merely wish to do my nursing.’