His welcoming smile faded into disappointment. ‘Oh. Then of course I must not keep you any longer.’ He began to struggle to his feet.

‘Please, don’t get up. I can see myself out,’ she said hastily.

‘I will stand to say goodbye,’ he said stubbornly, jamming the sticks into the carpet to gain steady purchase before hauling himself to his feet. ‘I am sorry if my talk of Poland has upset you, Danuta, but please, I beg you, think about what I have said – and don’t just take my word for it – ask others. They will tell you the same. Poland is not safe.’

‘Thank you. I will certainly give it much thought.’ She reached out to shake his hand. ‘It has been a pleasure to meet you and to talk of Aleksy.’

He balanced precariously on one walking stick, took her hand and softly kissed it. ‘I am hoping you will do me the honour of having dinner with me tomorrow night,’ he murmured. ‘And I promise to talk only of happy things.’

The invitation was unexpected and not particularly welcome, because she didn’t want him getting any wrong ideas. ‘I’m not sure,’ she hedged. ‘My district round is long and sometimes I am not home until very late.’

‘I will book table at the Grove for seven o’clock. I will wait for you, no matter how long.’

‘Oh dear, you are persistent, aren’t you?’ she chuckled.

‘It’s what’s kept me alive, Danuta, and you, I think, are worth waiting for.’

Danuta felt the heat rising in her face and withdrew her hand from his clasp. ‘You really don’t know anything about me, Stanislaw.’

‘Then permit me to learn more.’

Danuta held his gaze, thinking that her life story really wasn’t the most palatable subject to be discussed over dinner, but as hard as she’d tried to resist this man, he’d managed to charm her, and make her curious to know more about him. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow, then,’ she murmured before quickly leaving.

The long walk home cooled the flush in her cheeks, but did nothing to quell the rather disconcerting flutter of excitement at the thought of seeing him again.

4

Peggy had very little time that Sunday to mull over the delightful thought that something might be going on between Danuta and Stanislaw. She’d planned to quiz her over breakfast, but the girl had shot out of the house very early this morning on her district nursing round before Peggy was even out of bed. It was all very frustrating.

However, she had rather more pressing things to occupy her today. Mary was coming with Rosie for a short visit before she had to catch her train back to Sussex, and Fran was due to pop in with Robert. Ivy had stayed at Gloria’s last night, but would also be dropping by before she and Andy went back to Walthamstow. Frank was still snoring fit to bust on one of the hastily cleared bunk beds in the basement, and young Charlie was sleeping off the copious amounts of beer he’d consumed last night in an effort to keep up with his grandfather and uncle. Never a wise move, for they could drink anyone under a table.