Anne looked startled. ‘Oh, I didn’t know. I thought he was in prison.’

‘He was for a short time, but because of his age and general fitness, he was drafted into the army. For all his conniving and slyness, he ended up giving his life for his country.’

Peggy tried hard to think of Tommy as a hero, but simply couldn’t. He’d always been a rat, and she suspected that prison, war and the army hadn’t changed him. She sipped the tea, which was now stone cold, and grimaced. ‘I’ll go and freshen the pot,’ she muttered.

‘I’m sorry if I stirred up painful memories, Mum,’ said Anne.

‘It’s all right, dear, you weren’t to know.’

She took the tea tray up the steps into the kitchen and dumped it on the table, the memories of Tommy, Mary and Eileen flooding back in all their painful clarity. Tommy had betrayed everyone by lying to Rosie and Eileen and taking baby Mary far away to be adopted. If Mary hadn’t come looking for the truth, she would never have discovered how Eileen had been fooled into giving up her baby – and how Rosie had been cruelly denied the chance to adopt her.

Peggy gave a deep sigh, thankful that at least Rosie and Mary had mended things between them. Now that Eileen and Tommy were dead, there was little point in raking up the past. She filled the large kettle and placed it on the hob, and was about to wash up the cups when the telephone rang. Glad to have something else to think about, she hurried to answer it.

‘Hello, Aunt Peg, this is Robert.’

‘Robert! What’s happened? Is Fran all right?’

‘She’s just exhausted and needs to rest,’ he assured her. ‘I shall be driving her back to London the moment she wakes, and I doubt she’ll be fit enough to play at Doris’s wedding. I’ve telephoned Doris to warn her that might be the case, and I’ll get Fran to call you when she’s feeling more herself.’

‘Oh, dear, I knew it was all too much for her in her condition,’ fretted Peggy. ‘Are you sure it wouldn’t be better to keep her at Gloria’s and have her see the doctor in the morning?’

‘I managed to catch Danuta while she was cycling past the pub, and she gave Fran the once-over. As long as she rests, she’ll be fine. I’m sorry she couldn’t come over, but I’m sure you understand.’

‘Of course I do,’ said Peggy. ‘Give her our love, and tell her I’ll look forward to her call once she’s settled back at home.’ She took a steadying breath. ‘Are you all right, Robert?’

‘I’m absolutely fine, but for a mild headache first thing, and one of Gloria’s huge fried breakfasts cured that.’

‘Well, you take care driving all that way. Goodbye, Robert, and thank you for letting me know.’

Peggy replaced the receiver and dug in her overall pocket for her cigarettes and lighter. Blowing smoke, she slowly returned to the kitchen to wash the cups and make the tea. However, the raking up of old stories and the worry over both pregnant girls made her careless and she broke the milk jug – just watched it slip from her fingers, hit the towel rail on the range and fall onto the floor.