Ada burst out laughing. ‘Lonely!’ she exclaimed. ‘I have numerous visitors, all bearing gifts, from rhubarb jam, to a sliver of Lancashire cheese, to baby’s bootees, and when I’m really lucky freshly baked bread. I’ve got Farmer Arkwright next door with his herd of cows and sheep, not to mention his ducks and chickens, and little one here.’ She smiled as she rolled her hand over her tummy. ‘Believe me, sweetheart, I have no time to be lonely.’

‘It’s such a relief to know that I can leave you in safe hands, darling,’ Jamie said sincerely. ‘Now that I’ve been granted this present leave, there’s no chance of any more in the near future,’ he said, as he anxiously watched her face for a reaction.

Brave Ada stuck out her determined chin, which had a little dimple in its centre.

‘You’re here with me tonight, that’s all that matters,’ she whispered as she leant against his warm shoulder. ‘We have each other for a few days,’ she continued as she swallowed back her tears. ‘Why ask for the moon when we have the stars?’

‘My sweetest girl, I love you more than life itself,’ Jamie whispered into her hair.

Standing on the edge of Cartmel Forest, they clung tightly to each other, while in the forest the roosting songbirds serenaded each other to sleep and an adult barn owl, white as snow, glided out of the dark woods, swooping past them on strong, silent wings.

Having arranged to borrow Farmer Arkwright’s old Bedford van that smelt of sheep, collie dogs and the vegetables that he regularly transported to sell at Kendal market, Jamie and Ada set off for Keswick the next day. After dropping a picnic basket into the back of the van, Ada settled herself in the passenger seat beside Jamie and asked excitedly, ‘Where are we going?’

Jamie answered cautiously. ‘Seeing as you’re fell-walking for two, we need to be careful. I don’t want you getting overtired.’

‘I will be careful,’ Ada promised. ‘Now, please, will you tell me where we are going.’

‘You’ll know when we get there,’ he teased.

And she did. The moment Jamie pulled up by the side of Derwentwater, Ada exclaimed, ‘Catbells, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle’s mountain.’

‘One of the best,’ Jamie sighed, as he stepped out of the van in order to admire the mountain that soared high over twinkling blue Lake Derwentwater, cupped in the folds of the surrounding mountains.

Grabbing the picnic basket, Ada clambered out of the car. ‘Come on, let’s get started,’ she said eagerly.

‘I mean it, darling,’ Jamie cautioned. ‘You must take care.’

‘Stop fretting, love,’ Ada answered. ‘I’ll go as far as I’m comfortable and then I’ll stop and have a cup of tea.’