Anna kept her head down, but she could still feel people turning to look at her, their gazes following her down the street.

‘I’m only looking out for you,’ Mrs Church shouted. ‘I promised your mother I would!’

Anna ran the rest of the way home.

Thankfully, the kitchen was empty. Anna closed the back door and leaned against it, fighting to get her breath back.

‘Is that you?’ Edward called from the shop.

‘Yes.’

‘Did you catch the post?’

It took a moment for her to remember what he was talking about. She looked at the letter in her hand. She had been so desperate to get away from Mrs Church that she had forgotten all about it.

‘Yes,’ she said, slipping it into her pocket.

She heard the ring of the till, followed by the thunk of the cash drawer closing.

Is he still taking money out of the till?

Anna flinched as Edward appeared, smiling.

‘What’s up with you?’ he said. ‘Have you been running?’

Anna forced the corners of her mouth upwards. ‘I wanted to get back to you.’

Edward grinned. ‘That’s my girl. Come here and give your old man a big kiss.’

As she moved into his arms, Anna tried not to notice the outline of a wad of banknotes in his pocket.

Why ask him, when there was bound to be an innocent explanation for it? she thought. And if there wasn’t, she was too afraid to want to know.

Patience and love.

She would make him better, and everything would be all right.

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

Sam slumped in the chair, watching as the VAD folded his belongings and packed them carefully into a small suitcase. She kept up a cheerful stream of chatter as she worked.

‘I’m sure you’ll love it at Hambleton Hall. My friend works there as a VAD and she says it’s a wonderful place.’ She was young, fresh-faced and enthusiastic, with a chirping little voice that reminded him of a budgerigar. ‘Apparently they have all sorts of pastimes and activities there. They have several tennis courts, a swimming pool and a cricket pitch. My friend says they even have their own amateur dramatics society. Are you interested in acting at all, Sergeant Trevelyan?’

‘I think I’ve had enough drama for one lifetime, don’t you?’

‘Oh, yes. Of course.’ The VAD looked crestfallen. ‘I suppose if you put it like that … But perhaps you could take up a sport, or learn a musical instrument?’

And then she was off again, chirruping away like a bright little bird.

Sam turned his gaze reluctantly to the clock hanging above the double doors. He had managed to restrain himself for several minutes, as if by not looking at it he could somehow stop the time from ticking by.

Finally, the VAD finished the packing and closed the lid of his suitcase.

‘Right, that’s all done,’ she announced. ‘I’ll go and fetch Sister.’

‘Can’t you leave it a couple of minutes?’ Sam said. ‘I want another cigarette before I go.’