‘What’s this?’ Robert held up the medal. It glinted silver in the low lights.

‘It’s mine.’ Dulcie took it from him. ‘It was a gift from – someone.’

‘It’s a Military Medal, isn’t it? That’s quite something to give away.’

‘Yes.’

‘He must have meant a great deal to you for you to carry it with you.’

Dulcie looked down at the medal, heavy in her palm.

For bravery in the field.

The inscription seemed to mock her.

Perhaps that was why Sam had given it to her, she thought. Because he knew she was a coward.

Or perhaps he had meant it as a challenge? If so, she had failed it.

Her mind went back to the day Sam left, when she had stayed away rather than say goodbye. She had bitterly regretted it since, but deep down she knew that if she had her time all over again she would probably do the same thing.

She was not brave enough to face him, in case she was forced to admit how much she truly cared.

You can’t help who you fall in love with.

‘Yes,’ she said quietly, realisation dawning.

‘Yes, I think he was.’

She stuffed the medal back into her bag and closed the clasp with a snap. This would not do, she chided herself. Every time she thought about Sam she could feel all her carefully made plans starting to unravel, and she could not allow that to happen.

The band struck up, and she grabbed Robert’s arm. ‘Come on, let’s dance.’

‘Must I?’ Robert held back. ‘I’m really not much of a dancer.’

‘It doesn’t matter. Come on!’ Dulcie dragged him determinedly to his feet.

Robert was right, he wasn’t a very good dancer. But that didn’t matter. What mattered was that he was holding her close, breathing in her perfume. What mattered was that he was falling in love with her, and she with him …

‘Sorry, was that your foot?’ Robert’s apology broke into her thoughts.

Dulcie sighed. ‘It doesn’t matter.’

She pressed herself closer to him, gazing up into his face. His chin was lifted away from her, his eyes staring off into the middle distance.

This was all wrong, she thought. She had assumed that by now she would be melting into his arms, that once she was close to him it would all come naturally.

Her mind went back to another moment. Two hands brushing by accident, and the jolt of electricity that had gone through her then. The melting sensation she’d felt when she looked into those green eyes, caught a reluctant smile …

You can’t help who you fall in love with.

Then she thought about the medal she carried everywhere, that she kept under her pillow at night.

For bravery in the field.

She stopped dead in the middle of the dance floor. ‘This is all wrong,’ she said.

Robert looked down at her, startled. ‘I’m sorry. I did warn you I had two left feet …’