Not even her sister, she thought. She looked at Liesel’s reflection in the mirror as she stood behind her at the dressing table, pinning up her hair.

‘I really don’t know why I’m bothering with this,’ she muttered under her breath. ‘We’ll look like drowned rats by the time we get to the register office.’

‘It’s only round the corner.’

‘But this weather.’ Liesel looked mournfully at her dainty kid-leather shoes. ‘I wish you could have organised a taxi or something.’

‘All right, we’ll get a taxi!’ Anna said. ‘Now will you stop moaning and let me enjoy my day?’

Liesel retreated into sulky silence. She had been in one of her moods since she had arrived that morning.

The first thing she had said was, ‘I can’t stay long, you know. They’re expecting me back for tea.’

‘That’s a shame,’ Anna had said.

‘Well, if you will get married at short notice … Anyway, it’s not as if there’s a proper reception, is there?’ she’d added pointedly.

As far as Liesel was concerned, the whole wedding was a mess. It was not just the lack of wedding cars or a reception with music and dancing. She was horrified that there were no flowers or a wedding dress, and that Anna had chosen to marry in Bethnal Green register office and not a proper church.

‘I don’t know what Papa would say about it.’

‘Yes, well, Papa isn’t here, is he?’ Anna had snapped. She didn’t need reminding that her parents couldn’t be there to see her wed. It hurt her deeply every time she thought about it. Like every other young girl, Anna had always dreamed of her father walking her down the aisle.

Liesel finished doing her hair and stepped back to admire her handiwork. Anna’s fine dark hair was hardly her best feature, but her sister had dressed it beautifully, twisting it up into a knot that showed off Anna’s slender neck. Loose tendrils framed her narrow face.

‘You look a picture, Miss Anna,’ Mrs Church sighed. They had shut up the shop at lunchtime because of the wedding, but Mrs Church had stayed behind to help Anna get ready. ‘And that costume really suits you.’

‘It does, doesn’t it?’ Anna ignored her sister’s scowling look. The neat skirt and jacket she had borrowed from Dulcie Moore looked quite good on her once she had taken it in at the waist. The rich crimson colour brought out the warm reddish glimmer in her brown hair.

‘It’s not a wedding dress though, is it?’ Liesel said.

‘Oh, for heaven’s sake!’ Anna turned on her sister, fragile nerves snapping. ‘I know this is not the wedding you would have chosen, but it’ll do for me, all right? I don’t care about churches and flowers. All that matters is that I’m marrying the man I love. And that’s far more important to me than a white wedding dress!’

Liesel stared back at her, and for a moment Anna thought she saw a glint of amusement in her sister’s eyes.