‘So I daresay you won’t be wanting this then, will you?’ she said, reaching down to the carpet bag at her feet. Anna watched as she produced a large parcel wrapped in brown paper.

‘What is it?’

‘You’d best open it and find out.’

Anna noticed the smiling glance that passed between her sister and Mrs Church as she carefully undid the parcel. Her fingers were trembling so much she could scarcely unfasten the knotted string.

She pulled aside the brown paper and caught sight of a shimmer of delicate, lace-trimmed ivory satin, and her heart leaped.

She looked up at Liesel. ‘I – I don’t understand?’

‘Don’t get too excited, it isn’t new,’ Liesel said. ‘One of the Land Girls got married a few weeks ago, and I asked if I could borrow her dress. I’ll be on pigsty cleaning duties until Easter,’ she grimaced, ‘but I daresay it will be worth it.’

‘Oh, Liesel!’ Anna launched herself into her sister’s arms, nearly knocking her off her feet.

‘Steady on. You don’t even know if it’ll fit you yet. The other girl had a lot more curves than you. You’re as flat as a board.’

Typical Liesel, Anna thought. She couldn’t even do something nice without lacing it with a touch of spite. But Anna was so overcome with happiness her sister’s insult barely touched her.

‘It’ll be perfect,’ she declared.

And it was, after a bit of tucking and padding. Anna could scarcely drag her eyes from her reflection as she stared in the mirror.

‘You look beautiful, Miss Anna, you really do.’ Mrs Church fumbled for a handkerchief before remembering she had used it to pad out Anna’s bodice.

‘Now you’ve got something old, something new and something borrowed. But you don’t have anything blue …’ Liesel looked around.

‘What about this?’

Anna went to her jewellery box and retrieved the enamelled bluebell brooch Tom had sent her.

‘Let me try it.’ Liesel pinned it in place, then stepped back again. ‘Yes, that looks perfect.’

Anna was glad Liesel had persuaded her to take a taxi to the register office. Heavy splotches of sleet splashed against the steamy car windows, blurring the cold, grey world outside. The streets were deserted and miserable. Even the stallholders on Columbia Road had given up and gone home.

‘It’s a shame the sun isn’t shining,’ she sighed.

‘That’s what happens if you decide to get married in the middle of winter.’

Anna looked at her sister’s profile. Liesel’s face was expressionless as she fiddled with the lace trim of her gloves. She had opted for a dress in pale ice blue, topped with a fur stole. After her kindness over the wedding dress, she had reverted to being sullen about the rest of the arrangements.

Anna looked away, clearing a patch in the misted glass to peer out. She refused to allow Liesel’s sulky mood to spoil her day.

They reached the register office and Anna started to get out, but Liesel didn’t move.