Rose began to feel as if she had lost something very valuable.

‘This is a handsome sideboard, is it not?’ demanded Becket.

‘Yes,’ said Daisy, looking up from the romance she was reading.

Becket ran a finger across the surface and held it up accusingly. ‘See? Dust! You’ve got nothing else to do all day. The least you could do is to keep the place clean.’

‘Oh, clean it yourself. I’m bored being stuck here.’

Becket bent over her. ‘You are my wife and you will do what I say. When I return this evening, I want this place to be spotless. Do you hear me?’

‘Stop shouting. They can probably hear you over at Tower Bridge.’

Becket crammed on his bowler hat and stormed out.

Daisy sighed. She looked thoughtfully at the phone.

On impulse, she picked it up and asked to be connected to Harry’s office. She asked the secretary if she could speak to Mr King.

‘Who is calling?’

‘Mrs Aymes.’

‘One moment.’

Bernie’s voice came on the line. ‘It’s me, Daisy,’ she whispered. ‘Care to meet me in Lyon’s for a cup of tea?’

‘Hour’s time, Mrs Aymes,’ said Bernie.

‘Who was that?’ asked Harry, who had just walked into the office.

‘A Mrs Aymes,’ said Bernie. ‘Friend of my mother’s. I’m taking her for a cup of tea at the Lyon’s in Victoria in an hour’s time, if that’s all right with you, sir.’

‘Yes, I can’t see why not.’

* * *

Daisy was just about to leave when there was a knock at the door. When she opened it, it was to find Becket there accompanied by a squat woman. Becket was carrying a large bunch of red roses.

‘What’s this?’ asked Daisy.

‘This is Mrs Blodge, who will do the cleaning.’

‘I’ll start in the kitchen,’ said Mrs Blodge cheerfully. ‘I allus starts in the kitchen.’

Becket handed Daisy the bouquet. ‘I’ll show you the kitchen. Wait there, Daisy. I see you’re dressed to go out. But I need to talk to you.’

Daisy waited nervously. She put the roses down on a side table. Becket came back.

‘I’ve given Mrs Blodge a spare set of keys,’ he said. ‘She can let herself out.’ He took Daisy’s hands in his. ‘When I was walking away from here, I heard my own voice and the things I said to you, and I was that ashamed of myself We used to have fun, Daisy, and it’s a long time since I’ve heard you laugh. I phoned the captain and I’ve got the day off. We’re going out for a slap-up lunch, champagne – the lot. Can you forgive me?’

He hung his head.

Daisy felt a great wave of relief sweeping through her. She leaned forward and kissed Becket on the cheek and said, ‘Come on, love. We’ll let bygones be bygones.’

Harry was walking past the Lyon’s tea shop in Victoria an hour later and glanced in at the window. Bernie was sitting there alone, looking at his watch.