‘I suppose you’re right,’ Olivia said. ‘It’s not that he’s being mean, he’s just trying to make sure he doesn’t fall for a woman like his ex again. Do you think that’s why he likes me? Because he thinks no one else will have me, so he needn’t worry I’ll run off with any of his pals?’

Maude shook her head briskly. ‘No, I do not! I think he likes you because you’re a smashing lass, with a heart of gold, and that’s why he knows you’d never do the dirty on him.’

Olivia smiled shyly. ‘Thanks, Maude, I hope you’re right.’

Maude grinned. ‘Course I am. I reckon you and Ralph are a match made in heaven, because you’re both helping each other to get over unpleasant experiences.’

Olivia pulled the face of someone who has just had an epiphany. ‘Like you and Stanley!’

Maude’s eyes glazed over in a dreamy fashion. ‘That’s right! I was just the same as you were with Ralph, thinking the worst without giving him a chance.’

‘I know,’ Olivia said, ‘but I bet you’re glad you did now.’

‘I am,’ Maude confessed, ‘but I’ll not forget how nerve-racking it was to take the plunge, especially after last time. I didn’t fancy giving him my heart, just to have him crush it, like Billy did.’

Olivia smiled at her affectionately. ‘I’m so glad you gave him a chance.’

‘Only because you made me see how unreasonable I was being, and I’m glad you did, because Stanley’s nothing like Billy.’ Shading her eyes from the sun with one hand, Maude pointed to an army imp which had come through the gated picket fence. ‘Isn’t that Ralph? I thought you said he was arriving later on this afternoon?’

Olivia squinted as she tried to get a better look at the driver behind the wheel. ‘Blimey! He must’ve got away earlier than he expected.’

Ralph pulled the car up beside them and wound down the window. ‘Hello, girls, how’s tricks?’

Maude beamed proudly. ‘Things are going really well! I reckon we could do it in our sleep.’

‘Excellent! That means I’ve done a good job!’ He turned his attention to Olivia. ‘Fancy coming for a spin? I thought we could go back to the Rose and Crown, seeing as you liked it so much last time. My treat, of course.’

Olivia shook her head. ‘You never mentioned anything about going out, so I didn’t arrange to have an evening’s pass …’

‘Only it’s not evening, is it?’ said Ralph. ‘It’s lunchtime, which means you’ve a few hours to spare.’

‘A pass is a pass,’ reasoned Olivia, ‘and I’ve not got one.’

Ralph winked at her. ‘Don’t worry about that. Come on, hop in.’