Olivia’s brow had shot towards her hairline. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black! Why couldn’t Ralph see that he was being a hypocrite? Not to mention grossly unfair – he’d never spent more than a few seconds in Beth’s company. Well, he could jolly well do so now. ‘I’ve got to nip to the lavvy, do you mind stepping in for a minute or two?’

Ralph looked at Beth, who had turned to approach them, then looked at Olivia. ‘Go on then, but be quick.’

Grinning, Olivia hurried off to the ablutions, keeping her fingers crossed that Ralph would be eating his words by the time she returned, and was pleased to see that not only were Ralph and Beth deep in conversation, but they weren’t arguing.

Beth beckoned her over. ‘Trust you to miss all the fun!’

‘What happened?’ said Olivia, looking eagerly around her.

‘We had a WAAF officer trying to pass through with no ID, so I told her she couldn’t come in,’ Beth said in excited tones. ‘She got really stroppy, tried to push past and called me an imbecile, but I stood my ground and told her to turn around.’

Ralph nodded approvingly. ‘Credit where credit’s due, Beth wouldn’t take no for an answer and sent her packing, which is admirable, because most people would’ve buckled under the pressure when faced with an angry officer.’

Beth nodded primly. ‘Rules are there to be obeyed, I don’t care how many stripes you have on your arm!’

Olivia had tried to swallow her smile; she didn’t want Ralph to see how pleased she was that the two of them were talking.

Now, as she continued to read the letter, she felt her heart drop. Despite her words, she feared she was beginning to fall for him, because the thought of him leaving for London – or at least she presumed it to be London after his jellied eels comment – was causing her heart to ache.

‘Everything all right?’ said Maude.

‘Ralph’s been posted London way,’ Olivia said miserably, ‘and we all know what it’s like down there.’

Maude grimaced. ‘Do you know when?’

‘Couple of weeks, and he doesn’t think he’ll have time to see me before he goes.’

‘Oh Liv, I am sorry.’ Maude sat beside Olivia and placed an arm around her shoulders. ‘I swear the RAF do it on purpose.’ She glanced at the other letter. ‘Why don’t you see what your nan’s got to say? You never know, it might cheer you up.’

Olivia opened the envelope from her grandparents.

Darling Liv,

I don’t know quite how to say this, but we had a surprise visit the other week from Edward Hewitt.

With her heart beating as though it was trying to come out of her chest, Olivia let the paper drop through her fingers.