Maude shook her head. ‘No chance – been there, done that, watched the sod run off with me best pal.’

Josie rolled her eyes. ‘Bit like Beth, was she, your pal?’

Maude shrugged. ‘She wasn’t as forthright as Beth. We’d known each other since I can remember, which is why it came as such a shock.’

‘At least Beth doesn’t hide her true feelings,’ said Josie, then turned her attention to Olivia. ‘So, are you and Corporal Stebbins official?’

Beth, who had been earwigging from the comfort of her newly claimed bed, called over to them. ‘What’s that about Corporal Stebbins?’

Josie shook her head. ‘Nothing.’

Getting up from her bed, Beth headed over to them, her eyes fixed on Olivia. ‘Did I hear right? Are you courting Corporal Stebbins?’

Olivia shook her head. ‘No …’ she began before being cut off by Beth, who was nodding in a knowing fashion.

‘I see, so it’s a case of wishful thinking.’ Beth returned to her bed.

‘He’s interested in Olivia, though, he’s made that quite clear,’ said Maude defensively.

Beth raised her beautifully arched eyebrows. ‘There’s a big difference between feeling sorry for someone and being interested in them romantically. I think it’s obvious to anyone that it’s the former.’

Josie frowned at Beth. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

Beth shrugged. ‘Corporal Stebbins can get any woman he wants.’

‘And?’ said Maude.

Moving towards Maude, Beth lowered her voice. ‘Don’t ask me to spell it out.’

‘You don’t have to,’ said Olivia, who had heard Beth’s words. ‘I know exactly what you’re driving at because it’s written all over your face.’

Beth looked at Maude and Josie, who were staring at her in an unfriendly fashion. ‘What?’

‘You really don’t know?’ said Maude incredulously.

Beth looked at them, her face a picture of feigned concern. ‘I didn’t want to see the poor girl getting her hopes up just to be humiliated. I was trying to be nice.’

‘Bloody hell,’ breathed Josie, ‘I’d hate to see you being nasty to someone.’

As Beth walked away Olivia turned to Josie and Maude. ‘She’s only saying what everyone else is thinking.’

‘No, she’s not,’ said a girl in the bed across from Olivia’s. ‘Or at least she’s not speaking for me.’

Olivia smiled. ‘Thanks, but I can’t help thinking she might be right. Perhaps Ralph’s just being kind.’

‘Poppycock!’ exclaimed Maude. ‘He was drawn to you like a moth to the flame.’

Olivia was unpacking her belongings into the locker beside her bed. ‘Pretty big flame,’ she said, adding, ‘although they do say there’s a lid for every pot.’

Maude looked smug. ‘There you are!’

Josie looked over to where Beth stood, admiring her reflection in a hand-held mirror. ‘She thinks a lot of herself, does Beth.’

‘I can see why,’ said Olivia honestly. ‘She’s beautiful with a body to match …’ she tilted her head from one side to the other whilst looking at the other girl, ‘… although that hair’s straight from a bottle if I’m any judge.’