‘Golly, yes. It’s great for working in, but that’s where it ends.’ She watched him from the corner of her eye as they walked along – the square jaw, chiselled features and deep blue eyes – oh, how lucky was she to be spending the evening with him.

‘How long have you been in the RAF?’ she asked.

‘Since war broke out. I used to work in a bank, doing the same job day in, day out, hardly exciting, so when Chamberlain made his announcement I jumped at the chance, and here I am.’

‘Glad you did it?’

He nodded. ‘Enough to know I want to stay on when it’s all over. How about you?’

Olivia smiled. ‘I’ve got nothing to go back to. My mum died just before I joined, and my father …’ Her smile faded. ‘My father has his own life.’

He cocked an eyebrow. ‘Not close, then?’

She shook her head. ‘Couldn’t be emotionally further apart if he were on the moon.’

Ralph looked surprised. ‘That’s a shame. Personally I get on well with both my parents.’

Olivia watched the butterflies as they flittered around the wild flowers which skirted the hedgerows. ‘Do you have any siblings?’

Ralph shook his head. ‘I’m like you, an only child.’

Olivia paused mid-step. ‘How did you know I’m an only child?’

Ralph hesitated before answering. ‘I seem to recall you saying you’d stayed at home to look after your mother, so I assumed you must be the only child.’

Olivia was impressed that he had remembered her very words. ‘Fancy you remembering that.’

Again, he gave her one of his private winks, whilst tapping his forefinger against his temple. ‘Up here for thinking, down there for dancing.’

Olivia laughed. ‘That’s why you’re the teacher and I’m the pupil.’ She glanced at the road ahead. ‘Have you been to this pub before?’

He nodded. ‘They do a cracking meat and potato pie, if you like pies, that is.’

Olivia grinned. ‘Love them, only steak and kidney’s my favourite.’

Ralph sighed wistfully. ‘Now you’re talking. I love a good steak and kidney pie,’ he grimaced, ‘although I can’t stand those vile canned kidneys they try and get us to choke down. You won’t have had them yet, and take it from me, you’ll pass when they drop them off with your rations.’

She laughed. ‘So you’re not keen on them, then?’

He held up a finger. ‘Kidneys should never be served in a tin – a bit like egg should never be powdered.’

Olivia wrinkled her nose in solidarity. ‘It’s one of the many things I won’t miss when this dreadful business comes to an end.’

Ralph held up a hand indicating a large stone public house to the side of the road ahead of them. ‘Here we are, the Rose and Crown.’

Stepping across the threshold, Olivia followed Ralph to the bar, where a dumpy woman with a cheery face greeted them. ‘Hello, my dears, what can I get you?’