Maude agreed heartily. ‘And one of us is going to be topping it off with a wonderful evening out with the handsome Corporal Stebbins.’

Olivia’s smile broadened at the sight of Beth face, which had dropped at Maude’s words. ‘I don’t believe you!’

Olivia nodded. ‘’Fraid so! We’re going out for dinner. Enjoy your fried Spam!’

Maude wrinkled her nostrils. ‘Don’t rub it in.’

Olivia beamed with satisfaction as Beth stormed out of the billet, a look of disbelieving fury etched across her face.

‘Well, you got to see the look on her face. Was it everything you imagined?’ Maude asked as the door to their billet slammed shut in Beth’s wake.

Olivia nodded happily. ‘I feel like the cat who got the cream! And even if it isn’t a date, I never said it was, just that we were going for dinner, which is true!’

‘Clever girl! I wonder if she’ll tell the others?’

Olivia shrugged. ‘Don’t care if she does.’ She had often wondered what Ralph’s feelings towards her were, but Beth had made it plain how she felt about the handsome corporal, and if she had been his type, surely Ralph would have asked her out to dinner and not Olivia?

At five o’clock, she headed towards the picket fence, where Ralph stood waiting for her, holding his arm out as she approached. She slipped her arm through his and together they struck out in the direction of the pub.

Turning his head, he gave her one of his secretive winks. ‘I see you ditched your battledress.’

‘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?’