‘I wonder what they’re having back at the station?’ said Ralph as the aroma of pie being cooked wafted towards them.

Olivia grinned. ‘Fried Spam with bubble and squeak, much to Beth’s disgust, although I don’t think that’s the reason why she got so upset.’

He cocked an eyebrow. ‘Oh? Sounds interesting.’

Olivia told him how she had explained to Beth about her planned evening.

Ralph drummed his fingers on the table top as he tried to place Beth, although he soon remembered after a quick, rather unflattering description by Olivia.

‘The busty, brassy blonde, eh?’ he chuckled. ‘I remember her now, the shy wallflower.’

Olivia, who had just taken a sip of her drink, began to cough. ‘Are you sure we’re talking about the same girl?’

He grinned and then winked, and this time, there was no doubting his action. ‘The RAF’s full of Beths. They work their way through the base, moving from one poor sucker to the next. The war’s created a playground for women like her.’

Olivia hesitated. She didn’t like the other girl much, and according to what Josie had said, Beth certainly had had a lot of male companions, but to suggest she worked her way through the entire base seemed a trifle unfair. At the same time, she was pleased to hear that Ralph didn’t approve of women like her, and just to make sure she asked the question uppermost in her thoughts. ‘So not your type, then?’

He pulled a disapproving face. ‘God, no. She’s the sort of girl my father warned me about – fast and easy.’

Olivia stared at him, the thought of her indiscretion flying through her mind, and the smile vanished from her lips as she imagined what he would say if he knew the truth about her past. Ralph looked at her with concern. ‘Sorry, did I say something amiss?’

Olivia shook her head hastily. ‘Not at all,’ she lied.

Ralph took her hand in his. ‘Are you sure I didn’t say anything to upset you? Only you look a bit preoccupied.’

Olivia smiled briefly. ‘I was just thinking about Beth. Do you think we might be judging her unfairly?’

He stared into his drink before looking up. ‘You only have to hear the way she talks to know she’s hardly the Virgin Mary when it comes to the opposite sex.’