For a few moments there was an embarrassed silence, covered by Ma busily rattling cups and saucers and filling the teapot.

‘Are – are you on leave?’ Esther asked him, remembering that he had said in the lane that Ke had not been able to come to see Ernie’s mother before now. In a few more weeks it would be a year since they had heard the news of Ernie’s death and it seemed strange that it should have taken quite so long for him to make his visit. His reply soon answered her question.

The smile twisted a little wryly. ‘Sort of. A few days after Ernie was hit, I was injured and eventually sent back home to hospital.’

Before she could stop herself, her gaze roamed over his body. A lean, lithe body, now he was divested of the uniforms shapeless greatcoat.

As if reading her thoughts, he said, ‘Don’t say it – I don’t look injured.’

She looked up to meet those brilliant blue eyes watching her with amusement. She drew breath sharply and laughed, ‘How did you know what I was thinking?’

‘It was written on your face.’

Ma pushed a cup of tea in front of her and Esther gave a little start. She had forgotten that there was anyone else in the room. The kitchen was crowded with people – Mr Harris and Ma, six of their children and her Kate, yet for a few moments she had felt herself completely alone with the stranger.

‘Mr Godfrey—’ Ma began, but was interrupted by the soldier saying, ‘Please – call me Jonathan.’

Ma rewarded him with her toothless smile and nodded. ‘Jonathan,’ she corrected herself, ‘is going to stay with us a few days, Esther, at least he’s going to stay at the pub . . .’ Ma grinned. ‘Ah dun’t reckon he fancies sleeping with all my brood!’ The family all laughed together and two of the younger boys started a rough-and-tumble on the hearth-rug which earned them a quick cuff from their mother. Suddenly the kitchen was full of noise, for although the soldier had come on a sombre errand, he had somehow lifted their spirits and helped to ease their loss.

They could not bear to let him go – not just yet – and so had prevailed upon his good nature to stay a while in their midst.

Carefully – though her heart was beating in a most peculiar manner – Esther said, ‘That’s nice. Where – where are you from?’

‘Lincoln. You know it?’

Esther shook her head.

He was smiling at her again. ‘Well, I’ve never been to Lynthorpe before, and to be honest–’ the laughter lines around his eyes crinkled – ‘I’d never even heard of Fleethaven Point until I met Ernie.’ His voice dropped a little as he added, ‘He made it sound like the most wonderful place on earth.’

‘It is!’ Esther replied without thinking.