‘Thank you,’ Queenie replied meekly. She felt her cheeks burning up. He’d never looked at her like that before. She couldn’t believe her luck. Ever since their conversation in the West End, she’d thought about Daniel constantly. He was her knight in shining armour. She was sure of that.

Clocking the way her youngest was looking at Queenie, Mary piped up: ‘Don’t you be getting designs on our Queenie, son. You’re a dirty dog when it comes to women. Queenie can do far better than lumping up with a fly-by-night like you.’

The butterflies in Queenie’s stomach were fluttering enormously. If Mary had noticed it too, it could only mean one thing. Finally, she’d caught Daniel’s eye. He actually fancied her.

Queenie was in her own little bubble for the rest of the evening. She caught Daniel looking discreetly at her a few times and she felt ever so adult when he bought her a drink and she asked him for a gin and tonic. That’s what Doreen, her work friend, drank. Queenie guessed it must be pretty cool as Doreen knew all the latest fashions and trends. She didn’t particularly like the taste but found it took the edge off her nerves. Daniel’s intense gaze was making her feel all jittery.

Daniel had his posh new car outside, a black Ford Coupé super deluxe. Queenie felt like a queen as he escorted her to the car with Aunt Edna and Mary. Others leaving the pub were looking at them and the car in awe. ‘There’s no need to drop us at Aunt Edna’s. I need to pop in Mum’s to pick something up. We can walk from there. It’s only a few streets away,’ Queenie explained.

‘Pick up what you need, then I’ll drop you home,’ replied Daniel, turning to Queenie so that she got the full force of his charm. His green eyes sparkled like the Irish sea and Queenie could barely breathe. ‘A lady doesn’t make her own way home eh, Mum?’ Mary nodded approvingly beside her. ‘You and your aunt will be escorted home in style.’

Queenie and Edna both hugged Mary when they got out the car. ‘Don’t forget, it’s my birthday on Wednesday. You’re more than welcome to join us,’ Edna told Mary.

Knowing that Molly would be attending, Mary made up an excuse. She didn’t want to make things awkward.

Queenie ran indoors and picked up her old umbrella. Her new one had broken yesterday; such was the strength of the wind.

The short journey to Aunt Edna’s only took a couple of minutes by car. ‘Thank you ever so much for the lift and the drinks, Daniel,’ Aunt Edna said, as she got out the car.

‘Yes. Thanks, Daniel,’ added Queenie.

As her aunt turned her back, Daniel grabbed Queenie’s arm. ‘You seriously do look beautiful tonight. But Mum’s right: you can do so much better than me. There’s nothing I’d like more than to take you to bed right now, Queenie, but there are some girls you bed and others you marry and one day, Queenie Wade …’ Daniel pulled her small hand to his mouth and kissed it gently, ‘one day, Queenie. Hopefully you will be mine.’