She came out of her musing and smiled brightly. She was being rude, and this was no time for sombre thoughts; she was here to enjoy the evening and Matthew’s company. ‘I’d like some wine, please.’

‘Not champagne?’ he asked. ‘I think our first proper date should be special, don’t you?’

She laughed. ‘I’ll leave it to you. In fact, you can even choose what we shall eat.’

He beckoned the waiter over and ordered champagne, then studied the menu.

The rest of the evening was one of pure delight: the food was excellent, the band terrific and Al Bowlly a dream. They danced the evening away. All too soon it was time to leave.

As they made their way back to the car, Jenny slipped her hand through Matthew’s arm and smiled happily up at him. ‘Thank you for a really lovely evening.’

He bent and kissed her nose. ‘It was my pleasure. Will you come out with me again – to the pictures perhaps?’

‘I’d love to, but it will have to be after Christmas. On Christmas Eve we’re giving the children a party at the centre, and with only three days to go there’s a lot to do.’

‘I know. Mother’s roped us all in to help, even Father!’

They reached the car and were soon on their way back to Lambeth. The moment they arrived, Fred opened his front door. ‘Had a good time?’

‘Lovely, thanks.’ Matthew whispered to Jenny, ‘He’s checking up on me.’ Then he looked at his watch under the light of the street lamp and said, ‘It’s five to twelve.’

Fred grinned. ‘If you’re going indoors with Jen, I’ll expect you out sharpish – no more than five minutes.’

‘Fred,’ Jenny giggled, feeling quite light-headed from the champagne. ‘Or should I call you Dad?’

Glad’s head appeared in the doorway. ‘Leave them alone, Fred. We can trust Matt to act like a gent.’

‘I was a young man myself once.’ He leered at his wife. ‘I knows what’s going on in his head.’

Glad couldn’t stop her smile spreading. ‘But you was never a gent! Come inside, you daft old fool.’

‘Not so much of the old, woman! Come on, I’ll show you just how old I am.’

Matthew and Jenny doubled over with laughter as Fred and Glad disappeared from the doorway.

‘Don’t worry, sir,’ Matthew called, ‘I’ll stay only five minutes, I promise.’

Fred’s head appeared briefly, and he winked. ‘I’ll be watching. And you’d better not make it longer ’cos at this time of night you’ll come out and find all your wheels gone. There’s a lot of tea leafs round here.’ He jerked and disappeared, after obviously having been pulled indoors again.

‘What’s a tea leaf?’ Matthew asked.

‘A thief.’ Jenny opened the front door. ‘Are you coming in for a minute?’