‘Yes. Sorry about that, I got caught up with the CO from East Markham. I’m afraid he needs a lift back, Kate. His car broke down on the way here. He’ll be here in a minute.’

Wearily, Philip removed his hat and ran his fingers through his thick hair that curled so tightly each curl was like a coiled spring. He leaned his head back against the seat and closed his eyes.

‘Er, shouldn’t you really sit in the back, sir?’ Kate said hesitantly, reluctant to disturb him, but if they were to have company in the car . . .

His head snapped up and his eyes opened. ‘Oh Lord, yes.’ As he opened the door and swung his legs out, Kate was sure she heard him mutter, ‘ . . . and I was so looking forward to sitting in front with you.’

By the time Group Captain Sellick appeared and Kate hopped out to open the door for him, Philip was sitting sedately in the back seat.

‘This is very decent of you, Trent.’

‘Not at all,’ she heard Philip reply as they left Grantham and headed out into the black country road. The moonlight was only fitful as heavy clouds scudded across it. One moment the landscape was bathed in silvery light, the next plunged into pitch blackness. Thank goodness for all that rigorous night driving during training, Kate thought.

Suddenly she slammed both her feet down hard on the brake and the clutch pedal as a black shape loomed up directly in front. The heavy car slithered to the right, throwing the occupants sliding about the back seat.

‘What the devil?’ she heard one of them mutter as the car came to a halt on the grass verge. Kate half turned her head to see the sorrowful faces of several cows pressed close to the car windows.

‘Ahem – it seems they have us surrounded,’ Group Captain Sellick said, making no effort to move.

Kate was out of the car and closing the door behind her. ‘Come on, cush, cush. Now where have you lot come from, I wonder?’ Out in the night air, her eyes became more accustomed to the darkness. She moved among the cows, gently pushing them. ‘There, there, girl . . . Ah, now I see.’ Dimly, in the fitful moonlight, she could see that the hedge into a nearby field had been trampled down. ‘And I see you’ve brought Dobbin with you too, have you?’ she added, laughing softly to herself as she saw a cart-horse amongst the herd.

Slapping the rump of the nearest cow, she turned it and shooed it back towards the opening, all the time murmuring soothing encouragement. Thankfully, she saw the rest of the herd turn and follow the lead of the first cow.

‘Want any help?’ she heard Philip call.