As she stepped off the train, she saw him waiting on the platform, standing tall and dignified in his uniform, a slight frown creasing his forehead. It gave her a shock to see him there. Yet a thrill of pleasure ran through her seeing him unexpectedly; it was as if her own eagerness to see him had brought him there.

As she walked towards him, she reasoned with herself. His being here is nothing to do with you, she told herself sharply. He’ll have come to catch a train . . .

‘Kate!’ He was coming towards her, his hands outstretched, and, oblivious of onlookers, he took her in his arms and held her close. ‘Oh, Kate, how I’ve missed you.’

She clung to him, feeling the warmth and the strength of him.

They drew apart reluctantly. She was embarrassed by his public display, but he was grinning with happiness at seeing her again and obviously didn’t care what anyone else was thinking.

‘Are you catching a train?’

‘Eh? Oh no, just meeting one.’

‘You – you mean, you came to meet me?’ she gasped.

‘Yes. I’ve missed you so much. I couldn’t wait any longer. I was even rash enough to ask Mavis what train you might be on. I’ve only been waiting on this draughty station for two hours!’

Lost for words, Kate just stared at him, her mouth half-open.

‘You don’t mind, do you?’ It was the same question he’d asked her when he’d engineered her posting as his driver.

‘Well, of course not, but . . .’

‘Then stop dithering, woman,’ the grin was back, ‘and let’s get to the car and into the countryside where I can kiss you properly.’

They hurried out of the station and Kate drove recklessly up the hill out of the city. A few miles from Suddaby she turned the car down a bumpy track leading deep into a wooded area that had become their secret hideaway. They were hungry for each other, desperate with desire that their separation had fuelled . . .

Afterwards they sat together in the back seat of the car, cool beneath the shadows of the trees with only the sounds of the breeze whispering through the leaves and of birdsong from the high branches.

Philip glanced at his watch. ‘We’d better be making a move soon.’

‘Is there an operation on tonight?’ she asked.

‘No, we’ve been stood down. Widespread fog is forecast. But I have been away from the station rather a long time on unofficial business,’ he chuckled. ‘I ought to be getting back.’

‘Has everything been all right?’ she asked. ‘No more air raids?’

‘No – we’ve had a very quiet time. Some might say too quiet.’ He paused and then asked, gently, ‘How were things at home?’

Kate sighed. ‘Poor Rosie. She was hysterical. She went into labour and I stayed with her all the time.’