Philip shrugged. ‘Why not? We’ll be careful. I won’t hug and kiss you in front of them, though I’d like to.’

She laughed. ‘But it’s not quite the thing for the Commanding Officer to spend the afternoon with his driver, is it?’

‘No, I suppose not.’ He was thoughtful for a moment. ‘Isn’t Fleethaven Point a restricted area?’

‘Ye-es. The Army’s got men posted at the Point. There’s a gun emplacement there.’

‘Well, then, that’s it. I’ve come to inspect the site officially. Something to do with balloons, if anyone asks. Yes, that’s it.’ The decision made, he sat back in his seat, a self-satisfied look on his face.

The rule-book out the window once more, Kate thought, and laughing, told him, ‘You’re impossible!’

In the rear-view mirror she saw him grinning at her.

‘Mam, Dad – this is Group Captain Trent. He’s the CO.’

Philip held out his hand. ‘Pleased to meet you, Mrs Godfrey – Mr Godfrey. Please call me Philip. When we’re away from camp, Kate and I call each other by our Christian names, but we have to be very official on duty.’

Kate sensed her mother’s eyes upon her and felt the flush of embarrassment creeping up her neck. ‘Careful,’ Kate’s glance said silently to Philip, ‘me mam’s no fool.’ Aloud, she said, ‘Please sit down, sir – I mean, Philip. I’ll just go and see me grandad. Is he up, Mam?’

‘Oh aye, he’s up. Fighting fit, he is. He’ll outlive the lot of us.’ Esther busied herself laying cups and saucers on the table.

Kate turned to leave the living room to go through to the front room, but at that moment the door opened and Will Benson came in. ‘Ah thought I ’eard voices,’ he said, as Kate kissed the white stubble on his chin.

The introductions were made again and soon Kate began to relax as Philip chatted comfortably with her stepfather and grandfather.

‘Well,’ he said at last, standing up, ‘we’d better take a look at the Point, Kate.’

‘Ya’ll spoil yar shoes, young feller, traipsing across the sand. Lend him yar boots, Jonathan.’

When Philip had squeezed his size nine feet into Jonathan’s size eight boots, and Kate had put on her own pair of Wellingtons, they set off down the lane towards the Point. The moment they were out of sight of the farmhouse, Philip pulled her into his arms.

‘No,’ she gasped. ‘Someone might come along the lane . . .’ But she found herself returning his kiss, unable to resist him. Once over the Hump, they walked apart again.

‘Oh Kate,’ he murmured. ‘All this secrecy, it’s driving me mad. How I wish . . .’

‘Kate – Kate!’

They both looked up to see Rosie hurrying towards them. ‘Have you heard something about Danny?’