‘Sssh,’ Danny said, stopping suddenly. ‘What was that?’ They stood listening.

Distantly, they heard Esther’s voice, ‘Kate – Kate!’

Grabbing Danny’s hand, Kate whispered, ‘Come on, let’s go to the beach.’

‘You sure, Katie? You’ll only mek ya mam madder than ever.’

But Kate was already dragging him up the slope and down on to the marsh. Then they were running towards the easterly dunes, splashing through the creeks in the darkness, skirting the deeper streams. They knew every inch of the marsh and could quite literally find their way in the dark.

Laughing, they flopped down at last in the sandy hollow in the dunes that was their special place. They lay on their backs, close together, just staring up at the vast expanse of darkening sky above them, listening to the musical lap-lap of the waves, somehow louder in the darkness.

Danny raised himself on one elbow and leaned over her. She could feel his breath, soft upon her face. ‘When are we going to get married, Katie?’

She touched his face and, with gentle fingers, traced the outline of the features she knew – and loved – so well. She had always loved him. He had been part of her life always, and that was the way she wanted it. It was what they both wanted; to be part of each other’s lives for ever.

‘As soon as you like, Danny. But I’ll have to leave me job. Mr Reynolds dun’t – doesn’t . . .’ she corrected herself. Since her recent promotion she was more than ever conscious of the strong dialect in her speech and was making a determined effort to correct it. She had never felt her speech to be a defect until she had been ridiculed for it at the school in Lincoln. Sometimes, in the dead of night, she still shuddered at the memories of that time and her private humiliations were locked away in the depths of her soul.

‘Mr Reynolds’, she was saying now, ‘doesn’t employ married women. I’d have to leave if we got married.’

‘Well, I’d want you to anyway.’ His head came lower until his mouth brushed her lips. ‘You’ll have plenty to do looking after me – and the kids!’

Kate giggled and then was lost as his butterfly kiss became more demanding. His arms were around her and he was pressing his strong, muscular body against her. Now she felt his urgency; felt the heat and desire in his kiss.

‘No, Danny, no. We mustn’t.’ Kate pulled away from him suddenly and sat up. She sat with her arms wrapped around her knees drawn up to her chest – a chest that was no longer childishly thin; now her breasts were firm and rounded – and desirable! And Danny wanted her, she knew.