‘You’re very observant,’ said Prudence. ‘I’m just lonely. Some days are better than others. It wasn’t so bad when I looked after a pair of evacuees, a little brother and sister from Whitechapel. They were lovely children and I enjoyed the company. It was very silent when they returned to London – no one to talk to once the shop door had closed.’ She glanced up at the clock. ‘Which reminds me …’

She walked to the door and turned the sign from OPEN to CLOSED.

Lily decided to take the initiative. ‘I’m not in a hurry, Prudence. I could stay a little longer if you like.’

Prudence smiled. ‘That would be lovely.’

They walked into a cosy sitting room and Prudence prepared a pot of tea and opened a packet of chocolate biscuits. ‘We haven’t really spoken much, have we?’ she said. ‘You seem to be enjoying your teaching.’

Lily felt relaxed in the company of this gentle lady. ‘Yes, Ragley is an excellent school. I’m pleased to be part of it and the people in the village are so supportive.’ She sipped her tea and looked up. ‘Well, most of them.’

‘I know what you mean,’ said Prudence. ‘I heard about Stanley Coe being the likely culprit when you fell off your bicycle.’

‘I’m still a little nervous, to be honest, when I approach that bend. Fortunately I haven’t seen him on that road for a while.’

Prudence nodded. ‘I expect Sergeant Feather had a quiet word. He’s good at that. He spots problems before they get worse and deals with them.’

‘Yes, I’m lucky to have him as a friend.’

‘A friend? No more than that?’ asked Prudence softly. She peered over her spectacles.

Lily looked down and stirred her tea.

‘Sorry, not my business,’ added Prudence with an apologetic and dismissive wave of her hand.

‘It’s just that affairs of the heart are sometimes difficult to discuss,’ said Lily.

‘I understand … really I do.’

There was an awkward silence.

‘Yes,’ said Lily eventually, ‘Vera told me about Jeremy. You must have loved him very much. I’m so sorry.’

Prudence glanced up at the mantelpiece and the photograph of the young Spitfire pilot. ‘I discovered long ago that love can be a fickle companion. Perhaps you need to grasp it while you have the opportunity.’

Lily couldn’t ignore the message there. She looked around the room at the clock on the mantelpiece and the various photographs of Prudence as a younger woman and, of course, pictures of her and Jeremy.

‘Prudence … how did you know you loved him?’

Prudence put down her cup and saucer. ‘I knew from the first time I sat next to him on the school bus.’ She settled back in her armchair and let her memories wash over her like gentle rain from heaven. ‘It’s quite a story.’

Lily smiled. ‘I’ve got time.’