He hoped Vera would notice his new car. It was a low-slung two-seater Austin Healey 100. At £1,064 it was the world’s cheapest 100 mph sports car. Red with a black interior, a 90 bhp four-cylinder engine, rakish wire wheels and fold-flat windscreen, it could reach 60 mph in ten seconds. With nine out of ten being exported to the USA, it was rare to see one in the UK, so when George had pulled up all heads had turned. Sadly, there was not a flicker of recognition from Vera. Extreme displays of extravagance did not appeal to the vicar’s elder sister and George was left to wonder why he had chosen Wilhelmena as his wife – or had it been the other way round?

Tom and Rudi had walked back to Rudi’s car, parked in a shady spot on the Morton road near the church.

‘I am pleased we have spoken,’ said Rudi.

Tom had come to appreciate the efforts of this strange German. It was clear his experience of war had been traumatic, and he had emerged older and wiser. Although Tom could not imagine leaving behind a child to begin a new life, he understood the logic behind the thinking of this articulate man.

‘So am I,’ he said.

Rudi was insistent. ‘Freddie thinks Florence is his mother and it has to stay like that.’

Tom considered this carefully. ‘That will be for Lily to decide.’

‘Of course.’

Rudi stretched out his hand – a significant moment for both men. Tom recognized the gesture of an enemy who had become a brief acquaintance and he grasped Rudi’s hand in a firm handshake. ‘Good luck, Rudi.’

Rudi’s grey eyes were unblinking as he returned the young policeman’s searching gaze. He opened his car door, but then he turned again. There was a final thought he wished to share. ‘Tom … Lily wants to be in your life, but because of the mistake we both made she will not allow herself to accept happiness with another man. She’s a wonderful woman and does not deserve to suffer because of one silly mistake she made as a teenager in wartime. It’s tragic, because she deserves a life. She would like it to be with you, but believes she is not good enough.’ He climbed into the driver’s seat, started the engine and wound down the window. ‘You and I both know that is not true.’

After he had driven away, Tom stood there for a long time staring at the empty road.

For Lily it was a restless night, and as she lay awake in the early hours she saw there was no moon, only backlit clouds that covered the land with shadows of confusion. There were tears on her face as she stared at the empty pillow beside her. Many years had passed since she had known joy with Rudi. As time went on it had been replaced with a constant pain and emptiness.