There was still over an hour’s sunlight before darkness began to descend and everyone stayed outside enjoying the early-evening warmth. Albert Jenkins was talking to Valerie Flint and Elsie Crapper while admiring the fragrant honeysuckle and the bright colours of the climbing clematis. Irene Gubbins and Edna Trott were standing next to Ruby, who was pointing out a spectacular border of Victorian roses.

Ruby waved as Lily walked over to join them. ‘Ah love roses, Miss Briggs,’ she said. She looked happy and relaxed in a cotton dress and a straw hat covered in summer flowers. She sniffed a deep-yellow rose appreciatively. ‘An’ that’s a Bobby Dazzler.’

‘An’ ’ave you ’eard t’news ’bout that Stanley Coe?’ asked Irene.

‘That’s right, Miss Briggs,’ said Edna. ‘It’s all round t’village.’

‘What’s that?’ asked Lily.

‘’E’s gone an’ been arrested by PC Dew’irst,’ said Irene.

‘Arrested!’ Lily was shocked. ‘What for?’

‘’E got drunk in t’Pig an’ Ferret,’ said Ruby, ‘an’ ’e were boastin’ ’bout knockin’ you off y’bicycle.’

‘An’ t’landlord rang t’police,’ added Edna.

‘I see,’ said Lily cautiously, but secretly pleased. Everything comes to he who waits, her father used to say.

It was then that Lily saw Tom. He was wearing an open-neck white shirt and a lightweight grey suit and thoughts of Stan Coe getting his comeuppance were dismissed.

Tom was speaking with Captain Forbes-Kitchener and both were drinking warm beer. The captain, as always, was impeccably dressed in his regimental tie and three-piece suit; the vagaries of the weather rarely influenced Rupert’s attire. Meanwhile, Tom was aware of Lily. While he was driving to the vicarage he had decided what he must say to her.

Edna Trott pointed out Prudence Golightly. ‘Lovely t’see Prudence ’ere t’night,’ she said. ‘She’s certainly been through ’ell an’ ’igh water, poor lass. It were terrible sad ’bout ’er Jeremy. Shot down in ’is Spitfire over t’Channel. ’E were a lovely man by all accounts an’ they were due t’get married. Ah doubt Prudence will ever get over it. She loved ’im t’bits.’

‘Y’right there, Edna,’ agreed Irene. ‘Ah can’t imagine what she’s thinkin’ on a lovely occasion such as this.’

Suddenly there was a tinkling of a spoon tapping a glass and, to Vera’s concern, Joseph appeared from the kitchen carrying a tray of celebratory drinks. He placed it carefully on the old wooden table outside the kitchen window and proceeded to distribute a glass to each guest.

‘Time for a traditional end-of-school-year toast, everybody. As a special treat I’ve opened my home-made lavender wine.’ He looked around at the impassive faces. Everyone was aware of the reputation of Joseph’s winemaking.