‘We did what was right for Freddie. He deserved married parents, not a single mother. After Father died my mother was in a terrible state. Her world had collapsed around her. A new beginning for us all up here in Yorkshire seemed ideal. I knew then that I loved teaching – and I’m good at it,’ she said defiantly. ‘If they had known the truth I wouldn’t have got a teaching job here as an unmarried mother, especially in a Church of England school. The school governors would have been horrified, but no one has ever known the truth until now.’

Tom held her closer. She was shaking with emotion. ‘Lily, I really do understand, but there must be a way to make it right.’

‘Don’t you see? If the school governors knew they would insist on my resignation. They would demand it. It may be 1953, but it may as well be 1923. Society still treats a single mother like an outcast.’

‘They don’t need to know, and, anyway, I don’t care what people think. I still want us to make a life together and be happy.’

Lily knew it was a rare show of strength for Tom to swallow his pride.

‘But do you really want me in spite of all you know?’

Tom sighed and stared up at the sky. It was changing from purple to black and the stars shone down like sentinels.

‘I’ve always wanted you, Lily … for better or worse. I love you … always have … always will.’ The brief pauses gave weight to his words. These were the measured thoughts of an intelligent and sensitive man.

Lily looked up at him. ‘Tom, I don’t want to live a lie and be scared for the rest of my life. That’s how it was,’ she murmured to herself. ‘Rudi was gentle and kind, but our time together was always in secret, away from prying eyes.’

‘Yes, that’s how things were then and they still are now, but they won’t be in the future. It doesn’t have to be like this. Times can change … we can change.’

Lily wanted to believe him. In the silence of the night the thunder of her thoughts was overwhelming.

She stood up and walked a few paces, then turned. ‘Then there’s Freddie. He will need to know one day.’

‘One day, yes, but not now – not now. I don’t think he would fully understand.’

‘But would we stay here in Ragley? I love teaching here at the village school.’

Suddenly her secrets had scattered in the wind like sycamore keys and there was a new lightness to her thoughts. The weight of worry had been lifted.

Tom stood up, walked towards her and held her hands. ‘And I enjoy being a Yorkshire policeman. We could stay here. I just want to be with you for the rest of my life.’