‘I’m just glad he’s gone,’ Judy said firmly. ‘Now we can all get on with our lives.’

‘He treated you so badly.’ Molly shrugged off her mantle. ‘I agree with Ma. He’ll get his comeuppance one way or another. Anyway, I’m gasping for a cup of tea and something to eat, and then I’m off to see Miss Creedy for a fitting for my wedding gown. Are you coming with me, Judy?’

‘I really should give Ma a hand to prepare the meals for tonight.’ Judy glanced at her mother. ‘Is there much to do?’

‘No, dear. I can manage. You go with Molly.’ Hilda started towards the kitchen, but she hesitated. ‘You ought to have a new gown, too, Judy.’

‘It’s not my wedding, Ma. I have a perfectly good Sunday best, and the new bonnet Rob bought me in London.’ Judy linked arms with her sister. ‘A cup of tea sounds like a very good idea. Then we’ll set off for the village.’

It was one of those late April days when the sun shone brightly as if to fool people into venturing outside without their umbrellas. Judy passed the time of day with Miss Creedy, but she did not go into the cottage with Molly. It was not that Judy was envious of her younger sister’s happiness, far from it, she could not have been more delighted to have Jack as a brother-in-law. But the excitement of the wedding preparations only served to remind her that she had not heard from Rob, who had been gone for several weeks. She blamed herself for his long absence. Things might have been different had she given him the slightest encouragement, but it was the old fear of rejection that had made her hold back. She tried to convince herself that she did not care, but she knew that the fault was hers and hers alone.

Judy set off for the village shop with the list of items that their mother had given her. After a brief chat with George Keyes, who was always eager to serve up gossip with the customer’s purchases, she left the shop. With the fickleness of the weather, the sky had clouded over and an April shower caused her to run for cover in the railway station. She was sheltering in the ticket hall when the London train arrived, letting off a burst of steam, and through the vaporous cloud she saw a familiar figure striding along the platform. Her heart missed a beat and she had to stop herself from rushing towards him as Rob approached the barrier and handed in his ticket.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Rob’s expression lightened when he saw her and he greeted her with a smile that took her breath away.

‘Judy, how did you know I was on this train?’

She shook her head. ‘I didn’t. I was sheltering from the rain.’

He put his valise down and wrapped her in a hug. ‘I don’t care who sees us. I’ve missed you.’