‘No.’

Solly shakes his head and turns his back on her, dropping the coins into the drawer before closing it.

It is easier to leave from the back door, her suitcase in one hand and her favourite blue coat hooked over her other arm, than to face the shop – and Solly – again. The yard is empty, save for two small boys throwing stones against a wall.

She walks quickly down the High Street, oblivious of her surroundings, head down to avoid the stares and the sight of people she has known all her life turning their backs on her, until she is over the bridge.

‘Here, watch out!’

She mutters an apology to the scurrying figure she has collided with in her haste.

‘Ruby?’ The figure calls after her.

Little Florrie.

Ruby checks the street. They are far beyond the Borough, but Florrie could still be in trouble.

‘You don’t want to be caught with me. Didn’t you hear? Annie’s orders.’

The girl grimaces, but she’s spotted the blue coat. Florrie has always admired the Poiret. She doesn’t move or turn her back. She stands, fidgeting on the pavement.

‘How is everyone?’ Ruby asks. She might not have another opportunity. Florrie has not yet learned to keep her mouth shut. ‘Daisy, Maggs –?’

‘Oh, Daisy’s in a terrible way,’ Florrie says, as if she’s repeating someone else’s words, eyes still on the coat.

‘How do you mean? What’s wrong with her? Florrie!’

Florrie snaps out of her reverie at the sharp tone. ‘Maggs says she’s taking in callers. Men from the docks.’

Ruby puts the suitcase on the ground. ‘What?’

‘Callers,’ Florrie says, lowering her voice. ‘You know…’

Florrie clearly does. She’s old enough to understand.

‘Why? I thought we were… I thought the Forties were helping her out. Giving her money, helping her make ends meet while Harry’s away.’

‘I heard Edith telling everyone that Harry had some debts no one knew of. Big ones. And Daisy didn’t know of them, neither. Until some man came to tell her.’

Florrie, sitting quietly in the Crown, will have heard everything while everyone else will have forgotten she was there.

‘What man? What happened?’

‘No one had seen her for days. Not since you… You know. And then Edith said she found her with her face battered and Daisy told her that some man was very insistent she pay back Harry’s debts.’

‘Who was he? This man? Can’t Ron go and see him? Or Freddy Moss?’

‘They won’t. It turns out that Harry owes money to them an’ all. I don’t know how they found out – from someone inside with Harry, probably – but he’d been doing the dirty on the Elephants on the quiet for years. Before the war, even. So, they’ve dropped him, Maggs said. And they’ve dropped Daisy with him.’