‘Oh no!’ Marion sat up. ‘I hope she’s not organizing one of her tea parties. I hate it when they all come round and ask me questions.’

They kept still, straining their ears to hear Maggie’s side of the conversation in the hall.

‘And the royal yacht Victoria and Albert is wonderful,’ Maggie was saying. ‘It’s like a palace inside – very Victorian, everything served on Crown Derby china. Of course, Marion is very used to that sort of thing now, but I would love to see it for myself.’

Marion was horrified. She leapt out of bed, bouncing her dad’s tea into his saucer, and ran out on to the landing. ‘Mother! Mother, would you stop gossiping!’ she hissed

‘It’s only Jeanie from church.’ Maggie flapped a hand at her daughter and smiled. ‘She’ll not tell anyone. Sorry, Jeanie, Marion is upset about me talking to you … Aye, I’ve told her that …’

Marion clattered down the stairs and stood in front of her mother. ‘Put the phone down,’ she mouthed.

‘I have to go now, Jeanie. I’m awful sorry … No no, I’m fine. I’ll tell Marion. Bye, now.’

Marion was steaming. ‘I am never telling you anything about my work again! How many times do I have to tell you, Mother? I could lose my job because of your tattling.’

‘Och, away with you. I only mentioned your trip to Dartmouth and that young man who escorted Lilibet and Margaret all day.’

‘Mother! She is the Princess Elizabeth to you.’

‘Oh, here we go. Can I not be happy that Lilibet attracted a nice boy who rowed after the departing royal yacht until he had to turn back?’ She turned and walked to the kitchen. ‘Are we not allowed a little romance in these dark times?’

Marion was glowering at her. ‘Mother, she is only thirteen!’

‘Exactly. So, she’s hardly going to meet him again, is she? It’s all innocent enough.’

‘That’s not the point.’

The doorbell rang and startled Marion. ‘That will be George, and I’m not dressed!’

Later, George drove Marion quietly away, saying nothing while she railed against her mother’s loose tongue and general inability to be discreet. Finally, she ran out of anger and sighed. ‘Thank you for taking me out of there.’ She put her hand on his thigh and squeezed. ‘How do you put up with me?’

‘It’s best you get it off your chest.’

She smiled. ‘Where are you taking me?’

‘Up to Loch Leven for some fresh air. I think you need some space.’

‘Dear George. What a wonderful thought. If you had told me, I would have packed a rug and maybe a picnic.’

‘Why would I spoil a surprise? And anyway, that’s all taken care of.’

George’s smile melted her heart. He was so good to her. He had his odd little angry moments every now and then, but that was just him. She understood why he had been so upset when she had postponed the wedding but neither of them expected it to be for over two years. Since then, they had both started saving hard and although their long-distance love affair had survived, they were yet to set a date.