‘Sorry.’

She ran upstairs to her room and closed the door behind her. What had just happened? Adrenaline was gushing in her veins. The pit of her stomach was cold. Her breath was coming fast and shallow. Feeling faint, she went to her open window. It was a hot day with barely a breeze, but the air felt good in her lungs. She sucked in as much as she could, until calm was regained and the nausea abated.

Had George been about to propose to her? Or was he teasing? Or did he really think he was too old for her? She didn’t think he was.

She lay down on her bed, not wanting to go back downstairs, not wanting to face him.

After a little while, there came a quiet knock on her door, then it opened an inch. ‘Marion?’ It was her mother. ‘What happened?’

‘I came over a bit faint. I think maybe I have had too much sun.’

‘George has gone. He said to tell you he’ll call tomorrow. He’s worried you aren’t well.’

‘I’m fine.’

Maggie stood at her daughter’s bedside and took her hand. ‘Was it my fault? Your father has already had words with me.’

‘Mother, I just need to sleep. Let’s speak tomorrow.’

George rang up the next day, but Marion told her mother that she wasn’t feeling well enough to come to the telephone. She said the same for the next three days.

On the fourth day, he didn’t ring.

On the fifth day, she felt safe enough to leave the sanctuary of her room and venture out into the garden.

Her parents were outside, sitting in the shade of her father’s prize rose – a peach-coloured and heavily scented climber, his pride and joy.

Her mother, mending basket on her lap, shaded her eyes with a cupped hand and looked her up and down. ‘So, you’re up.’

Her stepfather was more sympathetic. ‘How are you feeling, lassie?’

‘I’m all right.’

‘Come and sit in the shade.’ He got up to give his seat to Marion. ‘I’ll get you a cold drink. Would you like a sandwich? You’ve hardly eaten all week.’

‘A drink would be lovely. Thank you, Dad.’

As soon as he had disappeared into the kitchen, Maggie started. ‘Are you going to tell me what happened between you and George?’

‘I don’t want to talk right now, Mother.’

Over her reading glasses, she gazed at Marion. She asked quietly, ‘Was he inappropriate with you?’

Marion frowned. ‘No!’

‘Did he want you to do something you didn’t want to do?’

‘Mother! No.’

‘Then what?’

‘He …’ She took a deep breath. ‘I thought he was going to ask me to marry him and … it scared me.’

‘Oh my God!’ Maggie’s jaw dropped into a wide grin. ‘He was going to propose?’

‘I thought so, yes.’

Maggie smiled. ‘Congratulations. You did the right thing to keep him in suspense.’

‘Mum …’

‘It’s always best to think about these things.’