‘It’s a lovely afternoon,’ Kate said casually. ‘We won’t get too many days like this now, and I feel like a walk. Besides which, I had an idea for planting different vegetables in the greenhouse, so I want to talk to Morrison.’

Ivy shrugged and smiled. ‘Anyone would think you was the lady of the manor, Kate. You fit into the part very well.’

‘I like to keep busy, and it’s nice to see everything getting back to how it must have been years ago. Anyway, I think the sale went well,’ Kate said, quickly changing the subject. ‘You worked very hard, Frankie, and so did you, girls.’

Frankie blushed to the roots of his hair, while Nellie and May giggled and hid their faces as if unused to such praise.

‘They’re good nippers, most of the time,’ Ivy said with a tremulous smile. ‘Their dad would be proud of them.’

‘How much longer has he got to serve?’ Kate asked gently. Although Ivy said little about her husband’s prison sentence, it was obvious to anyone who knew her well that she had suffered greatly.

‘I’m not sure, but I don’t think we’ll see him before February. I don’t know if they get time off for good behaviour.’

‘Let’s hope so, Ivy. Anyway, it’s only a few months now and you’ll be reunited. Just think how happy Ted will be to see the children so healthy.’

‘And with book learning,’ Frankie added with a cheeky grin. ‘I can read if the words aren’t too long.’

‘I can read better than you,’ May added. ‘Mrs Courtney said I’m a clever girl.’

‘I’m sure you’re all doing well,’ Kate said hastily. ‘You’ll give your dad a lovely surprise.’

Ivy took Jimmy onto her lap and gave him a cuddle. ‘What about Harry? Cousin Perry is his solicitor – does he know when Harry will be released?’

Kate had not been expecting this turn in the conversation. ‘I don’t think Perry knows any more than we do.’

‘It’s a shame. Harry Trader might be a crook, but he ain’t no villain. He used to slip me the odd half-crown whenever he came to the soup kitchen. I’ve tried asking Perry about my Ted, but he’s always vague. You’d think, being cousins, he’d try a bit harder to get Ted’s sentence shortened. He only stole because we was desperate.’

‘I know, Ivy.’ Kate gave her a hug. ‘I’m sure that Perry is doing everything he can for Ted and for Harry.’ She sat back against the squabs with Nellie nestled against her, while May and Frankie grew bored and began to squabble, receiving a sharp rebuke from their mother.