‘You’ve had that cough since winter.’

‘Oh, it’s nothing to worry about.’ He wipes his mouth and balls his handkerchief back into his pocket.

She lightly rests her hand on his shoulder as she stretches to put his plate before him. ‘You should go and see Dr Penny.’

Ted’s hand traps hers in place. ‘Are you concerned about me?’

He delivers the words with conspicuous levity, but it fails to conceal the gravity that lurks beneath. An awkward stillness embraces them. Muriel is chatting to Tom, oblivious to the interchange at the head of the table. Gwen slips her hand free, her skin scorched by his touch.

‘You need to look after yourself is all I’m saying,’ she says quietly, taking her seat. She is aware of Ted’s lingering gaze, but she avoids it by pouring herself a glass of water from the jug on the table. He picks up his cutlery. Recognising the moment has passed, Gwen gathers up her own and forks in a mouthful of stew, suddenly eager for the meal to be over.

‘There’s talk in the village of having a party,’ Muriel pipes up, ‘to celebrate the end of the war.’

‘But it’s not over yet, is it? There’s still Japan to contend with,’ Gwen points out.

‘Well, that’s the thing, what with the Johnson boys both out in the Far East and Mrs Moncton’s husband and Geoff Browne too. Some are arguing we should wait until all our village lads are safe before having some shindig. I mean, the Japs can’t hold out for much longer, surely? Now Germany is out of the picture us and the Yanks can turn all our might on them, we’ll soon bring them to heel.’

‘Determined buggers, the Japanese. They might prove difficult to defeat,’ Ted warns.

‘Victory in Europe gives us something to celebrate, at least. No more air raids, no more blackouts, hopefully no more rationing. Things might start getting back to normal,’ Muriel says.

‘I reckon we’ll have rationing for a while yet.’ Ted chews his meat thoughtfully. ‘This rabbit tastes lovely, Muriel.’

‘Yes, it does – well done me for snaring them,’ Nora chips in. ‘And as far as I’m concerned, the more parties the better. I’m happy to celebrate until the cows come home.’ She grins, flaring her eyebrows.

But Tom is the only one who laughs.