‘Ah, but some of those handsome RAF chaps could be in,’ Amanda pointed out.

The RAF base was not far from theirs and when the pilots weren’t flying they often used the NAAFI for a meal.

Susan and Livvy exchanged an amused glance, then, heads bent, they picked their way through the deepening snow and just for a moment Livvy thought of the warm, cosy little kitchen back at the lodge.

In the very kitchen that Livvy was thinking of, Sunday was just opening the door to John, who had popped in to check that all was well. Their relationship had undergone a subtle change since he had made the unexpected proposal. For a time, they had lost their easy relationship and she had felt slightly embarrassed when in his company and had stopped visiting Treetops as frequently as she had previously. But since the departure of Giles and Livvy they were becoming closer again, finding comfort in each other’s company.

‘How are you all?’ he asked as Sunday quickly closed the door behind him and he stamped the snow from his boots. Already his coat was beginning to steam in the warm atmosphere, and she smiled as she ushered him to the fireside chair and hurried off to set the kettle on the range.

‘We’re fine. Kathy is upstairs getting the twins to sleep.’ Without asking she spooned tea leaves into the pot from the caddy and lifted down two cups from the shelf. She knew exactly how John liked his tea. ‘Any news from Giles?’

He shook his head as he held his hands out to the leaping flames. ‘Not yet, but Cissie mentioned today that you’d had a letter from Livvy.’

‘Yes, yesterday.’ She lifted it down from behind the clock on the mantelshelf and handed it to him to read.

He smiled as his eyes scanned the page. ‘It sounds like she’s rather missing her home comforts.’

Sunday nodded as she poured the boiling water into the pot.

‘Which brings me around to what I was going to suggest …’

Sunday raised a quizzical eyebrow. ‘Oh yes, and what would that be then?’