The twins’ ears had pricked up and now they whooped delightedly. ‘You can take me out on our sledge,’ Thomas suggested hopefully. ‘Mammy says we can’t cos it’s too cold so perhaps just the boys could go?’ Which earned him a slap on the arm from his sister.

The next minute they were rolling about the floor and, reaching down, Kathy caught them both gently by the scruff of their necks and hauled them to their feet. ‘See what I mean?’ she laughed. ‘I think they lack a father’s discipline.’ And then realising what she had said she blushed to the roots of her hair as Sunday looked on with an amused twinkle in her eye. Could it be that her daughter was finally discovering this young man’s worth? She sincerely hoped so for there was nothing she longed for more than to see both of her girls happily settled before she died.

An hour later hoots of laughter sounded from the grounds of Treetops as David patiently hauled the children about the garden on the sledge and helped them to build a snowman. They embarked on a snowball fight then and for just a short, sweet time, David’s terrible memories of the war were pushed to the back of his mind.

‘Looks like someone’s enjoying themselves,’ John commented as he called in to see Sunday at the lodge later that morning.

They stood together at the kitchen window, watching the grown-ups and children playing – even Kathy had joined them now – and Sunday nodded.

‘Yes, and it’s so lovely to see Kathy smiling. I think she’s missed David more than she realised.’

He stared at her from the corner of his eye. He knew how much Sunday loved her daughters. ‘Well, don’t forget if it’s meant to be it will happen,’ he warned softly. ‘You know how stubborn Kathy can be and if she thinks you’re trying to matchmake she might clear him off again.’

Instead of being insulted Sunday laughed. ‘I know. And don’t worry, I’m quite happy to take a back seat. But have you heard anything from Giles?’

He shook his head. ‘Not since last week when he was being transferred to an airfield in Lincolnshire somewhere. Look well if it’s the same one that Livvy’s stationed at. They’ll be at each other’s throats again in no time.’

‘Actually, I don’t think they would.’ Sunday poured hot milk onto his coffee. ‘Again, with those two I have a sneaky feeling they like each other more than they’re letting on.’

‘Really?’ He held his hands out to the fire. ‘That would be a bit of a turn-up for the books wouldn’t it? What I mean is, when anything happens to me, Treetops will go to Giles and if he and Livvy got together she’d end up back where she’s always felt she belonged.’