‘Yes.’ Sunday frowned as she concentrated on straining the tea into the cups. It suddenly all felt very real. ‘My daughters and I will be living in the lodge by the gates, but I assure you you’ll have no interference from us.’

‘I shall be highly delighted to have you as a neighbour,’ he assured her with a grin. ‘And you will be very welcome to interfere any time you wish.’

‘So?’ Cissie asked her the second he had left.

Sunday smiled, a sad smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. ‘It appears that the property is sold, Cissie, so soon, hopefully, I shall be be debt-free and be able to pay you back as well. And I have to say Mr Willerby does seem to be a very nice gentleman.’

Cissie grinned and nudged her with her arm, ‘Ah, he’s a bit of all right an’ all, ain’t he?’ she laughed. ‘Cor, all that lovely silver hair! A bit different to my George wi’ his monk’s cut, bless him.’

Sunday smiled back, but the smile soon faded and she became solemn. ‘Now I just have to tell the girls,’ she fretted. ‘And I have an idea they’re not going to be too pleased at all to hear that their home has been sold!’

Cissie became solemn too as she nodded in agreement.

As it happened, Kathy showed little reaction to the news at all. She didn’t seem to have any interest in anything, even the horses, since Ben had gone, but Livvy was a different kettle of fish altogether and flew into a tantrum.

‘This is all Ben’s fault; how could he do this to us?’ she raged as tears flooded down her cheeks. She had been praying for a miracle that would prevent them having to leave but now it seemed that it was inevitable.

Sunday tried to wrap her arms about her but Livvy slapped them away and, turning, she fled to her room vowing she would never forgive him for what he had done, never!

One evening towards the end of February John Willerby paid Sunday another visit. Kathy let him in and sullen-faced showed him into the day room where Sunday was sitting beside the fire reading. Livvy had gone to the pictures to watch Fire Over England starring Vivien Leigh – one of her favourite actresses – and Laurence Olivier, and so Sunday had expected to spend a quiet evening alone. Kathy was no company anymore and crept about the house like a ghost when she wasn’t locked away in her room or working.

‘Ah, Mr Willerby, do come in.’ Sunday quickly put her book down and rose to meet him, looking mildly surprised.