They only had one more day together, but they were both determined to make the most of it. They repeated their experience on the lake, but this time, when Felix tried to kiss her, instead of the boat moving, it was the sensation in Roz’s heart, when he cupped her face in his hands, and the two of them melted into a long and amorous kiss. As Felix rightly commented, there was no island, but that didn’t mean to say that Roz wasn’t the queen of the lake and he the king.

From the lake they took a stroll around the city of Lincoln. It was a far cry from Liverpool with its old winding roads, and the castle which stood proud above the city. Roz had never seen an English castle before, so Felix took delight in showing her round. Standing on the battlements, he stood behind Roz, his arms around her waist, and kissed her neck. At that moment she felt as though the Luftwaffe could do its worst and she’d still be safe, because she was in Felix’s arms. Sighing happily, she imagined that they were indeed the king and queen and Lincoln was their city. Turning, she kissed his cheek. ‘I wish the war was over, and we were living in the cottage you spoke of yesterday.’

‘We’ll have to get married first,’ said Felix. He pulled her closer so that there wasn’t the slightest glimmer of light between their bodies, and they looked at the city below them as Felix spoke softly into her ear. ‘Your dress will be fit for a queen and your father will walk you down the aisle.’

Tears shimmered in Roz’s eyes. ‘If my father gets to walk me down the aisle you will have made me the happiest woman on earth.’

He kissed the side of her cheek and his breath tickled her neck as he spoke, sending delightful shivers through her body. ‘I don’t know if you believe in miracles, but I do, and I won’t marry you without your father’s consent.’

Twisting in his arms so that they were face to face, Roz melted into his embrace. As Felix kissed her, tears of happiness ran down her cheeks. Breaking away, he kissed the tip of her nose, causing her to giggle. ‘Do you think your parents will approve of me?’

Roz nodded fervently. ‘You’ve looked after their little girl when they were unable to. Believe me, Felix, my parents will love you.’

Even though the blitz was over, it wasn’t the end of the bombing in Liverpool. Although not as devastating, houses were still lost, and people still homeless.