‘No,’ said Ruby, unexpectedly stepping forward for once. ‘I’ll do it. I can do it.’ She blushed a little at drawing the attention of so many pairs of eyes. ‘You take the rest of the cake, Kitty. I’ll help here. I want to be here, for if Violet needs me.’ She looked down at her feet in their highly polished but very old-fashioned shoes.

Dolly realised what an effort it had been for her to speak up like that, and gave her a hug. ‘Bless you, Ruby. That’s a very good idea. That way the party can go on but we can get everything tidied up here. Between us it will take no time at all, as little Ellen’s fast asleep in her Moses basket.’

‘You make sure to tell us as soon as there’s any news,’ Pop said firmly.

‘Don’t you be worrying about that,’ said Dolly confidently. ‘Sure, it will be ages yet.’

She breathed a sigh of relief as the last person left to go the short distance to the Callaghan front door. She didn’t want to spoil their fun but, although the dinner had gone beautifully, now there was something else to think about.

Danny brought out their collection of glasses, rather mismatched, while Kitty brought out cups and plates. His mind was still on what had taken place in the Feeny kitchen, though.

What would Sarah have said to him if they’d stayed there and Rita hadn’t rushed in? Had she understood what he’d said to her? Was this the right time to be thinking of such things? He’d have to go back to Bletchley to finish the project he’d been asked to join, and not see her for weeks. Yet he couldn’t deny how much he missed her, and somehow it had felt very important that she knew it. He thought he’d caught something in her look, but then she’d had to drop everything and rush upstairs to help – exactly as he’d have expected her to do. He’d just have to wait.