‘Then we’ll have a car waiting for you outside the side entrance when this is finished,’ the officer said. ‘Don’t let me detain you from your tea and biscuits, Miss Callaghan. You see we can run to biscuits here – it’s not like being stuck out in the provinces, you know.’

‘Yes, sir,’ said Kitty, annoyed that he’d had to have a snide dig at where she came from. London officers – they were all the same.

‘Now you be a good boy and don’t cause any trouble for Auntie Sarah or Tommy,’ Nancy instructed her son as they stood on the doorstep of the Callaghans’ house. ‘Remember to clean your teeth and go straight to bed when they tell you.’

‘Yes, Mam,’ said Georgie impatiently, hopping up and down on the spot. He couldn’t wait to be inside. He’d visited this house many times but had never been allowed to sleep there, and he could hardly contain himself.

Tommy opened the door, a big grin on his face as he caught sight of the little boy beaming up at him. ‘All right, young Georgie?’ he said affectionately, ruffling the boy’s hair. ‘Come on in.’

‘Don’t you stand for any nonsense from him, Tommy,’ Nancy said, half worried that it would be too much for the lad, but proud too that her little boy was having this small adventure. ‘He’s got everything he needs packed in that canvas bag.’

‘I put in my picture book an’ all,’ Georgie said solemnly. ‘So I won’t get under your feet.’

‘Course you won’t get under my feet,’ said Tommy warmly. ‘We’re going to have a grand time. So don’t you worry,’ he said to Nancy, who was hovering.

‘I know you will. All right, give Mammy a kiss and then off you go,’ she said, wondering why she suddenly felt a surge of trepidation. The little boy’s cough seemed to be on the mend at last, and she’d left Georgie with lots of babysitters before, including Tommy himself. In any case, it wouldn’t be long until Sarah got home from work. Her younger sister was one of the most sensible, capable people she knew, so there was, as Tommy said, no need to worry. She was just being silly. She bent and gave Georgie a brief hug and then waved goodbye as Tommy shut the door. As she walked away she could hear Georgie’s shrieks of excitement.