Kitty swallowed hard. ‘That, you know, you wanted my superior officer to represent the Derby House Wrens at the meeting, not me.’

Frank paused again. ‘I don’t know what you mean. I asked for you because you’re the best when it comes to telephone communications and training. I know your boss has been doing it for longer, but she doesn’t understand the day-to-day difficulties or how fast things have changed. I definitely asked for you.’

‘Oh.’ Kitty was caught off guard. ‘But I thought—’

‘How on earth did you come by such an idea?’

‘Well, after that meeting with Commander Stephens, Moira Butcher told me I was the second choice. She seemed to know what she was talking about, and so I believed her.’

‘That’s not true.’ Frank sighed. ‘It’s probably because she’s friends with Sylvia. She’s being protective – not that she has any need to be. After all, it was Sylvia who called a halt to things, not the other way around.’

‘What?’ Now it was Kitty’s turn to sound astonished. ‘I didn’t realise. I thought you were still courting her. When did that happen?’

‘Between Christmas and New Year.’ Frank cleared his throat, his voice seeming to fade a little. ‘I didn’t exactly make a song and dance about it. Not the sort of thing to spread around, really.’

‘Frank, I’m sorry.’ Kitty knew the two of them had been seeing each other quite regularly. ‘You’ve been putting a brave face on it all that time. We didn’t know.’

‘No need to be sorry.’ Frank paused again, then his voice changed, became stronger again. ‘She probably did me a favour, to be honest. She said … she said there was always a barrier between us. As if there was somebody else there.’

Kitty wasn’t sure how to take that. ‘But you wouldn’t have two-timed her.’

‘Of course not. That wasn’t what she meant. She had a point, though.’

‘Did she?’

‘Yes, she did … Kitty, you must know what I’m talking about.’

Kitty knew what she wanted him to be talking about, but she wasn’t at all sure that was what he meant. She’d jumped to too many wrong conclusions on this trip already. She paused for a moment, not daring to indulge any of her hopes, and then said, ‘No, I … I’m not sure.’

There was no reply. Had she offended him somehow?

‘Frank, are you still there? Are you all right?’ There was a lengthening silence. She couldn’t tell how long it went on for.

‘Frank? Speak to me, Frank.’ She tried to keep the growing anxiety from her voice.

After what seemed to be an eternity, he finally spoke. ‘Kitty … sorry. Might have blacked out again for a moment there.’

‘Are you all right? I was worried,’ Kitty said.