Tommy shuffled a little guiltily but was saved from further embarrassment by the arrival of Rita, still in her nurse’s cloak. Dolly was all for hurrying her straight to check that Georgie was as unhurt as he appeared, but Rita paused, taking something from her bag.

‘Hang on, we’d better see what this is. Ruby took delivery of this telegram, which is addressed to Sarah. Is she still asleep?’

‘She was when I last looked,’ Dolly said. ‘I’d better have it instead.’ She ripped it open, though Tommy looked anxious. He knew only too well what they so often meant – and yet who would be sending messages to Sarah?

‘Oh, it’s from Kitty,’ Dolly said. ‘She’s been delayed in London – doesn’t say why, but we aren’t to worry. Well, as if we would. She’s probably been asked to go to some more meetings or something like that. That’s all right, Tommy, you can stop here with us. I don’t want you in your own house until that lock is fixed.’

‘I’ll go and do that now,’ said Pop, glad to be of use in this house of increasing chaos. ‘Want to give me a hand, Tommy?’

Nancy looked across at the boy – almost young man – and smiled. ‘Yes, you go and do that,’ she agreed. ‘You’re good with locks.’

‘Have you seen the kitchen here, Kitty?’ Frank asked as he approached the sofa in the admiral’s flat, bearing two cups of tea. Kitty was propped up there, much brighter for her hours of sleep. Her ribs and left arm still hurt, but she could wiggle her fingers and had faith in the doctor’s judgement that rest was the best medicine. She grinned as she looked up at Frank.

‘No, I haven’t been here before, only heard about it from Laura,’ she said, shuffling a little against the plush cushions to accept the fine porcelain cup. ‘This is a bit different to Derby House, isn’t it?’ She sipped carefully.

Frank sat beside her and put his arm around her shoulders. ‘I should say so. There’s even a chock-full cocktail cabinet over there. Haven’t seen one of those for a very long time.’

‘I knew there’d be a reason Laura liked coming here,’ Kitty laughed, and then winced as the movement caught at her ribs. ‘I shan’t be having anything from there though. I don’t think it’d go well with the painkillers.’

‘You’re probably right,’ said Frank. ‘Tell you what, when you’re better I’ll take you to the finest cocktail bar in Liverpool. How about the Adelphi? Bet they do all manner of them there. Would you like that?’