Kitty rested her head on his shoulder. ‘Frank, I don’t mind about posh cocktail bars. I’m not that keen on cocktails, to be honest. You can treat me to half a shandy down the Sailor’s Rest if you like. As long as I’m with you, I don’t care.’ Her dark blue eyes shone as she turned to look up at his face, familiar and yet alight with a look that she now knew was love, love for her. The realisation nearly took her breath away. She had waited so long for him, hardly daring to believe it would ever happen. Now here they were, together at last.

Slowly he bowed his head forward and kissed her gently, as much as her awkward position would allow. ‘That’s just for starters,’ he said tenderly. ‘We’ll go wherever you like, Kitty. You’ll make me the proudest man in England with you on my arm.’

She gazed up at him, still having to pinch herself that this was really happening. Yet it felt totally real and absolutely right. She was meant to be in Frank’s arms – of that she had no doubt. She had the sensation that at last she had come home.

She had lost count of how long they had sat like that, wrapped in the half-embrace, taking in each other’s eyes, when they heard a key turning in the lock of the front door. Reluctantly they pulled apart, and Kitty took a sip of the tea, which had gone cold.

Laura stepped into the room, smart in her uniform. ‘Don’t separate on my behalf,’ she said at once. ‘You don’t know what a tonic it is to see you two together. Well, actually alive at all, after yesterday. That you’ve finally seen sense and worked out you’re right for each other is the icing on the cake.’ She turned blithely and hooked her jacket over a nearby chair. ‘How are you after your sleep, Kitty? You don’t look as pale as earlier, I must say, although that could be the therapeutic presence of Lieutenant Feeny here.’

‘Much better, thanks,’ said Kitty at once. ‘I’ll be on the mend in no time.’

‘Good,’ said Laura, ‘because I have some news.’ She retrieved the note from her pocket.

Kitty tried to sit up to see what her friend was doing, but with a gasp she sank back on the sofa. Maybe she wasn’t as improved as she’d hoped.

‘Steady on,’ said Frank, immediately concerned.

‘I’m all right,’ Kitty said. ‘What is it, Laura?’ She had a strong inkling that Laura would have left them alone to enjoy their new-found love unless it was something very important. She tried to guess what this might be but could not.