Kitty gave a wry grin. ‘You two go right ahead. Laura, you know me too well. What I’d really, really like above anything is a cup of proper tea.’

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

‘I don’t know, I turn my back for five minutes and look what happens.’ Danny pretended to be outraged, but really he was heartily relieved to be back home where he belonged. He’d been longing to return ever since he got the letters, from Tommy, Kitty and Sarah, giving what he immediately realised were heavily censored versions of the events he’d missed. His first reaction was to tell his superiors he could no longer continue with the project as his family needed him, and yet he knew he should not do that. He’d been chosen for this piece of work; it was vital for what they hoped and now expected would be the final phase of the war. Besides, as the letters had emphasised, they were all right, despite everything. Yet his primal urge was to get home and see that everyone was safe, and if he could have got his hands on that scum of the earth Alfie …

Now the project had finished at last and he was due to start back at his regular post in Derby House on Monday morning. He had the weekend to settle back in and had got up early, unable to sleep in, even though it was Saturday, and had gone to the shop for a paper. He’d bumped into Sarah as he’d left and invited her round to join him for his morning toast, though really he wanted to check she was as well recovered as she’d claimed she was.

The April sunshine was streaming through the kitchen window as they sat at the well-scrubbed table. Danny produced a small pat of butter and a jar of home-made jam, which Sarah immediately recognised as Dolly’s, made from fruit from the victory garden. Dolly had been feeding Tommy more than ever, as he was now deemed a hero for saving Georgie, and had sent across a whole box of goodies for Danny’s return. She wasn’t going to turn down the offer, and hurriedly buttered her toast while it was still hot, so that the golden liquid soaked through it. She smiled broadly in appreciation, but inside she was apprehensive. To think that she’d sat at this table with Danny, day in, day out, and never thought anything of it. Today, though, she had butterflies in her stomach. It had been ages since she’d seen him and still longer since they’d been alone together. She cast her mind back to the last few times they’d spoken and knew she was blushing at the memory.

‘Where are Kitty and Tommy?’ she asked, thinking that the house was quiet.