Danny helped himself to a big dollop of jam. ‘Tommy’s still asleep and Kitty has a day off and left to go into town just before I went to the shop,’ he said. ‘Didn’t say what she was doing. It was a relief to see her last night, though – I didn’t like the sound of her getting caught up in that V2 strike. I kept thinking she was badly hurt and putting a brave face on it – you know what she’s like. Well, you’d know exactly.’ He caught her eye with a meaningful glance. ‘You’re just as bad. Saying you’d had a bit of a fright, when in fact Alfie Delaney broke in and beat you up.’ He put down his toast and his expression changed. ‘Sarah, I’m so sorry. I feel responsible. I should have been here, protecting you. Instead you had to endure all that. I can’t say how badly I wished I was here.’

Sarah didn’t quite know how to take this. Was it loaded with the meaning she’d suspected at Christmas, or was he simply sad he’d been away and unable to fight off Alfie? ‘Well, you know why she’s gone into the city centre,’ she said, trying to change the subject. ‘Has she said anything to you? She’ll be meeting Frank. Ever since they got trapped by that collapsed building, there’s been no separating them. They’re both floating on air, full of the joys of spring. The funny thing is, nobody’s in the least bit surprised.’

‘Sarah …’ Danny shook his head. ‘All right, no, I’m not surprised either. She did hint at something in her letters, and then when I reported back to Derby House last night straight off the train, Frank was there. He didn’t exactly ask me if he could court my sister, but as good as. I said to him, if he thought I had any control over what Kitty did, he had another think coming.’

‘Talk about falling for the boy next door,’ said Sarah, trying to keep her face neutral but knowing she’d let some of her true feelings show.

‘Nothing wrong with that, is there?’ Danny met her gaze full on.

Sarah didn’t back down. ‘No, nothing.’ She paused. Even now, there was one question that had been plaguing her. ‘Danny, I knew for ages that Alfie had some kind of dodgy business going on with you. What was it all about? Is that why he came round? I really want to understand.’