Knowles nodded, as if she’d anticipated nothing less. ‘That is good to know, Kitty. In fact it is exactly what I predicted you would say.’

‘Oh,’ said Kitty, at a loss for words. Predicted to whom, she wondered.

Knowles sat forward and clasped her hands on the beautiful old wooden desktop. ‘You see, Kitty, I have been asked to recommend one of my Wrens for a highly sensitive training position,’ she said. ‘It requires someone who is accurate and discreet, obviously; someone, in fact, who has immense and meticulous attention to detail. It also needs someone who can bring on others to the highest level, and to do so quickly. It is a position of great responsibility. Lives will be at stake; there can be no slip-ups.’ She paused to let her words sink in. ‘The first person I thought of was you,’ she concluded.

‘Me?’ said Kitty.

Knowles nodded gravely, all pleasant friendliness gone. ‘Yes, you, Miss Callaghan. You are one of the finest telephone operators I have worked with. Your work is impeccable, and besides that you go above and beyond what is asked of you. You work long hours and extra shifts with no complaint, you are encouraging but firm with the less experienced Wrens, and you are never, but never, known to gossip. That would be essential in this new position.’

Kitty blinked, delighted with the compliments and flattered that all her hard work had been noticed. ‘Thank you,’ she said again.

Knowles looked at her seriously. ‘So now, I need you to consider this carefully. It would require a move away from this unit.’

Kitty nodded, and a treacherous little thought formed in her head. Maybe it would be back to London. She could see more of Laura. They could go out together and she would be on hand for when Captain Cavendish went back to his ship. She could distract Laura and Laura could take her to all the places she’d known before the war …

‘I know all you girls enjoy the fresh air and less frantic pace of life here beside the sea,’ Knowles went on.

Kitty kept her face from showing her real feelings – that she would far rather be somewhere livelier with more going on.

‘I am afraid this post is in a major city,’ Knowles said, as if this was a point against it.

‘I see,’ said Kitty carefully, while trying not to build up her hopes. How good it would be to be back with Laura, if not exactly recreating the days of their training, then at least being close to someone who understood everything she’d gone through.