‘I’ll put the kettle on, and open that kitchen window,’ she said, giving the elderly lady a kiss on her soft cheek. ‘The house could do with airing after all the rain we’ve had.’

‘There’s a surprise waiting for you up there,’ said Cordelia, with a twinkle in her eyes. ‘It’s the reason we’ve kept the window shut.’

Peggy hurried indoors, taking off her hat and coat as she ran up the concrete steps. The heavenly aroma of roasting lamb greeted her as she pushed through the kitchen door, and with a gasp of delight, couldn’t resist opening the oven.

Golden potatoes were sizzling nicely alongside roasting carrots and onions, and the fat was crisping on the half leg of lamb. Her mouth watered as she hurriedly checked on the door to the scullery. She now understood fully why everything had been kept tightly shut. Neighbours would smell the cooking meat and questions would be asked – and as she had no idea where the meat had come from, it would make things very difficult, especially if it proved to be stolen or purchased on the black market.

‘Doesn’t it smell wonderful?’ said Rita, swinging into the room on her crutches. ‘Pete brought it over and swears he got it legally.’ She giggled. ‘I suspect he chatted up one of the women in the canteen at Cliffe and swapped it for a couple of cartons of American cigarettes.’

‘That was very enterprising of him,’ murmured Peggy, who wasn’t totally convinced by Rita’s story. ‘Will he be joining us for lunch?’

‘He’s on duty all day, unfortunately, but he wanted us all to have a treat by way of thanking you.’

‘Thanking me?’ said Peggy with a frown. ‘What on earth for?’

‘For putting up with him and feeding him tea and biscuits.’ Rita grinned. ‘He knows you don’t really approve of him.’

‘I …. I …’ Peggy stuttered.

Rita gave her a quick hug before filling the kettle. ‘Go and sit in the sun while I make the tea. Lunch won’t be ready for almost an hour, so me and Ivy can come and sit with you before we dish up.’

‘Where are Fran and Sarah?’

‘Fran’s lying in as she’s on nights next week, and Sarah’s gone for a walk down on the prom.’ Rita’s bright brown eyes were suddenly clouded with concern. ‘She’s really not herself since she met up with Delaney, and I think she’s finding it very difficult to come to terms with the fact there can be no future in it. He’s hardly likely to dump a wife and two kids for her, is he? And once the war’s over and he goes home to America, he’ll probably forget all about her.’