The tranquillity of Peggy’s kitchen was broken by the jangling of the telephone in the hall, and she reluctantly went to answer it. Before she could even say hello, her sister, Doris, was already in full flood.

‘Well, I hope you’re satisfied,’ Doris barked. ‘You were the one who encouraged her, and now she’s left me high and dry. This is an appalling way to carry on, and I will not stand for it, do you hear?’

‘I don’t know what on earth you’re talking about,’ Peggy managed as Doris paused to take a breath. ‘And I don’t appreciate you telephoning me on a Sunday just to bully me.’

‘Pauline has handed in her notice at the WVS and left me with no one to cover her shift,’ snapped Doris. ‘You’ll have to come in. I simply can’t be expected to cope here on my own.’

Peggy gripped the receiver. ‘If you have an issue with Pauline, then I suggest you drive over to Tamarisk Bay and have it out with her. I’m not coming in, Doris, and that’s final.’

‘I don’t see why I should use my precious petrol when you have nothing better to do than lounge about at the weekends,’ said Doris crossly. ‘It wouldn’t hurt you to get some exercise by walking over there.’

Peggy gritted her teeth. Doris had a nerve talking to her like that, but then she never did stop to think before she opened her trap – and that had always led to trouble. She forced some calm into her tone. ‘You use your car all the time,’ she said. ‘One little trip to Tamarisk Bay won’t put a dent in that hoard of petrol I know you keep hidden in your garage.’

‘I need it to get about to do my charity work,’ Doris said tightly.

Peggy let the silence stretch, determined not to be bullied into doing something she really didn’t want to do.

‘Well, I can see I’ll get no help from you,’ Doris said eventually. ‘But then I’m not surprised. You’re no doubt too taken up with Ronan Reilly and those girls to care about me – but then I’m only family, so obviously don’t matter.’

‘I’m not playing this game, Doris,’ Peggy said evenly. ‘You might be family, but I’ve seen and heard precious little of you since I started working at Solly’s – unless you want something.’

‘You know my feelings about you working at that ghastly factory,’ Doris retorted.

‘I certainly do. Now, if you’ve quite finished, I’d like to get on with my Sunday.’ Peggy firmly replaced the receiver and took a deep breath before she went back to the kitchen.

Cordelia eyed her quizzically. ‘Let me guess; that was the dreaded Doris.’

‘How on earth do you know that?’