‘Aye, it’s a great victory, so it is, but don’t get too carried away, Peggy, girl. There’s a long way to go yet, and by the sound of it Hitler’s nowhere near ready to surrender.’

Peggy would not allow his pessimism to spoil her joy, so she clasped his grizzled face between her hands and gave him a resounding kiss. ‘Don’t be such an old grump,’ she teased. ‘The Allies are in Rome, the sun is shining and—’

‘You’re going to be late for work,’ he interjected, his blue eyes twinkling.

‘Oh, lawks, so I am,’ she gasped, grabbing Daisy’s coat.

‘Before you go rushing off, there are things I need to tell you.’

‘What things?’ She paused in the act of getting Daisy into her coat and shoes, a prickle of fear threading down her spine.

‘I’ll be visiting Danuta in the mornings and for a short while each afternoon, and I’ve arranged for someone to drive you up there at the end of your shift. As Rita and Ivy are taking over the cooking and so on, there’s no need for you to be rushing about in a tizzy and worrying about everything.’

Peggy had been so sure it would be something bad he had to tell her that she slumped in relief that Ron at last seemed to have turned over a new leaf and was being more thoughtful and caring than before Rosie’s departure. ‘But what about Daisy?’ she fretted. ‘Danuta isn’t well enough for me to take her up there.’

‘Fred’s Lil will mind her, so you’re to stop worrying, d’you hear?’

‘Oh, dear,’ she muttered. ‘I hate causing so much bother to everyone.’

‘Go to work, Peg,’ he said firmly.

Peggy and Sarah left the house together and parted company at the gate. Peggy felt as if she had wings on her heels as she and Daisy walked down Camden Road, and it seemed the happy mood had infected everyone, for there were smiles and waves and even laughter in the endless queues outside the shops. She cheerfully replied to the greetings, and waved to Fred the Fish and Alf the butcher as she passed on her way to the factory.

Peggy left Daisy in the nursery and hurried into the factory to find that the happy atmosphere had lightened the usual dull Monday morning feeling, making the chatter and laughter louder as the wireless blared out.

‘It’s wonderful news, isn’t it?’ enthused a radiant Gracie as they hung up their coats. ‘Today Rome – tomorrow Paris!’

‘That’s what I said,’ replied Peggy, ‘but Ron doesn’t seem to think it will be that easy.’

‘It’ll be easy if we get on with this blessed invasion,’ grumbled Gracie. ‘Once our troops are in France, Hitler won’t stand a chance of keeping Paris.’