Lil could often be quite fierce but she had a heart of gold, and despite the pair of them being in their sixties, they’d taken in four little brothers who’d been orphaned during a particularly nasty bombing raid. Fred was a big, bluff man who adored her, but he was also terrified of her finding out some of the things he and Ron had got up to over the years – a misguided fear, for Lil knew everything and only chose to use that knowledge when it suited her.

Lil climbed out of the van and hugged Peggy before picking up Daisy and making her laugh as she whirled her around. ‘Come on, gel,’ she said, climbing back into the van. ‘You sit on Aunty Lil’s lap for the ride home. And when we gets there you got the boys to play with, and some lovely fish for yer tea.’

Peggy frowned. ‘Er, I thought Fred was driving me up to the Memorial?’

Lil laughed and shook her bottle-blonde curls. ‘Lawks, love, you don’t wanna be going visiting in this smelly old thing.’ She jabbed her thumb over her shoulder. ‘You got a posh ride and won’t end up stinking of fish.’

Peggy looked behind the van and saw a small black Austin purring at the kerb. The low sun was glinting on the windscreen, so she couldn’t see the driver until she climbed out.

‘Dolly! What on earth are you doing here?’

Dolly grinned. ‘I bumped into Ron, and he told me about the girl and your need of a lift each evening. So here I am – your chauffeur at your service.’

Dolly gave her a tremendous hug and Peggy caught a hint of expensive perfume.

‘I’m actually down here to see how Pauline is after she got my letter and didn’t reply to it,’ Dolly said. ‘She all but showed me the door,’ she added with a delicate grimace, ‘but she’ll find she can’t get rid of me that easily.’

‘Good for you,’ said Peggy, climbing in beside her, delighted but rather flabbergasted by her friend’s unexpected appearance. ‘She came to see me and was thoroughly beside herself about it all.’

She regarded Dolly who, as usual, looked younger than her years, was beautifully dressed, and radiant with happiness. ‘It’s a shame she can’t see beyond her nose,’ Peggy said, ‘because it’s so obvious you’re blossoming now you and Felix can be together.’

Dolly chuckled. ‘I feel about sixteen,’ she admitted, ‘and with Carol being so very sweet and forgiving about everything, I count myself one of the luckiest women in England – if not the world.’