She switched on the engine and checked her appearance in the rear-view mirror. ‘It’s ripping news about Rome, isn’t it? Such a romantic city,’ she sighed before grinning impishly. ‘But the men are simply outrageous, pinching one’s bottom at every opportunity. I remember I ended up so bruised, I could barely sit down for a week.’

Peggy laughed. ‘You’re such a tonic, Dolly. I do wish you weren’t living so far away.’

‘Well, I’ll be here for a while, so we must make the most of it while we can.’ Dolly engaged the gears and shot off down Camden Road to screech around the corner into the High Street, scattering a gossiping group of women who were ambling across the road.

‘Dolly, you’re going to kill someone in a minute,’ warned Peggy, holding onto her seat for dear life as Dolly swerved to avoid a drunk who’d staggered out of the Crown and into the road. ‘Please slow down. I’d like to get there in one piece.’

Dolly slowed for about three seconds, and having driven over the humpback bridge, put her foot on the accelerator again. ‘Ron told me about the girl you’re visiting. It’s terrible what damage can be done during a bombing raid. It sounds to me as if she was very lucky to escape with her life.’

‘It’ll take a long time for her to recover,’ Peggy replied, still holding onto her seat as they went roaring up the steep hill towards the hospital. ‘But she’ll have a home with me when she does.’

‘Poor child,’ murmured Dolly around the cigarette she was lighting with one hand while she steered with the other. ‘I understand she has no one left of her family back in Poland.’

‘They were killed before she came over here looking for her brother.’

‘Well, she’s lucky to have you, Peggy. You’re a wonderful woman and a brilliant mother – far better than I ever could be.’

Peggy didn’t know how to answer, so said nothing. Dolly adored Carol and Pauline, but she’d left them with her parents while they were still very young, realising she’d be hopeless at providing the best and most stable upbringing. Dolly was an enigma, for she was bright, intelligent and probably the best, most discreet friend Peggy had. But no one knew anything about her life, and somehow, Peggy couldn’t imagine her settling into quiet retirement down in Bournemouth.

‘How’s life in Bournemouth?’ Peggy asked.

‘Boring,’ said Dolly, flicking cigarette ash out of the quarter-light. ‘But I do have some fun tweaking the noses of those dreadfully snobbish women at the WI.’

‘I can imagine,’ said Peggy dryly. ‘Whatever made you want to join them in the first place?’

Dolly shrugged. ‘I thought I should do my bit – and I have learnt how to make jam and sponge cake.’