‘Then why don’t you come back and spend the night at Beach View? There’s an empty room, and I don’t like the thought of you driving over there in the dark.’

‘Bless you, Ron,’ she said, affectionately patting his cheek. ‘I’ve driven in far worse conditions, and I have things to do very early tomorrow.’ She must have read the question in his eyes, for she grinned. ‘Curiosity killed the cat, Ron.’

‘Satisfaction brought it back,’ he replied, wriggling his eyebrows.

Dolly laughed. ‘I’m sure it does, but patience is a virtue, Ron. Goodnight.’ She blew him a kiss, slid from the stool and was gone before he could think of a suitable answer.

‘Women,’ he muttered. ‘Why do they always have to talk in riddles?’

Brenda broke into his thoughts. ‘Have you put that order in to the brewery, Ron? Only we’re very low on everything, and the bitter’s almost run out.’

Ron gasped in horror. He’d sensed all day that he’d forgotten something important. ‘I’ll phone the order through first thing tomorrow.’

‘I’ve made a list so you don’t forget anything,’ Brenda said, sliding the slip of paper towards him. ‘Make sure you do it before nine o’clock, Ron, because without beer, we can’t open the pub.’

Ron swore under his breath and took the slip of paper into the back hallway and pinned it firmly on the board above the telephone. As if he didn’t have enough on his mind, he’d now have to face that smarmy drayman, Leg-Over, who thought he was God’s gift to women and constantly tried to make a play for Rosie. No doubt he’d heard about Rosie’s defection and would make a point of remarking upon it – thereby tempting Ron to violence.

But no matter how much he loathed the man, he knew he’d have to show some restraint. Keeping in with Leg-Over, who was the brewery owner’s nephew, meant keeping the brewery sweet. Falling out with either of them could see Rosie losing the business she’d spent so many years building up – and that would definitely see the end of any hopes he harboured for reconciliation.

Dolly pushed the note to Peggy through the letter box and then headed back to Tamarisk Bay. It was pitch black, and the noise of the aircraft was a constant presence as she steered the car out of Cliffehaven and along the narrow country lane which led past the Cliffe estate and eventually circumnavigated the airfield before heading east to the next big town.