‘Yeah, I know. But that don’t stop ’er moping about like a wet weekend.’ Ethel looked at the station clock and got to her feet. ‘I gotta get on, Peg. There’s a troop train due.’

‘I should be getting back to Beach View too. I dread to think what state Ron and the others will be in when they show up, but I suppose I can’t blame them. It’s not easy for Frank and Ron to see Brendon leaving again, and with all this talk of an invasion, he could be sent anywhere.’

‘I don’t reckon Pauline will find it that easy either,’ Ethel commented. ‘She ain’t made of strong stuff, but I bet she ain’t turned to the drink. I don’t know why men think it’s necessary to get drunk at the slightest excuse, and if Stan comes ’ome two sheets to the flaming wind he’ll get a right earful and no mistake. His diet don’t allow for beer.’

As Ethel bustled off to climb into the signal box, Peggy headed for home. She felt rather sorry for Stan, who was clearly under Ethel’s thumb, but as he seemed happy enough to let her boss him about, she supposed she shouldn’t be concerned. Her thoughts turned to the long, lively letter she’d received from her friend Dolly the previous morning. Dolly had confided in her long ago about the passionate affair she’d had with the American, General Felix Addington, and Peggy had always advised her to tell him about their daughter Carol, who was equally unaware of his existence. But Dolly had kept the secret to herself until fate had stepped in and brought father and daughter together down in Devon.

Forced to reveal the truth to both of them, Dolly had been terrified they’d turn their backs on her – but her letter yesterday was full of happy plans for the future. Felix and Carol loved her enough to forgive her, and once the war was over, both she and Carol were planning to go to America to be with him and to start again.

‘How Pauline will react to that, I dread to think,’ Peggy muttered to herself, turning into Camden Road and out of the wind.

Pauline had always been prone to histrionics, and would no doubt make a big issue about her mother deserting her to go and live in America – even though they hardly saw one another now. Dolly was a busy woman with many varied interests, and Peggy could quite understand her thinking that as Pauline was in her forties with a husband to look after her, she didn’t need her mother on her doorstep.

‘Which is all very well,’ Peggy murmured to herself, ‘but it’s me and Frank who have to pick up the pieces when Pauline falls apart.’