Andy, Ivy and John Hicks had come back from their fruitless search, and Fran had just arrived from her shift in the hospital theatre, to make tea and comfort poor Cordelia.

‘To be sure, Grandma Cordy, they’ll come home and wonder what all the fuss was about,’ Fran soothed. ‘I expect they lost track of time, and with the fog and everything are finding it difficult and slow to get back.’

Peggy wanted to believe her, really she did. And then she heard a sharp bark and the furious scratching of paws against the back door and flew down the steps.

‘Harvey, oh, Harvey, good boy,’ she cried as he rushed in. She looked up at the gathering in the kitchen doorway. ‘Ron’s found Rita – look, this is her scarf.’

There was a general sigh of relief before the speculation began as to where and how he’d found her, and how long it would be before they got home. And then Cordelia’s soft voice broke through the chatter. ‘But where’s Sarah? Why isn’t she here?’

Peggy rushed to her side and held her close. ‘She’s probably still with her friend,’ she soothed. ‘And if they’ve gone to the pictures they won’t be back for another hour, so please try not to worry, Cordy.’

‘She should have telephoned to let us know what she was doing,’ said Cordelia crossly. ‘With this fog closing in, she must have realised we’d be worried.’

Peggy accepted she had a point, and decided that when the girl did come home she’d give her a good talking-to. But the relief of knowing that Rita was safe with Ron was all she could think about at the moment.

She bustled about, feeding Harvey, and then drew back the blackout curtains on the kitchen window. The fog meant there wouldn’t be any air raids tonight, so it didn’t matter if the light was showing – and if the warden didn’t like it, he could shove it under his tin hat.

The shrill ring of the telephone made them all jump, and Ivy shot off to answer it. Returning a minute later with a beaming smile, she said, ‘That were Ron. He’s up with the Yanks at Cliffe. Rita and Sarah are being seen by their medic – nothing too serious – and then they’re coming ’ome in the commanding officer’s car.’

‘Thank goodness for that,’ breathed Peggy, sitting down with a bump on the hard kitchen chair. ‘But what on earth is Sarah doing all the way over there and why do they need medical attention?’

Ivy shrugged. ‘Ron didn’t say. But their injuries can’t be too bad, otherwise they wouldn’t be coming ’ome, would they?’

‘I’m just thankful they’re both all right,’ said Cordelia on a tremulous breath.