Once John and Andy had left, the chatter dwindled into silence as the late news came over the wireless – and when it was realised that there was nothing about the promised invasion, the girls prepared for bed. Fran was on earlies the next day, so was Ivy, and as they helped Rita up the stairs, the silence in the kitchen deepened and all eyes turned to Sarah.

She lit a cigarette and to her dismay found that her fingers were trembling so badly she could hardly hold on to it. ‘Firstly,’ she began hesitantly, ‘I want to apologise for my behaviour today. It was thoughtless and unkind after all you’ve done for me, and I promise never to lie to you again.’ She looked from Peggy to Cordelia and then to Ron, trying to read their thoughts in their expressions.

‘To be sure, wee girl, you were not the only one to cause worry today,’ muttered Ron.

Sarah managed a faint smile. ‘Thanks, Ron, but it’s no excuse.’ She licked her lips and took a deep breath. ‘I got a letter yesterday from Delaney Hammond.’

‘The American captain from up at Cliffe?’ asked Cordelia.

Sarah nodded. ‘He’s been promoted twice since leaving Cliffe, and is a Lieutenant Colonel now.’

Peggy didn’t look impressed. ‘I thought you two had stopped writing to each other,’ she said flatly.

‘Not really,’ Sarah confessed. ‘We don’t write as often as we once did, but we’re still in touch, and as I’m up first most days I collect my post, if it has arrived, and read it at work.’

She looked at Peggy, silently imploring her to understand. ‘Delaney telephoned this morning to say he was being flown into Cliffe for an important meeting, and would be there for a few hours before he had to fly out again to join his new command. And I had to see him, Peggy.’

Peggy patted her hand. ‘I can understand that, my dear,’ she said softly. ‘But was it really wise to start things up again when there’s still no news of Philip?’

‘I know it wasn’t wise, and yes, I feel horribly guilty about Philip, but with things the way they are, I needed to see him just once more before he got involved in the fighting again.’

‘He’s no kind of gentleman to leave you to walk home all that way alone in such appalling weather,’ said Cordelia crossly. ‘No Englishman would have been so ungallant.’

‘That was my fault entirely,’ Sarah said quickly. ‘He couldn’t leave the aerodrome because he was officially on duty, and I insisted upon walking home despite his offer of trying to get a car and driver.’