‘I’ve told Clarissa I’ll be catching the three o’clock this afternoon.’ At her mother’s shocked expression, she stood and gave her a hug. ‘I know it’s all a bit sudden, Mum, but I’ve been under your feet for too long already, and I need to get settled there and find my way around the city before I begin driving people about.’

Peggy felt the prick of tears as she embraced Cissy but held them back, not wanting to make her daughter feel guilty about leaving home. ‘You’d better go and see your grandfather before you leave,’ she managed through a tight throat. ‘He’d be hugely hurt if you didn’t.’

‘Of course I will,’ Cissy replied, drawing back from the embrace rather abruptly. ‘Honestly, Mum, how could you possibly think I wouldn’t?’

Peggy had no reply to this, and stood there feeling helpless as Cissy went down to the basement to finish her packing.

‘We’d better go, Auntie Peg,’ said Ivy, bursting into the kitchen with Rita. ‘It’s nearly nine o’clock.’

‘Lawks almighty,’ Peggy gasped, glancing at the clock. ‘And I’ve yet to get Daisy up.’

‘She’s just waking now, and Sarah promised to see to her until we get back,’ said Ivy.

‘I hope she’s not sickening for something,’ muttered Peggy, reaching for her coat and handbag. ‘It’s not like her to sleep in for so long.’

‘I expect she and Grandma Cordy are still getting over the late nights we’ve had this week, and the excitement of me brothers turning up to make a fuss of ’em,’ said Ivy. ‘And don’t worry about Grandma Cordy; Danuta’s off this morning and will make sure she has everything she needs.’

‘Dad’s up finally, by the way,’ piped up Rita. ‘He’s planning to see another house this morning, but if it’s anything like the last one, he’ll be disappointed. I think he’s only just realising how difficult it will be to find anywhere decent with so few buildings still in one piece.’

‘There are plans in the pipeline to build more homes,’ said Peggy, tying her scarf over her hair and leading the way out of the back door. ‘But I read in the newspaper that there’s a terrible shortage of building materials, as well as skilled men – and those that are available are committed to government contracts.’

‘It strikes me,’ grumbled Ivy, ‘that the government should get its bleedin’ thumb out of its arse and get on with giving people decent places to live.’

‘Language, Ivy,’ Peggy said automatically, and closed the back gate behind them.