The morning seemed to disappear as she swept and polished and made up the big double bed. Hauling Daisy’s cot out of the cupboard under the stairs, she carried it up and put it together, ready for when Anne and the girls arrived at the end of the week. She was being a bit previous, she knew, but it was better to get as much done as possible now so there’d be less of a disturbance later.

Peggy stood in the doorway, pleased with her work, and then went back downstairs to find Cordelia and Daisy having a very late breakfast with Danuta.

‘Where are Jane and Sarah?’ she asked, putting her cleaning things back under the sink and washing her hands. ‘Surely they aren’t still asleep?’

‘They left about half an hour ago to meet Jeremy at his hotel. Sarah said not to bother about their supper as they’d be back very late,’ said Cordelia. She eyed Peggy over her half-moon glasses. ‘Sit down and take a breath, dear. The tea’s still hot, although it’s very weak.’

Peggy sat down, took a sip and grimaced. ‘These tea leaves have been used so many times we might just as well be drinking hot water.’ She added a few grains of sugar, but they didn’t make much difference, so she lit a fag and tried to relax. It had been quite a morning, and the row with Pauline still resonated, but at least the act of cleaning and bed-making had been an outlet for her pent-up fury, and she felt a little calmer.

Dolly and Carol arrived shortly after two, laden with all sorts of goodies they’d brought from the West Country. There were pots of lovely home-made jam, cream and scones, biscuits, a packet of tea, another of sugar and two jars of potted fish paste as well as half a Madeira cake. Carol had emptied out her larder, it seemed, and Peggy was very grateful for the gifts, for her own larder was sadly lacking in everything.

Dolly looked her usual elegant self in a silk two-piece, high heels and discreet jewellery. Carol, who Peggy hadn’t seen for years, was youthfully pretty with her wavy blonde hair and clear complexion, the light flowery dress enhancing her trim figure. They were a breath of fresh air to Peggy, and as Ron and Rosie turned up to wish them bon voyage, the afternoon tea turned into quite a party.

Dolly explained about the flat as she handed the key over to Brendon and took charge of baby Joseph. ‘The lease begins in three days and is just for a month, which the agent promised me would neatly coincide with the date your house will be ready to move into.’

‘How did you leave things at home?’ he asked fretfully.