‘It’s not my place to tell her anything,’ said Rita calmly. ‘If you don’t like it, you talk to her. But I wouldn’t take that tone, Cissy,’ she warned softly. ‘Ivy can be a bit of a scrapper if she thinks you’re looking down on her.’

‘Good grief,’ breathed Cissy, rolling her eyes. ‘I’m amazed you’ve kept her on, Mother, if she’s like that.’

Peggy raised an eyebrow at being called ‘Mother’ and placed the refreshed teapot carefully on the table before folding her arms and giving Cissy a stern glare. ‘This is Ivy’s home, just as it’s Rita’s and all the others’, and if you’re going to stay here, then you’ll have to get used to it. Apart from that, I don’t like your attitude, and if you’re going to be in a rotten mood then I suggest you go back to bed.’

Cissy reddened at her mother’s chiding in front of Rita, poured another cup of tea and, with a mulish expression, flounced back downstairs.

Peggy smiled at Rita. ‘Cissy might think she’s all grown-up and terribly smart, but she’s yet to learn not to flounce about when taken down a peg or two.’ She gave a sigh and turned back to the range to check on the porridge she was keeping warm for the others. ‘Some things don’t change, do they?’

‘Cissy always did a good flounce, I seem to remember,’ replied Rita with a chuckle. ‘Very dramatic, she was – but back then she’d been harbouring dreams of becoming the next Ginger Rogers.’

Peggy grunted, thankful that that particular phase in her daughter’s life was well and truly over. But if she was going to behave snootily towards the other girls and get in a mood at the drop of a hat, then something would have to be done about it. There had been enough disruption at Beach View when her sister Doris had come to live with them, and she was not going to tolerate Cissy putting on airs and graces.

She stirred the porridge. It was the first day back to work after all the excitement, and no doubt everyone would be feeling a bit down about having to return to the humdrum daily routine. She didn’t feel that bright herself and wasn’t looking forward to facing a factory full of tired women who’d no doubt take umbrage at the slightest thing.

‘So, Rita, what are your plans today?’

‘I’m going to tidy our room.’

Peggy nearly dropped the spoon in the porridge. ‘Good grief, wonders will never cease.’