‘Whew,’ breathed Peggy. ‘Fran’s expecting and is very happy in London, and our Suzie is also expecting at around the same time. I get the feeling this Christmas could turn out to be very exciting. Doris must be over the moon about it all. Here, read it for yourselves. Fran won’t mind as long as you remember to write back. She’s missing everyone, I think.’

She was about to fetch her meal from the warming oven when she remembered her earlier conversation with Rita. ‘Oh, by the way, Rita and Peter will be setting the date for their wedding this weekend. It’ll be at St Andrew’s, where Suzie married Anthony, and Fran brought us all to tears with her divine violin playing.’

‘Golly,’ breathed Cordelia. ‘I’m going to have to buy a new hat at this rate. The straw one is looking decidedly tatty.’

‘We’ll go to the shops on Saturday and see what we can find,’ promised Peggy, eagerly tucking into her shepherd’s pie.

Having staved off her initial hunger, she looked across at Danuta who’d been almost silent throughout. ‘Why don’t you come with us, Danuta? A new outfit will cheer you up no end. You must be sick of wearing the same old things.’

‘That would be very nice,’ she replied. ‘But I am saving my money for the journey to Poland.’

Peggy experienced a dart of concern. ‘Oh, I thought you’d given up on that idea, what with Europe being in such turmoil at the moment.’

Danuta nodded. ‘For a while I will stay here, but Solly Goldman is planning to go to Warsaw at the end of the summer to try and find out if any of his family have survived the camps. I have agreed to travel with him.’

Peggy reached for her hand. ‘I knew Solly had been talking of going, but I hadn’t realised he was already making plans. I do wish you’d reconsider, Danuta. It’s chaos over there, and probably quite dangerous.’

‘I need to go home, Mamma Peggy,’ she replied softly. ‘I understand the risks and know there will be no one left of my family in Warsaw, but the hospitals and clinics are being overwhelmed, and they need every nurse they can find.’

‘How long will you stay?’ asked Peggy, fearful that once she’d gone they’d never see her again.

Danuta smiled. ‘I do not know. But I promised Aleksy and baby Katarzyna that I would not abandon them, so I will return if you’ll have me.’

‘But of course I will,’ breathed Peggy, going to give her a hug. ‘This is your home and we’re your family now. There will always be a place for you here.’ She kissed her cheek. ‘Just promise me you’ll be careful, and won’t take any silly risks.’