She heaved a sigh and turned away from this unedifying sight, then slipped her feet into low-heeled sandals for the walk to the Club. The strain of the past few weeks was beginning to tell, for although she’d done her best to put Michael at ease and make him feel at home, all her efforts had been met with a polite but cool detachment which hadn’t changed throughout his long leave. John hadn’t noticed, of course, so she’d said nothing and simply accepted that his son still found it hard to come to terms with his father’s plans to remarry.

Michael had bought a car and was leaving today for Catterick where he would stay for his retraining and then be assigned a posting. He and John had gone for a game of golf straight after breakfast, and she planned to join them at the Officers’ Club for luncheon before Michael set off.

She had to privately admit that she’d be relieved to see him go, for she’d lived on tenterhooks throughout his leave, wondering if his attitude towards her meant he would try to turn his father against the idea of marrying her. Not that she had any evidence to prove such a thing, and John had certainly been as loving and thoughtful as always despite being distracted by Michael’s presence, but the lack of any warmth from the young man really bothered her.

Plucking a lightweight jacket from the wardrobe, she was about to leave for the Club when there was a knock on the door. She gave a tut of annoyance and went to see who it was.

The annoyance fled as Anthony smiled back at her. ‘Hello, Mother,’ he said cheerfully. ‘I thought I’d pay a surprise visit.’

Doris fell into his arms and hugged him. ‘Oh, Anthony, darling, how lovely to see you,’ she gasped in delight. She glanced round him to the car at the kerb. ‘Are Suzie and Teddy with you?’

‘Not today, I’m afraid,’ he replied, stepping into the hall and closing the door behind him. ‘Suzie’s not feeling the full ticket at the moment, and Teddy’s got a rotten cold, so you’ll just have to put up with me.’

‘I’ll put up with you any time,’ she murmured, fondly patting his smooth cheek, and noting that although he was still her handsome son, he was looking a little drawn and tired. But as delighted as she was to see him without Suzie in tow, she was hugely disappointed he hadn’t brought her grandson with him, for she hadn’t seen Teddy since he was a babe in arms.

‘So this is your new home now,’ said Anthony appreciatively as he poked his head around the doors on the way to the kitchen. ‘I must say it looks very cosy.’