Cordelia gave a sigh and looked around the silent gathering without much enthusiasm. ‘I must say,’ she declared, ‘you look a very dull lot this morning. What’s the matter? Can’t you take the pace?’ She chuckled. ‘I bet that old scallywag Ron is as bright as a button – but then he always could hold his drink.’

There was a general gasp at this sweeping statement as they all remembered scenes of past shenanigans involving Ron and alcohol. ‘He could do no such thing,’ Peggy spluttered.

‘He was always over it by morning,’ Cordelia replied stubbornly. ‘Breakfast won’t be the same without the old rogue to spar with – and although I’d never tell him, our little arguments used to perk me up no end and set me up for the day.’

Peggy was about to reply when the telephone rang. Dashing into the hall, her hopes high that it could be Anne or Doreen, she snatched up the receiver.

‘Hello, Mum. It’s Anne. I’m so sorry not to call sooner, but the lines have been jammed solid since Tuesday.’

‘It’s been the same for me,’ said Peggy, settling onto the hall chair, ready for a lovely long chat. ‘I’ve lost count of the times I’ve tried to get through to you and your Aunt Doreen.’

‘Isn’t it the most marvellous thing to know it’s all over at last? We had a brilliant party in the village, with tables going all the way down the middle of the main street, and every house was decorated with bunting and flags. We’re so lucky to live down here in farming country. You should have seen the baking all the women did – it was a veritable feast. Of course the boys and I thought of you all at Beach View, but poor Sally was pining for her John, so I think she’ll probably leave as soon as the school term finishes – she’s really homesick.’

Before Peggy could ask if she was feeling the same about coming home, Anne rushed on. ‘I’ll be back in the schoolroom today, but to be honest, Mum, I can’t really keep my mind on lesson plans for over-excited seven-year-olds when I’m on such tenterhooks waiting to hear if Martin has been released from the POW camp.’

‘Neither Kitty nor Charlotte has been notified about Roger and Freddy, and Cissy’s heard nothing about Randy, so I suspect the authorities are waiting to confirm their release once they’ve all been accounted for, given medical checks and been debriefed. It was the same in 1918. Your dad, Frank and Ron had to jump through all sorts of official hoops before they were demobbed, and it was a full three weeks after the Armistice before they came home.’