‘Leave the boy be,’ rumbled Ron. ‘I’ll take him out with the dogs after tea and he’ll feel better for a long walk. The lad has a lot to contend with, and he’ll deal with it all in his own time without you fussing over him.’

‘I think I’ll go and freshen up,’ said Anne, who thought her grandfather’s advice was wise. ‘I’ll take up the children’s things with me; the rest can stay in the hall until after tea.’

‘Do you want a hand?’ asked Peggy.

Anne shook her head. ‘I can manage.’

‘Are you sure you’re all right?’ Peggy asked. ‘Only I know how disappointed and hurt you must be that Martin isn’t here.’

Ignoring the pain in her heart, Anne gave her mother a hug. ‘It’s something I’ve become used to, Mum. I’m fine – really I am.’

She left the kitchen and slowly went up the stairs until she reached the top floor. Charlie was miserably homesick, she could tell, and she could sympathise with him. But despite her brave words to her mother, she was feeling utterly betrayed. The fact that Martin hadn’t come to the station or been at the house to welcome her and the girls had hurt her profoundly, and the disappointment lay heavy in her heart. Their time apart had evidently not changed a thing – and after his no-show today, it was doubtful they could come back from this and rebuild their marriage.

She walked along the landing and came to the bedroom door. Hesitating, she wondered if he’d come home at all tonight – and if he did, would she be able to hold back the hurt, and climb into bed with him as if everything was all right between them? She very much doubted it, for he’d gone too far this time and she was hurting too much to forgive him.

Pushing the door open, she lugged the case inside and then dropped it in shock as she saw Martin rise from the fireside chair. He looked well enough, she noted distractedly, certainly better than when he’d left Somerset. ‘What are you doing up here?’ she managed.

‘I’ve been waiting for you,’ he replied, coming towards her with his arms open to hug her.

She edged away, unwilling to be held. ‘You should have met me at the station,’ she said flatly. ‘Not hidden away up here without telling anyone.’

He let his arms hang by his sides as he dipped his chin. ‘I didn’t want to go to the station. There would have been too many people and too much noise.’

‘Then you should have waited downstairs for when we came home,’ she retorted.

‘I didn’t want to welcome you in front of an audience,’ he admitted softly. ‘I really thought you’d prefer our reunion to take place in private.’