Kitty was on her feet at the other side of the bed, pulse racing, fearing the worst – knowing in her aching heart that Freddy could no longer hear anything, but praying she was mistaken and that he’d merely passed out.

Matron pushed through to his side, felt for a pulse both in his neck and his wrist.

Kitty and Charlotte held their breath as they watched her, their silent prayers clear in their eyes.

Matron dipped her chin, and gave a deep, regretful sigh. ‘I’m sorry, Mrs Pargeter, but he’s gone from us and is finally at peace.’

10

The news of Freddy Pargeter’s death had come as a terrible blow to Peggy and the others at Beach View, for they’d all liked him very much and had thought of him as indestructible. Peggy had gone to Briar Cottage on the girls’ brief return to offer help and consolation, and discovered that plans had been made to fly Freddy’s body home to his parents in Argentina, and Charlotte would be accompanying him with her twins.

Kitty’s husband, Roger Makepeace, was making a rapid recovery in a Surrey hospital and once he’d been discharged they would fly out to join the others. They would stay for a while and mourn as a family.

Peggy’s son-in-law, Martin, was also making good progress in the same hospital as Roger, and Anne had telephoned in great excitement to tell her that he was expected to travel down to Somerset to join her and the children within the next week.

But of Randolph Stevens, there had been no news, and as the American authorities refused to tell her anything since she wasn’t registered as a family member, Cissy became ever more fearful that something must have happened to him. She moped about the house unable to settle to anything and spent half her time talking to her girlfriends from Cliffe on the telephone. Peggy dreaded to think what her bill would be this quarter, but Cissy had promised to pay her share, and as the calls seemed to cheer her, Peggy was willing to accept the arrangement.

A week after Charlotte had left for Argentina, Peggy, Daisy and Cordelia had the kitchen to themselves. It was early Saturday morning, and as it promised to be a fine day for once, Cissy hadn’t moaned about taking Harvey for a walk on the hills, and had promised to be back in time to help with the special lunch. Peggy understood that her daughter needed to keep busy during this difficult time, and could only pray that Randy had survived and would get in touch soon.