Josephine Cox Sunday Times Bestsellers Collection

As women do, they admired each other’s choice of dress, and compliments flew in all directions, all genuine and all accepted graciously. ‘Is Mary here?’ Vicky was on tenterhooks.

‘I’m sure she’ll be down in a minute,’ Lucy replied. ‘According to Elsie, she didn’t get back from the sale until an hour ago, though I think she stayed at Ben’s a while before she made her way back. She’s a considerate young woman. She so wants to meet you, but I know she was thinking to give us more time together.’

Having poured two sherries, Lucy handed one to Vicky. ‘She’s a wonderful daughter.’

Vicky thanked her for the drink and after taking a sip she asked, ‘How long has she known, about me and the family?’

‘Not long. A couple of years.’

‘So, Mary was kept in the dark too, was she?’

‘I’m afraid so.’

‘And how did she take it, knowing that she had a whole new family?’

‘She welcomed it.’

‘Was she bitter, that she had not been told earlier?’

‘No. She understood my reasoning. As a matter of fact, it wasn’t me who told her. I was ill in bed at the time. It was Adam who decided the time was right to put her in the picture.’

‘Adam?’ Vicky was surprised. ‘Why would he do that?’

‘Because he’s always believed that she should be told, and as he’s been with us since before Mary was born, he’s almost like family. He remained Barney’s best friend right up to the very end. He came with us to this part of the world. He helped me nurse Barney, and from as far back as she can remember, Mary has loved him like a second father.’

Vicky smiled. ‘Adam was always a good man.’

Lucy wholeheartedly agreed. ‘And in case you’re wondering, there was never anything between us, but he was always there, always helpful and caring, taking responsibility for us. He never forgot you, or the children. In fact, it was Adam who persuaded me to contact you.’

She paused. ‘I can understand why Leonard didn’t tell you. It was such a hard thing for me to do, breaking my word to Barney, and even now, with you and Leonard split up, I’m not sure I did the right thing.’

Vicky disagreed. ‘It was the right thing,’ she declared. ‘I’m here now, and I shall make my peace with Barney – and I can never thank you enough for that.’

‘What about the children?’ Lucy thought it strange that Vicky had made little mention of Tom, Ronnie and Susie.

Vicky shrugged. ‘That’s another story,’ she muttered, and for now at least, no more was said on the subject.

At half past eight, Mary came downstairs to meet the long-awaited visitor.

Vicky caught sight of her as she came round the bend in the staircase, and her heart leaped as she looked up to see Barney’s daughter; with her easy walk and smiling blue eyes, she was the very essence of her father.

And now as she spoke, even the voice had a resonance of Barney. ‘Hello, I’m Mary,’ she said softly.

Vicky was momentarily lost for words. She looked at this homely, pretty creature, and all she could see was her late husband. With her bobbed fair hair and those lavender-coloured eyes, the resemblance to Barney had shaken Vicky to the core.

Holding out her arms, she invited the girl into an embrace. ‘You’ve no idea how good it is to meet you,’ she said, holding Mary at arm’s length and gazing into those familiar, smiling eyes. ‘You have such a look of your father,’ she said, ‘and you’re so like my Susie, it’s uncanny.’

Mary told her that she, Vicky, was exactly as she had imagined, and that she, too, was glad that they had met at long last.

It was a warm, satisfying exchange and, as they made their way into the dining room, Vicky felt more at peace than she had done for a very long time.

‘Oh, so you’ve decided to show your faces at the table, have you?’ Elsie came out of the kitchen like a hurricane. ‘There’s me slaving away in that kitchen, while you lot drink the sherry and chat the chat. Well, you’re here now, thank goodness, so I’ll away and bring in the first course.’

‘Not so fast, Elsie, my girl!’ Lucy called her back. ‘Are you hinting that it’s all too much for you? Because if you are, I’ll start the girl from the village on Monday morning. I’ve checked her credentials and she has excellent references. She appears to be a hard worker and an honest soul, and if you’ll only give her a chance, I’m sure she’ll be a godsend to you.’

Elsie was horrified. ‘I never asked for no girl. Don’t want her, don’t need her.’

‘I happen to think you do. You’re not as young as you used to be. You need someone to fetch and carry. Even Charlie agrees with me.’

‘Well, he’s wrong, and if yer don’t mind me saying, so are you. I don’t want no slip of a girl in my kitchen.’

‘Look, Elsie, you’re on edge all the time, losing your temper at the drop of a hat, and you never stop work from morning till night. You’ve a home of your own and a husband who wants your company from time to time.’

The little woman gave a hearty guffaw. ‘I’ve a husband who sits on his backside in front of the fire every night, and spends his days looking up the horses’ rear ends. He hardly notices me unless it’s to have a grumble. If I talk, he grunts from behind the newspaper, and as for a sensible conversation, I might as well go down the park and talk to the ducks. Like as not I’d get more response out of ’em.’

‘Why don’t you just try this girl? That’s all I’m asking.’

‘You can ask till the cows come home, Miss Lucy, but I’m not listening. Now, if you feel the need to send me packing, that’s another thing altogether and there’s nothing I can do about that. But if I’m staying, I’ll not ’ave no snotty-nosed slip of a thing under my feet all hours of the day.’