"Good Lord! Hetty is that you?!" Bertie doesn't bother to keep his voice down. He grabs hold of my arm and pulls me into the butchers shop. He flings his arms around me in an embrace but I just stand there, stiff as cardboard. "Hetty where've you been? I wanted to write to you but..."

"But you've been out with Rose-May every Sunday and forgot about me" I interrupt. Bertie looks at me in shock. "What are you on about?"

"Rose-May's your new sweetheart" I answer glumly. To my surprise he bursts out laughing. "Oh gawd no! Rose-May is sweet enough but she's incredibly holy, nothing on my little blue eyed Hetty" he says, pushing a strand of hair behind my shoulder and I felt my heart lift. "But she said you were going to make her a tippet out of rabbit fur!"

"I was only joking! Do you really want me to be your sweetheart?" He asked earnestly. I nodded until my head feels like it will come off and his whole face lights up. I find my own face smiling uncontrollably. I hug Bertie and can't help noticing that my heart feels lighter when he hugs me back.