'Do you?' Pike asked. 'What's it like? Do you get thrown out first thing in the morning?'

'No…' Walker seemed to be considering what to say. 'It's just…I know the lady that runs it. Gloria – she was someone I knew back in the Smoke.'

'Oh, right.' So probably a girlfriend then.

'Yeah…it's funny that a bank should choose her place though.' Walker couldn't quite hide a grin.

'Why, what's wrong with it?'

'Nothing! In fact, she's rather more – understanding – than most landladies.'

'What do you mean?'

'Well, I been a few times, 'cause places round 'ere aren't so keen on people turning up without a ring on a lady's finger, know what I mean?'

'Yeah?' Pike didn't sound sure though.

'So Gloria's more – open to that sort of thing. Could be good to know,' he added, 'what with a young lady of your own?'

This took a couple of moments to sink it, but when it did, it came as a shock.

'My Ivy's a nice girl! She's not going to go there!' He was glad it was dark though, and it wasn't obvious he was blushing, even as he said it.

'All right, all right,' Walker tried to calm him, and kept a slightly wary eye on the younger man's rifle. He got funny with girls, and any implied slight on their virtue didn't go down well.

'Just saying,' Walker continued. 'Not now, necessarily…but, if things you know, progress…might be good to know, that's all.' He knew he'd have appreciated it in Pike's position, even though he'd been 15 at the time, rather than 18. The lad probably wanted it even more than he had, although he tried not to show it.

'Still can't.' Pike's reply was somewhat evasive, and added sharply, 'She's not that sort of girl!' Even as he said it though, he wasn't sure it was true. Ivy was easily keener than Violet ever had been, which was worrying and really exciting at the same time. If he was honest with himself, he wasn't sure she would say no, which put him in a rather difficult position. He'd have to tell her he was going away, because she was his girlfriend, but he wasn't sure what her reaction would be. Especially if he went into details of what the place was supposedly like.

What was more confusing still, was the question that came later, at about half past one in the morning – if it had been Violet, would he have told her? It was uncomfortable to admit that he would. He'd have told her everything, and not just because of a two-week engagement. On the other hand, she probably would have got angry and refused to go. But Ivy…he wasn't so sure. So did he mention it, or not? They could just have a nice evening together…couldn't they? Out in Hastings?

No, she couldn't come to the guesthouse – if anyone found out, he'd lose his job, he'd let everyone down, and she wouldn't be able to show her face in the town again. And they'd probably have to get married, which wasn't how he wanted it to be. He wanted to make a better job of any proposal and engagement this time, and they'd be married when it was right, not because everyone said they should. She'd see that, wouldn't she? Also, she might be angry too, and leave him for attempting to take liberties, which he shouldn't do. He knew that, and yet…she often gave the impression she wouldn't mind if he did.

It didn't help that she wore the white blouse that buttoned down her front the next time he saw her, the one that was slightly too tight. Especially after a lot of time over the past few days imagining what her reaction might be – and what going away with her might mean.

'So, I'll be in Hastings,' Pike finished, unsure if he should say any more. He and Ivy were sitting on a bench, looking out to the grey waves now creeping back to reveal metal barricades sunk into the sand, intertwined with barbed wire and snaking down the beach.

Ivy was quiet for a moment. This was not, of course, unusual. She was thinking.

'Do you have to go in each day?' she asked then, shuffling a little closer so she would be heard. 'From here, I mean?'

This was the decision to make, Pike thought. He could tell her that he did, that he'd be on the train each day, but…she was very close, and the heavy, humid weather had made her take her cardigan off to show that blouse. Her hand had reached out to take his.

'No…I'm staying there, on the fourteenth. In Hastings.'

'Where?' Her eyes sparkled, and she held his hand more tightly.

'Just one of the guesthouses, like here, really…'

'My sister lives in Hastings – what's it called? I might know it?' Ivy asked, eagerly. When he told her, she smiled. Her sister was married now, with a husband out on the Atlantic Convoys and a baby, but she knew they'd been there, before they were even engaged.

'That's a nice place,' she replied, her voice low and secretive. 'And you know something?'

'What?' He hadn't expected her to know it.

'The lady there? She doesn't mind couples…like us. We wouldn't even need to pretend….'

She knew. Pike knew she knew, and he also knew he really should tell her all the reasons why this wouldn't be a good idea, but…she shifted round slightly, and one button looked a little tighter still and her neckline seemed to pull a little lower, and suddenly these reasons didn't seem so important. Her eyes were soft and shining, and her fingers traced over the back of his hand.

'No…but, what would you say? To be there, I mean?' He had to offer some resistance.

'I could be visiting my sister, and my baby nephew,' Ivy replied, dropping her gaze shyly and tracing a line across the gravel with her foot. This was her chance. It might not come again. She was also afraid of what might happen to her if the Germans did come. There were such awful stories, of what had happened to women in Europe…she wanted at least one memory of it with someone nice, who cared about her, who might be able to offer some protection against the Nazis taking any woman they wanted? And wouldn't he want to take that chance too, before being sent away to fight and maybe not come back? It was almost an obligation, to one another, to give the other something special to remember.

'Yeah, all right…' Pike still wasn't sure this was a good idea, but…she was pretty, and nice, and liked him… 'I'll meet you there,' he managed. 'At the station?'

'See you there,' Ivy whispered back, conscious of people walking by, and smiled, a blush rising in her cheeks. It made her look beautiful. He should have known he couldn't resist.