As Toby pulled up at the end of Brookside Gardens, he jumped out to open the passenger door, but was beaten to it by Rosie, who was climbing out and grabbing her work haversack.
‘I must apologise once again for initially giving you false information about Peter’s demise,’ Toby said, taking off his cap and putting it under his arm.
‘Toby, I’m just so glad it was this way round and I didn’t think Peter was alive only to be told a mistake had been made and he was dead.’
Toby smiled.
‘So, you’re all sorted,’ he said. ‘You’ve got your ticket?’ They had stopped off at the train station to convert the travel warrant into an actual ticket. Toby didn’t want any hiccups. He’d been able to check that the train to London was running on time and there weren’t any delays. He had also upgraded Rosie’s ticket to first class, which he had managed to do after telling the ticket inspector that Rosie was meeting a war hero, and slipping him a ten-bob note.
‘Yes,’ Rosie said, pulling out the ticket from her top pocket and waving it. Her face was flushed with excitement. ‘I just need to spruce myself up a little …’ She laughed, looking down at her dirty overalls.
‘I don’t think Peter will mind what you wear,’ Toby chuckled. He stepped forward and took Rosie’s hands and squeezed them. ‘I’m so happy for you – for you both.’
Rosie suddenly became sombre.
‘I know it might sound like I’m being overanxious – neurotic even,’ Rosie said, ‘but Peter’s safe now, isn’t he? He’s not in any danger?’
‘None at all, my dear,’ Toby said with confidence.
‘I think … well … I was just thinking about his flight over – it’ll be all right, won’t it?’
‘Don’t worry. He’ll be fine. The aircraft he’s on has been across the Channel and back more times than I’ve had hot dinners – it’s safe as houses.’
Rosie breathed a sigh of relief. She had been wanting to ask Toby this since they’d got her train ticket and he’d told her that Peter’s plane would probably be landing at around the time her train reached York, giving him enough time to meet briefly with his superiors and get a lift to King’s Cross.
‘Are you off to see Dorothy now?’ Rosie asked as Toby turned to get back in his car.
Her question was met by a wide smile.
‘Most definitely, although I have a few errands to run first.’
Rosie narrowed her eyes. She wondered if Toby’s ‘errands’ involved nipping to one of the jewellers in town. Toby had casually asked Rosie which shop she would patronise if she wanted to treat herself to ‘a nice necklace, or the like’.
‘Good luck!’ she said, smiling.