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we’ll all love it,’ Cecily said. ‘And as they say, Alice, there’s nothing new under the sun. During the war there were many babies fathered by men no one knew at all, sometimes not even their names. Girls drinking too much – remember we were much more innocent then about alcohol and the facts of life, and it was a disgrace if you were caught out, even if you were ignorant of such things. People married quickly but often regretted it later. And the men who came back after the war often had become strangers from the dashing, amorous men those girls had fallen in love with.’ She sighed. ‘Each generation has its own problems.’
    ‘I know,’ Alice agreed, wishing she’d been spared these ones.
    Seeing her expression, Cecily patted her hand. ‘You’ll cope. I know you will.’
    Alice felt ashamed of her weakness. Cecily had lost the two men she loved before they’d barely lived, while she had been lucky having a life and children with Julian.
    ‘So, are you going to test-drive a car on your way home today?’ Cecily asked with a mischievous gleam in her eyes, and seeing Zarinda’s quizzical expression explained what Alice had done last time on her way home from visiting them.
    ‘No, not today, I’d better take the bus or walk down through the park in case the salesman sees me and tries to pressurize me into buying one.’
    Cecily laughed, ‘You do amuse me, Alice. Now tell us about Laura’s wedding, who will give her away?’
    It was so like Cecily to ask the question no one else had so far voiced. Who indeed? Julian had an older sister, Selena who had a son, Christian, who worked in some highly important job in Washington, and there were a few male cousins dotted about, none of whom they knew well.
    ‘You could do it,’ Cecily said. ‘I’ve been to a few weddings where a woman, usually the mother, gave the bride away. Unconventional, I know, but why not?’
    Alice frowned, ‘I’d feel awkward somehow. I expect we’ll find someone, one of Julian’s friends or… someone. Anyway it’s up to Laura to choose.’ She didn’t want to think about it, which was stupid really as Julian wouldn’t come back to step in on the day, but somehow she didn’t want to accept that he would not be there to lead his daughter down the aisle.
    ‘Has Laura any ideas?’ Cecily asked.
    ‘It’s something we have to discuss,’ she said.
    Cecily took her hand and squeezed it. ‘Julian will be much missed, but he’d expect you to find someone he approved of, I’m sure he’s got many good friends who’d be proud to take his place. I know… what about Frank Trevelyan, isn’t he Laura’s godfather? What would she think of asking him?’
    ‘Yes, he is her godfather but I don’t know where to find him. I think he still lives in France. I suppose I might have his address somewhere. He wrote me a letter when Julian died, but the address was of a hotel as he was away working.’ Alice felt reluctant to track him down but if Laura wanted him, she’d do her best to find him, although whoever took Julian’s place would not be the person they longed for.
    Cecily said, ‘He’s such a nice man, he always sends me Christmas cards. If you like, I can look out his address and write to him, just to find him and inform him of the wedding, and then if we do make contact, leave it to Laura to ask him if that’s what she wants.’
    ‘That would be great, Cecily, thank you. I’ll tell Laura, so she can make up her mind what she wants.’
    *
    The next day when she met up with Petra and Margot, Alice told them about Cecily writing to Frank. ‘Just to make contact with him as we are not sure of his whereabouts as he travels so much,’ Alice explained.
    ‘Much quicker if I go and find him,’ Petra said eagerly. ’I’ve been thinking of going to Saint Tropez, and I’m certain he’s got a house around there, Port Grimaud, I think. He told me about it once; it belonged to his grandmother and he inherited it. He even