‘Sometimes they do, but not always,’ Bobby said.
Jessie squinted at the two of them. ‘I think they look lots like each other.’
‘No they don’t,’ Florence said, rolling her eyes at the stupidity of younger sisters. ‘Bobby don’t wear her hair that way, or make up her face so pretty.’
‘They still look the same. Their eyes and things do.’
Mary had approached and was waiting for her introduction.
‘I’d certainly not have guessed you were twins,’ she said, smiling. ‘Or perhaps I would, given time. You look like you go together, for all the differences in your appearance.’
‘Now you must be Mary,’ Lilian said, holding out her hand. ‘From Bobby’s letters, I feel like I know you already.’
Mary ignored the hand and drew Lilian into a welcoming hug instead, not minding the soot on her uniform.
‘Sorry my husband isn’t here to meet you,’ she said. ‘I sent him into the village to see if he could pick up a little extra off the ration for our supper tonight, knowing we’d have a guest.’
‘It’s my fault. I should have let Bobby know I was going to be early. I liked the idea of popping up when she least expected it.’
Bobby smiled. ‘My sister loves making an entrance, as you can see.’
Lilian glanced around. ‘Is Dad not here, Bob?’
‘No, he’s out with his new friend,’ Bobby told her. ‘They go walking in the woods most days.’
‘That’s good. It’s healthy for him to be out in the open.’
‘Yes.’ Something in Bobby’s tone must have alerted her sister to the fact everything wasn’t as it ought to be, however, and Lilian shot her a look of concern. Bobby shook her head slightly to let her know she’d explain when they were alone.
‘We only play this game when your father isn’t at home,’ Mary said, in an undertone so the Parrys couldn’t hear her. The girls were a little distance away now, picking up the sponge grenades with Charlie and putting them back in the basket. ‘He doesn’t approve of the girls laiking at war, which is understandable given his own experiences. He thinks it’s making light of it, and Lord knows it’s no joke. Still, I’m convinced it does them good. They’ve felt so powerless living in London with those evil bombs falling every night, and then there’s their father away fighting. Making light of it helps them feel less afraid.’
Bobby nodded. ‘Mary’s right, it’s more than just fun. In their childish way, it gives them a feeling of fighting back.’
‘Yes, I can understand that. There’s nothing worse than feeling powerless.’ Lilian turned to smile at Charlie. ‘So, it seems there’s only one person I haven’t been introduced to yet.’
Charlie had been hanging back with an uncharacteristic air of self-consciousness, waiting to be invited to join them. Bobby flushed as she beckoned him over.
‘Um, this is Charlie, Reg’s brother,’ she informed Lilian. ‘I told you about him.’
‘You certainly did.’ Lilian regarded her sister’s suitor curiously. ‘Your… friend.’
‘Something of that nature.’ Charlie looked awkward as he held out his hand, then instantly snatched it back and reached up to rub off the boot-polish moustache he’d momentarily forgotten he had. ‘Er, I don’t normally look this way. I was… we were… it’s a pleasure to meet you at last, Miss Bancroft.’
‘Call me Lilian, please,’ she said as she shook his hand. She glanced at Bobby. ‘After all, we’re practically family.’
‘Let me take you over to the cottage and show you where you’ll be sleeping,’ Bobby said hastily, taking Lilian by the shoulders to guide her away.
‘What did you say that for?’ she hissed as she led her sister to Cow House Cottage.
Lilian shrugged. ‘I only meant we were family because I felt like I knew him from your letters, the same as all of them.’
‘No you didn’t. You gave me alook. Charlie noticed it too.’
Lilian smiled as Bobby unlocked the door to the cottage. ‘Well, is there any need to be coy? I can read between the lines as well as the next twin sister, Bob. The two of you are engaged, aren’t you?’
‘We aren’t.’
She blinked. ‘Oh. In that case, maybe I can’t read between the lines as well as the next twin sister.’
