The woman shook her head vehemently. ‘No … thank you, but I’d like to do that meself. It’s the last thing I can do for her … but you could ask the undertaker to come.’

‘Very well.’ Holly lifted her bag but paused at the door to say, ‘I’m so sorry, Mrs Land.’ She went outside and climbed onto her bicycle and as she rode away there were tears on her cheeks. She had witnessed other deaths on the ward at the hospital but somehow when the grim reaper came for someone she had been personally caring for it was all the harder to bear.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

In October the government issued instructions on what to do in case of an air raid and suddenly the war seemed very real and everyone lived in fear of an invasion.

‘It scares me to think of it,’ Ivy said worriedly as she cradled Alice protectively to her.

Marcus smiled at her. She’d been quite surprised to see him when he had suddenly put in an appearance that morning, he usually visited of an evening after work but before very long she knew the reason why.

‘Actually …’ Looking uncomfortable, he shifted from foot to foot as she stared at him with prickles running up and down her spine. ‘I, er … wanted you to be the first to know, after my father of course, that I joined up this morning. I shall be leaving for army training in a week’s time.’

Ivy plonked down heavily onto the nearest chair. She felt as if all the air had been sucked out of her lungs, although she didn’t know why she was so shocked. Wasn’t this exactly what she had been fearing he would do for some time now?

‘I see …’ Her voice came out as a croak. ‘And how does your father feel about it?’

Marcus lowered his head and shrugged. ‘Well, obviously he’s not happy about it but he says it’s up to me. Nearly all the chaps from the hat factory have gone already. And the thing is, Ivy … I couldn’t bear it if I was given a white feather. Try to understand, please.’

‘I think I do understand.’ A tear trickled down her cheek and Alice’s plump little hand instantly came up to wipe it away. ‘It’s just that … I’ll worry about you … and I’ll miss you.’

‘I’ll miss you too.’ He gently lifted Alice from her lap and put her on the floor and as the child tottered away he took Ivy in his arms. ‘I think the world of you, Ivy, you must know that by now. And if it weren’t for the fact that I might not come back I’d ask you to be my girl.’

Her heart swelled as she stared into his eyes. ‘But I want to be your girl, and you will come back, you must!’ she told him firmly.

He stared at her intently for a long moment then said, ‘In that case, will you wait for me? And if I do come—’