Between them they somehow managed it, although James’s legs kept buckling beneath him which slowed them somewhat. Once up in the kitchen Francine slammed the trapdoor behind them and dragged the table into position as Claudette kept guard at the door.

‘It is all clear,’ she told her husband with a catch in her voice and as he passed her she kissed him tenderly and told him, ‘May God go with you, my love!’

They managed to get James into the back of the wagon then Pierre covered him with sacks of vegetables and set off without delay.

Meanwhile, Claudette handed a wicker basket to Holly and told her urgently, ‘Follow Francine and if you are stopped speak only in French. Remember, you are Francine’s cousin come to visit us.’

On an impulse, Holly threw her arms about the woman and kissed her soundly as Claudette returned her hug. She had come to think a lot of all of them and Claudette had been like a second mother to her during her stay there.

‘But what if they find the entrance to the trap door?’ Holly fretted. ‘They will only have to see the beds and they will know that yo—’

‘Go!’ Claudette ordered and on legs that suddenly felt as if they had turned to jelly Holly did as she was told.

‘We shall go through the woods,’ Francine told her. ‘It is slightly further but there is less chance of being seen that way, but if we are stopped we must say that we are visiting family.’

Holly nodded numbly as she followed her blindly into a large wood. The branches and brambles snagged at their clothes and when at one stage a small deer suddenly ran out straight in front of them Holly felt as if her heart had stopped. But Francine seemed to know where she was going so she followed her trustingly. Luckily Francine had played in these woods all her life and knew every inch of them so they made good progress, although Holly suddenly realised after an hour’s tramping across rough ground that she was physically and emotionally exhausted. Her chest was on fire and her legs ached but she kept going – there was no other choice. Eventually the sound of gunshots and explosions echoed around the barren trees and she knew they were getting closer to the front.

‘We shall leave the woods shortly,’ Francine told her. ‘And then it is but a short distance to the hospital. I will tell you the way but do not worry, you are back on safe ground now.’

‘But couldn’t you stay here till it’s safe for you to go home?’ Holly implored.

Francine stopped to drop a light kiss on her cheek as a lane appeared beyond the trees.

‘My place is with my family,’ she answered and for a moment the two girls stared at each other not knowing if they would ever see each other again.

‘I … I hope everything goes well for you. You are all very brave,’ Holly told her in a choked voice.