Enid’s face was unrecognisable. Crumpled like paper. Vivian’s heart instantly began to bang fiercely inside her chest; Mabel was safely at her feet so her fearful thoughts leapt to Howard. She immediately began to imagine accidents that might have occurred. Had he fallen off a roof, or been trampled by an animal? Was it something to do with the tractor?

‘He’s gone. He’s gone!’ she cried. The sound she made was more like a wail; it didn’t sound human.

‘Gone where?’ Vivian asked, dropping her basket of wooden pegs. She did not need to ask about whom they were talking; neither woman had another ‘he’ in their lives, not really.

‘To the army. To war!’ shouted Enid. As the words left her mouth, she clutched her lower abdomen as though she felt an actual pain there, like labour. Vivian ran to her, but once she was within a foot, she dared not reach out to touch her. A snarled mass of panic and resentment, Enid oozed shock and anguish. Vivian felt cursed by her expression.

‘No. No. No.’

Enid nodded emphatically. ‘I asked you to keep him safe and you’ve sent him out there.’

‘No, I haven’t. It’s not what I wanted.’ Vivian shook her head; she felt breathless, as though someone was clasping her around her throat, choking the life out of her, which in a way was true, because if he left, there was no life to live.

‘He said he couldn’t stay because of you.’

‘Because of me?’ She echoed the words, uncomprehending. She hadn’t asked him to go to war, not since Aubrey had sent her to do the job weeks ago, and even then he must have known it was the last thing she really wanted.

‘You always thought he should be fighting.’

Vivian couldn’t remember feeling that. It seemed so irresponsible and misguided. ‘Where is he now?’ She was already unfastening her apron; she threw it on the ground and started to run towards the house. She could change his mind, she could stop him.

‘It’s too late.’ Carefully. ‘I haven’t seen him since yesterday morning. I received a telegram this morning. He’s already at a base.’

‘Which base?’

‘He didn’t say. They’re not allowed, are they? But as he’s joined the army voluntarily this time, there’s nothing to be done.’

‘Why didn’t you come to me last night? Raise the alarm then?’

Enid looked defeated, regretful. ‘I thought he was here with you.’

Vivian felt her legs shake. ‘Why would he go?’

‘How could he stay?’ Enid glanced around Aubrey Owens’ farm. Her gaze lingered on his daughter and then rested on his wife. ‘He couldn’t live another man’s life.’ How could he stay here and work Aubrey’s land, sleep with his wife, while Aubrey was over there? ‘What if something happens to your husband? Howard would never forgive himself. It has to be a level playing field. At least that. For a man like my son. Didn’t you know that much?’

Vivian fell to the floor. ‘It’s my fault. I sent him,’ she whispered, because she knew he’d rather be right than be liked. He’d rather be the best man than a loved man.