Holding a sandwich, Rosie’s hand froze in mid-air as she waited to hear what Sybil would say next.

‘Don’t get your hopes up,’ she warned. ‘I wasn’t able to do as much digging as I hoped, but I did discover that it’s not all that uncommon for wounded concussed men to disappear from the battleground.’

Voicing her worst fears, Rosie gasped, ‘So my poor boy could be wandering around not knowing who he is or where he is?’

Sybil continued in a firm voice, ‘Let me explain. According to some of the records I read, wounded soldiers, especially those suffering from amnesia, have been found and protected by allies or partisan workers.’

‘They risk their lives to save our boys,’ Rosie cried.

Sybil gave a grim nod. ‘The punishment doesn’t bear thinking about,’ she murmured. ‘For all we know your Mick, if he did crawl away as his pal suggested when he wrote to you, could be holed up somewhere in France or Belgium and posing under a new identity.’

Hardly daring to breathe, Rosie murmured, ‘Mick might be alive, then?’

Sybil answered cautiously, ‘If he were very lucky and was helped by partisan workers on the ground, he could be alive.’

‘But …’ Rosie continued fearfully, ‘if he was wounded and found wandering around the countryside half crazed, he could have been picked up by the enemy and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp.’ Rosie fought back angry tears. ‘I know I keep saying this, but if Mick was in a camp, wouldn’t I know about it? After all, there are means of identification, discs and papers that can be traced – why not Mick’s?’

‘I agree,’ Sybil answered. ‘That’s why I personally think Mick – if he’s still alive – got away and might, even as we speak, be being shielded by some kind soul. You mustn’t lose hope, darling.’

‘It’s hard to always be brave,’ Rosie wailed as tears overcame her.

Stroking her hand, Sybil said earnestly, ‘In the reports I read, some soldiers suffering from amnesia suddenly regained their memory and made it home under cover, just as Ronnie always imagined! Wouldn’t that be something?’

Rosie gave a grateful smile. ‘It would be nothing short of a blessed miracle,’ she said. ‘Thank you, lovie, for making those enquiries.’

Sybil gripped her hand firmly in her own. ‘Don’t give up hope,’ she said again. ‘Not now, after all you’ve suffered – and keep in touch with his regiment. It’s important that they should be able to track you down,’ she reminded Rosie, who gave a quick nod.

‘I’ve informed them of my new address here, but I might contact them again to make sure they received that information.’

‘Good girl,’ Sybil smiled. ‘You never know, miracles happen in love and war.’