‘So no more horrid naughty threats, eh?’ Sybil said through gritted teeth. ‘Mustn’t scare your little lady, that’s not nice.’

Feeling rather disgusted by her act, Sybil put down the phone and returned to Mary Vale deep in thought. From now on she had to prioritize her move South, rather than getting Monty’s back up with requisition talk.

Back in London, Monty was thoughtful too. He actively liked the fact that his pregnant mistress was isolated in the far North-Western corner of England; he’d chosen Mary Vale for that specific reason alone. As far as he was concerned, the further away from society that Sybil was, the better. He was damned if he were going to change his mind and let her travel to an extortionately expensive nursing home in the South, which would be too close to London for his comfort.

Knowing ambitious Sybil as he did, the Brigadier suspected that once among her own kind she would inevitably gossip. No, he determined, the spirited little filly was damn well staying in the back of beyond until all this messy business was over with, and when she did return to work it wouldn’t be in his office. There were plenty of lively young gels who could keep him entertained, hopefully ones that didn’t go and get themselves pregnant like Sybil had.

Monty’s thoughts moved on to Mary Vale.

‘The longer the place stays exactly as it is the better,’ he’d already decided.

He would do everything in his power to ward off any potential requisition interest; it suited him to keep the Home open. He actively wanted Sybil exiled up there until her bastard baby was born and well out of sight; then for all he cared wretched Mary Vale and its snivelling unmarried mothers and their brats could go to hell.

If he could save it from requisition, albeit short term, he most definitely would. The only fly in the ointment was if he saved Mary Vale then he would have to find a viable alternative, and dammit, Sybil was right: Mary Vale was perfectly placed, with its proximity to main train lines and the Barrow shipyard, but he certainly wasn’t going to admit that to Sybil.

Ada was taken aback one bright morning when Sister Mary Paul came bustling up.

‘The Reverend Mother wants a word with you, dear.’