‘I wasn’t being fair to you, Esther,’ he repeated. ‘You were right when you said it was me who asked you to marry me. I did – ’cos I was mad to have you. I wanted you as I never wanted anyone before – not even Beth – in that way.’ He leaned forward and touched her cheek with unexpectedly gentle fingers. ‘Oh, Esther, I still want you – that way.’

She bent her head and for a moment pressed his hand closer to her cheek, but she could not speak.

‘But I – I never stopped to really think things out,’ he went on. ‘Beth was always there, had always been there for me, and – ’ he sighed and moved restlessly – ‘and daft-like, I suppose I thought she always would be somehow. I never realized, y’see, that Beth was the only one who really loved me.’ His voice broke as he added hoarsely, ‘I’m sorry, Esther. I’ve not done right by you – or Beth. Mebbe, just mebbe, I’ve chance now to prove I’m not all bad.’

She moved then, knelt in front of him and put her arms around him and leant her head against his chest. ‘Oh, Matthew, you’re not bad, not wicked at all.’ She hugged him tight. ‘Don’t go, Matthew.’

He buried his face in her hair and for once held her close in an embrace that was affectionate rather than lustful. ‘Oh, Esther, I’ve no choice – now. It’s too late.’ His voice broke on a hoarse whisper. ‘Too late.’

They clung together in a timeless moment, closer, now that they were to part, than they had ever been.

The following morning when Esther opened the back door to go out to do the milking she saw that a swirling fog was rolling in from the sea, enveloping the farm, cutting it off from the outside world. How she wished that they could stay like that, cut off from everything outside the farm gate, a little island of their own, safe from the war and the cruel tongues of neighbours that had driven Matthew to prove himself not a coward.

As she finished milking and was carrying the pails across the yard, Matthew came out of the back door, dressed in his Sunday best suit. Sombrely he met her gaze. Slowly he drew the Hunter watch from his pocket a and unhooked the gold chain from his waistcoat. He held it out to her. ‘Here, Esther – ’ he cleared his throat – ‘you’d best keep it till – till I come back.’

Carefully, she set the pails down and took the watch from him. ‘Of course, Matthew, I’ll keep it safe for you – till you come home again.’

They stared at each other wordlessly.

She saw Matthew swallow, saw him pull in a deep, shuddering breath.