At that moment the moon, which had been hidden by the clouds, chose to appear, lighting up the countryside with its silver glow.

‘Oh hell!’ Mavis muttered. ‘Now we’re for it . . . ‘

The vehicle slowed as it drew level with the three girls cowering in the ditch and then stopped. As the engine was cut, silence bathed the countryside. Mavis and Isobel held their breath, but Kate, oblivious to what was happening, began to sing.

‘There was I waiting at the church, waiting at the church . . .’

Footsteps sounded on the road and then whispered across the grass verge.

‘Can’t get away to marry you today,’ Kate yodelled tunelessly, ‘my wife won’t – let me!’ The final words ended on a high-pitched wail. She threw back her head and looked up into the shadowy face of a tall man standing on the bank directly above them.

‘What on earth is going on?’

Kate giggled. ‘Why, if it isn’t the handsome Groupie!’

Beside her, Isobel groaned, but Mavis was scrambling up out of the ditch. ‘Sir – could you just forget you’ve seen us, please?’ She was standing on the bank beside him now. ‘Kate’s had an awful shock – some sort of family trouble. This isn’t like her – really it isn’t.’

The silence was all around them again. ‘Please, sir, couldn’t you – just this once . . .?’ Mavis pleaded softly.

Philip Trent’s deep voice came gently out of the darkness. ‘It’s all right, I won’t be taking any action over this. I just want to help.’ He bent down and stretched out his hand. ‘Come on, Kate Hilton. Let’s get you back to camp. Maybe I can get her past the guard easier than you two could.’

They couldn’t see his face in the darkness, but they could hear the genuine concern in his voice. With him pulling and Isobel pushing, they heaved Kate out of the ditch and between them half-dragged, half-carried her to the jeep he was driving.

‘Put her in the back with my coat over her. It’s on the back seat. One of you sit with her. The other, come in front with me.’

Hardly able to believe this was actually happening, they obeyed meekly and a few moments later they were heading along the lane back towards camp. Kate was no longer singing – now she was crying. ‘I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to . . .’

Her voice faded away and she was quiet.

Isobel leaned forward from the back seat. ‘I think she’s asleep.’

Philip Trent nodded.