‘Why not?’ Isobel insisted, while Mavis bit her lip. ‘You’ll be thrown out of the WAAFs. Look, Kate, there’s places you can go. We don’t mean a back street job, not now . . .’

‘No!’ she said with finality.

Her two friends glanced at each other. Isobel’s mouth was a tight line. ‘Don’t be stupid, Kate. You don’t want to be burdened with a kid. An illegitimate kid!’ she added brutally. ‘What’ll your family say?’

Kate winced. What indeed? she thought.

‘Don’t be so hard on her, Iso,’ Mavis put in. ‘Maybe she – she wants to keep it.’

“Course she doesn’t . . .’

‘Will you two please stop talking about me as if I’m not here and trying to decide my future? I’m not getting rid of the baby. It’s my baby – and I’m keeping it!’

Isobel was looking at her strangely. ‘Do you think you ought to keep it? I mean . . .’

‘What do you mean, Isobel?’

‘Well, if it’s Danny’s . . .’

‘It isn’t!’ Kate snapped, then, more quietly but equally firmly, she added, ‘and don’t go asking whose it is, because I aren’t telling you. Or anyone else, for that matter.’

‘You don’t need to – not any more,’ Isobel said pointedly, but Kate chose deliberately not to pursue it any further.

‘If you’re sure . . .’ Mavis began tentatively.

‘I am,’ Kate said with far more confidence than she felt inside.

‘Then,’ Mavis continued, ‘we’ll stick by you, won’t we, Iso?’

‘I suppose so,’ Isobel said grudgingly. ‘I still think you’re wrong, but it’s your choice.’ Getting up off the bed, she delivered a parting shot. ‘Well, I wouldn’t be in your shoes going home to tell your folks.’

Kate shuddered and at the thought of her mother, her insides quivered. Ever since the realization had come upon her, telling her mother was the thing she dreaded most.

‘You trollop! You whore!’ Esther Godfrey drew back her right hand and slapped Kate’s face hard. ‘How could you do that to me? After all I’ve taught you. Ain’t I told you time and again – you dun’t let a feller touch you till you’ve a wedding ring on ya finger . . .?’ The tirade went on and all Kate could do was stand there and take it. It brought Jonathan running in from the yard and Will Benson hobbling through from his room. They arrived at the split second when Esther delivered her physical blow.

‘Esther . . .’ Jonathan was shocked and Will demanded, ‘What’s up? What’s going on?’

Esther swung round to face her father. ‘What’s up? She’s what’s up. Up the stick, that’s what’s up. In the blood, ain’t it?’ she accused, so that the old man wavered slightly and grasped at the table for support.

‘Esther – you’ve said enough . . .’ Jonathan began.