Now, since loving Philip with a passionate, physical love, she had indeed learned the difference between the loves in her life. Danny would always be her first love, an innocent and pure emotion that would never die, never be replaced, maybe, in some ways, never be equalled. But it was true what Beth had tried to tell her; there were many kinds of love and now she had experienced quite another with Philip. Her longing for him, for his arms about her, was a physical ache, a passionate, bodily longing, so strong at times she almost blushed. Now Philip Trent was gone from her life, without knowing he had fathered her child. And at this moment, it would be grossly unfair of her to add to his burdens by telling him.

As they neared Suddaby, Kate said, ‘You don’t need to go through the village Grandad, if you take the next right turn

‘There’s summat I want to show you. Ya don’t think I’ve come all this way just for the good of me health, do ya?’

Puzzled, Kate said, ‘Well, I just thought you wanted to bring me back to camp . . .’

He sniffed. ‘Well, I did, of course, but I wanted to talk to you and tell you summat it’s high time ya knew. Something mebbe you should have been told years ago . . .’

‘I don’t understand. What’s all the mystery? What is it I don’t know?’

‘All in good time, Katie, all in good time.’

He guided the trap through the village. ‘That’s where I used to live.’ He pointed with the whip to the middle cottage of a row of six. ‘That’s where you came when you ran away from school. D’ya remember?’

Kate shook her head. ‘Not really. I mean, I remember running away and being given a lift by a carrier, and some woman looking after me.’

‘Aye, that was Minnie Raby. Dead and gone now, she is, God rest her.’

‘She wasn’t that old, was she?’

‘No, younger than me.’ He laughed wheezily. ‘I’m a stubborn old bugger. Ya mam’s alius reckoning she’ll have to knock me on the head to mek me lie down.’

He did not stop the trap near his former home but carried on along the village street towards the church, where he pulled the trap to a halt and climbed down stiffly. ‘Come on, lass,’ he ordered, holding out his gnarled hand to help her down.

The iron gate to the churchyard squeaked as he pushed it open. Will sniffed. ‘’Spect this’ll be disappearing soon – for the war effort,’ he remarked to no one in particular.