Slowly they undressed each other, until they lay on the bed naked. Wills gazed down at Marjie. ‘You are so beautiful that I want to kiss every part of you.’

‘And I want you to, my husband – I need you to.’

The sensations this gave her took her to a blissful world that only she and Wills inhabited. When at last he entered her, she felt that world burst into a million stars of love, happiness and, most of all, hope.

Marjie’s meeting with her mama, the next day, was a joyful reunion mixed with a tearful well of anguish. They clung to each other as they stood, like any other mother and daughter, saying goodbye on Victoria station. The platform was crowded with couples kissing goodbye, anxious parents seeing their sons off to war, and people who looked as though their own world was the most important one, as they strutted towards trains or exits carrying briefcases.

‘My darling, I am so proud of you – if, as expected, so very afraid for you. I don’t know which is worse: not seeing you and not knowing, or seeing you and knowing.’

‘Oh, Mama, seeing you is so much better, and having you understand my position, too. I know you will worry, but at least you won’t think that I don’t care about you. I have missed you so much and have longed for information about you all.’

‘I would never think that, darling Marjella. And I wish I had better news for you. But try not to worry. I know your father and Arnie will do all they can to get to Ella and Lonia and to rescue them. And no news from, or about, Freddy is good news. As for me, I’ll go and stay with Aunt Mags for a while, and she will help me.’

‘I’m proud of you too, Mama. You are so brave, and yet you have so much to contend with. I hope you soon hear news of Randolph. As for Monty, we’ll just have to pray for him. I am more worried about him than any of them.’

‘Me too. Why he held the views he did, I do not know. He genuinely wanted to go to Germany to help in the war effort there . . . Well, maybe I do know why. He has always reminded me of your late uncle Harold.’

‘Oh, Mama. Monty was so young and idealistic; he was misguided, that’s all. All that Harold did to you is in the past and won’t rise up again. Poor Monty.’

They clung together, and while she was in her mama’s arms Marjie whispered, ‘Can I tell you something wonderful?’

Mama held her at arm’s length. ‘You’re in love. I could tell the moment I spotted you, and the man is William, isn’t it? You were looking up into his face when you came into view.’