Marjie knew what Sibbie meant. ‘He’s a dirty old man, but probably harmless. All the same, let’s ask Madame if we can do his deliveries together.’

Strangely, this wasn’t granted by Madame. ‘Non, you are to go alone. Decide amongst yourselves which one. We must do nothing that draws attention to you. Delivering together will be looked upon as odd. But, if you have cause to, use one of your methods on him, so that it will look as if he died of natural causes.’

This alarmed Marjie. ‘Why, Madame? And just who are you? You know so much, it is frightening. We should be told, if you are an agent.’

‘I am someone to whom you have been entrusted by your government. I am informed of what they, and the Resistance, want me to know. And you should know better than to question me.’

Marjie apologized, but all the same, she decided to be very careful around Madame Bachelet.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Portpatrick

Betsy and Rosie

Rosie was enjoying the train journey, but was glad when they finally entered Scotland. Now, after changing trains a number of times, she was on the last leg of her trip, travelling from Stranraer to Portpatrick, and, having just passed through Colfin, knew that her station was next.

Excitement zinged through her, to see her ma at last and to have some ‘normal’ family life – though how normal it could be without Daisy and Florrie, and Sibbie and Billy, she didn’t know. But she longed to be with her ma and Aunt Susan, and Roderick, although, from what Ma had told her, Roderick was like a bear with a sore head since he had learned about his flat feet. And yet Rosie hadn’t heard better news in a long time, and suspected that a lot of Roderick’s problems were down to him being a young lad, thinking himself a man and dealing with the process of growing up.

‘Eeh, Ma, what’s the flags out for?’ Rosie giggled as she got off the train and saw a row of Union Jacks hanging up between two gas lights, and her ma waving a small flag as she greeted her.

‘That’s for your return, lass. By, it’s grand to have you home.’

With this, Rosie found herself swept into her ma’s arms and it felt good. So good she didn’t want to leave the comfort of this safe place ever again.

‘You can tell me all about it when we get home, lass.’

‘About what, Ma? You don’t want to hear about the gory business of working in a hospital, I can tell you. Naw, I’ve left all that behind for two weeks. You can tell me what’s been happening up here instead.’