The rest of the letter was given over to telling them how to send letters and parcels to Billy, and although this was meant to be comforting, and seemed to be for Ma, Rosie derived no comfort from it. Tales of Japanese brutality were rife, although Ma might not have heard of this or was pretending to ignore it.

In a strange way, thinking about this did provide comfort of a different kind to Rosie, as such notorious behaviour was known to be carried out particularly against women. At least I can be thankful for one thing, in losing me darling Daisy and Florrie – they weren’t taken prisoner, to suffer at the hands of the Japs. But what of Billy? In her mind she pleaded fervently, Oh, Billy lad, toe the line. Do all that is asked of you, lad.

The second letter was a beautiful one from the King himself, mentioning his lovely wife, Queen Elizabeth, who joined with him in their sorrow to hear of the loss of Daisy and Florrie. Not that he named them like that, but no matter that he used his own posh words and gave them their full titles – Sister D. Bradshaw and Nurse F. Bradshaw – the letter did something for them all.

‘There, the King and Queen themselves are feeling the loss of our Daisy and our Florrie, Ma.’

‘They are, lass, and they have need to, as our lasses deserve their recognition. I’m framing that letter, Angus, and we’ll have it on the wall to honour our lasses.’

Angus nodded. His arms came out and Ma went into them, her sobs shaking the very walls of the house. Rosie grabbed her coat and went outside, where she found Roddie.

‘Eeh, lad, you’ll catch your death. You’ve naw coat on.’

‘At this moment I want to die, Rosie.’

‘Naw, lad, you’ve got to live – for me, and Ma and your da. Aye, and our Billy an’ all. When he gets home, he’ll need his brother to be there for him. Remember, lad, you’re having to bear this here, with your ma and da, and me and Aunt Susan, to help you. Billy’ll knaw – if not now, then very soon – that his sisters have died, and will have to bear it in a living hell of his own.’

‘Aye, Rosie . . . Rosie . . .’

She opened her arms and Roddie came and hugged her, and as big and strong as he was, his heart was broken, wetting her hair with his tears and opening up the rawness of her own wounds. Together, the brother and sister left behind sobbed out their grief.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Blackburn and London

Mags, Flors and Ella

‘Flors, that telephone call I just took, you’re never going to believe this – it was Ella!’

‘What? But that’s marvellous. Oh, Mags, where is she? Is she all right?’