‘Yes, she’s being cared for by the British Embassy; she says she was rescued and flown out of France, but couldn’t give us any details of how or who by. They’re taking her to hospital, but she wants to come here. I nearly screamed down the phone, I was so excited.’

‘I’ll fetch her, Mags. Ella can’t travel by train. She . . . well, I told you what happened, and God knows what might have happened to her since then. She’s going to need us.’

‘I’ll come, too. I can, as I have an excellent team at the mill who can take over from me. I’ll get Bradshaw to drive us. But Ella’s not able to come straight away, because apparently she is helping the embassy with information. Again she was unable to tell me more than that . . . Oh, there’s the telephone again.’

Mags almost skipped into the hall as her excitement, mixed with relief about Ella, gave her a feeling of euphoria. She hoped this was Jerome, so that she could share her wonderful news with him.

‘Aunt Mags, is that you? Oh, Aunt Mags,’ a tiny voice called out.

Mags felt a shiver run through her. ‘Rosie?’

‘Yes. Oh, Aunt Mags . . .’

‘What is it, Rosie? Don’t cry, my darling girl. I can’t understand you. What’s happened – is it Billy?’

‘Naw, I mean, aye, but . . .’

What followed had Mags bending at the knees, with the weight of her grief. ‘No. No. Oh, my darling, no!’

‘What’s wrong, Mags? Oh, my dear Mags, what’s wrong?’ Flors called out as she rushed over.

Putting her hand up to Flors, Mags spoke into the receiver. ‘Rosie, I’ll start out today. Tell Betsy – your ma – I’ll be there tomorrow. Oh, my little one, my precious little one. We’ll get through this, we will. Is your ma there?’

‘Aye, but I don’t think she can talk. She just wants you to come – we all do. I’ll tell her you are coming.’

‘Does your Aunt Ciss know?’

‘Aye, we phoned the estate.’

‘I’ll go and see her before I set out. Thank God her sons, being farmers, are exempt from going to war, as your family is doing enough as it is. Can you stay with your ma, Rosie, or do you have to report for duty?’

‘I can stay. I’ve been given indefinite compassionate leave. I need it, an’ all. I’ve a lot to tell you, Aunt Mags. We all need you. We need your strength.’

Mags didn’t feel strong. She wanted to curl up and scream against this cruel world and the loss of the lovely Daisy and Florrie, whom she’d known and loved since their birth. Putting the phone down, after saying her goodbyes and reassuring Rosie that she would help them all she could, Mags turned to Flors.