‘Goodbye, my darling. Let us know any news as soon as you have it. Oh, Cyrus, I forgot. This is my telephone number. I’m not at home. I’ve rented us an apartment. I was afraid . . . I mean, I – I couldn’t live back at the house; the memories . . .’

‘I understand, darling. I’ll telephone you as often as I can.’

‘Sir, please, you must come now. You are expected at HQ. A meeting has been set up. We will look after him, Mrs Harpinham, but please let him come now.’

Flors watched them go. Randie’s hand came into hers and she clutched it, remembering an old maxim that if someone shows they are afraid, it makes you stronger. ‘Thank you, my darling. I need your support at this moment. Help me, my darling son, help me.’

This did the trick. Randie’s arm came round her, and his voice had the strength that she knew he possessed. ‘I’m here now, Mama. We’ll get through this. We will.’

Smiling to herself, Flors allowed her head to fall onto his shoulder. ‘Oh, Randie, I can’t tell you what it means to me to have you with me. I’ve been so worried about you, and Marjie, Monty and Freddy. And now this. How are we to get through it all?’

‘We will – we’ll pray for good news. They may all have got away in time; they are very organized and focused. Most are from around there and, like all of us, know the forests like the back of their hands. The Germans wouldn’t have a chance of finding them and would be lost in no time, as every tree looks the same and there are no marked paths. I really think they all got away.’

This was reassuring to Flors and she tried to latch onto Randie’s confidence, glad that he’d found a way of dealing with it.

‘Thank you, darling. I feel a little better about the news now.’

‘Have you heard anything from Freddy, Mama?’

‘No, not from him, but there is some hope that we will find out where he is. Did Marjie tell you about Wills?’

‘She did. Fancy our Marjie being smitten like that. And yes, she did say that he was trying to find out where Freddy is. But you haven’t heard anything yet?’

‘No, not yet, but I think we will, darling. In fact I am sure of it.’

They had reached the station steps and started to ascend them. Once outside, Randie expressed his shock at the destruction all around them. ‘Are there still bombs dropping, Mama?’

‘Yes, there are still a few raids, but not many. The Blitz did most of this. My people have suffered terribly.’

‘Your people?’

‘Yes, son. Have you forgotten that your father and I are both Londoners?’