Marjie felt her heart sink, while her mind screamed at the danger Monty was in. As yet she hadn’t allowed herself to think of him deserving it; only of the devastation it would bring to her and her beloved family.

‘Come with me, Gisele. Everyone, please stay here. Let Gisele do this as she wishes – needs – to. I promise you, I will do what is right by you all.’

Marjie and Gisele walked away. When she knew they were out of earshot, Marjie stopped and turned to Gisele. She wanted to ask if it was Monty, but didn’t want to give away the fact that she knew. Looking into Gisele’s face, it was as if she was seeing her for the first time. This wasn’t the cheeky kid she’d once known, but a very beautiful young woman. Gisele’s fair hair, which had always been a tangled mess, due to her tomboy ways, now shone and was fashioned with the front rolled and held in a clip, and the back falling to her shoulders, where it neatly curled under. Her eyes – the lightest-blue eyes Marjie had ever seen – were large and enhanced by the black pupil in their centre. Her features were clear-cut, and her skin creamy. Gisele was about the same height as Marjie, with a slight figure that wore clothes as if they were top designer outfits, not hand-me-downs or giveaways.

‘Tell me, Gisele. Who was it?’

‘Monty.’

Even though she knew, Marjie drew in a breath that spoke of her shock. ‘How? I mean . . .’ Her thoughts were thrown into a turmoil. It’s true then, I wasn’t mistaken. Oh, I so wanted to be. ‘How did Monty get here? What has he asked you about? And why – why would my brother . . . Oh God!’

‘I’m sorry, Marjie. I never dreamed Monty would do this. He told me he had escaped, that he’d been through hell and was sorry he ever believed it was for the good of the country that we honoured the Germans and lived under their occupation, and that they would make everything better in France. He wanted to know where his family were, and why his home was deserted. He was broken-hearted when I told him they had been forced to flee. He broke down and said he was desperate to put everything right. That he wanted to make contact with Paulo and join the Resistance to help the cause.