Please keep safe, my darling, and don’t take up any occupation that will put you in danger. Then I will know that one day we will be together.

I love you, my darling Sibbie. It is the thought of you that keeps me going. Write back soon.

Paulo x

As Sibbie clutched the letter to her breast, she felt the racing of her heart as it pumped a feeling of great happiness through her veins. Paulo, oh Paulo. Paulo loves me!

Without opening her eyes, Marjie asked, ‘Good news or bad?’

‘Good. Oh Marjie, Paulo is in love with me! I can’t believe it, and yet I can, as I knew it was destined to be. But I am so afraid for him.’

Lifting herself onto her elbow, Marjie looked keenly at Sibbie. ‘I’m happy for you, Sibbie; and for Paulo, that at last he has spoken out, as we were all sure of how he felt, but he would never confirm it. But forgive me if, at this moment, I cannot help but ask if he says whether he is safe, or if he mentions Monty or gives any indication of what life is like for them?’

‘No, nothing. Just his declaration of love for me. But it wouldn’t be easy for him to say anything.’

A deep sigh from Marjie spoke of the anguish they both felt for their family.

‘I thought they would all be safe. I thought Marshal Pétain would stand firm against Hitler’s regime and mobilize the French army and swell its numbers to fight back, but he is a traitor!’

Sibbie knew of what Marjie was speaking. At first, when the invasion of France happened, they had both taken comfort from knowing that Hérault was part of Vichy, the declared Free Zone in the South of France. And Marjie had been really happy to know that its government was under the leadership of Marshal Pétain. But now, with Pétain hanging on Hitler’s every word, the Nazi regime was really in charge. Life for their family was unsafe, as they would be looked upon as the enemy. British citizens, and especially Jews, were in a very dangerous position.

‘How can Pétain behave as he is doing? He was a hero in the last war. He fought the Germans! It doesn’t make sense. There is no Free France, because of Pétain and his wretched appeasement and bowing down to Hitler.’

‘I know; he’s imposing some very harsh regimes on his own people. It’s frightening.’