‘Och, I’m thinking I’m going to have to buy another bottle of sherry, as I ken those two have drunk most of the one I had ready for Christmas. But it’s good to see me lassie so happy. It’s something I couldn’t ever see happening again. She’s had her heart broken. But Lonia and our Rosie are helping it to mend. And all of you visiting has made Christmas less of an ordeal for Betsy.’

‘And being with her is helping us all, too,’ Flors said. ‘Betsy’s a tonic and I’m so glad to have met her at last – well, all of you: Angus, and you, Susan; and Rory and Rosie and Roderick. I feel as though I’ve known you forever.’

‘And us you, Flors. Aunt Mags is allus going on about you. But it’s lovely to be with you all at last.’

‘Thank you, Rosie. I can see why you want to stay up here, Ella. Lonia is so happy and relaxed, and you say you’re ready to start nursing again now, and that’s wonderful.’

‘Yes, I’m really looking forward to it. And it will help me. Remember, Flors, you always said that we find help in helping others.’

‘I did. And I haven’t done that.’

‘Darling, although you can’t talk about our work, it’s very valuable to the war effort, and once we get back to it in the new year, that will help us, too, I’m sure of it,’ Cyrus said.

With this from her papa, Marjie looked at her parents and knew their pain was healing a little. But, she wondered, would her own pain ever heal?

When she and Sibbie, and Wills and Paulo, found some time alone later that night, their laughter helped them all. Wills was so funny. His antics, as he told tales of his upbringing and some of the strange things their servants got up to, kept them from talking about the inevitable, although Marjie knew that one day they would have to.

That day came the very next day: Christmas Eve. The four of them went for a walk. It wasn’t easy on the hilly terrain, with Paulo in a wheelchair, but Wills managed him well, and without making Paulo feel as though he was a burden. Sibbie took them to the churchyard to visit the grave of her stepfather, Montel.

It was then that they had talked.

‘Marjie, dear Marjie. How could it all have happened?’ Sibbie held Marjie’s hand and her eyes brimmed with tears. ‘The lovely Monty. How could he have turned out as he did?’

‘I don’t know, Sibbie. I’m so sorry for what he caused you and Paulo. I’m so sorry.’