Billy continued staring, as if he hadn’t heard.

‘Maybe this isn’t a good idea, darling?’

‘Let’s try, Ella. For Billy’s sake, and for the girls. They have waited so long to have a happy day. And Rosie wants Billy to give her away.’

‘Oh, not Angus? When did you find that out? Won’t Angus be hurt?’

‘No. He was the one who told me. He said he thought it a wonderful idea. I think Roderick felt his nose pushed out of joint a little, but he is so enamoured with Belinda that his attention is taken up with wooing her!’

‘Oh, Arnie. Betsy and Mags are thrilled at the prospect of one of each of their children getting together. But, you know, Mags is afraid, too. Belinda is so sophisticated, and Rod is a typical fisherman: steady, hard-working, not one for dances and such.’

‘I think that is the problem he’s having. Well, he’ll have to learn to appreciate the finer things in life, if he is to win his fair lady.’

They both laughed. The sound seemed to disturb Billy, as he looked towards them and then stood up, in a manner that showed his impatience.

‘Lovely day, Billy.’

‘For some.’

‘I would say for all of us who survived what we’ve been through.’

Billy shrugged.

Ella gave Arnie a sideways look. His face showed his bewilderment as he mouthed, ‘What?’

Ignoring him, Ella walked nearer Billy. ‘Billy, Arnie only wanted to walk this far, but I thought to cut across the field to School Brae and go down the lane and back around to the village. Would you walk with me?’

‘I suppose.’

‘See you later, Arnie.’ His look of surprise made Ella smile, but he’d already shown how ham-fisted he was in handling the delicate Billy.

They walked across the field in silence. Ella waited, hoping Billy would break it, because even though it wasn’t an uncomfortable silence, she didn’t want to force him. At last he spoke. ‘Ma tells me that you went through hell when you were imprisoned, Ella.’

‘I – I did. I find it difficult to talk about, even though I want to, as I’m afraid no one will understand.’

Billy’s ‘I might’ surprised Ella. She hadn’t expected to get as far as this. Well, she wasn’t going to miss this opportunity, even if it meant her opening up to him, something she’d only done with Arnie.

‘Shall we sit on that stile over there, Billy? It’s a long story, and I will need to sit down as I tell you some of it, as it makes me feel weak to remember it.’

‘You don’t have to tell me, Ella.’