‘Why don’t we ask permission to volunteer for the local home-defence unit in our time off? Or ask for further training in combat – anything that will show that we are ready to do more.’

Filled with enthusiasm as their ideas began to develop, they chatted long into the night about the possibilities of future roles for them.

By the time they settled down, Sibbie knew that a change had occurred. She and Marjie were no longer just two WAAFs doing an important but mundane job; they were two strong young women ready to take on the world and to right the wrongs. Part of her yearned for it to happen, but another part recognized the danger that their intentions would place them in. But I’m ready. I’m truly ready. I need to do more. I need to be out there. She’d always known this, and now it was time to make it happen.

CHAPTER FIVE

The South of France

Ella and Flors

‘What’s that?’

‘It’s me, Mama. Paulo. Don’t be afraid. I had to see you, but besides that, I have a message for Papa.’

‘What? Oh, darling. Where are you, I can’t see you,’ Ella cried.

Light flooded the room as Arnie sat bolt upright and pulled the cord above their bed.

Paulo stood in the doorway, a finger on his lips. ‘Shush, don’t wake Lonia. She will be afraid.’

‘Go downstairs, Paulo – we’ll be there in a moment.’

Paulo nodded and crept out of the bedroom, at this from Arnie.

‘Oh, Arnie, what do you think the message is? And how did Paulo get a message for you, and from whom?’

‘All our questions will be answered, darling. Get your dressing gown on. Come on, old thing, Paulo can’t hang around – it’s too dangerous for him. We don’t know if the house is being watched.’

Paulo was anxiously pacing the kitchen when they got downstairs. This room had always been the hub of the family. Ella had painted the roughly plastered walls, between the huge oak beams that criss-crossed them, a pale yellow. Onions and garlic hung in bunches above the grand brick fireplace and iron stove, where the beams met. Next to them, copper pans of all sizes gleamed in the light of the oil lamp, which Paulo must have lit. There was no danger in doing so, as the heavy wooden shutters on the windows of the chateau blacked out any light from being seen outside.