‘Don’t worry about the tour. All I want is to be with you all. And I feel as though we have been travelling for days. Let’s go and eat, and just talk and well . . . be together.’

They all agreed to this.

It was as if Marjie had known the girls all her life, the way she chatted easily with them. They sat in the Old King’s Head pub on Euston Road, listening to the excited chatter from Daisy and Florrie about their forthcoming trip to Singapore and how they were being assigned to work in the Alexandra Military Hospital and would be caring for all military personnel and their wives and families. ‘And Malaya isn’t far. That’s where our Billy is. Maybe we’ll be able to see him an’ all.’

‘That’d be grand, Daisy. If you do, give him me love, and tell him to write an’ all – to me and to Ma. Tell him how much we worry about him; and, aye, how much we love him.’

‘Aye, Rosie, we will. Well, Florrie will, no doubt. She and Billy have allus got on well, as you knaw, so it’d come better from her. Me and him are like a red rag to a bull. Mind, I am worried about him, and I do love him.’

‘He knaws that. But, you knaw, it’s strange how you two and Billy have all been sent there. There’s nowt much going on to do with the war out there, is there, Daisy?’

‘Aye, we thought that, but nowt’s done that’s not warranted these days, so maybe there’s sommat afoot. Anyroad they told us, didn’t they, Florrie, that Singapore is an important port of call for troops and merchant seamen an’ all, and that keeping them healthy is vital work. And even if there is or isn’t much action, we’re going to enjoy it. It sounds such an exotic island.’

‘Aye, it does; and I suppose, being British, it has to be protected, and there’ll be ships coming into its ports with troops on. I reckon as you’ll be kept busy, whether it’s with war casualties or not.’

‘I think you’re right, Rosie.’ As Sibbie said this, she felt that now was the time to change the subject. ‘We have news, too.’

‘Eeh, you kept that quiet. Don’t say as you’re being posted? I thought you were safely tucked away in Lincolnshire for the duration.’

‘So did we, Rosie, but we didn’t want to be, so we both applied for transfers. It’s all right working in the observation field, but not challenging, and we didn’t think it used all of our skills to best advantage.’

‘Oh? I hope you’re not going to be doing owt that’s dangerous?’