‘Don’t be. It has given me a lovely cousin in you, and a lovely aunt in Aunt Flors, not to mention how my relationship with Aunt Mags became so close. That said, I hate to even mention his name. I do get the feeling, though, that my mother once loved Harold very much. I don’t suppose we will ever know the truth about what went on.’

‘No, nor why my mama and papa ended up in France, almost exiles, and had nothing more to do with Mama’s family.’

‘Let’s forget it all for now. Come on, it’s quite a climb to the hotel – that’s it up there. I hope they have something nice to serve us.’

The hotel manager remembered Sibbie and fussed over them, bringing them delicious baked-ham sandwiches and even a slice of fruitcake. ‘Chef has found some ingenious ways of adapting his recipes to the shortages, and I bet you can’t tell the difference, Sibbie. Tuck in and enjoy; we’re very proud of you and all our young people, for all they are doing in the war effort. Though we miss you all, and your giggles.’

Sibbie laughed. ‘I bet it’s really peaceful now without us. Thanks, Mr Duffy, this looks lovely and is very welcome.’

Mr Duffy beamed before leaving them alone. Sibbie glanced out of the window. Below her lay the whole of the bay of Portpatrick – her home. A wistful feeling entered her, one she hadn’t felt since this adventure began, but one that tugged at her heart now, as she wondered if she would ever see it again after she left to take up her new challenge in life.

Sibbie ached in places she didn’t know she had, and neither sitting nor standing helped to relieve them. Marjie had fared better, sailing through the initial rigorous training with ease. Her encouragement had been all that had got Sibbie through it.

They had arrived in Arisag House, somewhere in the Inverness area, a week after they had left Portpatrick, and after a wonderful few days of fun and laughter, which ended in floods of tears as they said their goodbyes. Now, five weeks later, after intensive training over the unwelcoming terrain of Inverness, they were packing, ready to take the next step of their training.

Already equipped with skills in unarmed combat, taught by two ex-Shanghai municipal police officers, Sibbie was amazed and a little frightened to realize that she could kill a person with techniques that wouldn’t alert anyone in the vicinity. The chilling methods went under the sinister name of ‘silent killing’ and involved using a knife or quick strangulation, and the even tougher breaking of someone’s neck.