Marion stepped in. ‘George, let me.’ He glared at the woman behind the glass, before giving her a muttered apology and stepping back.

Marion bought the ticket, then joined George on a wooden bench. ‘Next one is in a couple of hours,’ she said calmly.

‘Two hours?’ George’s ire was still bubbling. ‘I could drive you there in that time.’

‘That’s a lovely thought, but I will be fine.’

Sitting as they were, side by side, he took her hand and held it hard. ‘I can’t believe we’re at war again.’

‘I know.’ She squeezed his hand. ‘With luck this will all be over soon.’

‘I want to marry you, Marion.’

‘And I want to marry you, George. It will all be all right.’

He was silent for a time, and then he said, ‘I’m going to join up.’

Marion felt her heart clench. She had known this was coming, of course, but …‘What?’

‘The army will need men like me and there’s no way I am not going to do my bit.’

A bolt of fear shot through her and she gripped his arm. ‘Please don’t. You don’t have to. What about your work?’

‘What about your work? You won’t leave them now, will you.’ It was statement not a question.

‘I … no,’ she said, at last, ‘but …’

‘They mean more to you than I do.’ He said it quietly, not angrily, and it sent a pang through Marion.

‘Please don’t say that. You must see I can’t leave those girls now. They need me.’

‘They need you, and the war effort needs me.’ He stood up. ‘It’s your decision.’

‘Where are you going?’ she asked anxiously. ‘Please, George, don’t go.’

‘You have a lot of thinking to do, Marion. And so do I.’ He bent to kiss her. ‘Let me know that you arrived safely. Goodbye, Marion.’

‘George, please don’t leave like this!’

He said nothing more, and she watched solemnly as he walked to his car and drove away.

A car had been sent to Ballater station to pick her up.

‘Miss Crawford.’ Jackson the chauffeur was waiting for her. ‘Welcome to Ballater.’

‘It’s good to see you, Jackson. How is everyone?’

‘Shocked by it all, I’d say.’ He looked at her. ‘If you don’t mind my saying, you look shaken yourself.’

She supposed she did. Another war was a terrible thing. She had still been a young child when the first one ended, but she remembered the scars it left behind. Besides, her conversation with George had confused her. She felt weighed down by guilt, though what she was guilty of she had no idea.

‘I think the news has shaken everyone,’ she answered. ‘How are the Princesses?’

‘They can’t wait to see you. As excited as kittens when they knew you were coming.’

‘I’m excited to see them too.’ As he helped her to the car, Crawfie said, ‘We will get through this, won’t we, Jackson?’

‘No doubt about it, miss. No doubt at all.’