They wrote to each other every day, long newsy letters as the feelings between them grew fiercer and more passionate. They walked up into the heather hills or along the shoreline for hours, putting the sad world to rights, discussing pictures and artists, sharing confidences, getting to know each other. It was getting harder to stay in control of their passionate lovemaking under the shelter of some granite crags, overlooking the bay, wrapped in his army coat and a ground sheet.

The fortunes of war were changing in favour of the Allies and the KOSBs were training intensely for the final assault on Europe. Soon the marsh orchids were springing up by the shore as rumours of a Second Front strengthened. Rae knew he would be going south soon. Time was running out for the lovers and he was desperate for a solution.

‘Marry me, Jeanette? I know it’s crazy but just let’s go and do it before I’m sent abroad. I can’t hold back any longer and I don’t want to shame you. I want to give you all of me before I go, just in case…’

Netta put her fingers on his mouth to stop his words.

‘Don’t you even think the worst. How can I let you go without being a part of you? Of course I’ll marry you but there’s not enough time… How could we do it?’

‘Let’s go to Gretna Green, to the anvil priest – flying away like Lochinvar in this old jalopy. Why not elope by moonlight? Then no one can spoil our time together. I’ll find out what we have to do if you’ll promise that when I send the signal, you’ll get yourself to Dumfries to meet me. Will you do it? Will you marry me? And then when the war’s over we’ll really set the heather ablaze! But, if you prefer, I’ll run the gauntlet and ask your father.’

‘Don’t waste your breath, I know just what he’ll be saying,’ she mimicked. ‘“Yer too young to marry, there’s a war on, wait until it’s all settled. Buy her a ring if you must but no weddings yet. Don’t be hasty!” Who wants to hear that, Rae, when we’ve only got weeks left? You do the fixing and I’ll make my preparations.’

‘Don’t go to any trouble. Save your coupons.’

‘If you think I’m going to my wedding in a threadbare Sunday suit, then you’ve a lot to learn about Nettie Thimble!’

How could she refuse such a romantic proposal? This was her decision and after all she was eighteen – old enough to know that loving a man like Rae would only happen once in her life. Desperate times needed desperate measures. They must take this chance of happiness before it was washed away like footprints in the sand.

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