‘Oh, Mags. Mags, help me.’

Mags smiled through her tears. ‘I will, my dear friend, I will.’

They stood there, the three of them holding hands, listening to the band playing ‘Amazing Grace’ and seeing the sun glistening on the band’s instruments, and cried together.

When the music died, Mags began to say the twenty-third Psalm. ‘The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want . . .’ The band joined in very gently, playing the tune as Mags spoke the words. It was the saddest and yet the most beautiful moment to seep into Betsy. And she held strong as she listened to the comforting words.

When it was done, the congregation clapped, then someone started to say the Lord’s Prayer, and everyone joined in. Whether the church prayed for her Bill or not didn’t matter. His people prayed for him, and that’s all she needed. Bending, she picked up a handful of earth and sprinkled it onto the coffin. ‘Rest in peace, my darling Bill.’

Others followed suit, and the next ten minutes were taken up with the folk she’d grown up with filing past her Bill’s coffin, all helping him on his last journey.

As the crowd thinned, she saw him. Harold Roford had dared to attend. He stood twenty yards away, his hands clasped in front of him, his expression one of regret. And yet she wondered if he was capable of feeling such an emotion. Her instinct was to run up to him and spit in his face. Ciss clasped tightly the hand she held. ‘Naw, our Betsy. Today’s for our Bill.’

At this, Mags looked up and in the direction of Harold. Her body straightened, and a look of defiance swept across her face as she stared at him. He dropped his head, turned and walked away.

Mags looked at Betsy and Ciss. ‘Together we women can, and will, beat the Rofords of this world.’ They walked away then, both of them supporting Betsy.

‘How did you get here, Mags?’

‘I caught the train, Ciss, but I suppose you meant how did I know? David – Dr Lange – telephoned me. I – I’m going back to Brockhall.’

‘Naw, Mags, you can’t. Why would you, lass?’

‘I have to, Betsy. But it’s only for one day. I’m sleeping at David’s house, not in that horrible place. I am going to be assessed and then certified as being of sound mind. David will stay with me and protect me. But I will explain all later. Oh, there’s David now.’

He stood on the edge of the crowd, but came forward as he saw Mags wave. ‘Well, done, Betsy. You did Bill proud. I won’t ask you how you are, as I can imagine. I have been through it and there is no pain like it, and nothing that can be said to alleviate even a small part of that pain. But it must have given you comfort to see the turnout, and to feel the love extended to Bill and you. It’s a wickedness the way the Church looks on these things, as I know God will open his arms to those so troubled they could no longer stay with us.’