For the first time Betsy looked back at Mags. She was in Dr Lange’s arms, her face was deathly pale and although she wasn’t crying, her body was heaving in much the same way as if she was sobbing. Betsy turned back to the men. ‘Just get on your way, lads. No one’s blaming you. We’re just protecting one of our own.’

‘Ta, Missus, and I’m sorry for the upheaval we caused. We didn’t knaw as there were a funeral party going on, till we pulled up. Was it someone local? Seems whoever it were, they were popular.’

‘Aye, it were someone local. And he were someone much loved.’

‘I can see that. Well, we’ll get off.’

Dr Lange called over, ‘Please report that, as arranged, Mrs Roford will attend the hospital tomorrow.’

‘I will, sir, and I’m very sorry.’

Betsy took hold of Mags’s other arm. ‘Eeh, Mags. It’s all right now, lass.’

She recovered well. ‘I know. And it’s all going to be fine in the future. They scared me, that’s all. I’m all right now.’

Betsy wondered if Mags would ever be all right again, or if she herself would. They’d been through a lot since Mags had taken up with Roford.

‘Betsy, I’ve had my housekeeper prepare a meal for all of us – you and Ciss, too. Do you feel up to coming? Please don’t feel obliged to.’

‘I can’t, Doctor, as I’ve to pick me young ’uns up. A neighbour took care of them for me.’

Mrs Church piped up, ‘I’ll get the girls, Betsy. You go along, it will do you good.’

‘No, better that you bring the children with you, Betsy,’ Dr Lange said. ‘They should be with you now, and they must be wondering what is happening. I asked Phyllis to make something for them to eat. She has a daily helper, so she will easily manage everything.’

For a moment a picture of the dour housekeeper came into Betsy’s mind and she could almost feel the displeasure this request from the doctor would have caused Phyllis. ‘Ta, Doctor, I’d like to be in company. And I need to hear all your news an’ all, Mags. I don’t like the sound of you going back to that place.’

By the time they had eaten a delicious lamb stew with thick slices of bread, and the fluffiest potatoes Betsy had ever tasted, she understood why the doctor put up with Phyllis. And Phyllis herself showed a different side to her, as she was kindness itself to Betsy.

‘Well, now. Shall we go into the withdrawing room?’

‘I’ll take the young ’uns home now, Betsy, and then you can talk to Mags.’

Betsy thanked Ciss and, once in the hall, the two sisters hugged one another. Betsy’s dry throat cracked, but she held on to her tears. Everything felt surreal to her, as if her body was going through the motions, but she wasn’t really part of it. A hand took hers, and she smiled at Mags.