Hating herself for the outright lie she was about to say, Roz shook her head. ‘No, that’s not it at all, I’d love to go out for a meal.’

Bernie beamed. ‘I shall call for you at seven. We can take a stroll across the fields, it’s not far that way.’

Roz looked up. ‘And Suzie?’

He waved a hand. ‘If you untack Goliath I’ll take Suzie round the farm, get her acquainted with everything, but I won’t teach her owt until tomorrow morning when I show her how to feed the stock.’

Roz nodded miserably. Somehow she had ended up practically telling Bernie that she and Felix were over, or at least she hadn’t said anything to correct him. Feeling thoroughly ashamed of herself, she began to untack Goliath. To her surprise, Bernie pecked her on the cheek before heading to the barn to fetch Suzie. When she had finished untacking the horse she walked back to Rose Cottage where she unburdened herself to the girls.

Joyce placed her head in her hands. ‘I’m so sorry, Roz, I didn’t realise he’d blow it out of proportion. I don’t blame you if you want to tell him the truth.’

Roz ran her hand around the back of her neck, which was tense. ‘It’s not going to be for long, but after he’s taught her, I’m telling him I’ve had a change of heart.’ She shook her head. ‘I’m going for a lie-down, I’ve a thumping headache.’

Lying on her bed, she wondered what Felix would say if he knew what she’d done. Would he understand, or would he say that Roz had acted inappropriately and have nothing more to do with her? She wouldn’t blame him if he did. Closing her eyes, she tried to get some rest. She would have to hope that Suzie was a fast learner, and that Felix never found out the truth.

October 1941

Having read Roz’s letter aloud, Mabel turned to Gethin, who was listening with great interest. ‘You Scousers don’t half live entertaining lives!’

‘Hmmm,’ said Mabel, lost in her own thoughts she stared at the letter in her hands.

‘What?’

‘There’s something Roz isn’t telling me,’ she said, rubbing her chin betwixt forefinger and thumb.

‘Really? You actually think there’s more?’ said Gethin, who was finding it hard to believe that Roz could be omitting something even worse than what she had already written.

Mabel placed the paper down on the table and stared at Gethin. ‘I do, only not to do with Suzie per se, more Roz herself. There’s something she’s holding back on, although I don’t know what, but if I’m right, it must be bad for her to feel she can’t tell me.’

Heulwyn, who was making vegetable soup, gave the spoonful she was about to test a gentle blow before gingerly tasting her cooking. Nodding with approval, she replaced the lid and wiped her hands on the tea towel which was tucked into the belt of her apron. ‘I didn’t hear her mention Felix, but I thought she’d been to see him?’