‘Do I have a choice?’ Patty reached out an icy hand and gripped May’s. ‘’Course I’ll wait. You’re a good pal, May. But don’t get yourself into trouble on my account.’

‘Don’t worry,’ May said. But even as the words left her mouth she knew that she had embarked on a course of action that could lead to serious problems. She pushed the thought away. All that mattered now was to see Patty fed and warmed. ‘I’ll be back soon. You will wait, won’t you?’

‘I’ve said I will, haven’t I?’

May hurried into the house. Nan was just unwrapping two steak pies and putting them on plates.

‘Ah, there you are. You’re late tonight. I was afraid the food would get cold.’

‘I … I met an old friend. Sorry if you’ve been waiting.’

‘No, no. I’ve only been in a few minutes. Here, sit down.’

She put a plate in front of May. Savoury steam rose to her nostrils and saliva welled up in her mouth. With an effort she put the plate aside.

‘I’m not very hungry, Nan. Do you mind if I eat it later?’

Nan peered at her. ‘You sickening for something?’

‘No, I don’t think so. I had a big meal at dinnertime. I’ll have my pie later, if that’s all right with you.’

‘You do as you please,’ Nan said. ‘I’m not going to let mine spoil.’

‘I’ll put mine in the oven,’ May said.

For what seemed a very long time she had to sit and watch Nan eating her pie, hoping the older woman would not hear her stomach rumbling. Eventually, Nan wiped up the last of the gravy on her plate with a piece of bread, stretched and got to her feet.

‘Time for my little constitutional.’

As soon as she was sure Nan was well away, May ran down to the shed, where she found Patty shivering convulsively. She took her by the arm and led her into the kitchen, where she sank into a chair.

‘Oh, it’s warm! You don’t know what it’s like to be cold all the time. I thought I had it rough at the big house, but I know now I was in clover compared to what I’ve got now.’

May set the pie in front of her. ‘Here you are. Get that down you.’

Patty looked up at her. ‘Is this your supper?’

‘No, no,’ May lied. ‘I’ve had mine. Nan always buys extra.’

Patty did not ask any further and neither of them spoke until the plate was empty. Then May could not resist asking the question that was nagging at the back of her mind. ‘Patty, did you …? Have you …?’

‘Done it, with a man? ’Course I have. It was that or starve. What choice did I have?’

‘Where have you been living?’