Georgia sat beside Keith in the Second Class compartment of the train. Although she felt quite grown up at almost twelve years old, she had seized the opportunity to sit beside the window on the long journey from Waverley station to King’s Cross, and had watched the countryside change from Arthur’s Seat and the coast, to the open fields of the Ouse plain, to the industry of Darlington and the steel country before rushing on to fertile fields in Cambridgeshire. And now they were almost at their destination. If she could have done the entire journey without blinking once, she would have.

The engine pulled into the station’s long platform with a blast of its steam whistle, welcoming them to the capital. Keith gathered their bags from the racks above the bench seats and opened the sliding door onto the corridor that ran the length of the carriage.

This is a different country, thought Georgia as she jumped down onto the platform. It’s like being abroad. She bent down to tie her shoelace and her blonde plaits fell forward, almost touching the ground. ‘Are we nearly there?’ She had been saying this ever since they had passed through York, trying not to let her increasing excitement show.

‘Not far now,’ replied Annie. She took Georgia’s hand despite her almost grown-up status and neatly shifted the responsibility for her safety onto the child. ‘Just hold onto me in case I get lost.’

Keith stepped off the train last, carrying the two canvas haversacks in one hand before slinging one of them over his shoulders. ‘Annie, you’ll need to let go of her while you put this on.’

Georgia sighed. She had her own small bag with two dresses and clean socks and underwear and a book and a raincoat just in case. What else could anyone possibly need on a four-day trip to London?

They threaded their way through the crowds of hurrying passengers, ignoring disappointed porters looking for bags to carry, and headed out past the ticket collectors and into the street.

‘Where are we staying?’ Georgia squinted in the sudden brightness.

‘We have lodgings in a guest house near the Old Street tube station,’ replied Keith. ‘It’s about two miles away and quite easy to find.’ He glanced across at Annie. ‘We could walk there or we could take the Northern line on the Underground.’

‘I think we should take the Underground,’ said Annie firmly, over the head of Georgia who had bent down to tie her other shoelace. ‘I’m tired after such a long journey and I need to freshen up.’

‘I’m not tired at all,’ proclaimed Georgia, ‘so I don’t mind what we do.’

Keith smiled at the young girl he thought of as his own granddaughter and turned back into the station. ‘Very well. But the Northern line is the deepest line, so the escalators are very long and it may be rather warm.’