When Holly entered the lounge some minutes later, looking very smart in her blue uniform and crisp white apron with a large red cross emblazoned upon it, she found her mother toasting bread on the fire. Looking at her, Emma couldn’t help but feel proud of her daughter.

‘Come on,’ Emma said sternly. ‘You’re not leaving here until you’ve got at least one slice of toast inside you.’

Knowing it would be useless to argue Holly quickly took the slice she was offered and after kissing her mother shot away nibbling at it. ‘I’ll be back just after six,’ she shouted over her shoulder before racing downstairs and slamming the door shut behind her.

The first thing Holly did when she got to the hospital was to gain the ward sister’s permission to visit Ivy. She was granted five minutes only.

Ivy was sitting up in bed with her arm strapped in a sling looking as if she had been in a war. There was barely an inch of her face that wasn’t covered in bruises and her lips looked swollen and sore. Even so she attempted a smile as Holly approached the bed and instantly became tearful.

‘How are you feeling?’ Holly immediately felt foolish for even asking such a question. It was obvious how bad Ivy must feel just by looking at her. She placed the bag she had packed with one of her own nightdresses, a hairbrush and any toiletries that Ivy might need for her stay on the bed.

‘Like I’ve done twenty rounds in a boxing ring with someone twice as big as me,’ Ivy answered sheepishly. ‘I’m so sorry, Holly.’

‘Don’t be silly, this wasn’t your fault,’ Holly answered as she gently stroked Ivy’s uninjured hand. ‘At least the baby is all right and when you’re well enough you’ll come home to stay with me for a few days.’

‘We’ll see,’ Ivy answered evasively and Holly’s heart sank. Surely she couldn’t be thinking of going back to Jeremy after this?

Her worst fears were confirmed then when Ivy told her, ‘I’ve no doubt Jeremy will come lookin’ for me today when he’s sobered up.’

Holly shook her head. ‘But surely you won’t forgive him this time? He could have killed you and the baby. I hate to say this because I know you love him, but he’s no good. You must see that now.’

Ivy shrugged, making her wince with pain. ‘He’s not violent all the time,’ she defended him. ‘An’ he can be very lovin’. I bet he’s feelin’ awful today.’

Holly was tempted more than ever to tell her friend what she knew about him but she clamped her mouth shut. Now was not the time. When Ivy had had a few days rest and time to think about it she might see sense, and then she could broach the subject.

She saw the ward sister striding towards the bed then and bent to give Ivy a gentle peck on the cheek. ‘It looks like I’m going to be evicted,’ she whispered. ‘But I’ll try to pop back in my break.’ She hurried away with a heavy heart. It appeared that even now Ivy could see no wrong in Jeremy.