‘Just look at the state o’ you,’ she said to Ivy with a frown. ‘I reckon I’m goin’ to have to feed you up. You’re as thin as a rake.’

Ivy grinned, suddenly feeling as if she had never been away. Perhaps things were going to work out after all – if the master would accept her that was.

Her fears on that score were set to rest when she entered the hallway to find Holly’s grandfather standing there.

Ivy stared at him fearfully but he gave her a welcoming smile. ‘Welcome home, I’m so sorry to hear of your troubles, my dear.’

‘Th-thank you, sir.’

He turned to Holly next and without hesitation told her, ‘And welcome home to you too. It’s been far too long since we’ve seen you.’

Holly glanced at her mother uneasily then offered a faltering smile. Her grandfather paused, as if he was about to say something else, before he pottered away to his study.

‘Crikey, he really has mellowed, hasn’t he?’ she whispered to Ivy who gave a nervous giggle. ‘But come on, we can put our things away later. Let’s go and scrounge a cup of tea off Cook and see if she has any gossip to tell us.’ And so arm in arm the friends set off for the kitchen and suddenly Holly realised that she was actually feeling happy to be home.

Chapter Twenty-Two

On Christmas Eve, Emma announced that Walter Dolby and his family would be dining with them on Christmas Day. Holly was mildly surprised but her mother seemed happy about it and so she was too. Ivy was now back in her old room although it would be some time before she was fit to resume work so Holly had suggested she should dine with them, but Ivy insisted she would be far happier eating in the kitchen with Cook. Holly wasn’t too pleased with the idea; while they’d been in London they had lived side by side and it felt strange to think that Ivy was going back to being a maid again.

On Christmas morning she woke and stretched luxuriously. She had forgotten how comfortable her own bed was and she had slept like a baby. After washing and pinning her hair up she dressed in the new day gown that Dora had made for her and for the first time she wore Richard’s locket about her neck.

‘That’s pretty,’ Emma commented when Holly joined her for breakfast and was amused to see the colour rise in Holly’s cheeks as her hand rose to finger it.

‘Thank you … It was, er, a present from a friend.’

Emma had a good idea who the friend might be but she refrained from saying anything as they tucked into the treats Cook had prepared them for breakfast.

Once they’d finished Emma, Holly and her grandfather gathered in the day room beside the Christmas tree to open their presents just as they had for as long as Holly could remember.