Holly was surprised to find that there was a gift for her from her grandfather, considering he’d already given her some money, and when she opened it she gasped with delight. It was a solid silver fob watch to clip on to the apron of her nurse’s uniform.

‘Oh, Grandfather, it’s beautiful, and how thoughtful of you,’ she told him, her eyes sparkling. ‘I shall be the envy of every nurse on the ward.’ Her grandfather really did seem to have changed, and she felt bad because it made the handkerchiefs and socks she had bought for him look very unimaginative but he seemed pleased enough with them. From her mother she had a lovely new coat in a rich red colour and again she was thrilled with it.

‘This will certainly keep the cold out, I shall wear it this morning,’ she said, smiling as she stroked the silky fur collar.

Her mother was also pleased with the pure silk scarf in autumn colours and the soft kid gloves that Emma had bought for her so Holly was in a happy mood as she skipped along to the kitchen shortly after to give Ivy and Cook their gifts before going to church with her mother.

However, she soon discovered that the mood wasn’t so light in the kitchen. Ivy was huddled in the fireside chair staring moodily into the flames roaring up the chimney and as Cook caught Holly’s eye she raised an eyebrow.

‘She’s proper down in the dumps,’ Cook told her as she ladled her special sage and onion stuffing into a baking tin. ‘Ain’t hardly had one word out of her all mornin’, I ain’t.’

Ivy looked up and gave her a weak smile but her eyes were dull.

‘Who would have thought I’d end up back here wi’ a baby on the way an’ no ring on me finger, eh?’ she said glumly. ‘An’ I had all them high hopes of makin’ somethin’ of meself an’ all. I can forget that now, can’t I? Who will ever want me wi’ an illegitimate baby? The more I think about it the more I think it’d be better all round if I just let it go for adoption.’

‘And didn’t we agree that we’d wait till the baby was here before you made that decision?’ Holly scolded.

Ivy lowered her eyes guiltily and nodded.

‘Then let’s have no more of that sort of talk. Now here, open your Christmas present and try to cheer up.’

Holly had to help her in the end as one arm was still strapped in a sling and when Ivy saw the thick woollen scarf and matching gloves she did manage a smile.

‘What wi’ everythin’ that’s gone on I ain’t had time to get you anythin’,’ she said with a frown but Holly merely laughed.

‘The best present I could have had was having you back with me for Christmas Day, and I’ve got that,’ she told her, giving her hand an affectionate squeeze.