Ivy promptly burst into tears again. ‘Oh dear,’ she blubbed, mopping at her streaming eyes with the hankie Holly pressed into her hand. ‘I seem to spend half me life cryin’ at the moment.’

‘Well just remember, you’re not alone,’ Holly assured her, which only made Ivy cry all the harder as she thought how lucky she was to have such a special friend.

Holly and her mother left for church soon after, with Holly feeling very festive and smart in her new red coat. The Christmas service was beautiful and as Holly listened to the choir boys singing carols in their snow-white surplices, their pure young voices echoing from the rafters and the light from the myriad candles that had been set all about the church reflecting in the stained-glass windows, she felt happy and at peace, although at one point she did find her mind wandering as she thought of a certain young doctor and wondered what he was doing.

When they returned the sound of laughter and merriment wafted into the hall from the drawing room.

‘Ah, it sounds like Walter and the children are here,’ Emma said as she hung her coat on the hall stand. ‘Although when I say children, Marcus, the oldest, is twenty. Then there’s Florence, who’s fourteen and Katie who’s nine. I’m sure you’ll like them.’

She took Holly to be introduced and just as she’d said, Holly did like them straight away. Marcus was quite tall like his father with fair hair and soft, twinkly grey eyes. Holly learned that he enjoyed working in the hatting industry with his father. It was hoped that one day when his father retired the business would pass to him but for now Marcus was keen to learn every aspect of the trade, which Holly thought was admirable. Unlike her brother, Florence was small and dainty with brown eyes the colour of warm treacle and a pretty smile. Then there was Katie, the baby of the family, who threw herself at Emma and hugged her soundly the second she entered the room. She was like a smaller version of Florence but slightly plumper and when she smiled Holly noticed her whole face lit up as bright as the candles on the Christmas tree.

‘Look what Santa brought for me, Auntie Em.’ Her face was animated as she pushed her new treasure towards Emma, who duly admired her new dolly.

‘Why, she’s beautiful,’ Emma said. ‘But now come and meet my baby. This is Holly, she’s been staying in London nursing as I told you but she’s home for Christmas.’

Katie clutched her doll as she stared solemnly at Holly for a moment then the smile was back as she declared, ‘I think Holly is a really pretty name. That’s what I’m going to call my new baby.’

‘Thank you. I shall take that as a compliment,’ Holly declared as she too admired Katie’s new addition.

The rest of the morning passed in a blur of enjoyment. Much to her surprise even her grandfather was relaxed and happy, which was taking quite some getting used to. She was still quite wary of him, half expecting him to revert at any moment to being the stern man she remembered but he remained amiable and in high spirits. Holly wished that Ivy would have joined them but she still insisted on staying in the kitchen with Cook. Holly noticed how at ease Walter Dolby and her mother seemed in each other’s company and it made her sad to think that they could never be more than friends. I’ll speak to Dora again when I get back to London, and see if she’s had any luck yet in tracing my father, she decided before giving herself up to enjoying herself.