‘I know you’re right.’ Ivy sniffed. ‘But I loved ’im so much and I was so happy in London that I can’t believe I won’t see ’im no more. I loved being a part of the suffragette movement an’ all. But I suppose once I’ve ’ad this baby and I get it adopted I can always go back and start over again.’

‘You could if that’s what you really want,’ Holly agreed. ‘But let’s just wait and see, eh? Meantime at least I know you’re safe here. I think Mother and Cook will quite like having you to fuss over. In fact, you’ll be in danger of being spoiled.’

Ivy shook her head. ‘It’s only till these ribs an’ me arm are healed. I can’t stand sittin’ about all day wi’ nothin’ to do.’

Holly grinned before retiring to her own room. Exhausted from the day, she quickly slipped into sleep and dreamed of her and Richard wandering hand in hand across a lush green field dotted with wild flowers, with the sun shining down on them. He looked at her and smiled tenderly, squeezing her hand. Holly smiled back, and he bent to press a soft kiss on her lips. The dream felt so real that when she woke, she felt almost tearful when she realised she was alone.

The next day Holly said her goodbyes to her mother and grandfather before they set off for lunch with the Dolbys.

‘I wish you didn’t have to go back so soon, darling,’ Emma said tearfully as she gripped her daughter’s hands tightly in her own. ‘It feels as if you only just got here and now you’re leaving again.’

‘I know, but I’ll be back just as soon as I can,’ Holly promised as they hugged each other fiercely. The goodbyes never seemed to get any easier.

It was her grandfather’s turn to say goodbye then and she saw that he was struggling to know what to say.

‘Goodbye, m’dear,’ he muttered eventually. He paused; there was so much that he wanted to say but he found that the words wouldn’t come so instead he simply cleared his throat and said, ‘It, er … it’s been good to have you home. And don’t get worrying about Ivy. We’ll take good care of her.’

She merely nodded. She was too full of emotion to speak but she did stand on tiptoe and give him a quick peck on the cheek, which made him blush furiously before he ushered her mother away. Holly then settled down to spend what time was left with Ivy before she had to catch the train back to London.

Ivy was in a tearful mood. ‘Do you really have to go back today?’ she asked.

‘I’m afraid so otherwise Matron will have my guts for garters,’ Holly told her with a smile. ‘And seeing as there’s only one train running today I shall have to be at the station early. I don’t want to miss it. But you’ll be fine, Ivy, and I’ll come to see you again just as soon as I can get a little time off. I might even just come for the day one Sunday.’