Her mother had come to stand in the doorway now after hearing the commotion and she was as pale as a piece of lint as she nervously chewed on her fist.

‘And is that your final word on the matter?’

Holly nodded. ‘Yes, Grandfather, I’m rather afraid it is. I won’t be sold off like some beast in the market.’

‘Then you give me no alternative. First thing tomorrow I want you out of my house!’

‘Father, no!’ Emma ran forward and placed her hand on his arm as tears coursed down her cheeks, but he roughly shook her off, his eyes still fixed on Holly.

‘It’s all right, Mother. I’m quite old enough to look after myself now,’ Holly told her calmly, and without another word she walked from the room with her head held high, just in time to see Ivy and Cook peeping round the kitchen door. She had no doubt they had heard every word that had been said but she had no intention of backing down now. If her grandfather wished her to leave then she would. In fact, she decided, she would start packing immediately.

Meanwhile Gilbert Mason stormed into his study and banged the door shut behind him. Only then did he sag onto the nearest chair and bury his face in his hands. What have I done? he asked himself as he stared into the fire. Everything had got out of hand but his pride was such that he felt unable to go back on what he’d said. And now his only granddaughter would be leaving, possibly never to return. ‘May God forgive me,’ he muttered to the empty room as tears spilled down his cheeks.

Up in her room, Holly dragged a suitcase from the top of her wardrobe and lay it open on the bed. Suddenly what was about to happen hit her like a blow and the tears came. Where was she to go? She hardly knew anyone beyond these four walls. It was all very well putting a brave face on things to everyone, but inside she was terrified about what might lie ahead. Minutes later her mother joined her and taking her hand she shook it up and down.

‘Please go and apologise,’ she implored. ‘I can’t bear to see you leave like this.’

‘Then come with me.’

Emma’s blue eyes were swimming with tears but as Holly looked at her she knew what the answer would be.

‘You know I can’t.’ Emma was sobbing now.

‘But why can’t you? There is clearly something that holds you here so why don’t you tell me what it is?’

Emma stared back at her for a moment and then her shoulders sagged and she dropped heavily onto the side of the bed.

‘It … it’s because I didn’t always have just you to worry about,’ she confessed in a small voice. ‘You see … you once had a sister … a twin sister.’

Chapter Two

Holly was so shocked that her mouth gaped open.