‘Yes … thank you, and thank you for your time. You’ve been most helpful but I really must go now.’ And as the poor woman looked on with concern, Holly staggered towards the door and lifting her skirt she ran as fast as her shaking legs would allow her to. She had no idea if she was even running in the right direction. She just knew that she had to get away. But no matter how fast she ran the awful truth followed. Richard is my brother, Richard is my brother. The words played over and over in her head like a mantra as tears streamed down her cheeks, but still she kept running and she didn’t stop until a painful stitch in her side forced her to lean breathlessly against a dirty warehouse wall. She was on the docks and as she stared down into the flotsam on the sluggishly flowing water she had the urge to throw herself in and sink beneath it. At least then she would escape this awful pain in her heart.

Eventually she dragged herself away from the wall and made her way home on legs that felt as if they had turned to lead. Only hours ago her future had looked rosy. Now she had discovered that not only was she illegitimate, but that she was about to become engaged to her own brother. The wonderful life she had planned with Richard had gone in the blink of an eye. How was she to tell him? And how could she live without him?

Chapter Twenty-Six

As Holly turned the corner into Cavendish Street she groaned when she saw Richard standing outside the door of the flat, looking anxiously up at the window. She had forgotten that he was coming around this evening. But then she supposed it wasn’t a bad thing. He would have to know sooner or later that they couldn’t marry so she may as well get it over with. But what she wouldn’t do was let him know about their relationship to each other. That would feel like a betrayal to his mother and Holly felt that the poor woman had gone through enough.

‘Ah, here you are.’ He smiled and hurried to greet her, but she ignored his outstretched arms and inserted the key in the lock.

‘You’d better come up,’ she said dully. ‘I need to speak to you.’

He looked at her reddened eyes and frowned but followed without making a comment. It was obvious that something had upset her deeply.

When she reached the top of the stairs she marched straight into the little sitting room and turned to face him. He looked so handsome standing there that she almost faltered but then with a supreme effort she hardened her heart.

‘I’m afraid I have something to tell you.’ She paused to lick her dry lips but went doggedly on. ‘I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and I’ve decided …’ Her resolve wavered for a second. ‘I’ve decided that things are happening too fast.’