‘All right, darling, I can’t wait to see you. Have a safe journey.’

She then rang the hospital to tell them that she wouldn’t be coming in as she was sick, and half an hour later with a small bag she had packed with a few necessities, Holly was on her way. Once on the train she huddled in a corner of the carriage and stared fixedly from the window hoping no one would try to include her in a conversation. She didn’t feel like talking; didn’t feel like doing anything if it came to that, all she wanted was to be home.

Her mother was hovering in the hallway waiting for her when she got there and Ivy was close behind her with Alice wrapped in a pretty white shawl in her arms.

She allowed them to greet her then commented, ‘Alice has grown, Ivy.’

‘I know.’ Ivy stared down at her little daughter. ‘She seems to get bigger every day and she’s such a little angel.’

Cook came bustling out of the kitchen then, all smiles. ‘Here you are, an’ just in time. I’ve made yer one o’ yer favourite dinners.’

Holly didn’t feel a bit like eating but she managed to raise a smile and told her, ‘Thank you, I’m sure it will be lovely.’

‘So now what was it you wanted to talk to me about?’ Her mother helped her off with her coat. ‘It must be something important for you to miss work and come all this way.’

‘It is and I hope you’ll think it’s good news.’

‘Ooh, is it something about that lovely doctor you’re bringing home to meet us?’ Emma asked excitedly.

Once again, Holly felt as if she had been kicked in the stomach. ‘No,’ she said flatly. ‘He won’t be coming now.’

‘But why ever not?’

‘I’ll tell you about that later but first there’s something else you need to know.’

Emma’s hand flew to her mouth. ‘You’re not having a baby, are you?’

‘Of course I’m not,’ Holly snapped with an apologetic glance at Ivy. Ivy took the hint and disappeared as Emma led Holly into the drawing room. Her grandfather was there and actually looked pleased to see her.

‘Why, this is a surprise.’

‘Yes, I, er … have something I need to speak to Mother about.’

He put aside his newspaper and made to rise but Holly laid her hand on his arm and told him, ‘No, please stay, Grandfather. This is something you need to hear too.’

Equally as intrigued as her mother he dropped back into the chair. Her mother sat beside him and Holly stood in front of the fireplace wondering where she should begin.

‘As you both know, I wasn’t aware that my father was alive until shortly before I left for London,’ she began in a shaky voice. ‘Mother told me that she knew he was from Whitechapel originally so I got one of the women who worked for Miss May to put the word around to see if I could find him.’