Holly’s grandfather left the room shortly after and Emma shook her head. What Holly had told her was just beginning to sink in now.

‘I was such a fool to be taken in by him,’ she muttered with a shake of her head. ‘But I don’t regret it. If I had never met him I wouldn’t have had you and you’re the most precious thing in my life.’

Holly smiled. ‘Every cloud has a silver lining, that’s what you always used to tell me when I was a little girl.’ But she wondered now if the saying was true. All she could see on her horizon at the moment were dark storm clouds. She left to take her bag to her room, leaving her mother to think of the implications of what she had told her.

Emma had known for some time that she had feelings for Walter and she suspected that they were reciprocated but being the gentleman he was he had never spoken of it. Would he now, when she told him her news? she wondered. She would have to wait and see but she hoped he would.

It was later that evening when Holly addressed the second reason she had come home.

‘I was wondering if I might come back here to live?’ she said as they all sat together in the drawing room. It was a beautiful summer evening and the lace curtains were dancing gently in the soft breeze that came through the open windows. ‘I thought I could carry on my nursing training at the cottage hospital. I’ve almost finished it now.’

‘But of course you can,’ Emma assured her quickly. ‘But why this sudden turnabout? I thought you were really happy living in London.’

‘I was but it isn’t the same without Ivy.’ Holly thought this sounded as good an excuse as any. She could never tell her mother the real reason; that she had fallen in love with her own brother. His ring was suspended on the chain holding the locket he had bought her about her neck. She would never wear it on her finger now but she could wear it close to her heart for always.

‘Then you must come home just as soon as you like,’ Emma responded and with a nod Holly stared into the empty grate.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

‘Ah, Nurse Farthing,’ Matron raised her eyebrow when she saw that Holly was not in uniform when she entered her office a few days later. ‘Is there a problem?’

‘I’m afraid there is, Matron.’ Holly avoided the woman’s eyes. ‘Unfortunately I find that I must leave the hospital immediately.’ She’d expected Matron’s wrath but instead the woman looked disappointed.

‘Surely not? You are highly valued, nurse, and should you leave you will be missed. Is it a problem that I could help you with?’

Holly shook her head. ‘Regretfully not, Matron. I shall be returning home to the Midlands within the week.’

‘I see, a family matter then.’

Holly didn’t answer. It was far better for her to think that than know the truth.