‘And is there no chance of you at least working a month’s notice?’

‘I’m afraid not. I’m so sorry,’ Holly muttered.

‘Then in that case I shall ensure that any wages owing are sent on to you and wish you luck for the future.’ Matron rose from her desk and shook Holly’s hand warmly. There was nothing left to say and Holly miserably left the hospital for the last time.

Now all that remained was to tell Miss May of her plans and she wasn’t looking forward to that either.

‘Oh no, surely not?’ She too was dismayed when Holly explained that she would be leaving within the week. ‘But you’ve made that little flat up there into a home,’ she said. ‘And what about all the furniture you’ve bought?’

‘Whoever takes the flat is welcome to it,’ Holly said. ‘I’m going home so I shan’t be needing it. But thank you for all you’ve done for me, Miss May. You gave me a job and Ivy and me a place to live and I’m very grateful for that.’

Miss May sniffed. She had never been blessed with a daughter but had she been she would have hoped for one just like Holly.

‘Is there a man involved?’ she asked then, and when Holly lowered her eyes, she sighed. ‘I thought as much. Damn men, we can’t live with them and we can’t live without them. But do at least say that you’ll come and see me from time to time if you visit London?’

‘Of course I shall,’ Holly promised and now the tears she had held back all morning trickled down her cheeks.

Miss May had her arms about her in a trice and her own cheeks were wet as she soothed, ‘There, there now. Nothing can be that bad. Things will come right, you’ll see.’

Holly doubted that very much. How could they in the circumstances? But she didn’t say as much.

‘I suppose I’d better go and start packing my clothes up then,’ she said when she’d managed to pull herself together. ‘But I promise I’ll come and say goodbye before I leave.’

‘You just make sure you do, my girl.’ Miss May wagged a plump finger at her. ‘Now be off with you before you set me off again. I have Lady Hamilton coming for a fitting in a minute and I don’t want to be a blubbering wreck when she arrives.’

As a thought occurred to Holly she asked, ‘Does she still have that young man in tow when she comes?’

Miss May grinned. ‘Well, she has a young man in tow but I think she cleared the last one off. None of them last for long.’

Good, Holly thought as she made her way upstairs. Hopefully Jeremy or Jimmy was out on his ear now and it served him right after what he’d done to Ivy. Although now she came to think about it Ivy had perked up no end since Alice was born, especially when young Marcus Dolby called, which he seemed to do quite frequently. Could it be that they were developing a soft spot for each other? Holly hoped so. Marcus was a very likeable young man and she wanted Ivy to be happy, but she would just have to wait and see what developed. She smiled ruefully then. Hopefully in the not too distant future both her mother and Ivy would find happiness. And I, she thought, pushing all of the painful memories of Richard aside, will devote myself to nursing from now on.