‘Please don’t go until the morning; your grandfather might have a change of heart,’ Emma pleaded but Holly shook her head. Although she was sorely tempted, she knew that if she waited she might lose her nerve and end up staying – possibly for ever. Oh, but it was going to be so hard to walk away from her mother and the life she had known.

‘I think we both know there’s little chance of that happening, so it’s best I go now,’ she said in a wobbly voice. ‘But don’t worry, I shall go to Mrs Lockett. I’m sure she will put me up for the night, which will give me some time to think about where I’m going.’

Verity Lockett was the local vicar’s wife and much loved by everyone in the parish and Holly was sure that she wouldn’t turn her away. She had attended her Sunday school in Chilvers Coton Parish Hall for as long as she could remember and was very fond of the kindly woman.

‘Well, will you at least promise to write to me when you’re settled?’

Holly nodded and Emma hurried away, returning minutes later with an envelope that she pressed into her daughter’s hand.

‘There’s enough money in there to ensure that you can find somewhere to stay for quite some time, and once I know where you are I shall send you some more,’ she promised. They were interrupted then by a tap at the door and praying that it was her father with a change of heart Emma almost ran to open it, only to be disappointed when she found Ivy standing there.

Ivy glanced nervously over her shoulder before muttering, ‘Please, Mrs Farthing … I was wondering … do you think Miss Holly would let me go with her? I ain’t been eavesdroppin’, honest I ain’t. But the thing is we could all hear what the master were shoutin’ all over the house.’

Both Emma and Holly looked astounded.

‘B-but why would you want to come with me?’ Holly questioned eventually. ‘Your family are here and you have a regular job.’

‘Huh! Some family, eh? They only want me fer the wages I cough up every week. An’ as fer the job, I’m sure I’ll be very easy to replace. So please, Miss Holly, let me come with you. We’ve got close since I started to work here, you’ve even taught me to read an’ write but I’m a bit more streetwise than you an’ you’d be safer wi’ me taggin’ along, I know it. Surely it’d be far safer wi’ two of us to look out fer each other?’

‘She’s right, Holly,’ Emma said. Despite the fact that her heart was breaking at the thought of her daughter leaving, if Ivy was by her side, it would at least offer some semblance of reassurance.

‘You wouldn’t ’ave to keep me,’ Ivy went on hurriedly. ‘I’ve saved what bit o’ me wages I’ve been allowed to keep ever since I started here so I’ve got some money to tide me over, an’ we stand so much more of a chance if there’s two of us an’ we can both find a job. We might even be able to afford a little place to rent, so what do yer say?’