Miss May raised an eyebrow. ‘Really? I would have bet my bottom dollar that you two were meant for each other, but that’s life, I suppose. Is there anyone new on the horizon?’

‘No, not really.’ Yet even as she said it a picture of Harry’s face flashed in front of her eyes. Although they had been out together as friends, Holly was well aware that Harry would have liked to take their relationship a stage further. She enjoyed his company but for now she was happy for things to stay as they were.

‘Hmm, not really in my books means there is someone in the wings,’ Miss May teased but seeing that Holly was looking decidedly uncomfortable she changed the subject.

Eventually Holly walked back to the shop with her and went inside to say goodbye to the others. She had intended to do some shopping in Oxford Street but she wasn’t in the mood after her meeting with Richard so she made her way back to Euston and waited for the next train home. All the way back images of the pretty girl with her arm threaded through his plagued her and she suddenly wished that she hadn’t come. She supposed she should be happy that he had moved on with someone else, which brought her thoughts round to Harry. As Ivy had quite rightly pointed out, he was very handsome, and kind into the bargain. She had no doubt he would make a wonderful husband and despite the fact she had promised herself she would never marry now that she couldn’t have Richard, she was beginning to wonder if she had made the right decision. Being around little Alice all the time had made her realise that she would like children of her own one day. But then would it be fair on Harry to marry him when her heart still belonged to Richard? The more she thought on it the more confused she became so eventually she lifted the Woman’s Life magazine she had bought at the station and tried to concentrate on that.

She arrived home to find her mother and Walter in high spirits.

‘We’ve chosen the date for our wedding,’ her mother told her excitedly. ‘It will be the second Saturday in July, the twelfth, so we’re going to have lots to do now. I’ve already booked us an appointment at the dressmaker in town, then we have to choose the flowers. Oh, and what hymns we shall want during the service as well! I’m beginning to wonder if we’ve left ourselves enough time to get everything done!’

Walter smiled at her indulgently. ‘Everything will be fine,’ he assured her.

‘An’ me an’ Alice an’ Cook are comin’ to the weddin’ too,’ Ivy piped up excitedly.

‘But of course you are,’ Emma said. Although Ivy was officially the maid Emma also considered her to be very much a member of the family now. Holly smiled and listened to her mother chatter on about what needed to be done and when she eventually left the room, Ivy lifted Alice onto her hip and asked, ‘So, what’s wrong? An’ don’t say nothin’ cos I can read you like a book an’ I know there’s somethin’. I thought you weren’t comin’ back till this evenin’?’