Holly looked at her sadly. ‘You know you’d be wasting your time. Grandfather is as stubborn as a mule when he sets his mind to something.’

Holly continued to pack her bag then, pausing, she suddenly asked quietly, ‘Where did my father come from? I mean, was he from these parts?’

Her mother shook her head. She now deeply regretted not being honest with her daughter before and didn’t intend to tell her any more lies. Just look where it had led! ‘No, he came from London. I believe his family lived in Whitechapel, somewhere down by the docks, although I never met them.’

‘Didn’t you even go to see if he was there when he left you?’ Holly was surprised.

‘What would have been the point? My love for him had died by that stage and all I wanted was the best for you … and your sister, of course.’

Holly loaded the last of the things she wanted to take with her into her bag and snapped it firmly shut before reaching for her coat. ‘Are you quite sure that you won’t come with me?’ she asked one last time.

For a moment her mother hesitated but then she shook her head. ‘I can’t leave my father, darling, not after the way he stood by me. He’s getting old now and I’m all he has, please try to understand.’

Holly nodded compassionately as she shrugged her coat on and fastened her hat to her thick curls with a lethal-looking hat pin. There seemed nothing left to say now.

Lifting her bag she walked slowly towards the door but suddenly her mother had her in a fierce embrace.

‘Promise me that you’ll let me know where you are just as soon as you can, and should you ever need me, please come back home. Your grandfather will calm down and regret his decision in no time, I’m sure.’

Holly returned the embrace, tears clamouring at her throat, staring into the eyes that were so like her own for a moment. Then she gently pushed her mother aside, threw open the door and hurried on her way, knowing that if she didn’t go now her courage would fail her.

Ivy was waiting for her in the hallway.

‘I’ll see you in the morning then,’ she whispered and Holly nodded before opening the front door and stepping out into the bitter night air. She strode away without once looking back and it wasn’t until the vicarage came into sight that her steps began to falter as the enormity of what she was about to do struck home. She was leaving behind all she had ever known and stepping into the great unknown and it was a frightening thought.

At the stout oak door of the vicarage she paused and tried to compose herself as her breath hung on the frosty air like gossamer lace all around her, then lifting her hand she rapped firmly with the big brass door knocker.

Within seconds she heard footsteps approaching and the door was opened by Lily, the Locketts’ young maid.