‘And what happened to your father?’

Holly dithered for a second before saying, ‘Oh, he died when I was a baby.’ She knew she should have told him the truth, for he would surely have understood seeing as his own father had left him too, but she was too embarrassed to. When they arrived back at the shop he had paused before asking, ‘Do you fancy going for a walk or something on Sunday, or perhaps we could get a river boat ride along the Thames? It’s my day off, unless there are any emergencies that is.’

She had been sorely tempted to accept but instead she’d told him, ‘Actually, I’ve already made arrangements for Sunday but thank you for the offer.’

And then after they’d said goodbye she’d watched him walk away and cursed herself for a fool. Why had she turned him down? What harm could going for a walk with him have done? But in her heart she knew why she’d turned him down: it was because she was afraid of the unfamiliar feelings he aroused in her. She had never felt like this about a young man before. And now it was too late because he was highly unlikely to ever ask her out again. With a sigh she turned over and tried to sleep but strangely she didn’t feel tired any more.

As Ivy left the suffragettes’ office on Friday after work she found Jeremy standing outside waiting for her with a guilty smile on his face. He was dressed immaculately as usual and Ivy saw that he was attracting more than a few admiring glances from the young ladies sauntering past. Even so she managed to keep her face straight as she stood in front of him.

‘Oh, so you’re back from your jaunts, are you?’ she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. ‘I was beginning to think you’d fallen off the face of the earth.’

‘Oh sweetheart, I’m so very sorry.’ He fell into step with her and attempted to take her elbow but she shrugged away from him and walked on with her eyes straight ahead. ‘The thing is my mother was taken ill and I had to rush home to see her,’ he told her breathlessly as he tried to keep up with her. ‘I was mortified when I got home and realised I hadn’t let you know but I was in such a panic because I didn’t know how ill she was.’

Ivy’s steps slowed. She had to admit his excuse did sound very plausible. ‘And how bad was she?’

‘It was a stroke.’ He looked so sad that now it was her taking his arm.

‘Oh, I’m so sorry. Is it serious?’

‘Thankfully the doctor doesn’t seem to think there will be any long-term effects as it was only a mild one. She was very lucky this time, but once again I’m so sorry that I didn’t let you know. I’ve already told Mother that as soon as she’s properly recovered I’m going to take you home for a weekend to meet her and she’s really looking forward to it.’