Emma smiled as she took the hat pin from her hat and laid it on the table. ‘I did read about that in the newspapers,’ she admitted, secretly pleased that Holly hadn’t gone down that path. ‘But I’m sure Ivy is more than capable of looking after herself. As for dinner I was thinking it might be nice if you let me treat you. You must know of places around here where we could get a nice lunch?’

Holly nodded. Another lonely Sunday afternoon had been stretching before her so it was lovely to have company, especially her mother’s.

‘There’s a lovely little restaurant in the next street,’ she told her. ‘We could go there. But first let me get you a cup of tea, you must be thirsty after your journey. How long are you staying? I could sleep on the sofa this evening if you wanted to stay over?’

Emma shook her head regretfully. ‘No, darling, thank you but I have a return train ticket for late this afternoon. But that still leaves us a few hours together so let’s make the most of them, eh?’

And that was exactly what they did. They had a delicious meal at the restaurant and then she walked her mother back to Euston Station.

‘You’re looking very well,’ Holly commented as they strolled along arm in arm. Her mother had gained a little weight and it suited her and with her hair shining and a twinkle in her eye she looked very pretty.

Emma grinned. ‘Thank you. I’m feeling well. It’s probably because I’m getting out and about a little more now. Walter took me to the theatre in Coventry last week and we had a most enjoyable evening.’

There was mention of Walter Dolby again, Holly thought. His name had come up a few times in their conversation that afternoon.

‘So …’ she said tentatively. ‘Are you and Mr Dolby getting, er … close?’

The smile slipped momentarily from Emma’s face. ‘I must admit I’m very fond of him,’ she admitted. ‘But only as a friend, of course. He could never be more than that while your father is probably still alive out there somewhere.’

Holly realised then that despite her words, her mother had genuine feelings for the man – she had always been able to read her like a book – and it made her sad. Holly’s father had treated them shamefully, abandoning them as he had, and now her mother could never be truly happy again because she was still legally tied to him. It was so unfair.

‘Why don’t you try to find him?’ she suggested as they turned the corner into Euston Square.

‘Huh! I imagine it would be like trying to find a needle in a haystack,’ her mother retorted with a sigh. ‘He could be absolutely anywhere. But anyway, don’t you get worrying about it. I’m quite content as I am.’

Following a tearful goodbye, Holly walked back to the flat in a thoughtful mood. She wanted her mother to find the happiness she deserved. Perhaps she could put the word around that she was looking for someone called Michael Farthing who had originated from Whitechapel? It wasn’t a particularly common name so it shouldn’t be that hard and perhaps she could start with Dora, the seamstress who worked at the shop; she lived in Whitechapel. I’ll ask her first thing in the morning, she promised herself and then hurried back to the flat to wait for Ivy to come home.