‘Cor, that hit the spot, all right.’ She grinned and added hurriedly, ‘I ain’t had time to have anythin’ yet today. I didn’t bother cookin’ fer meself seein’ as Jeremy’s away.’

‘Why don’t you stay here tonight?’ Holly suggested and when Ivy looked concerned she rushed on, ‘Just for tonight. You could have a nice bath and if Jeremy isn’t there he isn’t going to miss you, is he?’

‘I suppose not.’ Ivy had to admit to herself that the thought of sleeping in her comfy bed with crisp clean sheets was very tempting. ‘All right,’ she agreed. ‘But I’ll be getting meself back off home first thing in the mornin’.’

‘Well, there’s no rush. Tomorrow is Sunday so I’m not at work,’ Holly pointed out. ‘We could spend a leisurely day together and I could cook us a nice lunch. I got a small joint of beef from the butcher’s, your favourite, and I could do some crispy roast potatoes with it just the way you like them.’

Ivy grinned, making her wince. It was obvious that her swollen face was causing her pain.

‘All right,’ she agreed. ‘But I’ll have to go back tomorrow evenin’, just in case Jeremy comes home sooner than expected. I wouldn’t want him to think I’d left him.’

Holly sighed with relief. At least for that short time she would know Ivy was safe.

Chapter Nineteen

A few days later after finishing her shift at the hospital Holly was letting herself into the flat when Dora Brindley appeared from the shop.

‘Ah, Holly, luvvie, I was wonderin’ how I was goin’ to catch you now you don’t work here any more. I’m needin’ a word.’

‘Of course, come up and I’ll make you a cup of tea while we have a chat,’ Holly told her, wondering what might be wrong. Dora looked concerned about something. Perhaps she’d discovered the whereabouts of her elusive father? The woman followed her up the stairs and once Holly had livened the fire up and thrown some coal onto it she went to put the kettle on, asking, ‘What’s wrong then, Dora?’

Dora sighed and looked uncomfortable as she sank into one of the comfy chairs. ‘Well, I don’t quite know how to say this cos yer might say it’s none o’ my business but I’ve been worryin’ about it all day.’

‘So tell me what it is,’ Holly urged softly.

‘Right then, but you ain’t goin’ to like it,’ Dora warned. ‘The thing is, Lady Hamilton came into the shop today to try on her latest weird and wonderful creation an’ as she left I happened to spot her latest young beau in the back of her automobile, an’ it were …’

‘Go on.’ Holly was impatient to hear what was wrong now.

‘It were that young man who young Ivy is supposed to be marryin’. I know cos I’ve seen Ivy out an’ about with him a few times.’

‘You mean it was Jeremy Pilkington-Hughes!’ Holly felt as if the air had been knocked out of her.