‘Hello, Mam!’ Ted gave her a hug that lifted her from the seat and when he’d finally put her down, Will did the same. ‘We decided we couldn’t leave you all alone until we know what’s happened,’ he told her as he gently stroked a wayward lock of hair from her forehead and once more she marvelled at the way they seemed to have grown. They had been little more than boys when they had left to start their new jobs but now they were muscular and tall like their father, especially Edward, who was the double of Eli when she had met him, and unable to stop them, she felt tears start to bubble down her cheeks. The boys looked worried. They could count on one hand the number of times they’d seen their mother cry in the whole of their lives and as one they rushed to embrace her and offer what comfort they could.

As William put his strong arm about her shoulders, his face was grave. He knew now that something must be badly wrong. None of the fishermen ever missed spending time with their families at Christmas if they could possibly help it.

‘I’m shocked at me dad even considerin’ goin’ on a whalin’ ship,’ he said. ‘He’s gettin’ a bit long in the tooth for that now, surely?’

Alice glared at him. ‘Rubbish! Yer dad is still a good, strong figure of a man, I’ll have yer know,’ she snapped. Yet deep down she knew that he was right. Only the strongest of the fishermen ever ventured on the whaling expeditions but Eli had insisted he would be fine.

‘Anyway, it’s only five days late,’ William told her reassuringly, not daring to voice what he really thought. ‘I’ve known the ships to come back later than this.’

There was a pounding on the door and Mrs Preston stuck her head into the room.

‘One o’ the ships ’as been sighted from the headland,’ she told them breathlessly. ‘It should be comin’ into the harbour any time now.’ And with that she was gone again as Alice snatched her shawl and hastily followed her out with the boys close behind her.

Breathless and panting they arrived to see the ship just coming into the harbour, but as it drew closer Alice’s heart sank. It was The Mermaid, and Eli and her sons had been on The Neptune.

At last it was moored and as the gangplank was lowered, weary sailors came down it to a rapturous welcome from the waiting families. The captain was the last to descend and racing forward Alice caught his sleeve.

‘Is The Neptune following, Captain?’