‘I must write back to Charles immediately,’ Edith had thought wildly. ‘I must let him know my feelings, yes, yes, yes!’

My dear Charles,

Your letter came as a most welcome surprise. I cautiously did not freely distribute my present address for reasons of privacy.

I am truly delighted at the news of your new appointment in Altrincham. As you will have most likely noted, I now work in a Mother and Baby Home near Grange-over-Sands. Compared to the working conditions I am familiar with, the Home is a somewhat grim and drab establishment, which I am keen to leave as soon as possible; plus, like you, I miss our former relationship. Therefore, my reply to your generous offer is an unconditional yes. I would love to join you in Altrincham at the earliest convenience. However, I must be blunt with you, dearest, I no longer want to be encumbered with my present name (particularly as it links me to you in the past), so I will be applying for the post under a new name, Emily Edgecombe. There are other details which I will need time to consider and plan for, and when I’m clearer (and calmer) I shall certainly inform you.

I simply cannot wait to see the bungalow you have so kindly secured for me. More importantly, I cannot wait to see you, dearest heart.

With affection,

Edith

P.S. I hope Beryl’s health improves.

Sealing the envelope, Edith had run to the post-box outside the railway station, and, taking a little time after dropping her letter into the box before starting her shift, she crossed the railway line and, still wearing her starched nurse’s uniform, wandered along the edge of the marsh, where the tide was slowly licking its way in. Hugging her secret to herself, Edith was oblivious to the call of the oystercatchers and sandpipers pecking at the edges of the shore; even the rushing swell of the Irish Sea over which squawking herring gulls drifted failed to catch Edith’s attention. Her thoughts were focused entirely on the glittering blue horizon, on a new life with Charles, a bright and wonderful future that didn’t include her mother.

Meanwhile, Edith told herself, she had work to do; it would do her no good if she appeared to be slacking. It was imperative that she kept to some semblance of normality, even if all she wanted to do was jump for joy. The secret she carried, the happiness that awaited her, made her glow, it was hard to keep a smile off her face or extinguish the excited twinkle in her eye.