‘And he’s never took to the bairn.’ Her mother stared at her, pain in her eyes. ‘Olive’s told me on the quiet she’d never dare leave Alice alone with him for fear of what he might do. Your da don’t know that and I’d never tell him, but it plays on my mind.’

Now it was Ruby who was shocked. ‘Adam would never hurt a bairn, especially his own.’

‘Not the Adam you knew perhaps, but he’s changed, Ruby. I’ve never seen such a change in a man. Even his own mam said she don’t know him any more.’

‘I don’t care, I know he would never hurt a child, Mam. Believe me on that if nothing else and stop worrying.’

‘Oh, lass, I’m so glad you’ve come back.’ Cissy was crying again but silently this time, great tears welling up and trickling down her lined cheeks.

‘So am I, Mam. So am I.’

Chapter Sixteen

The confrontation with Olive came the next day.

Ruby hadn’t slept well in her old bed. The room was as cold as the grave for one thing, especially compared to her little abode at Bath Lane Terrace, which she kept as warm as toast in the winter months. But it wasn’t just the temperature that had her tossing and turning into the early hours. Coming home had invoked a hundred and one memories of her past life, and with her father so poorly every one had taken on a poignant significance. Even with Olive being the way she was, her childhood had been a happy one, but the way she had left the family home had coloured her thoughts about it since and that was wrong. She understood that now.

In spite of having had only a few hours’ sleep, she was downstairs early. She spent some time with her father after breakfast, then left to see Mrs Walton. Although they corresponded regularly and Ruby had invited the old lady to lunch many times, Mrs Walton’s health had deteriorated shortly after Ruby had left Sunderland, and Vera had been disinclined to travel even a short distance. It was enough to potter about the shop, she’d explained in one of her letters, and still do a little dressmaking for one or two of her favourite customers.