‘You’re not askin’.’ Bridget patted her on the arm, an unusual gesture for someone who was not in the least demonstrative. ‘Like I said, I think you’re barmy but I’d like to think someone’d do the same for me if I was in Ellie’s shoes.’ They continued to stare at each other for a moment longer before she added, ‘I’ll have a word with me pals and see if any of ’em’d come along, all right? But whatever, I’ll come. If he knows folk have got your back it’s something.’

‘Oh, Bridget. Thank you.’ Bridget was Irish through and through, warm-hearted and straightforward. Travelling to and from the workhouse together and living in the same house the two girls had got friendly to some extent, but this was beyond what Ruby would have expected.

‘Mind, I still think no good’ll come of it. He sees Ellie as a means of earning money for him and Flo’s not sure if it’s just her and Daisy in there or if there’s more girls – he won’t let her go. But if you’re set on seeing her . . .’

Ruby’s face gave Bridget her answer.

Chapter Ten

Olive gazed at her mother in frustration. Why had she even bothered to try and tell her how things were between herself and Adam? She hadn’t meant to. She had decided weeks ago that it would be pointless and so it had proved. Her mam had come out with every platitude she’d feared she would and more besides.

For her part, Cissy was well aware of what Olive was thinking but she couldn’t, she just couldn’t commiserate with her daughter. It would open up a whole can of worms she wasn’t ready to face and besides, what good would it do? Olive and Adam were married and they had a bairn, that was the end of it. As George had said more than once over the last months, Olive had brought her situation on herself.

Nevertheless, her voice was gentle when she said, ‘Lass, marriage is never easy, take it from me, but you have the bairn and that’s a blessing. Now, let’s have another cup of tea before you go and there’s a slice of sly cake to go with it.’

Olive recognized the finality of the tone beneath the softness. She stood up, her face stiff. ‘No, thanks, I need to get back and put the dinner on.’ She picked up Alice who had been playing with her grandma’s saucepans and pans on the clippy mat, bashing them with a wooden spoon and delighting in the noise she was making.

‘Aw, lass, don’t go in a huff.’