Now, Ted folded the decree absolute and pushed it into his pocket. He started walking, then stopped, removed his wedding ring and placed it in the same pocket as his divorce papers. Smiling, he set off once more. He had made a promise to himself that as soon as his divorce came through he would go and see Olivia’s grandparents. Having looked them up in the Kelly’s directory earlier that morning, he confidently made his way to their home in Ullet Road.

When he arrived he hesitated before rapping the knocker. He had expected a maid to answer and was surprised when a small, white-haired woman opened the door a crack. ‘Hello?’

‘Mrs Barnham?’

Nodding, she eyed him quizzically, but seeing the uniform she opened the door a little further. ‘Can I help you?’

Ted nodded. ‘I’m looking for your granddaughter, Olivia Campbell.’

She looked surprised. ‘Oh, I’m afraid she doesn’t live here, dear, she’s in …’ She stopped short as an elderly man appeared and hushed her into silence.

‘Good God, woman, don’t you know there’s a war on?’ He pulled her gently to one side and stared accusingly at Ted. ‘Who are you?’

Ted took a deep breath. He had no idea how her grandparents would feel when they knew who he was, especially if Olivia had told them that he had left her in the lurch when he found out she was pregnant, which was what her father had told her. He decided to approach the matter side on. ‘I’m an old friend of Olivia’s. I know she’s not living with her father any more …’ he noticed with some satisfaction how Olivia’s grandfather rolled his eyes at the mention of William, ‘… because I called round when I first got back. I asked him where she lived but he wasn’t exactly forthcoming.’

‘Doesn’t surprise me,’ tutted Mrs Barnham.

Ted opened his mouth to continue, then shut it again. He had meant to skirt the issue of his relationship with Olivia, but he didn’t feel comfortable deceiving the Barnhams in such a manner. He held an outstretched hand towards Mr Barnham. ‘I’m Edward Hewitt, Olivia knows me as Ted.’

‘Ivor!’ squealed Mrs Barnham as her husband’s fist connected with Ted’s jaw.

Ted held up his hands in a placating manner as Ivor came forward, his fists held up ready for another swing. ‘Scoundrel,’ roared Ivor, ‘blackguard!’

‘I can understand why you’re angry, Mr Barnham,’ said Ted hastily, ‘but you haven’t heard my side of things.’

‘Nor do I wish to!’ bellowed Mr Barnham, waving his wife back as she pleaded with him to calm down.

‘Ivor! Please think of your blood pressure! You know what Doctor Baker said!’

Speaking quickly, Ted tried to explain himself. ‘I didn’t know Olivia was pregnant, her father evicted us so we wouldn’t find out …’

He ducked as Ivor extended his arm, his finger pointing towards the street. ‘Leave!’

Mrs Barnham placed a retaining arm across her husband’s chest. ‘Let him speak, Ivor.’