‘Good. And we’re in perfect time to catch the cook coming off duty.’

They entered the cookhouse and waited for the cook, who had waved to them as they came in. She had already removed her overalls and was walking round to join them. She smiled curiously as she sat down. ‘I’m Bonnie, by the way.’

Maude smiled. ‘I’m Maude, and this is my pal, Olivia.’

‘What can I do for you both? I expect it’s something to do with Greystones?’

Olivia nodded. ‘It’s rather a long story, but I’m looking for someone who we think used to live there.’

‘I guessed as much. What was her name?’

Olivia glanced at Maude before speaking. ‘I’m not sure. We’re not even certain that she was brought to Greystones – it was just something that was said in passing by a rather old relative. Of course we were intrigued to find out more when they hinted one of our relatives might have gone to Greystones.’

The cook raised her brows. ‘Oooh, I love a mystery. Do you know how old she would be now?’

Olivia nodded. ‘She’d be nineteen.’

The girl grimaced. ‘I’m afraid it’s not good news.’

Olivia’s face fell. ‘Why, what difference does her age make?’

‘I was there when war broke out. They sent all the little kids to Glencoe away from the threat of bombs, but the ones who were fourteen or older were sent to Brownhill. It’s a poorhouse.’

As far as Olivia knew, a poorhouse was about the same as an orphanage. ‘But surely that’s good news, because it means we can still trace her.’

Maude and the cook exchanged knowing glances. ‘The poorhouse is your worst-case scenario, Liv, it’s where the desperate and destitute end up.’

‘And Brownhill was the worst of the worst,’ the cook confirmed. ‘In fact, it was so bad, I believe they were under investigation; it might even have closed down by now.’

Olivia regarded the girl tentatively. ‘Is that where you went?’

Bonnie shook her head. ‘I wasn’t an orphan. My mother worked there, so it was different for me.’

‘Do you think it’s worth giving Brownhill a ring?’ asked Maude.

Bonnie nodded. ‘I should imagine things are very different there nowadays.’

Olivia looked at Bonnie. ‘How bad did it use to be?’

‘Bad as it can get,’ Bonnie said. ‘From what I heard, the inmates had to fight for their food.’

Olivia stood up so abruptly her chair toppled over behind her, causing the late diners to turn and stare. She stared at Maude, tears trickling down her cheeks, she struggled to find the words.

Bonnie looked at them in surprise. ‘Sorry, I didn’t realise that this was a close relative …’

Olivia nodded, but instead of disclosing exactly who the relative was, she spoke directly to Maude. ‘We need to ring Brownhill, now.’