Olivia entered the room and closed the door behind her. ‘I’ve been giving it some more thought, and after everyone’s gone, I shall collect my things and move in with Nana and Pops. It’ll be nice to spend some time with them before I leave.’

He shuffled the papers into a neat pile, placed them in a folder then gazed intently at her before speaking. ‘Leave? I take it that means you’re planning to apply?’

Oliva nodded.

‘You really think they’re after women like you?’ His eyes rested on her stomach. ‘Only I’d assumed they wanted women who were fit and healthy, and you don’t exactly look either of those to me.’

Olivia blushed. Her father had voiced the same reservation that she’d raised with her grandmother. ‘Nana says they soon whip you into shape once you’ve joined, so not only will I be getting out from under your feet, but I’ll be getting into shape just like you always said I should.’

Her father looked sceptical. ‘They’ve got their work cut out for them then,’ he said spitefully.

Olivia stared at him in disbelief. ‘And to think I was worried about how you’d cope without me.’ Shaking her head sadly, she laid her hand on the door handle just as her father called out to her from behind.

‘You leave this house and you’d better take everything with you, because you shan’t be coming back.’

She stood frozen to the spot, her hand still on the handle. She knew that this was another way of manipulating her into staying, because she couldn’t possibly take everything with her in one go. She thought of her mother, and how she had stood for none of her husband’s nonsense. She addressed him without turning. ‘If you want me to stay, you’re going to have to say it, no more games.’

There was a moment’s hesitation when Olivia thought her father might actually say the words she was certain he was longing to voice.

‘Close the door on your way out,’ William replied quietly.

Olivia turned the handle and walked out. Closing the door behind her, she leaned against it whilst she came to terms with what had just transpired. She listened intently, waiting to see if she could hear the regretful footfall of her father as he hurried to take back words spoken in haste, but there was nothing. A tear trickled down her cheek as she went up to her bedroom. To change her mind now would be to resign herself to the life of a spinster who’d never been lucky enough to marry. She had no choice but to follow through and leave her past life behind.