Olivia’s heart plummeted as she heard his sad tale. Her own mother had been suffering from ill health for some time now, and it had crossed Olivia’s mind more than once that this could be something her mother might not come back from, and she couldn’t imagine what life would be like without her.

When Ted asked about her own life, she spoke only about her mother and grandparents, shying away from any mention of her father.

As the daylight began to fade, Ted got to his feet. ‘I’d best be off before my dad wonders where I am.’

Olivia looked back at the house. ‘My father couldn’t care less where I am,’ she said baldly. ‘As long as I’m not getting under his feet or making a nuisance of myself.’

Tilting his head to one side, he regarded her through twinkling eyes. ‘Can I see you again?’

Olivia’s eyes lit up. ‘I’d like that very much.’

He grinned. ‘Shall we say the same time tomorrow, after I finish work?’

Olivia nodded eagerly. ‘I look forward to it.’

She watched as he pushed his sandy hair back with his fingers. Olivia liked the way it flopped over his brow in a roguish fashion. ‘Only I can’t keep calling you Olivia,’ he said. ‘It sounds too posh …’ His eyes sparkled as he gazed down at her. ‘I know, I’ll call you Toff!’

‘I’m not a toff!’ giggled Olivia, who was secretly pleased to be given a nickname.

‘You are compared to me,’ Ted said firmly.

True to his word, he came back to see her the next day, and the one after that, and the one after that, and it wasn’t long before the two had become firm friends, with Ted visiting most days. Olivia had even accompanied Ted to his house on Fisher Street, much to the disapproval of Ted’s father who worried that his employer might have something to say if he learned of his daughter’s whereabouts.

‘I promise not to tell, Mr Hewitt,’ Olivia assured him.

Craig Hewitt wagged a finger at his son, although he smiled as he did so. ‘Just you make sure you treat Miss Campbell like a lady!’

Ted gave his father his word that he would do so, and Olivia became a regular at the Hewitts’ house. Nearly a year to the day of their first meeting had gone by before things began to go wrong. Olivia was sitting beside the pond one day when a pair of hands gently covered her eyes from behind.

‘Guess who?’ said Ted.

Olivia laughed. ‘Honestly, Ted, I’d know your voice anywhere!’

‘Worth a try,’ he said, settling down beside her.

Olivia leaned against his shoulder. ‘Golly, I’m glad you’re here.’

Ted placed a friendly arm around her shoulder. ‘I take it your father’s had another one of his temper tantrums?’