‘No, she won’t.’ Mrs Douglas came in smiling. ‘Madam’s just told me to see you go back with plenty, and Edna can help you carry it.’

After finding a smaller shopping basket to use in place of the hamper, Jenny said a tearful goodbye and, with the two baskets and Edna’s help, made her way back to Ma’s.

‘How did your meeting go?’ Edna asked as they walked up Forest Road with the heavy bags of food.

‘Oh, she was very polite, but I was asking a lot of her. I don’t suppose she’ll be able to help.’

‘She will if she can, Jen. She’s a kind woman.’

‘I’m sure she is. I’ve given her my address, so we’ll just have to wait and see. Now tell me about this lovely man you’ve met.’

Edna squeezed her arm. ‘His name’s David, and I was rushing through Hyde Park one day when I bumped into him. We sat talking for a while and then he took me for tea. We meet now every time we can wangle it.’

Edna’s face shone with happiness and Jenny was so pleased for her.

Much to her husband and sons’ surprise, Louise was not in when they arrived home that evening. She’d left a message to say that she may be late and they were to start dinner without her.

Gilbert frowned at the brief note and muttered to himself. ‘This is most unlike your mother. She doesn’t even say where she’s gone!’

‘Perhaps she’s dining with one of her friends,’ John suggested.

‘I expect that’s it.’ Gilbert looked up when the butler came into the drawing room to announce dinner. ‘Did my wife say where she was going?’

‘No, sir, she left in a hurry after Miss Eugenie Winford called on her.’ He appeared to say the name with some relish.

‘What!’ The four men in the room all spoke at once.

‘How did Miss Winford look?’ Matt was on his feet, anxious for news of the young girl who still troubled his thoughts.

Green shook his head sadly. ‘Very shabby and undernourished.’

‘Oh, hell!’ That news didn’t ease Matt’s concerns at all. ‘What was her meeting with my mother about?’

‘I can’t say, Mr Matthew. Mrs Stannard is the only one who knows that.’

It was a silent meal, and by ten o’clock Matt’s father was pacing the room, concerned about his wife’s continued absence.

At twenty past ten she finally arrived home in a grim and determined mood.

‘What is it, my dear?’ Gilbert rushed over to his wife. ‘What’s happened? Where have you been?’

‘One question at a time, Gilbert.’ Louise sat down with a weary sigh. ‘You can pour me a stiff brandy. I need it.’