‘Exactly! I’m relieved to see that one member of the Winford family has some sense.’

The rest of the day was agony for Jenny. She had to endure not only lunch but also dinner alone with her aunt and Albert Greaves. Her mother was still refusing to leave her room. She spoke when she was spoken to and listened with feigned interest as they discussed their plans for her. She even managed a shy smile or two, and wondered if she was overdoing the play-acting, but Greaves seemed highly pleased with her conduct – apart from expressing his disapproval of her short hair and ordering her to grow it again.

It was nine o’clock before she could get away from them, and, after receiving a kiss on the cheek from the repulsive man, she raced up to her room. After shutting the door firmly behind her, she locked it just to be on the safe side, in case they were staying the night. She hoped they weren’t, because she was due to move into Greaves’s house the day after tomorrow. So little time!

She paced the room, questions and doubts running through her head. Suppose she couldn’t find a job that quickly – what was she to do? She was certain that as soon as she was under Greaves’s roof, she would be watched all the time. Her freedom would be gone. She wrapped her arms around her in desperation. A floorboard creaked under her foot and she froze in case her aunt heard her pacing around, but it was difficult to keep still. She must have somewhere to stay – somewhere they wouldn’t find her.

Fred and Glad! She scrabbled in her purse and took out the address they’d given her. They’d seemed sincere when they’d told her she could go to them if needed. She chewed her bottom lip. She wouldn’t want to bother them, of course, as they could ill afford another mouth to feed. Still, having the address was a comfort but she’d use it only as a last resort. She put it back in a separate compartment of her purse. She mustn’t lose that.

Kneeling beside the bed, she bowed her head and prayed as she had never prayed in her life. ‘Dear God, give me the strength to do what I have to. And let me find a job tomorrow … I’ll take anything – but please help and guide me. Oh, and by the way, Lord, from now on I’m going to be known as Jenny.’