‘You must be someone important if they put it in the papers.’

‘I’m not at all important, but this person wants me back, and it looks as if he will do anything to track me down.’

‘He?’ Edna sat up straight, frowning fiercely. ‘Some man’s after you?’

Jenny nodded, clasping her shaking hands together and screwing up the paper. ‘He’s around fifty, fat and not a pleasant person. The way he looks at me is frightening.’

‘One of those.’ Edna was clearly disgusted. ‘Well, don’t you worry. No one knows who you are – not even me – so I don’t think there’s much chance of him finding you after all this time. He must be desperate to put it in the newspapers.’

One hundred pounds’ worth of desperate! The fear that Jenny thought had left her came rushing back. Thank goodness they hadn’t put a photograph of her in there, but she doubted if they had one; she’d tucked them all in the bottom of her case before leaving, along with her other treasures. ‘I do hope you’re right.’ She leant out of the window and tossed the paper as far away as she could. It made her feel better to watch the wind catch the pages and send them tumbling and twisting over a field.

‘You mustn’t let it spoil our day, Jen. He’ll never find you. My family don’t know where I am to this day, and it’s been three years since I left home.’

‘Of course he won’t.’ She took a deep breath to steady her racing heart. ‘It gave me a fright, that’s all.’

‘This is Brighton, so let’s forget everything and just enjoy ourselves, shall we?’ Edna gave her an encouraging smile.

‘You’re right. I’m being silly to let it bother me after all this time.’

Once out of the station they made for the beach, eager to get to the sea.

‘Oh, isn’t that lovely!’ Edna gazed out to sea with a rapt expression on her face. ‘Just smell that. Come on, let’s have a paddle.’

They sat down and removed their shoes and stockings, and, clutching them in their hands, walked gingerly over the pebbles to the water’s edge. They gave a little squeal as the cold water splashed over their bare feet.

Jenny closed her eyes and lifted her face to the sun, enjoying its warmth, and listening to the soothing sound of gentle waves as they tumbled on to the beach. The tension she was feeling after seeing the newspaper seeped away. A larger wave hit her and she opened her eyes, looking down at her wet legs. Sand and tiny pebbles were swirling around her toes, tickling her and making her laugh. As the wave rushed back, the undertow sucked the silt from under her feet, throwing her off balance.