‘Are you blaming me now?’

‘No, my dear, but you know what I’m like. I was unfair to that poor girl, and Matt’s right, we do owe her our support.’

His wife still looked doubtful. ‘But we might find out things she would be better off not knowing.’

‘Then we won’t tell her,’ her husband declared.

‘Very well,’ she sighed. ‘I can see you are all set on this. But you must keep everything very confidential, John. The girl has enough trouble in her young life. I would not wish to add to it by meddling in something that is not our affair.’

‘We’ll be very discreet, Mother.’ Luke was serious for a change. ‘I’ll start by searching for marriage and birth certificates.’

‘And I’ll continue to look for her.’ Matt smiled at his mother. ‘Don’t worry, we’ll be careful not to let word of our interest get back to her family.’

Louise gave each member of her family a stern look. ‘Not one of you is to act without first consulting me. And if I say that this must stop, then you will cease immediately. Is that understood?’

Matt recognized his mother’s determination and knew she meant every word, as did the rest of his family. They all nodded obediently.

‘Good. Now, Gilbert, you will stay out of this. Luke, you will look for certificates, and that is all! Matt, if you can find her you must come and tell me. I will be the one to speak to her.’

No one dared argue with Louise when she was in this forceful mood. Matt knew they would all do as she said, and he also knew that she was right to keep a tight rein on them. Their intentions were good, but they really had no right to interfere in this girl’s life, however sorry they might feel for her.

A week later Luke had found a marriage certificate for Elizabeth Sherrington and Cyrus Douglas Winford; she was listed as British and he as American. He had also found a birth certificate for their daughter, Eugenie Elizabeth Winford.

‘So they were married,’ Gilbert said.

‘Well, he went through a ceremony here, but I couldn’t say whether it was legal.’ Luke’s eyes glinted with mischief. ‘I could always go to America to find out.’

‘You’ll do no such thing, Luke.’ Their mother’s mouth was set in a determined line. ‘I want you all to stop this now!’

‘But Mother,’ Luke protested, ‘it’s an intriguing mystery. I was thinking of going with Matt to the Templeton School she attended. Someone there might know where she is.’

‘Oh, no, you don’t, my boy.’ His father raised his hands in horror. ‘It wouldn’t be safe to let you roam around a young ladies’ school.’

Matt chuckled quietly as his brother protested.