‘Sunday Herald. Was your daughter responsible for the sinking of the Britannic, sir?’

‘No, she was not. At this moment, it is unclear if it was a mine or a torpedo that put a hole in the ship’s belly.’

A different voice. ‘Brighton Times. Why did your daughter take so long to return to England, sir? Is it true she refused to come back?’

‘No, it is not true. My daughter and one other crew member contracted influenza on the island of Kea. They were put into quarantine for two weeks, thereby missing the original inquiry and passage returning to Britain. My daughter did not take her due leave, she went on to nurse our fine boys near the Dardanelles. I’m very proud of her, and so should you be.’

‘The Express. Does Gertie Smith remember seeing the open portholes, either from inside the ship, or from the lifeboat?’

‘My daughter has some amnesia covering the time before she was pulled out of the water. She almost drowned, and such a thing often causes loss of memory.’

‘News of the World. Is it true your daughter was rescued by a dolphin, sir?’

‘Yes, she was. There were several witnesses including the ship’s chaplain.’

‘People Newspaper. Who was the soldier that Miss Smith rescued, Doctor?’

‘I believe his name was Corporal Johnathan Perkins. She saved his life by bravely giving him some of her own blood. I wonder how many of you have demonstrated that sort of courage?’

Once Father had answered a question from each reporter, he ended the exchange. ‘Now, gentlemen, I’ll thank you all to leave, apart from The Express.’

I ventured over to the window and peeped through the drapes. The mob dispersed hurriedly, leaving on horseback, in motor vehicles, and one on a motorised bicycle. I could imagine the queue for the telephone in town. My father was talking earnestly with a heavily whiskered gentleman. After a moment, they shook hands and he also left.

Father knocked on the door and I quickly let him in. He leaned his back against it and I noticed how his hand trembled as he pushed it across his brow.

‘Sorry, Father. It wasn’t my intention to make so much trouble for you.’

‘Intention or not, we have to deal with it. I think we should play on the positive. Let’s get the young man you saved to come here and talk to the newspaper reporters with us. Where will I find him?’

‘I don’t exactly know, Father.’ Then I remembered Victoria Pimlet’s letter, didn’t she say she had seen him? Also, I considered perhaps Josephine, or even Merriberry would know his address. ‘I can probably find out.’ In the back of my mind was the nagging question, would he remember that it was I who opened the portholes?