Under other circumstances, she would have taken some pleasure in going through the paperwork herself to figure out how he was cheating her – he was, of course, cheating her, that was what lawyers were for – but at that moment she couldn’t bring herself to care. When he’d wound down, he asked her if she had any questions.

‘What is to happen to me?’ she said.

‘Eh?’ Mr Pallworthy frowned, his moustache bouncing. ‘What do you mean?’

‘I can’t stay here, I assume,’ Alice said.

‘No, of course not,’ the lawyer said. ‘The house will be sold at auction, the arrangements are already being made.’ He seemed to remember he was speaking to a child, and put on his jolly-old-boy face again while he rummaged through the stack of papers. ‘Arrangements have been made for you too, of course. You’re to stay with family, I believe. One moment.’ He found the paper he was looking for and peered at it. ‘Ah, yes. I see you’ll be moving in with your uncle Jerry.’

Alice blinked. ‘I haven’t got an uncle Jerry.’

‘Of course you do.’ Mr Pallworthy tapped the paper. ‘It says so right here.’

‘But—’ She bit back her protest. It was no good to say that her father had had only one brother, and that his name had been Arnold and he’d died in the war before Alice had been born. Her mother’s family she’d never known at all. Mr Pallworthy wouldn’t particularly care, and he would believe his piece of paper. ‘I see. Uncle Jerry.’

‘He lives in Pittsburgh, it says. Or near Pittsburgh. Arrangements are being made to get you there.’ He seemed to like the phrase. ‘Taking the train all the way to Pennsylvania, all by yourself! Won’t that be an adventure.’

‘I suppose,’ Alice answered politely.

‘Did you have any other questions?’

Alice just shook her head. Something about her expression must have finally registered with him, and the lawyer’s face clouded as he dredged his memory for something to reassure grieving children. ‘Chin up, you know. I’m sure things seem awful, but . . .’ He faltered, then brightened up. ‘Just remember, it’s all part of God’s plan!’