The doorbell rang and Jessie ran across the tiled floor. Mrs Baxter had told her they still hoped for a message to say Mr Craig was alive, that he had been detained somewhere and missed the train.

‘Good Morning, Jessie.’ Mrs Donaldson bustled in, handing her gloves to the maid.

‘I shall keep my coat, I can’t stay. Tell Mrs Craig I have news.’

Jessie showed her into the morning room then ran upstairs, taking the steps two at a time.

Ann rushed downstairs and into the morning room. ‘Is there news?’ She sat down opposite Margaret and arranged the heavy material of her gown around her.

‘There are two pieces of information, one good, one not so good and…’

‘I know about the body, Baxter told me last night.’

‘Ah, well, that was the bad news. The good news is that we must continue to pray for Robert’s safe return. This morning my housemaid went up to Perth Road first thing to collect the newspaper.’ She shook her head. ‘The Scotsman is full of the disaster. I suggest you do not even attempt to read it, my dear.’

‘Yes and…’ Ann urged.

‘Aggie passed the end of Miller’s Wynd and saw such a commotion. A woman was shouting out like those common fishwives down by the harbour to anyone that would listen, that God had answered her prayers. Her neighbours had all gathered around, many still in night attire, as she stood clutching a piece of paper to her bosom. Aggie approached and asked a neighbour what had happened. Apparently, she’d been grieving since Sunday night and, along with many others, had been waiting at the station for news. She had just gone back to her home – you know those horrid tenement blocks between Perth Road and Hawkhill – to find a gentleman waiting, with a telegram.’

‘What did it say?’

‘She had been awaiting news of her seventeen-year-old daughter’s body. But the telegram was from the girl herself, asking her poor mother’s forgiveness as she had decided to stay overnight in Edinburgh on Sunday instead of taking the train home to Dundee. She was – she is – alive.’

Ann let out a long breath. ‘It’s so refreshing to have some good news. How fortunate is that woman. But surely I would have heard by now, Margaret.‘

‘Not necessarily. Until you have definite proof, my dear, there is always hope.’ She raised an eyebrow. ‘I cannot imagine the scene between mother and daughter on her return as surely there was a young man involved. Her mother must have been overjoyed at her return yet angry for her disobedience.’

‘I would forgive Robert anything if only he walked through the door,’ Ann said, turning towards the window. Her icy blue eyes narrowed at the thought of being destitute.