It was almost two hours later when Lavinia returned and Cissie, who had been waiting, almost pounced on her the second she set foot through the door. Seeing the agitated state the woman was in, Lavinia raised an eyebrow.

‘Is something wrong, dear?’ she asked as she took the hat pin from her hat and laid it on the hall table.

Lavinia Huntley had endured so many heartaches over the years but lately there was a glow about her and she was always smiling, no doubt because of the love her husband-to-be bestowed on her. William Dewhurst was the first man who had ever been truly kind to her and now everyone was hoping that from now on she would find the happiness she deserved.

By now, the younger children had finished their lessons and were scuttling about the place so Cissie whispered, ‘Not wrong exactly, but I would like a private word if you could spare the time.’

‘Of course I could.’ Lavinia smiled apologetically at William who was close behind her and he instantly set off for the kitchen in search of a cool drink as Lavinia ushered Cissie into the drawing room.

‘Out with it then,’ she said with a smile. ‘There’s clearly something on your mind.’

And so Cissie tentatively told her of what she was hoping to do and Lavinia listened closely.

‘Well, I can quite understand your reasons for wanting to do this,’ she said. ‘But you must realise that it’s not going to be easy. It all happened such a long time ago and so much has changed since then.’

Cissie screwed her apron into a ball. ‘I know that, but I don’t think I’ll ever rest easy if I don’t at least find out if my baby lived to be adopted, and if so, where he went.’

Lavinia tapped her lip as she gazed thoughtfully from the window. ‘Then we must do something about it. Will you give me a little time to think on it?’

‘Of course – and thank you. You can have no idea how much this means to me.’

And with that, Cissie turned and left the room with a wide smile on her face. Suddenly it was as if she could finally see a tiny little ray of hope at the end of a very long dark tunnel.

Chapter Thirty-One

‘Do you know what, Maggie, I think I might go early and surprise Richard. We agreed on three o’clock this afternoon but if I go now I might be able to persuade him to take me out to lunch.’

Maggie frowned to herself as she finished tidying Kitty’s bed. ‘Are you sure that’s wise? He may be working and not wish to be interrupted.’

‘Oh, he won’t mind if it’s me disturbing him,’ Kitty answered airily as she began to hunt about for her bag. She had never been the tidiest of people and since she’d had Maggie to tidy up after her she’d become even worse.