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Chapters (73)
  1. Cover
  2. About the Author
  3. Also by Anita Frank
  4. Note to Readers
  5. Dedication
  6. Part One
  7. Chapter One
  8. Chapter Two
  9. Chapter Three
  10. Chapter Four
  11. Chapter Five
  12. Chapter Six
  13. Chapter Seven
  14. Chapter Eight
  15. Chapter Nine
  16. Chapter Ten
  17. Chapter Eleven
  18. Chapter Twelve
  19. Chapter Thirteen
  20. Chapter Fourteen
  21. Chapter Fifteen
  22. Chapter Sixteen
  23. Chapter Seventeen
  24. Chapter Eighteen
  25. Chapter Nineteen
  26. Chapter Twenty
  27. Chapter Twenty-One
  28. Chapter Twenty-Two
  29. Chapter Twenty-Three
  30. Chapter Twenty-Four
  31. Chapter Twenty-Five
  32. Chapter Twenty-Six
  33. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  34. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  35. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  36. Chapter Thirty
  37. Chapter Thirty-One
  38. Chapter Thirty-Two
  39. Chapter Thirty-Three
  40. Chapter Thirty-Four
  41. Chapter Thirty-Five
  42. Chapter Thirty-Six
  43. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  44. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  45. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  46. Chapter Forty
  47. Part Two
  48. Chapter Forty-One
  49. Chapter Forty-Two
  50. Chapter Forty-Three
  51. Chapter Forty-Four
  52. Chapter Forty-Five
  53. Chapter Forty-Six
  54. Chapter Forty-Seven
  55. Chapter Forty-Eight
  56. Chapter Forty-Nine
  57. Chapter Fifty
  58. Chapter Fifty-One
  59. Chapter Fifty-Two
  60. Chapter Fifty-Three
  61. Chapter Fifty-Four
  62. Chapter Fifty-Five
  63. Chapter Fifty-Six
  64. Chapter Fifty-Seven
  65. Chapter Fifty-Eight
  66. Chapter Fifty-Nine
  67. Chapter Sixty
  68. Acknowledgements
  69. Extract
  70. Chapter One
  71. Chapter Two
  72. Chapter Three
  73. About the Publisher

A sly smile plays across Lady Helen’s perfect features. ‘As I say, Gordon is prepared to go to any length to get his son. You are a single mother …’ she waves her hand over the field, ‘working every hour God sends, no doubt. How much attention can you really spare a young boy? So, I ask you this, Mrs Ellison – as a mother, wouldn’t you rather do what is best for Tom, rather than what is best for you? What if those German Jews had held onto their children, rather than sending them abroad, where would they be now? Dead in those awful camps, no doubt. But instead, those children, the children of those brave mothers, have life and a future, and opportunity to make something of themselves. Wouldn’t you want Tom to have the best in life?’

She makes her way back to the car and opens the driver’s door. Gwen bites her lip, refusing to watch.

‘Give him up, Mrs Ellison. I assure you he will be treasured, and we will go to every length to ensure that the situation is managed in such a way that no one need ever know the truth. You have my word on that. You will be free to start a new life, financially secure. And it can be a happy one if you choose to make it so.’ She rests her arm on the top of the doorframe to make her final appeal, her voice softening with persuasion. ‘Give your son the chance of a wonderful life – a life without financial concern and blessed with possibilities. It is the life every good parent dreams of for their child, and so few have the resources to make it happen … but we do, Gordon and I. Do what is best for your son, Gwen.’

Scooping her skirt under her, she drops into the leather driving seat and pulls the door to. Gwen shudders as the engine starts. She looks away as the car pulls out into the lane.

From up the field, Tom’s joyous whoops carry like bird calls on the wind, accompanied by Kip’s frantic barking as the two of them chase across the furrows. Gwen’s eyes fill with tears.

She will not let him go. The life he has with her is good enough. She refuses to entertain Helen Allingham’s arguments. She will not succumb to her manipulation. No matter what type of mother it might make her, she will fight for her son.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Jack

September 1939