The police were interested to learn that Gina was still on the run in the county and had been hiding out in a very respectable, if somewhat eccentric, little hotel in St Annes.

‘The last place we’d have looked for her really,’ said the sergeant to whom Tom, Ellen and the Hathersage sisters told their story. ‘She could have stayed with you for ever, Miss Hathersage, and we’d never have found her. As it is, she’s broken cover, so to speak, and we’ll alert our colleagues in the Force to keep a lookout for her.’

‘You won’t hurt her, will you?’ said Ellen. ‘She’s younger than me – only eighteen – and not violent or anything. She’s just … naughty, really.’

‘Dealing in stolen goods is a great deal more than “naughty”,’ the sergeant said severely.

‘Yes, yes, of course …’

‘She’s a sweet girl who’s lost her way,’ said Ruth to the sergeant, using the same tone as he had. ‘She’s been misled by a scoundrel, as I understand it. I won’t say she was a good worker at our hotel, because she tended to laziness, but she has the potential for great kindness, and the world needs a little more kindness, wouldn’t you agree? Same for all the creatures of the earth, sea and sky.’

The sergeant looked taken aback but Ruth’s viewpoint was inarguable.

Outside the police station, Tom and Ellen said goodbye to the Hathersage sisters, hugging them and promising to keep in touch.

‘I just thank God you found her, Mary,’ said Ellen. ‘Who knows what trouble she’d have fallen into otherwise.’

‘Well, let us pray she’s not fallen into bad trouble now,’ said Mary. ‘We’ll telephone your young man, Edward, at the farm and leave a message if we hear owt of her.’

‘And we’ll let you know, too.’

‘Good luck, love, and goodbye,’ they called as Ellen and Tom made their way to the train home.

Ellen and Tom sat on the train from St Annes to Preston, feeling defeated. Gina was somewhere close by, they were sure, but just where?

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO