Alice reread the note.

But Eadie was Ruth’s flesh and blood, her granddaughter.

How could she? And where has she taken her?

It finally sank in: Ruth was going to offer Eadie up for adoption.

As soon as Alice had recovered from the shock, she made her way unsteadily across the small landing to the top of the staircase. She clung to the rail, one hand passing urgently over the other as she made her way to Hope’s sitting room, the bloodstained nightgown flapping around her. She turned the handle and pitched through the doorway, nearly toppling over.

“Heavens, Alice, what on earth are you doing?” Hope said, startled.

She was already dressed in a floral housecoat, gray hair pulled neatly back, and she guided Alice over to a small armchair. “What are you thinking? Remember what the doctor said—it’s a full week in bed, two if you’re not recovered enough.”

“Where’s . . . where’s Eadie gone?”

“I was about to come and see you—”

“Where’s Mum taken her?” Alice could barely get the words out, nearly hyperventilating.

“I don’t know. She told me she was going for a walk,” Hope said uneasily.

“But when did she leave?”

Hope’s gaze dropped to the floor and then back at Alice. “I haven’t seen her since last night.”

“How could you let her go?” Alice said, face crumpling though her eyes were dry.

“I didn’t think anything of it at first, not until she didn’t come back, but then . . . then it was so late; I didn’t know what to do. I’m sorry, Alice,” she said, her voice breaking. “I kept looking in on you, but you were so exhausted . . . I couldn’t wake you.”

“Of course you should have woken me. It’s the first thing you should have done. What did she say when she left; can you try to remember? She must have said something.”

Alice examined Hope’s tear-filled eyes to see if they gave anything away, yet all she could think about was how they mirrored her father’s.

“She just said that she was taking her for a walk, to give you some rest. I was busy with the guests, and . . . I’m so sorry, Alice—” She began to sob.

“Don’t cry, just try and think about what she said. Come on, Hope. Did she say she was taking her home? We need to start looking.”

“You’re in no fit state to go anywhere.” Hope sniffed. “You need to go back to bed until the nurse comes back.”

“How can I go to bed? I need to find Eadie!” Alice sounded manic as she hauled herself to the edge of the armchair. “You know Mum never wanted me to keep the baby. She’s done something with her.”