Now she brought Eadie’s blanket up to her face and inhaled. It was losing its scent, and she worried that the image of her baby’s face was also fading, slowly slipping away—just like the chance of ever finding her. She needed to try something else, and quickly, putting all physical discomfort aside. She’d had no success with any of Joanna’s suggestions, and there was no news from the police. Of course she would keep visiting the foundling hospitals and child welfare organizations whenever she could, just in case.

Penny’s children woke up, squealing and chatting in the room beneath hers.

A gold light flowed through the half-closed curtains to the chest beneath the window, highlighting the stack of newspapers on top. She’d checked through all the local and national newspapers, and there were so many adverts for babies that she’d become totally overwhelmed. The Sunday Dispatch Wartime Aunts Scheme promised to organize at least two adoptions a week, and other regional newspapers carried adverts for organizations offering to do the same.

One name had kept coming up: that of a journalist, Olive Melville Brown, who had written the piece in the Daily Mail that Joanna Swift had shown her. That article appeared to be part of a bigger story that the journalist was following. As she stared at the papers, Alice realized that Olive probably knew plenty more, perhaps even the names of well-known baby farmers. And that the newspaper’s library would be a good resource for her too, if they would only allow her to look.

Alice couldn’t believe she hadn’t thought of it sooner. She dressed as quickly as she could; she would tell Penny where she was going, then she’d visit the newspaper’s offices to see if she could find Olive.

Fourteen

“That’s Alice,” Ursula whispered, nudging Theo with her elbow.

He was as taken aback by her action as he was by the young woman who stood talking with another woman behind the counter of the small café. Alice was surprisingly tall and strong-looking, with a mass of wavy blond hair. Her attractive face was devoid of makeup; in fact, she appeared in every way the opposite of his petite and elegant fiancée.

“Alice!” Ursula called, her voice brimming with relief. “Finally, we’ve found you!”

As Alice looked up and saw them, her mouth fell open. “Ursula . . . what on earth are you doing here?”

“What are you doing here is more to the point!” Ursula said, as she embraced her.

When Alice moved away, she gave her a weak smile. “It’s a long story.”

“Well, make it a short one.”

Alice glanced at Theo.

“Alice, let me introduce you to Theo Bloom—”

He smiled and offered her his hand.

“He’s visiting from our New York office.”

Alice looked startled and hesitated, then she shook his hand. “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Bloom.”