“She helped find homes for more than six thousand children in the last war, and she founded the National Children Adoption Association—”

“That’s right,” Alice said, remembering the certificates in Joanna Swift’s office. “I saw her name recently. Something to do with the Adoption Act.”

“It was another of her achievements—getting the Adoption Act passed in nineteen twenty-six—and lobbying the home secretary to set up a department on child services. If it wasn’t for Miss Andrew, there would be far more baby farmers than there are now.”

“And there’s been no one like her since?”

“Not just that; as you know from my stories, the nineteen thirty-nine Adoption of Children Act she fought so hard to get through was never passed. When war broke out, the bill was set aside, until now. Too late for your friend.”

“I know, but you’ve done such a good job of drawing people’s attention to it.”

Olive gave a small smile. “I appreciate your confidence, Alice, but have you seen the news lately? Even though we like to believe it’s women and children first, the money is being spent on munitions and transport; it’s going to the weapons that everyone hopes are going to win the war for us, not the innocents.”

Alice recognized the determination in Olive’s voice. “Why do you care so much?” she asked.

Olive’s mouth twitched; the beginnings of a smile. “Let’s say I know what happens when there aren’t any formal adoptions in place.”

She gave Alice a meaningful look, and Alice was about to ask her what she meant when Olive said, “What information can you give me about the mother . . . or the child?”

“She’s a baby, a newborn,” Alice said, a lump forming in her throat. “I have the date and place of birth, and the date of the handover. Is that enough?”

“It’s a start.”

“She was given to a couple from London.”

“That makes sense, they usually work in pairs.”

“Are they real couples?”

“Sometimes, sometimes not. They might just pretend to be doting parents.”

Alice’s mind wandered, goose bumps tingling up her spine. “Will you help me, then?”

“All I can do is see if my contacts might know of anyone operating in the area. They do tend to work regionally, so that could be useful. And I’d like to help with your book, so I’ll have a chat with my editor to see what information I can give you—on the record. The more people who know about these monsters, the better.”

“Of course.”

“Can I reach you at the Partridge office?”

Alice had been relaxing into her chair, smiling with relief, until with Olive’s words she realized she would have to take Theo up on his offer if she was to engage Olive’s help. But how would she have time while she was looking for Eadie?

“Well, Alice?”