The thought was too much to bear. Tears cascaded down her cheeks. In just over a month she had lost all that was dear to her. Her beautiful home, her loving parents, and the best friends a girl could ever wish for. Only her feelings towards Felix were more than those of a friend. She had often found herself daydreaming that he would walk up behind her and wrap his arms around her, kissing her softly on the cheek. She felt her tummy flutter. She had never felt or looked at a lad before, as she did Felix. He was special, and not just because he had come to her aid when the soldiers had entered the carriage, but because of the way he looked at her, as though she were the only girl in the world. A half-smile twitched her lips. Even Adele had noticed that Felix paid Roz more attention than anyone else. Her smile faded. He didn’t know where she was, and she doubted the Haggartys were about to fess up to the people at Dovercourt any time soon. She would have to see if she could find some way of earning a few pennies to pay for a stamp so that she might write a letter to Dovercourt, letting them know of the Haggartys’ deceit, and of her new address. She brightened. There was always a way out, and once again, it was Felix who had shown her the way, even if he hadn’t been there to do so in person. It didn’t matter, though; just thinking of him had been enough. Wiping the tears from her cheeks, she turned away from the river and back towards the Haggartys’. She would keep her nose clean, do as she was told, and wait for Felix to come to her rescue.

CHAPTER TWO

It was Christmas Eve and little had changed at Dovercourt. Adele had been the next to leave, having been chosen by a farming family who were after companionship for their elderly mother, as well as someone to keep an eye on the little ones.

‘I’m sure they would have picked you in a heartbeat had they been after a farmhand,’ she had assured Felix as she packed her suitcase. ‘There’s bound to be someone out there after a big strong lad to help out. You mark my words, you’ll not be here much longer.’

It had been a few days since Adele’s departure and Felix was in the canteen toying with a plate of kippers when he saw a grim-looking Reggie Jones striding towards him, brandishing a letter.

Felix opened the letter and read its contents, then looked up sharply at Mr Jones.

‘This is from a firm of solicitors,’ he stated, nonplussed, before handing the letter back to Mr Jones, who cast an eye over the address at the top of the letter.