On Christmas Eve, Emma announced that Walter Dolby and his family would be dining with them on Christmas Day. Holly was mildly surprised but her mother seemed happy about it and so she was too. Ivy was now back in her old room although it would be some time before she was fit to resume work so Holly had suggested she should dine with them, but Ivy insisted she would be far happier eating in the kitchen with Cook. Holly wasn’t too pleased with the idea; while they’d been in London they had lived side by side and it felt strange to think that Ivy was going back to being a maid again.
On Christmas morning she woke and stretched luxuriously. She had forgotten how comfortable her own bed was and she had slept like a baby. After washing and pinning her hair up she dressed in the new day gown that Dora had made for her and for the first time she wore Richard’s locket about her neck.
‘That’s pretty,’ Emma commented when Holly joined her for breakfast and was amused to see the colour rise in Holly’s cheeks as her hand rose to finger it.
‘Thank you … It was, er, a present from a friend.’
Emma had a good idea who the friend might be but she refrained from saying anything as they tucked into the treats Cook had prepared them for breakfast.
Once they’d finished Emma, Holly and her grandfather gathered in the day room beside the Christmas tree to open their presents just as they had for as long as Holly could remember.
Holly was surprised to find that there was a gift for her from her grandfather, considering he’d already given her some money, and when she opened it she gasped with delight. It was a solid silver fob watch to clip on to the apron of her nurse’s uniform.
‘Oh, Grandfather, it’s beautiful, and how thoughtful of you,’ she told him, her eyes sparkling. ‘I shall be the envy of every nurse on the ward.’ Her grandfather really did seem to have changed, and she felt bad because it made the handkerchiefs and socks she had bought for him look very unimaginative but he seemed pleased enough with them. From her mother she had a lovely new coat in a rich red colour and again she was thrilled with it.
‘This will certainly keep the cold out, I shall wear it this morning,’ she said, smiling as she stroked the silky fur collar.
Her mother was also pleased with the pure silk scarf in autumn colours and the soft kid gloves that Emma had bought for her so Holly was in a happy mood as she skipped along to the kitchen shortly after to give Ivy and Cook their gifts before going to church with her mother.
However, she soon discovered that the mood wasn’t so light in the kitchen. Ivy was huddled in the fireside chair staring moodily into the flames roaring up the chimney and as Cook caught Holly’s eye she raised an eyebrow.
‘She’s proper down in the dumps,’ Cook told her as she ladled her special sage and onion stuffing into a baking tin. ‘Ain’t hardly had one word out of her all mornin’, I ain’t.’
Ivy looked up and gave her a weak smile but her eyes were dull.
‘Who would have thought I’d end up back here wi’ a baby on the way an’ no ring on me finger, eh?’ she said glumly. ‘An’ I had all them high hopes of makin’ somethin’ of meself an’ all. I can forget that now, can’t I? Who will ever want me wi’ an illegitimate baby? The more I think about it the more I think it’d be better all round if I just let it go for adoption.’
‘And didn’t we agree that we’d wait till the baby was here before you made that decision?’ Holly scolded.
Ivy lowered her eyes guiltily and nodded.
‘Then let’s have no more of that sort of talk. Now here, open your Christmas present and try to cheer up.’
Holly had to help her in the end as one arm was still strapped in a sling and when Ivy saw the thick woollen scarf and matching gloves she did manage a smile.
‘What wi’ everythin’ that’s gone on I ain’t had time to get you anythin’,’ she said with a frown but Holly merely laughed.
‘The best present I could have had was having you back with me for Christmas Day, and I’ve got that,’ she told her, giving her hand an affectionate squeeze.
Ivy promptly burst into tears again. ‘Oh dear,’ she blubbed, mopping at her streaming eyes with the hankie Holly pressed into her hand. ‘I seem to spend half me life cryin’ at the moment.’
‘Well just remember, you’re not alone,’ Holly assured her, which only made Ivy cry all the harder as she thought how lucky she was to have such a special friend.
Holly and her mother left for church soon after, with Holly feeling very festive and smart in her new red coat. The Christmas service was beautiful and as Holly listened to the choir boys singing carols in their snow-white surplices, their pure young voices echoing from the rafters and the light from the myriad candles that had been set all about the church reflecting in the stained-glass windows, she felt happy and at peace, although at one point she did find her mind wandering as she thought of a certain young doctor and wondered what he was doing.
When they returned the sound of laughter and merriment wafted into the hall from the drawing room.
‘Ah, it sounds like Walter and the children are here,’ Emma said as she hung her coat on the hall stand. ‘Although when I say children, Marcus, the oldest, is twenty. Then there’s Florence, who’s fourteen and Katie who’s nine. I’m sure you’ll like them.’
She took Holly to be introduced and just as she’d said, Holly did like them straight away. Marcus was quite tall like his father with fair hair and soft, twinkly grey eyes. Holly learned that he enjoyed working in the hatting industry with his father. It was hoped that one day when his father retired the business would pass to him but for now Marcus was keen to learn every aspect of the trade, which Holly thought was admirable. Unlike her brother, Florence was small and dainty with brown eyes the colour of warm treacle and a pretty smile. Then there was Katie, the baby of the family, who threw herself at Emma and hugged her soundly the second she entered the room. She was like a smaller version of Florence but slightly plumper and when she smiled Holly noticed her whole face lit up as bright as the candles on the Christmas tree.
‘Look what Santa brought for me, Auntie Em.’ Her face was animated as she pushed her new treasure towards Emma, who duly admired her new dolly.
‘Why, she’s beautiful,’ Emma said. ‘But now come and meet my baby. This is Holly, she’s been staying in London nursing as I told you but she’s home for Christmas.’
Katie clutched her doll as she stared solemnly at Holly for a moment then the smile was back as she declared, ‘I think Holly is a really pretty name. That’s what I’m going to call my new baby.’
‘Thank you. I shall take that as a compliment,’ Holly declared as she too admired Katie’s new addition.
The rest of the morning passed in a blur of enjoyment. Much to her surprise even her grandfather was relaxed and happy, which was taking quite some getting used to. She was still quite wary of him, half expecting him to revert at any moment to being the stern man she remembered but he remained amiable and in high spirits. Holly wished that Ivy would have joined them but she still insisted on staying in the kitchen with Cook. Holly noticed how at ease Walter Dolby and her mother seemed in each other’s company and it made her sad to think that they could never be more than friends. I’ll speak to Dora again when I get back to London, and see if she’s had any luck yet in tracing my father, she decided before giving herself up to enjoying herself.
Emma ushered them all into the dining room then; she had gone to great pains to lay the table earlier that morning and it looked truly beautiful. The crystal glasses sparkled as did the best silver cutlery and her finest china and all down the centre she had dotted bowls of freshly cut holly, their bright green leaves and startling red berries making a perfect contrast against the snow-white tablecloth.
She disappeared off into the kitchen then to help Cook bring in the meal. There was a perfectly cooked goose stuffed with Cook’s own stuffing recipe, mounds of creamy mashed potatoes and roast potatoes, and turnips along with Brussels sprouts, broccoli and a jug of thick gravy. This was followed by a huge Christmas pudding that Cook had had soaking in brandy for weeks and by the time they had finished Holly was so full she was sure she wouldn’t want to eat again for at least a month.
‘Oh goodness me, I haven’t enjoyed a meal like that for years,’ Walter declared, stroking his stomach after a second helping of Cook’s Christmas pudding and thick, yellow custard.
‘Well I hope you have some room left because there’s hot mince pies and coffee to come yet,’ Emma teased him and he groaned, much to everyone’s amusement.
Holly spent most of the afternoon playing tiddlywinks with Florence and Katie, until Walter and his family left at a little after six o’clock that evening with promises of coming back very soon.
‘Well, that went well,’ Holly said as she helped her mother to wash and dry the pots when everyone was gone. ‘And as you said Mr Dolby and his family are very nice indeed.’
‘Yes, they are. Katie is a little darling,’ Emma answered wistfully. ‘I’ve grown quite fond of her over the last few months.’
‘I can see why, although she’s a terrible cheat at tiddlywinks.’ Holly grinned. They had all been invited to the Dolby’s for lunch the following day but while Emma and her father had accepted the invitation, Holly had chosen to stay at home with Ivy. She was still very fragile both emotionally and physically and Holly was keen to spend as much time as she could with her before she had to leave to go back to London the following day.
That night she curled up on the end of Ivy’s bed and asked, ‘So will you be all right? When I go back to London, I mean.’
Ivy shrugged. ‘Of course … but if you should see Jeremy—’
Holly sternly stopped her from going any further. ‘If I see Jeremy I shall tell him in no uncertain terms what a cad he is,’ she answered truthfully. ‘And I most certainly won’t tell him where you are.’ When she saw the stricken expression on Ivy’s face she went on in a softer voice, ‘You have to try to put him from your mind now, Ivy, and accept that he was just using you as he uses all the women whose affections he toys with. He’s probably already got some other poor fool to fall into his trap if he isn’t still milking Lady Hamilton for all he can get that is.’
‘I know you’re right.’ Ivy sniffed. ‘But I loved ’im so much and I was so happy in London that I can’t believe I won’t see ’im no more. I loved being a part of the suffragette movement an’ all. But I suppose once I’ve ’ad this baby and I get it adopted I can always go back and start over again.’
‘You could if that’s what you really want,’ Holly agreed. ‘But let’s just wait and see, eh? Meantime at least I know you’re safe here. I think Mother and Cook will quite like having you to fuss over. In fact, you’ll be in danger of being spoiled.’
Ivy shook her head. ‘It’s only till these ribs an’ me arm are healed. I can’t stand sittin’ about all day wi’ nothin’ to do.’
Holly grinned before retiring to her own room. Exhausted from the day, she quickly slipped into sleep and dreamed of her and Richard wandering hand in hand across a lush green field dotted with wild flowers, with the sun shining down on them. He looked at her and smiled tenderly, squeezing her hand. Holly smiled back, and he bent to press a soft kiss on her lips. The dream felt so real that when she woke, she felt almost tearful when she realised she was alone.
The next day Holly said her goodbyes to her mother and grandfather before they set off for lunch with the Dolbys.
‘I wish you didn’t have to go back so soon, darling,’ Emma said tearfully as she gripped her daughter’s hands tightly in her own. ‘It feels as if you only just got here and now you’re leaving again.’
‘I know, but I’ll be back just as soon as I can,’ Holly promised as they hugged each other fiercely. The goodbyes never seemed to get any easier.
It was her grandfather’s turn to say goodbye then and she saw that he was struggling to know what to say.
‘Goodbye, m’dear,’ he muttered eventually. He paused; there was so much that he wanted to say but he found that the words wouldn’t come so instead he simply cleared his throat and said, ‘It, er … it’s been good to have you home. And don’t get worrying about Ivy. We’ll take good care of her.’
She merely nodded. She was too full of emotion to speak but she did stand on tiptoe and give him a quick peck on the cheek, which made him blush furiously before he ushered her mother away. Holly then settled down to spend what time was left with Ivy before she had to catch the train back to London.
Ivy was in a tearful mood. ‘Do you really have to go back today?’ she asked.
‘I’m afraid so otherwise Matron will have my guts for garters,’ Holly told her with a smile. ‘And seeing as there’s only one train running today I shall have to be at the station early. I don’t want to miss it. But you’ll be fine, Ivy, and I’ll come to see you again just as soon as I can get a little time off. I might even just come for the day one Sunday.’
Ivy sniffed and nodded and both studiously avoiding any mention of Jeremy they tried to enjoy the rest of the time they had. Cook did them a wonderful lunch of cold meat left over from Christmas Day and pickles, followed by mince pies and Christmas cake.
‘Crikey, I’m so full I don’t want to move now.’ Holly grinned once she had carried the dirty pots through to the kitchen and washed them up for Cook, who was enjoying a glass of sherry with her feet up by the fire. ‘But unfortunately I’ve got to go and pack my case and make a move.’
‘I’ll come to the station to see you off,’ Ivy offered but Holly shook her head.
‘I don’t think that’s a very good idea. You’re still not able to walk too far with those broken ribs,’ she pointed out. And so half an hour later Ivy trailed miserably behind Holly to the front door.
‘I’m goin’ to miss you so bloody much!’ she declared.
Holly tried to make her smile. ‘It won’t be for long, I promise. Everything will work out, you’ll see. But now I really do have to go. Take care of yourself, Ivy.’ And with a huge lump in her throat she set off, blinking back fresh tears as she made her way to the station.
It was bitterly cold and dark by the time she arrived back in London and a thick smog hung across the streets. She found her way cautiously back to the flat, barely able to see more than a hand in front of her. As she inserted the key into the lock a wave of loneliness swept through her making her eyes smart. The rooms above would be cold and quiet with no welcoming fire to greet her and no one to talk to. Even when Ivy had moved out she had at least been close by, but now she was truly alone in the big city and it felt daunting.