‘Let me out. Do you hear me, Salter?’ A deep chuckle was her only answer, and the sound of retreating footsteps. Georgie began to whimper and Effie picked him up again, giving him a reassuring cuddle. ‘It’s all right, sweetheart. Mama is just cross with that silly man.’ Georgie hiccuped and plugged his thumb into his mouth, gazing up at her with trusting eyes. Effie stroked his cheek and forced a smile. She was furious with herself for allowing Salter to trick her, but she had wanted desperately to believe that she had found Tom. There was nothing she could do other than sit and wait. She gazed at the once so familiar surroundings and saw that little had changed. Everything was in its place, but a film of dust covered the shelves and the stove had not been black-leaded for some time. The pots and pans looked as though they could do with a good wash and the brasses were dull and in need of a polish. The stale odour of tobacco smoke and neat spirits filled the air and ash flowed from the range onto the unwashed floorboards.
