She’d cried all her tears and now felt empty and numb. She was glad that both Harry and Beth had got a few hours off to be with her. Ed had wanted to come but Mr Oliver couldn’t spare him. ‘I’ll be thinking of you, Lizzie,’ he’d told her. ‘Madge says you’re to come to us whenever you like… we’re your family now.’ Lizzie had thanked him but she’d decided that she would stay with Beth’s family once she’d settled things with her aunt. Mrs Court had come to the funeral and told her she was welcome to stay with them for as long as she liked, which was a relief since her aunt was still ignoring her and Lizzie knew she wanted her out of the house. ‘Come on,’ Harry said, squeezing her hand as they left the churchyard. ‘I’ll take you home and then I can cart your stuff round to Beth’s house.’ ‘Yes, please stay until everyone else has gone,’ Lizzie said. ‘I have to talk to my aunt and I’m not looking forward to it. If you’re there, we shan’t come to blows…’ ‘She’d better not touch you.’ Harry looked so fierce that for the first time in days Lizzie felt like smiling.
