The mythical sister in England had been a necessity, so had the fact that her father was dead.
‘He is dead as far as I am concerned,’ Elvina justified herself. ‘Half the time he is not aware of my existence and for the rest he believes what Juanita tells him. He died when my mother died and therefore I have no one, no one at all.’
There was a sudden hint of tears in her eyes and then she smiled.
‘I am Elvina Nobody from Nowhere!’ she told her reflection and suddenly she was laughing.
Laughing at the adventure of it all, at the excitement of being at sea and knowing that England lay ahead. England – and perhaps a chance of meeting her mother’s relations.
She put out her hand and touched the locket. It was safe where she had put it, hidden between her breasts and she looked down at the
