Orphans of War. Leah Fleming

voice had just shattered hopes of a cheerful Christmas. Mrs Batty was hovering, curious.

      ‘What is it, Mrs Belfield? Not bad news? Not Master Gerald? You’ve gone white,’ she said.

      ‘No, it’s not him. I’m afraid it’s Maddy’s parents. Their ship was overdue, reports are coming in that it went down en route home in the Atlantic, somewhere off the coast of Ireland…enemy fire. They’re not among the survivors…Oh dear God, what am I going to tell the poor child? It’s almost Christmas Eve!’