Mother’s Only Child
Anne Bennett
This novel is entirely a work of fiction.
The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
Published by HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 1 London Bridge Street London SE1 9GF
This paperback edition 2005
SIXTH EDITION
First published in Great Britain by HarperCollinsPublishers 2005
Copyright © Anne Bennett 2005
Anne Bennett asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
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Ebook Edition © NOVEMBER 2009 ISBN: 9780007355341
Version: 2017-09-13
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To my youngest daughter Tamsin, with all my love
Table of Contents
Maria Foley almost ran across The Square that day in late July 1941. The faint summer breeze riffled through her long wavy hair, tied back loosely with a ribbon the same green as her eyes. Bella McFee, catching sight of the girl, stepped out of the post office-cum-grocery shop when she saw the envelope in Maria’s hand.
‘It’s come then?’
‘Aye,’ Maria said. She tried to keep the elation out of her