Millie's Escape

<p><strong style=color: rgba(14 16 26 1)>1885 North Devon England</strong></p><p><span style=color: rgba(14 16 26 1)>It is winter in the small Devon village of Brampford Speke and a typhoid epidemic has claimed many victims. Millie aged fifteen is doing her best to nurse her mother and grandmother as well as look after Jonathan her five-year-old brother. One morning Millie is horrified to find that her mother Rosemary has passed away during the night and is terrified the same fate may befall her granny Emily.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(14 16 26 1)>When Emily's neighbours inform her that Sir Edgar Grantley has also perished from the deadly disease the old woman is distraught for the kindly gentleman has been their benefactor for many years much to the disgust of his wife Lilliana. Emily is well aware that Sir Edgar's generosity has long been a bone of contention between him and his spouse and she is certain Lady Grantley will evict them from their cottage at the first opportunity.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(14 16 26 1)>As she racks her brain for a solution Emily remembers her father came from Hartford a seaside village in North Devon and had relatives there. Desperate and too weak to travel she insists Millie and Jonathan leave home and make their way to Hartford before the embittered woman can cause trouble for them. There she tells them they must throw themselves on the mercy of their family and hope they will offer them a home.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(14 16 26 1)>With Emily promising to follow them as soon as possible the two youngsters reluctantly set off on their fifty-mile journey on foot and in the harshest of weather conditions. Emily warns them to be cautious for she suspects Lady Grantley may well pursue them to seek revenge for a situation that has existed between the two families for many years.</span></p>