EXCERPT :

Half a mile away, in a boat largely occupied with wealthy old women clutching onto their minks and fancy leather bags, Nesta Villiers sat staring across the ice fields, wondering if anyone was ever going to come and rescue them. The baby in her arms was growing restless, and as she wrapped her coat around him and snuggled him against her, she could feel him shivering. She looked up and noticed one of the old women sitting opposite her, giving her an indulgent smile -her crinkly eyes twinkling as if some long distant memory had come to life, and warmed her in these horrific times.