‘I may not be taking part in protest marches, but I can make a difference in my own home and that is at least as important.’ Ursula drained the cup and put it on the table. ‘And now I’m going to go upstairs before inquisitive young people see me and start asking questions.’ She scooped up her coat and scarf and left the kitchen, leaving her shoes where she had discarded them, and the cup on the table for Isobel to clear, even though the scullery sink was less than a dozen paces away.

Isobel sat down and stared at the fire in the belly of the range for a few minutes, feeling its warmth before getting to her feet again. ‘Just wait till the girls around here get to know I’m getting a pay rise and some more time off. That’s going to set the cat among the pigeons and no mistake. I wonder if Mrs Black has any idea what she might have started.’

And then she picked up Ursula’s abandoned shoes and set them down neatly beside the back door, ready for polishing.

Chapter 17

April 1911

‘I have decided,’ announced Ursula at breakfast on Saturday, the day before Ann’s birthday, ‘that I am not going to eat meat any more. It disagrees with me.’

‘No more bacon for Sunday breakfast?’ said Finlay immediately. ‘Or sausages?’

Ursula shook her head. ‘Not for me, but you can still have these things.’

‘Or haggis,’ he persisted, ‘or duck at Christmas?’ He was just warming up. ‘Or roast pork and apple—’

‘Finlay, stop,’ demanded John. ‘There is no need for you to be concerned if your own food is unaffected.’

Ursula was surprised. John had initially thought that changing what she was eating would be a short-term matter, and he hadn’t made a fuss about it, but recently he had said he wanted her to see a doctor. Clearly her refusal to seek medical advice had now been accepted.

He continued. ‘Ursula has researched this, and has, indeed, acquired a new book on the subject. We have discussed it thoroughly and I agree that it is the best way forward.’

Ursula frowned. ‘You’ve seen the book?’

‘Naturally. I am aware of everything that goes on in this house.’

This was absolutely not the case, and they both knew it.

Finlay sighed. ‘Vegetables and more vegetables.’

‘Enough!’ John was displeased.

‘What about birthday food?’ said Ann, in a small voice. ‘What about tomorrow?’

Ursula smiled. ‘There will of course be your favourite afternoon tea. Are you looking forward to being thirteen?’

‘I am. A bit, anyway.’

‘That doesn’t sound very excited to me.’

‘My friends have all been given special gifts on their birthdays, but Finlay has been telling me for months that I will be getting a set of encyclopaedias.’