He smiled and nodded, and they did the same as they went on their way. How smart the men were, in their suits or jackets and ties, shirts starched and pressed. And the lady companions in long summer dresses and pretty hats looked lovely. All were dressed in their Sunday best for the concert. Blackie liked that, approved of the effort they had made.

Within minutes he was walking down St Ives Mount, going to pick up Laura and Emma to escort them to the park for the concert.

He smiled to himself when the front door opened before he had even knocked. Obviously Laura had been looking out of the window, waiting for him, hidden by the lace curtains.

‘Well, aren’t ye the bonny lass this afternoon!’ he said, stepping into the house, his eyes on her. She wore a pretty pale pink dress, with a scooped-out neckline, long sleeves, a tight bodice and a pleated skirt that fell to her ankles. ‘What a lovely dress, Laura.’

She blushed and said, ‘Thank you for your compliment, Blackie. Emma made it for me last week.’

‘She’s clever, to be sure, and everything she makes seems unique,’ Blackie said, putting an arm around Laura and leading her into the parlour.

‘Just let me put on my hat,’ Laura said, picking it up from a chair and going over to a mirror. ‘She trimmed this too.’ Turning around, Laura smiled. ‘Do you like it?’

Blackie nodded, taking in the wide-brimmed straw hat decorated with pink roses on the band around it. ‘My English rose, Laura, that’s what ye are.’ He went over to her, held out his arm for her to take, and smiled down at her. ‘I’ve missed ye, sure and I have, and it’s grand to see ye.’

‘We’ve missed you too,’ Laura said, shyly. She stepped away, went to a side table and picked up her reticule and a pair of lace gloves. ‘We’d better go. You know you like to sit in the front seats.’

‘Where’s Emma?’ he exclaimed. ‘Is she still getting ready?’

Laura cleared her throat and after a moment she said, ‘Emma’s not coming, Blackie. She has a dress to finish for one of her ladies in the Towers. She says she must work.’

Blackie was taken aback. ‘But she promised David Kallinski she would meet him there! She shouldn’t do this to him. It’s not nice!’

‘I know. I also know work comes first with Emma. She’ll never change.’

‘I’d like to speak to her,’ Blackie said. ‘Right now.’

Laura nodded and went to open the door leading upstairs. ‘Emma,’ she called, ‘Blackie needs to have a word with you.’

‘I’ll be right there,’ Emma answered, and a moment later she came down the narrow stairs.

‘Hello, Blackie,’ she said. ‘You look smart in your suit. I bet it’s one of the new ready-mades, in’t it?’