The question took Holly by surprise. She had hoped that her employer need never know what a run-down area she was living in at present but now she found that she couldn’t lie.

‘Actually, we hoped to rent a small flat or a house but when we arrived in London we found that they were all too expensive so we ended up renting an attic room in Soho. Just for now,’ she added hastily. ‘Ivy is working too now, so soon …’ She broke off when she saw the corners of Miss May’s mouth lift with amusement.

‘Your friend is called Ivy?’

Holly sighed. ‘Yes, I know … Holly and Ivy, we often get teased about it. We were both born in December and our birthdays are only two weeks apart so I think our mothers must have decided to give us a festive name.’ Thankfully the conversation was stopped from going any further when the shop bell tinkled and a number of customers descended on them all at once and for the rest of the afternoon they were rushed off their feet.

Holly had forgotten all about their conversation when Miss May finally turned the sign on the door to ‘Closed’. Her feet were throbbing and all she wanted was to get home to a nice hot cup of tea and put her feet up. Miss May seemed to have other ideas, however, when she asked bluntly, ‘Did you run away from home, dear?’

Holly looked shocked but after a moment she sadly shook her head. ‘Not exactly,’ she muttered miserably, and suddenly the whole sorry story came tumbling out.

‘So you’re telling me that because you wouldn’t marry an older widower who your grandfather had chosen for you, he ordered you to leave?’ Miss May looked incredulous as Holly lowered her head.

‘That’s about the long and the short of it.’

Miss May sat down heavily on a chair close to the counter and studied Holly closely. She had taken a great liking to this young lady: she was kind and considerate and nothing was ever too much trouble for her, which was probably why she was so popular with everyone who entered the shop. She considered herself to be a very good judge of character and wondered if she dare voice what she was thinking. Silence stretched between them for a time until eventually she said tentatively, ‘I might be able to help you regarding your accommodation.’

Holly looked bemused.

‘The thing is,’ Miss May went on, ‘above this shop is a little flat. It’s been empty for some time unfortunately so I can’t say exactly what state it’s in. I let it out for a while but the tenants were dreadful and eventually I gave them notice to leave. It’s stood empty ever since because although I’m addressed as Miss May I’m actually a married woman and myself and my husband have a house in Mayfair, so you see I have no use for it, but it might be just the job for you and your friend. Would you like to take a look at it?’