Ruby shrugged. ‘I’ve always been small. Me mam says . . . or said, that I shouldn’t be ’cause I eat like a horse.’

The woman smiled and Ruby asked, ‘But what am I to call you?’

‘My name is Mrs Bamber.’

‘So you ’ave a husband then? Won’t he mind yer bringin’ me home?’

‘No, I don’t have a husband anymore,’ the woman informed her, although Ruby didn’t think she sounded very sad about the fact.

‘Well, I could do some cleanin’ for you,’ Ruby offered quickly. ‘An’ I’m a very good cook.’

‘Hm, we’ll see. There are other things you can do to help me but we won’t talk about that just now.’ Mrs Bamber fell silent then so Ruby wisely settled back in the seat clutching her bundle as the train rattled on its way.

Eventually they drew into the station and Ruby hurriedly followed her saviour onto the platform. Once again there were very few people about but it was very late at night by then so Ruby supposed it was hardly surprising.

She followed Mrs Bamber out into the street where a hackney cab stood, the horse munching steadily on a nosebag and a thick blanket thrown across his back. It had started to snow again and Ruby felt sorry for the poor creature.

‘Vittoria Street, if you please,’ Mrs Bamber told the driver as she clambered up the steps into the carriage and he nodded before going to remove the horse’s supper. The gas lamps cast pools of eerie yellow light onto the snow as the horse clip-clopped over the cobbles and Ruby stared from the window with interest. She had never been to Birmingham before and was surprised to see how big it was. There were rows and rows of houses with shops dotted in amongst them everywhere she looked but the harrowing experience she’d had with her father and the long day spent on her feet was catching up with her now and as she leant back against the grimy leather squabs she stifled a yawn.

‘Don’t worry. We haven’t far to go now,’ Mrs Bamber told her and Ruby managed a weak smile.

Eventually the horse drew to halt in front of a row of houses that seemed to stretch into the sky and as Mrs Bamber got out of the carriage and paid the driver, Ruby hastily followed her and glanced up and down the street. Further along she could see more rows of shops but it was so dark that she couldn’t see what they sold.