‘And neither did me and Walter when we first got into the business, so that’s where I can come in. I do most of the designs for our jewellery collections and I’d be happy to pass on what I know to you as well as teach you everything else that’s involved in gold- and silversmithing. If you want to learn, that is?’ Hermione searched Ruby’s face for a reaction. Suddenly the girl’s eyes lit up, quite transforming her small face, and in that moment, Hermione saw that here was a beauty in the making.

‘Oh, yes . . . I’d love that,’ Ruby breathed hardly daring to believe her luck.

‘Right, then you’d best be prepared to work,’ Hermione warned. ‘I’m a hard taskmaster an’ I don’t suffer fools gladly so you can have today to settle in an’ tomorrow we’ll begin your lessons.’ With that she swept from the room leaving Ruby to stare after her. And in that moment Ruby decided to put her childhood and all that happened behind her as best she could.

*

That evening Ruby dined with Hermione in the small dining room. The meal Mrs B had cooked for them was simple – lamb chops, mashed potatoes and vegetables from Hermione’s own garden – but it was very tasty. It was followed by a bread and butter pudding and custard that reminded Ruby of the ones her mother used to make, but she wouldn’t allow herself to be sad. A new life was about to open up for her and she intended to make the best of it.

As they were sitting over coffee, Hermione asked, ‘So, this woman who took you to her home the night you ran away, her name wouldn’t happen to be Madeleine Bamber of Vittoria Street by any chance, would it?’

Ruby looked mildly surprised that Hermione knew her. ‘Why, yes, it would actually. Do you know of her?’ Ruby had told Hermione how Maddie had tried to set her on a life of crime and that she hadn’t liked it.

‘I know of her.’ Hermione dabbed at her lips with her napkin. ‘And don’t think you are the only girl, or boy for that matter, that she has set on the path to crime. She’s well known in the neighbourhood and has many people, young ones usually, that will steal for her.’

‘Really? B-but she was so kind to me,’ Ruby said waveringly. ‘She took me in when I had nowhere to go. I would have been on the streets if it wasn’t for her.’