‘They’re beautiful,’ she breathed.

Hermione smiled with satisfaction. She was proud to know that many of the shops’ bestsellers came from her designs. ‘Some of these will be fashioned in silver, others in gold,’ she explained. ‘And many of them will be set with precious stones. This one, for instance’ – she pointed to the bird – ‘I should like that to have a tiny sapphire for the eye, and this one’ – now she pointed to the leaf – ‘will be crafted in gold and will have minute diamonds that will resemble dewdrops on it. The silver brooches will be set with semi-precious stones like topaz, amethyst and slightly less expensive gems.’

She turned her attention back to the ring she was holding then. ‘These tiny prongs that you see are called tines and once the stone has been chosen to suit the mount, they will hold it in place. And yes, I think you are right, a diamond would suit it nicely. This diamond is approximately one carat in weight so a goodly size, although the real money comes in when you go over two carats.’

‘It’s much more complicated than I thought,’ Ruby confessed, wondering how she was ever going to remember it all. But it was the designs that really captured her imagin-ation. She had always loved to draw and without thinking she blurted out, ‘Have you ever thought of making animal designs for the brooches?’ And then promptly blushed for being so forward.

Hermione, however, didn’t seem to mind at all. ‘What sort of animals did you have in mind?’

‘Well . . .’ Ruby spread her hands. ‘Most people like animals so you could do many different sorts – cats and dogs and even wild animals like panthers an’ things.’

‘Hm, you could have something there.’ Hermione looked thoughtful. ‘Why don’t you try your hand at doing a few now?’

And so, feeling very self-conscious, Ruby sat down next to her and after taking up some coloured pens and paper she began to think. Within minutes she had her first idea and soon she had forgotten that Hermione was even there until the woman said, ‘I think we will stop for a tea break now. It’s gone eleven o’clock. Mrs B will have it ready for us.’

‘Oh!’ Ruby had been so engrossed in what she was doing that she had lost all track of time, but she couldn’t remember a morning when she had enjoyed herself so much.

Hermione came to stand behind her and after placing her spectacles on the end of her nose she smiled. ‘Some of these are actually very good,’ she praised. ‘Although they are rather out of proportion. But that is nothing to worry about. In future, though, I suggest you scale them to the size of the jewellery you imagine them becoming.’

Ruby flushed at the praise, and side by side they climbed the stairs to go and join Mrs B for their break.