Miranda nodded. ‘Yes, let’s. We’ll make a fresh start and who knows, we might even end up being friends, although I’m afraid I’m going to be away for most of the next two years. Still, I shall visit when I come home and you are always welcome to pop back to our house to see me when I’m there. Bill wishes to be remembered to you by the way.’ She smiled sweetly. ‘He’s getting so handsome, isn’t he?’

Ruby blushed, mainly because she had thought exactly the same thing the last time she had visited just a few weeks before. It had quite shaken her because she had never looked at a boy that way before and didn’t quite understand herself.

‘Anyway, getting back to this.’ Miranda waved her hand across the expensive gems. ‘Isn’t it quite dangerous to leave all these precious stones lying about? They must be worth hundreds of pounds.’

‘Oh, we don’t,’ Ruby assured her. ‘As soon as we’ve finished with them for the day, they are all safely locked away in the safe back there.’ She waved her hand towards the huge old metal safe that stood in one corner of the cellar. ‘And then Hermione locks the door to the workshop as well so they are doubly protected.’

The two girls returned to the sitting room soon after this and another pleasant hour passed before Mr Pembroke said reluctantly, ‘We really should be thinking of going now, Miranda, if we are to catch the next train back to New Street.’

‘Yes, Father.’ Miranda rose from her seat and after kissing her aunt and nodding goodbye to Ruby, they departed.

‘What did you make of that?’ Hermione asked when the door had closed behind them. ‘I’ve never known Miranda be so amicable. I must admit that although she’s my great-niece there have been times over the years when I’ve wanted to throw her across my lap and give her a good whacking.’

There was a twinkle of amusement in Ruby’s eyes as she looked back at her but she said not a word. As far as she was concerned, she didn’t really care what had brought about the change, she just hoped it lasted.

*