‘That’s doubtful when you’re living in France,’ Ruby pointed out.

‘Ah, but I won’t be there forever, will I?’

Miranda sounded so kind that Ruby felt a stab of guilt. Perhaps she had misjudged the girl and she really had changed for the better? They chattered on about the designs for a while and when Miranda finally left shortly after lunch, Ruby saw her to the door.

‘Don’t forget, when I come home from school, we’ll start to look for your mother in earnest,’ Miranda told her and Ruby smiled. ‘Meantime, I’ll see you when you come next week. You did say you were coming to Father’s house, didn’t you?’

‘I’ll be there; I have to deliver some presents,’ Ruby told her and once Miranda had gone, she found that she was smiling.

‘Miranda was in a good mood again, wasn’t she?’ Hermione commented when Ruby returned to the sitting room.

‘Yes she was, I’m beginning to think she’s really changed.’

‘Hm, we’ll see,’ Hermione answered doubtfully, before turning her attention back to the newspaper she’d been reading.

*

The following week Ruby spent a morning in Mr Pembroke’s shop in the jewellery quarter and was surprised to see how busy they were. Many wealthy people were coming in looking for gifts for their loved ones for Christmas, and Ruby was shocked at the amount of money they spent.

‘We have a very elite selection of clients,’ Mr Cushing, the manager of the shop, told her after a gentleman with an enormous moustache bought a diamond ring that cost far more than Ruby could have earned in years. He grinned and went on, ‘And the gentleman who just left is a regular customer, although I doubt very much that the ring he bought was for his wife, if you know what I mean?’

Ruby stared at him blankly for a moment then realising what he meant she blushed prettily. Mr Cushing laughed. Ruby was a pleasure; she was so naive and pleasant and was proving to be a great favourite with the customers, as were her designs.

When the shop eventually closed, Ruby hopped into a horse-drawn cab and took the opportunity to visit Mr Pembroke’s house in Erdington to deliver the small gifts she had bought. She had also bought gifts for Maddie, Mrs Petty and Nell, which she would leave with Miss Wood who had promised to make sure they were delivered to them.