She entered the house through the back way as she always did and Cook’s face lit up at the sight of her. ‘Why, I swear you look a bit more grown-up every time I see you,’ she declared as Ruby placed the gifts she had bought for them on the table. Ruby was wearing a very smart costume that she had recently bought in a lovely shade of forest green that complemented her figure, and over it she was wearing a warm, fur-lined cloak.

Cook hurried over to the stove to lift the kettle that was singing gently on the range and make some tea. At that moment Bill strode into the kitchen and stopped short at the sight of Ruby, suddenly seeing her as a young woman for the first time. He had always thought of her as a child and it was a shock to see her looking so grand.

‘You, er . . . look nice,’ he said quietly, aware that he was dressed in his oldest clothes as he had been cleaning the stables out.

‘Thank you. There’s a little gift for you here,’ Ruby told him and he noticed that she even sounded different now. Hermione’s elocution lessons were paying off. ‘But you mustn’t open it till Christmas morning.’

He felt even more confused at that as he stuttered, ‘That’s really kind of you . . . but I’m afraid I haven’t bought you anything. I haven’t got around to doing any shopping yet.’

Ruby giggled. ‘That doesn’t matter. I didn’t expect you to,’ she assured him. ‘And it isn’t anything much really.’

Betty came in then and gave Ruby a hug. It was always lovely to see her, especially looking so well.

‘So tell me all you’ve been up to,’ she urged as they settled at the table with steaming cups of tea in front of them, and Ruby happily told them about the designs she’d been working on. All too soon it was time for her to leave, but as she put her cloak on, she asked, ‘Has Miranda left to go back to her grandparents yet?’

‘Huh! Unfortunately not,’ Betty said with a shake of her head. ‘But between you an’ me, I can’t wait to see the back of her, the stroppy little madam.’

Ruby frowned. ‘But she’s been really nice to me on the odd occasions I’ve seen her.’

The girl shrugged. ‘Well, she ain’t been nice to me, or anybody else ’ere for that matter, so just watch your back; I wouldn’t trust her as far as I could throw her.’