Miss Wood had put Hermione in Miranda’s mother’s old room and when they entered it Miranda looked momentarily so sad that Ruby couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for her.

‘I can’t believe that Mother will never come back here,’ Miranda said glumly. ‘I’m sure she would have if she hadn’t met that loathsome Lord Chumley!’ She grimaced. ‘He’s completely besotted with her, you know. In fact, I heard him ask Mother when she was going to ask Father for a divorce,’ she confided.

‘A divorce!’ Ruby was shocked.

Miranda nodded, her face miserable. ‘Yes, I overheard them when he came calling at Grandmama’s. I suppose they’ll get married if she does get one, which will mean that Mother will go to live with him in his house. He has a stately home somewhere, I believe.’

‘Really? Then you might enjoy living there,’ Ruby answered.

Miranda tossed her head and snorted. ‘Me? Huh! There’s little chance of that happening. Mother didn’t have time for me when she lived here so I suppose I’ll get left behind with my grandparents. Unless I come back here to live with Father, of course. But that wouldn’t be for a while anyway. I believe it can take years for a divorce to go through and I still have almost another year to do at that dreadful school in France with the dreaded Madame Babineaux!’

Ruby didn’t quite know what to say as she hung one of Hermione’s gowns onto a hanger and placed it neatly in the armoire. But she needn’t have worried, Miranda had enough to say for both of them.

‘So, was Bill at supper this evening?’ Miranda asked casually.

Despite herself, Ruby felt a little colour creep into her cheeks. ‘Er, yes, I believe he was.’

‘Hm, I think he likes me, you know,’ Miranda said with a sly glance at her.

‘Really?’ Ruby hastily lifted another of Hermione’s gowns from the trunk and hung it away. She was remembering what had happened the last time Miranda had spoken of Bill and was keen to change the subject. ‘So what are you hoping to get for Christmas?’ she asked casually.

Miranda grimaced. ‘I know what I shall get,’ she said ungratefully. ‘It will be a piece of expensive jewellery from Father and clothes from Mother. Then I shall get embroidered handkerchiefs from Aunt Hermione. It’s the same every year.’

Ruby thought how wonderful it must be to get such lovely gifts, although she didn’t say so.

‘And what do you want?’ Miranda asked then. ‘Apart from to find your birth mother, I mean.’