Ruby frowned, wondering whether she should tell Miranda about her suspicions of Maddie being her mother but then decided against it. Deep down she hoped that if it were true, Maddie would one day confess it, but for now, she decided it might be wise to keep her suspicions to herself, especially as over the past few months she hadn’t seen that much of Maddie, and she couldn’t help feeling a little hurt. If Maddie was her mother, surely she’d make more effort to see her?

‘I’ve never really expected or asked for anything,’ Ruby answered instead. ‘Although, your great-aunt has hinted that she’s bought me some gifts which is really kind of her.’

‘But what about when you lived at home with your adopted parents?’

Ruby shrugged. ‘The man I thought was my father was never keen on Christmas,’ she admitted. ‘He was very hard- working, for all his faults, and he begrudged having to close the shop. I’m sure if it hadn’t been for my mother, we wouldn’t even have had a Christmas dinner.’

‘That’s awful.’ Miranda narrowed her eyes before saying quietly, ‘And is it true what they said about you when you first came here . . . that you had run away after he raped you and got you with child?’

Ruby felt hot colour burn into her cheeks. It was a subject she tried not to think about anymore. ‘Yes, it’s true,’ she said in a small voice. ‘But there, that’s everything put away now. Shall we go back downstairs?’ She was keen to speak of other things, so without waiting for an answer she hurried from the room leaving Miranda to stare thoughtfully after her for a moment before following her down the stairs.

‘The young madam seems keen to be your friend all of a sudden, don’t she?’ Betty said that night as she and Ruby got ready for bed.

Ruby nodded. ‘Yes, she does, which is quite surprising really seeing as not so long ago she couldn’t stand me.’

‘Hm, well just take care,’ Betty said as she tugged her nightgown over her head. ‘I still don’t trust her.’

Ruby didn’t answer, but deep down she felt exactly the same.

*

Lord Chumley’s fine carriage came to collect Miranda the following morning and Ruby felt a little easier once she had left. She spent the morning in the drawing room helping Betty decorate the Christmas tree that had been delivered, while Hermione looked on. She was feeling happy as she’d had word that Maddie, Nell and Mrs Petty were calling to see her that afternoon, and as the morning wore on a little bubble of excitement began to grow in her stomach. Christmas Eve was a special day, after all, so if Maddie was her mother, perhaps today would be the day she chose to reveal the truth.