On that point she was doomed to be disappointed, for although the guests arrived as planned, Maddie made no effort to get her on her own. Now that Miranda had gone the atmosphere in the house was relaxed and the mood in the kitchen was light. Betty made a large pot of tea and they all sat together at the table drinking it and eating some of Cook’s delicious mince pies while Cook sat plucking the most enormous turkey that Ruby had ever seen, sending feathers flying everywhere.

‘Crikey, I reckon you’ll ’ave a battle on yer hands to get that in the oven,’ Betty joked, and they all laughed. Even the elderly Mr Pembroke had felt well enough to get up that day and was presently sitting in the drawing room with his son discussing the latest designs that Ruby had done with Hermione.

By four o’clock it was pitch dark and Maddie, Nell and Mrs Petty took their leave, making Ruby promise to visit them before she returned to Hermione’s house in Bedworth.

‘Oh dear, I shouldn’t ’ave eaten so many o’ them mince pies,’ Betty groaned as she rubbed her stomach. ‘I shall never make room fer me dinner.’

‘Well, that’ll be a first then.’ Cook chuckled. ‘I’ve never known you refuse food afore!’ She often joked that she thought Betty had hollow legs because she could usually eat more than Bill.

Once the family were served their meal in the dining room that evening the staff sat down to eat theirs in the kitchen and Ruby found herself seated next to Bill.

He had washed and changed and with his hair gleaming in the light from the oil lamp that stood in the centre of the table, Ruby thought how handsome he looked and instantly blushed.

‘Well I have to say I wasn’t sorry to see Miranda go this morning,’ he admitted as he tucked into his dinner.

‘I’m not surprised, the way she were followin’ you about,’ Cook snorted. ‘She makes no secret of the fact she’s got her eye on you.’

‘I can assure you it’ll do her no good, even if she has,’ Bill answered with a frown. ‘I wouldn’t look the side she’s on if she were the last girl on earth.’

‘Oh yes, an’ why’s that then?’ Cook said teasingly. ‘Got your eye fixed on someone else, ’ave you?’

Bill glanced at Ruby and they both blushed the colour of rhubarb. This wasn’t lost on Cook who looked at Betty with a knowing smile. The talk went on to other things then, although Ruby felt so uncomfortable, she could hardly swallow her food.

Later that evening she was summoned to the drawing room where she found Mr Pembroke and Hermione waiting for her and her stomach immediately did a somersault as she wondered if she had done something wrong.