‘You most certainly will not,’ he told her firmly. ‘You are my companion for this trip and you will be dining with myself and the Chatsworths. Do you have an evening dress?’ he queried. ‘I’m sure William and his wife will be throwing dinner parties while we’re there and I want you to feel comfortable.’

‘Oh!’ She hadn’t thought of that and realised he was probably right. She had all the clothes she needed but nothing grand enough for a formal occasion.

‘Here.’ He dipped into his pocket and withdrew a number of notes, which he passed across the table to her.

Deeply embarrassed she gulped. ‘B-but that’s far too much,’ she said in a weak voice.

‘No, it isn’t.’ His smile was kindly. ‘I don’t want you feeling out of place. Please take some time off and go shopping. Get a nice gown and a new bonnet or whatever you need to go with it. I insist.’

‘Then perhaps I could pay you back out of my wages?’ Serena had her pride.

He wouldn’t hear of it, though. ‘Absolutely not! Don’t forget, you’re doing me a favour by accompanying me so let’s hear no more about it.’

The conversation turned to other things after that, and if anyone had passed by and glanced through the window they would have taken them for a happily married couple.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Eight

It was the day of their departure and in Hermione’s house in Bedworth all was hustle and bustle as Ruby put the last of her luggage into a smart new valise that Hermione had insisted she should have.

‘Are you quite sure you have everything you need?’ Hermione asked.

Ruby giggled. ‘You’ve already asked me that at least ten times,’ she pointed out. ‘And if I try and cram anything else into either of these two valises, I shan’t be able to carry them.’

‘Hm, well better to take too much than not enough. And I don’t want my nephew to think I haven’t ensured you have all you need. Now, let me have a look at you.’

Ruby straightened and as Hermione looked her up and down, she nodded with approval. Ruby was dressed in a smart two-piece costume in a lovely shade of dark green that showed off her eyes and her shape to perfection. The skirt was straight at the front with a fashionable bustle on the back and the jacket was fitted tight into the waist with a tiny peplum. She had also treated Ruby to a snazzy little hat to go with it, although she would have to wear a cloak because it was so cold, which Hermione felt was a shame.