After dinner, the men disappeared into Mr Chatsworth’s study to enjoy a glass of port and a cigar while the ladies settled themselves by the fire in the drawing room with coffee and chocolates. Once again Ruby felt as if she had been transported into a different world. This was a million miles away from the life she had lived with her adoptive parents and she almost had to pinch herself to make sure that she was really there. Miss Wood, Mr Pembroke and Hermione had all been so kind to her and given her the opportunity to better herself and now she was determined not to let them down.

‘So where do you live, Ruby?’ Caroline asked when Miss Wood and Mrs Chatsworth began to chat.

‘I live with Mr Pembroke’s Aunt Hermione.’

‘Oh really?’ Caroline took a dainty sip of her coffee. ‘Why is that? Are you an orphan?’

‘Er . . . sort of.’ An image of Maddie flashed in front of Ruby’s eyes and seeing that she looked uncomfortable, Caroline quickly changed the subject.

‘So, do you think you will make a career out of designing jewellery?’

Ruby shrugged. ‘I’d like to, but I suppose it all depends if the designs sell well enough. Mr Pembroke assures me that the ones I’ve done up to now have.’

‘Well, from what I’ve heard Papa say, they certainly have here in London,’ Caroline told her kindly. ‘You must be awfully clever. Did you design that ring you are wearing? It’s quite beautiful. I’ve been admiring it all evening.’

Ruby stared down at the ruby ring Hermione had given her for Christmas. It was her most prized possession and she never took it off.

‘No, actually Hermione designed this one and had it made for me for Christmas. She had the stone in her safe and I had admired it. It’s lovely, isn’t it?’ She held her hand up to the light and the ruby glowed.

Caroline nodded in agreement. ‘It certainly is. Now, what are you planning to do tomorrow? Would you like to go shopping?’

‘I think Mr Pembroke and I are going to visit the shop in the morning,’ Ruby answered.

Caroline frowned. ‘Oh, what a shame. Shopping would have been so much more fun. But never mind, there will be other days.’ She leant towards Ruby and lowered her voice. ‘And by the way, I ought to warn you that I think my brother has a soft spot for you.’ She giggled. ‘Did you see the way he was gawping at you all through dinner? At one point I thought his spoon was going to miss his mouth he was so intent on watching you.’

Ruby flushed. ‘Oh . . . I’m sure you’re mistaken,’ she muttered all of a fluster.