‘Rubbish!’ Mrs Chatsworth came forward and placing her arm about Ruby’s slender shoulders she drew her into the room. ‘You are not on the clock here, my dear. Don’t forget, William is the manager of the shop so he can go in whenever he likes. Are those your designs in that folder? I know William has been looking forward to seeing them.’

Ruby nodded and shyly passed them over to Mr Chatsworth who spread them across the table and began to study them intently.

‘So what do you think?’ Mr Pembroke asked when William had had time to have a good look at them.

‘I think they’re superb.’ Mr Chatsworth beamed at Ruby who blushed with pleasure. ‘Nearly all of these will be suitable for platinum mounts and should be set with the expensive stones – diamonds, sapphires and rubies.’ He glanced at Ruby then and explained, ‘We only stock the more expensive items in the London shop because we tend to cater to a wealthier clientele here than you do in the jewellery quarter, where you have to cater to all different pockets from the working class to the richer clients. But here the sky is the limit. We’ve even sold to royalty, so money is no object.’

Serena breezed in at that moment looking refreshed and very pretty in a lilac gown that showed off her slim figure.

‘Will was just saying how pleased he is with Ruby’s designs,’ Mrs Chatsworth informed her.

Serena looked almost as proud as if she had done the designs herself. ‘Yes, Oscar and Hermione have both told me what flair she has,’ she said with a warm smile at Ruby.

‘Hm, it’s just a shame that Miranda showed no interest in the business,’ Esther Chatsworth replied and then almost as an afterthought she added, ‘How is she, by the way?’

Serena shrugged. ‘She is back at school. During the holidays she spends most of her time at her grandparents’ house with her mother, although she does visit her father often. I’m not sure what she’ll do when she leaves though.’