The woman’s cheeks glowed at the compliment as she ladled a generous portion into a bowl and carried it over to her. ‘There we are then; I’ve added some honey an’ when you’ve done yer can go an’ wait in the drawin’ room till the missus decides to put in an appearance. I’ve lit the fire an’ it’s nice an’ warm in there. Nell’s already gone back to bed, bless ’er little cotton socks. That fall she ’ad last night has made her feel right dicky.’

Ruby looked confused. ‘But why does Mrs Bamber want to see me? I was goin’ to be on me way after thankin’ you for your kindness an’ havin’ me breakfast.’

‘You’ll do no such thing!’ She looked horrified. ‘Why Maddie, that’s Mrs Bamber, would ’ave me guts fer garters if you left now. So just get that down yer an’ let’s have no more talk of yer leavin’, if yer please.’

Ruby obediently ate the porridge and just as Nell had told her it was delicious. She told Mrs Petty so when she carried her bowl to the sink and the woman smiled. ‘Glad you liked it, bab. Now go an’ wait for Maddie like I told yer. It’s the second door along in the hall an’ you’ll find some magazines to read on the table . . . that’s if yer can read?’

‘Of course I can read.’ Ruby was indignant. ‘Me mam taught me an’ I can do me numbers.’

‘Good, then go an’ relax a while an’ think yerself lucky; I wish I had the time to lounge about. Ta-ra fer a bit, I’ll see yer later.’

Ruby did as she was told and once inside what Mrs Petty had termed the drawing room, she wandered about admiring the fine paintings on the walls and delicate china in the fancy inlaid cabinets. Then she settled down to glance through the magazines Mrs Petty had told her about and before she knew it she found herself in another world as she examined the pictures of women in the latest fashions and others of rooms in houses that took her breath away.

‘They’re very entertaining, aren’t they?’

The sound of Mrs Bamber’s voice made Ruby start guiltily, but as she made to rise from the chair the woman gently placed her hand on her shoulder and pressed her back down. Today she smelled of lavender, which matched the shade of the beautiful day dress she was wearing. Her thick, dark, chestnut hair was piled into loose curls on top of her head and Ruby thought again how pretty she was, although she was quite old – thirty at least, Ruby reckoned.

Mrs Bamber took a seat close to Ruby and smiled. ‘So how are you feeling today, my dear?’