‘So how did the London trip go?’ Miranda asked, loading her fork with as much food as she could cram onto it.

‘Very well. I think it was very informative for Ruby.’

She looked at him with her fork halfway to her mouth. ‘You took Ruby?’ she said incredulously.

‘Of course I did. That was the whole purpose of the trip. Her designs are proving to be very popular and I wanted her to meet William.’

‘Did you stay at his house?’ Miranda was scowling now.

‘Yes, I always stay there when I visit the London shop.’

Miranda began to eat again with a sulky expression on her face and the rest of the meal passed in an uncomfortable silence.

*

Meanwhile in the kitchen Cook had a thing or two to say about the young mistress’s return. ‘Came in bold as brass she did,’ she informed Serena. ‘Not a tear in sight till she clapped eyes on her father. She can turn them on and off like a tap, that girl can, and Oscar being soft, he falls for it every time. And as for this tale about her being bullied, I don’t believe a word of it. If there were any bullies at that school I wouldn’t mind bettin’ it would be her if her past is anythin’ to go by.’

Serena was quiet. Finding Miranda here had quite taken the shine off her and Oscar revealing their feelings for each other, although they had already agreed in the cab from the station that they would keep their news to themselves until the divorce was final. But even then, she knew there would be many hurdles to overcome before they could be together.

‘I’m sure Oscar will get to the bottom of it,’ she told Cook calmly. ‘Although whether she’s lying or not, there hardly seems any point in sending her back now. She only had a few months to go until she left anyway.’

‘Hm, well I just hope she don’t decide she’s staying here,’ Cook said grumpily. ‘I hate to say it, but this place has been a lot happier since she and her mother left.’

‘Too true,’ Betty agreed.

‘And did Ruby enjoy the trip?’ Bill asked then.

‘Oh yes, I think she did and she loved the opera. Mr Chatsworth took us all for a treat one evening and Ruby was full of it for days after. And she got on so well with Caroline and George.’

When Bill cocked his eyebrow she explained, ‘They are Mr Chatsworth’s children, although they’re not children really. Caroline is about the same age as Ruby and George is about nineteen or twenty, I believe, and studying medicine.’

A little spike of jealousy rushed through Bill as he asked casually, ‘Nice-looking this George, is he?’

‘Oh, very much so.’ Serena smiled. ‘And Caroline is quite beautiful. But now tell me what’s been happening here while I’ve been away.’