‘And to what do we owe the honour of yet another visit so soon?’ Hermione asked her great-niece the following morning when Miranda strolled in yet again.

‘I didn’t know I had to book an appointment!’ Miranda said brusquely, but then immediately looked contrite as she muttered, ‘Sorry, Aunt Hermione. Mama is back from her latest jaunt with Lord Chumley so I was on my way to my grandparents, but I thought I’d call in to see Ruby first as it won’t be so easy to visit from there . . . And you, of course,’ she added hastily as her aunt raised her eyebrow. ‘But I’m not stopping for long. Father wanted Bill to take me in the carriage but as I pointed out I’m quite old enough to go alone.’

‘I see. Well, Ruby is working, as you might expect,’ Hermione answered.

‘Then I shall go and have a look at what she’s doing. She’s so clever, isn’t she?’ Miranda hurried away leaving the elderly woman with a frown on her face. It didn’t matter how charming she was being, she didn’t trust the girl. She just couldn’t fathom what she was up to. Sighing, she turned her attention back to the newspaper she had been reading, but her concentration was gone and she felt vaguely uneasy.

*

‘Miranda.’ Ruby looked surprised as Miranda strode purposefully into the workroom, closing the door firmly behind her. ‘I didn’t expect to see you today.’

‘I had to come,’ Miranda told her without preamble. ‘I have some news for you.’

Ruby’s heart began to thud with anticipation and she stood up. ‘Is it good news?’

Miranda nodded, keeping an eye on the door. What she had to say was for Ruby’s ears only and she didn’t want them to be disturbed. She drew closer and lowering her voice began, ‘You know that I told you I was going to hire someone to help us find your mother?’

Ruby nodded as the colour drained out of her face.

‘Well, he got results much sooner than I’d expected and the long and the short of it is . . . I know where she is.’

Ruby’s legs felt as if they had turned to jelly and she sat down on the nearest chair with a plonk.

‘You do? Are you quite sure?’

Miranda nodded. ‘There’s no doubt and I’m going to take you to see her. But the thing is . . .’ She hesitated. ‘She’s ill and I don’t think you would want people to know where she is so can we keep this just between ourselves until we know more about her illness? If Hermione were to find out she might tell my father and he could prevent me from taking you to her. Could you do that?’

Ruby seemed to have temporarily lost the power of speech so she just nodded numbly.