‘Yes.’ Miranda inclined her head. ‘I have an appointment with the matron.’

The nurse held the door a little wider, allowing them to pass her and instantly the sounds of people wailing and crying reached them, although the enormous hallway was empty. Another nurse appeared and the first told her, ‘This is Miss Pembroke. Could you take her to Matron?’ Then turning to Ruby she said, ‘And you’d best come and wait with me.’

Ruby frowned, confused. ‘But surely I can see the matron too? It is my mother we’ve come to see after all and I need to know how ill she is.’

‘Of course you do, dearie,’ the nurse said placatingly, but her eyes were cold. ‘And so you shall, but best let Miss Pembroke speak to her first. She is the one who made the appointment after all.’

‘Oh, very well,’ Ruby sighed as Miranda was led away and she followed the second nurse down the corridor. But all the time she was thinking, Very soon now I shall be meeting the woman who gave birth to me for the very first time.

For better or worse there could be no going back now!

Chapter Thirty-Four

Chapter Thirty-Four

Ruby was led into a clinical-looking room with nothing but two wooden chairs in it and a long window overlooking the grounds of the hall.

‘Wait there,’ the enormous nurse told her in a voice that brooked no argument.

She left the room and Ruby heard the sound of the key in the lock. She had been locked in. For a moment she panicked but then common sense took over. This was an asylum after all and some of the inmates could be violent so they probably had to do that to ensure the visitors’ safety. Crossing to one of the chairs she folded her hands primly in her lap and sat back to wait.

She seemed to sit there for a very long time until eventually a movement outside caught her eye and glancing towards the window, she was dismayed to see Miranda walking down the steps to the drive. But why was she going without her? Or had she perhaps decided that this first special visit should be just between herself and her mother? Eventually she heard the sound of footsteps and the key being turned again, and she sighed with relief. When the door was opened, she saw the nurse who had shown her into the room with another slightly smaller nurse standing beside her.

‘Why has Miss Pembroke left?’ she asked before they had time to say anything. ‘And may I see my mother now? We have a cab waiting at the end of the drive and I don’t want to keep them waiting too long.’

‘Why, of course you can,’ the larger of the two said. ‘And just so you know, my name is Nurse Keen. Come along of us, dearie.’