‘I-I never knew me real mother,’ Ruby said suddenly as a lump formed in her throat. ‘The person who I thought was me mam told me when she was dyin’ that she an’ me dad had adopted me when I was just a few days old. Me real mam must not have wanted me.’

‘Oh, sweetheart, I’m sure that’s not true,’ Maddie said kindly as she placed an arm about her shoulders. ‘There was probably a very good reason why your real mother couldn’t keep you. But the one who brought you up was good to you, wasn’t she?’

‘Oh yes, she were the best.’ Ruby’s head bobbed. ‘She were kind an’ good but me dad . . .’ When her voice trailed away, Maddie gave her a little hug.

‘Let’s not talk about that for now,’ she urged. ‘Today is going to be a good day, let’s not spoil it.’ She turned her attention back to the shop window, hoping to break Ruby’s melancholy mood. ‘That blue stone there is a sapphire and the green one is an emerald. But the clear white stones are the most expensive of all – they are diamonds and people will pay thousands of pounds for them.’

‘Really?’ Ruby was intrigued.

‘Yes, but come along, we’re getting covered in snow standing here.’

Ruby looked one last time at the sparkling display of jewels in the shop window then reluctantly followed Maddie. She could quite happily have stayed and looked at them for hours but Maddie was clearly keen to get to the clothes shops, wherever they might be.

Chapter Four

Chapter Four

‘Good grief! Is there owt left in the shops?’ Mrs Petty asked when Ruby and Maddie stepped into the kitchen loaded down with bags and boxes some hours later.

Maddie laughed as she dropped the ones she was carrying onto the floor and headed towards the warmth of the fire. ‘I think we’ve got her everything she needs, for now at least,’ she answered as she held her hands out to the welcoming glow. ‘And we’ve had such a lovely time, haven’t we, Ruby?’

‘Oh yes.’ Even Ruby seemed in a happier mood now, but then how could she not be after being so spoilt? She had never owned so many clothes in her whole life, let alone brand-new ones, although she had been a little disappointed with some of Maddie’s choices. Being a teenager, she did find some of them a little young in style for her but she was hardly in a position to mention it and she could hardly wait to wear them.

‘Take her up the Bull Ring, bab, did you?’ Mrs Petty asked as she bustled about preparing a cup of tea for them.