In Hatter’s Hall, Ruby finally heard the key in the lock and as she peered through the gloom she saw a nurse she hadn’t seen before standing in the doorway with a tray in her hand.

‘Supper,’ she said curtly, dropping the tray onto the bed, causing some of the contents of the dish on it to slop across the sides.

‘Please . . . I need to see the matron,’ Ruby implored, her voice hoarse from shouting and crying. She had given up eventually when she realised that no one was going to come. ‘There’s been a terrible mistake.’

‘So they tell me,’ the nurse answered with a wry grin.

‘Will you take me to her then . . . please?’

The nurse shook her head, setting her double chin wobbling. ‘Matron ain’t here of an evening,’ she said curtly. Then she smiled slyly. ‘Though I could keep yer company if yer like?’ She bent towards her and as her hand gently stroked Ruby’s breast through the drab material of the asylum uniform they had forced her to wear, Ruby sprang away from her as if she had been stung, upsetting the tray and sending the contents crashing to the floor.

The nurse tutted. ‘Now look what you’ve done. An’ it’s a long time till breakfast. Happen by then you’ll be of a mind to be a bit friendlier.’ And with that she left the cell, locking the door firmly behind her.

Ruby’s shoulders sagged. Hermione would be worried that she hadn’t returned home, she realised, and the thought perked her up a little. Hermione was sure to come looking for her, wasn’t she? But the hope died almost as soon as it had sprung to life. She had merely told her that she was going out to do a little shopping, as Miranda had asked her to, and Hermione wouldn’t have a clue where to start looking for her. So all she could do now was wait and pray that Miranda would have a change of heart and come back for her. Deep down, though, she feared there was little chance of that happening. Miranda had obviously planned this very carefully and Ruby had fallen for her lies and false smiles hook, line and sinker. With a little sigh she curled up on the bed again, trying to close her ears to the wails and shouts of the other souls that were trapped there, and eventually she fell into a troubled doze out of sheer exhaustion.

*

Early the following morning she heard movement in the corridor outside and she was instantly awake and alert. After a sleep, she felt slightly better and was determined that today she would insist on a meeting with the matron, who would surely see that she was far from insane.