‘Then I’ll tell you, shall I?’ Lydia began to stride up and down the room, her skirts slapping about her legs. ‘Some time ago our daughter happened across a diary belonging to this trollop here.’ Her lip curled back from her teeth as she looked at Serena with contempt. ‘And that diary confirmed the suspicions that I had had for some time – that you were having an affair with her. Do I need to go on?’

Oscar looked shamefaced. ‘Serena and I did have a brief affair,’ he admitted. ‘It was shortly after Miranda was born when you turned me out of our room. I was hurting and she offered me comfort but I very quickly realised that I wasn’t being fair to either of you and so I ended it. That doesn’t pardon my behaviour, I know, but I’m telling the truth when I tell you that we didn’t become close again until after you had left me.’

‘Pah!’ Lydia poked him in the chest.

‘And anyway, that doesn’t explain why Miranda, or you for that matter, would want to hurt Ruby.’

‘Doesn’t it? I should think it was obvious.’

Serena bowed her head as tears crept down her cheeks.

Oscar turned to Miranda again. ‘So, if it was you who took the diamonds, I imagine you know where Ruby is. Just tell us and we’ll leave.’

Once again, Lydia stepped in. ‘You’ll never know where the little slut went,’ she ground out as she waved a trembling finger towards the door. ‘And now I suggest you both get out before I have you thrown out!’

Oscar opened his mouth to argue but Serena hastily took his arm and almost dragged him towards the door, saying, ‘Come along, Oscar. We’ll learn no more here.’

‘Too right you won’t,’ Lydia raged. ‘And I hope that trollop rots in hell.’

Outside Oscar ran his hand across his brow as Serena hauled him towards the waiting carriage and once inside, he leant heavily back against the seats as despair washed over him.

‘What do we do now?’ he asked hopelessly. ‘Miranda knows where Ruby is, I’m sure of it.’

‘I think you’re right but I truly believe she isn’t going to tell us.’ Serena stared dejectedly from the window as Bill set the horses into a trot and the carriage rolled forward. ‘Let’s just get home and think about what is best to do.’

He nodded and a silence settled between them for the rest of the journey.

As Bill reined the horses to a halt outside the house they were surprised to see another, smaller carriage already there with a driver waiting outside.

‘I wonder who that can be?’ Oscar groaned, he was in no mood for visitors and felt thoroughly miserable.