They all stood at the window watching anxiously as George helped the two young women down from the carriage and their first sight of them made tears spring to Serena’s eyes. Ruby was so painfully thin and pale, with dark shadows beneath her eyes. And her wonderful hair had been chopped off and barely reached her chin, although it was still a riot of fiery curls. Suddenly Serena couldn’t wait a second longer, and she ran into the hall, threw the door open and flew to meet her, wrapping her arms about her, her heart full of the love that she had held in check for so long. There were times over the last few weeks when she had feared she would never see her again, but here she was and she could hardly allow herself to believe it.

‘Oh, my poor darling girl,’ she sobbed as Ruby clung weakly to her. ‘Come on in, Cook has kept a nice meal hot for you.’ She was so thrilled to see Ruby that she barely noticed the young woman standing behind her. They were both dressed in nurses’ dresses – the only outfits George had been able to find, but a distinct improvement on the coarse shifts they had been forced to wear – and they had attracted more than a few curious glances on the train journey home.

As Serena led them into the house, Hermione rushed forward to give Ruby an uncharacteristic hug and Ruby could have sworn there were tears in the woman’s eyes.

She then drew herself upright and looked pointedly at Oscar and Serena. ‘I think it’s time for you both to have a talk to Ruby in private, don’t you?’

Serena gulped and nodded. Hermione was right: it was time and it could be put off for no longer. Gently taking Ruby’s arm they led her towards Oscar’s study while Hermione took care of Dilys.

Chapter Forty-One

Chapter Forty-One

Ruby’s heart began to thud as they entered the study, wondering what on earth they needed to speak to her about. She’d seen Maddie as she’d passed the drawing room and couldn’t help but feel a stab of disappointment that it wasn’t her wishing to speak to her. After all, if Maddie really was her mother as Ruby had suspected all along, surely this would have been the ideal opportunity for her to admit it? It would be just too cruel if she didn’t find out now after all she had gone through.

‘I think it might be best if you sat down,’ Oscar told her gently as he pulled a chair out for her and guided her into it. ‘You see the thing is . . .’ His voice trailed away as he ran his hand across his eyes.