Ruby watched the joyful reunion with a lump in her throat. It appeared there might just be a happy ending for Dilys after all and she couldn’t think of anyone who deserved one more.

‘He has never so much as looked at another girl since he was told that you had passed away,’ Emily explained. ‘And he’s got his own business now, a thriving little shop with living rooms above it. He can’t wait to see you . . . if you still want to see him, of course.’

‘But . . .’ Dilys looked worried. ‘What would he think of me now? I’m hardly the girl he’d remember, am I?’

‘You are still beautiful,’ her aunt assured her, stroking her cheek. She turned to Ruby. ‘And I believe I have reason to thank you, my dear,’ she said warmly. ‘Dilys explained in her letter that it was the young doctor who visited the asylum who recognised you and managed to help you both get out of that dreadful place. There’s a big enquiry going on apparently and I think it’s safe to say that nothing like this will ever be allowed to happen there again.’

Ruby blushed and headed for the door. ‘I’m sure you two have a lot to catch up on so I’m going to give you some privacy. I’ll have some tea sent in to you.’ And with that she hurriedly left the room only to almost collide with Serena who was waiting in the hall.

‘Isn’t it wonderful? Betty told me that Dilys’s aunt had arrived,’ Serena said joyously.

Ruby nodded. ‘Yes, it is, and better still her aunt has been in touch with the man Dilys was about to marry and he wants to see her.’

As tears sprang to Serena’s eyes, Ruby felt a little fluttery feeling in her chest, and when Serena placed her arm about her, for the first time, she didn’t pull away.

‘I’m so happy for Dilys,’ Serena said. ‘But we shall miss her should she decide to leave. She feels like a part of the family already. Still, as long we still have you, I could wish for nothing more.’

The words were said with such sincerity that Ruby couldn’t doubt that she meant them and tentatively she returned the embrace as Dilys’s words of wisdom came back to her, ‘And just imagine how it must have hurt her not to be able to approach you and tell you who she really was!’