Ruby forgave her instantly. Maddie had been so kind to her that it would have been hard not to. Later, as she climbed the stairs, she wondered what job Maddie had in mind for her and she could hardly wait to find out.

*

The day after Boxing Day, Nell began to get ready to go out as darkness fell and feeling a little confined, Ruby suggested, ‘I could walk with you, if you like, to keep you company. To work I mean.’

‘Oh no . . . there’s no need for that.’ Nell looked horrified and Ruby wondered what she had said wrong. ‘Look at the weather out there. It’s fit for neither man nor beast. No, you stay ’ere in the warm.’ And with that she lifted her hat and coat from the coat rack in the hallway and left without another word, just as Maddie appeared in the doorway of the drawing room.

‘Ah, Ruby, there you are.’

Ruby noticed that she had on one of her best gowns, and was that rouge she was wearing on her cheeks?

‘I’m entertaining this evening so would you mind staying in your room or in the kitchen with Petty?’

Ruby nodded and set off up the stairs to make herself scarce, wondering who the visitor could be. But then once in her cosy room she again lost herself in the pages of her book and didn’t give the mysterious visitor another thought.

The following morning, Maddie joined Ruby in the drawing room and after sitting down on the elegant sofa she patted the seat at the side of her. ‘Come and sit with me,’ she invited. ‘I have something I wish to talk to you about.’

Ruby did as she was asked without hesitation and gave Maddie a smile.

‘The thing is . . .’ Maddie paused as she chose her words carefully. ‘As you can imagine a house like this takes a lot of money to run. I earn the money any way I can and I think you may be able to help me.’

Ruby nodded eagerly. Her father had worked her relentlessly for as long as she could remember and she was getting a little bored of having nothing to do.

Maddie looked relieved. ‘Good, then we shall start this very day after lunch. We’ll take a tram to the place I have in mind and then all you have to do is follow my instructions.’

A little worm of unease wriggled in Ruby’s stomach. Whatever Maddie had in mind for her she was being very secretive about it but at least, she consoled herself, she wouldn’t have too long to wait to find out what it was.