‘Eeh, bab, you ’ave a lot to learn, yer as green as grass.’ Mrs Petty shook her head again as she examined the stitches on her knitting needles. ‘Not all marriages are made in ’eaven an’ there’s a lot o’ chaps who keep a little friend on the side. That one in there’ – she nodded towards the door – ‘was born wi’ a silver spoon in his mouth an’ I’ve no doubt his wife were chosen fer him. From what I can make of it he an’ his wife don’t even like each other let alone love each other, but that’s the way the so called upper classes carry on.’

‘So why does Maddie stay with him if she knows he’ll never marry her?’

‘She loves ’im, that’s why, an’ love is a funny thing. Deep down I reckon she lives in hope that he’ll leave his missus one day an’ they’ll be together.’

Ruby shuddered as she suddenly thought of what her father had done to her. ‘Well, I shall never get married!’ she stated firmly.

Mrs Petty smiled as she started a new row of stitches. ‘Never is a long time,’ she said wisely. ‘An’ I’ve no doubt you’ll feel differently when you’re older an’ you meet the right chap.’

‘I won’t!’ Ruby’s head wagged determinedly from side to side and glancing towards the hall door she suddenly felt sorry for Maddie. How awful it must be to know that the man she loved would never be hers. Grown-ups were strange beings, there was no doubt about it.

It was much later that night when Ruby was tucked up in bed that she heard Maddie’s gentleman friend leave and then the sound of voices from the hallway.

‘When are yer goin’ to see the light an’ get yerself a chap that’s worthy of you?’ This was Mrs Petty’s voice.

‘Oh, please don’t start on that again, Petty. You know Jethro’s position.’

‘Hm, well I certainly know yours an’ from where I’m standin’ yer wastin’ yer life as his bit on the side. Surely you realise by now that he’ll never leave her? You’re still a good-lookin’ woman, Maddie, an’ young enough to get someone who loves you enough to make an honest woman o’ you.’ The voices faded as the women made their way into the kitchen and Ruby lay staring up into the darkness, but then she gave a large yawn and was soon fast asleep.

*