‘And she will know that that isn’t true.’ Miss Wood stood her ground and stared coldly back at the girl. She was clearly used to her rudeness and her tantrums. Ruby meanwhile had the chance to get a good look at her and was struck by the fact that the girl’s hair was a similar colour to her own, not such a deep shade but definitely auburn. But there any similarities ended for the girl was at least a head taller than her and while Ruby’s hair was curly Miranda’s was as straight as a poker. She was also quite plump, whereas Ruby was small and dainty, but her clothes, Ruby noted, were top quality and very fashionable.

‘You’d better come with me then. Mother doesn’t pay you to stand about, and my room needs tidying,’ the girl told Ruby rudely.

Miss Wood caught her breath but didn’t comment as Ruby obediently followed the girl up the stairs. On the first floor Miranda led her into a bedroom that was so grand it almost took Ruby’s breath away. It was huge and Ruby had never seen a prettier room. An enormous four-poster bed draped with thick velvet curtains in a lovely pale green, matching the ones that hung at the window, stood against one wall and Ruby was sure it was big enough for a whole family to sleep in. A darker green carpet covered the floor and a cheery fire was burning in a pretty marble fireplace. There was a large French-style armoire with matching drawers against another wall and a fancy escritoire and chair stood in the deep bay window. But there were clothes scattered everywhere and as Miranda saw Ruby looking at them, she barked, ‘Get on with it, then!’

Without a word Ruby began to gather the clothes and when she had collected them all she laid them on the bed, which was covered in a pretty floral, lace-trimmed counterpane.

‘You’ll have to show me where they all go,’ Ruby said politely.

The girl turned on her. ‘Why, haven’t you got eyes in your head? Open the drawers and look where they go yourself,’ she spat, eyeing her scornfully. ‘How old are you anyway?’

‘I’m fifteen.’

‘Fifteen! You only look about ten or eleven.’ Miranda curled her lip. ‘And when you address me you say miss!’

Ruby’s temper was bubbling to the surface now, but she gritted her teeth and began to open the cupboards and drawers as she worked out where all the discarded clothes should go. It was hard to believe that one person could own so many, especially one as rude as Miranda who clearly didn’t value them at all.

‘And where are you from?’

‘I was brought up in Nuneaton . . . miss!’

‘Why have you ended up here, then?’