‘I’m trying not to but I feel like slapping her,’ Ruby admitted as she speared a tasty forkful of bacon into her mouth. She was not normally a vindictive girl, she had never had cause to be, but it was obvious that Miranda was doing everything she could to annoy her and it seemed so pointless.

As soon as she had eaten, she made her way back upstairs to see if Miranda wanted anything else doing and she had just entered the hallway when a tall gentleman with grey hair who looked to be in his early forties came out of the drawing room. He stopped abruptly when he caught sight of her, but then forcing a smile he said, ‘Ah, you must be Ruby. Miranda said she had a new maid. I hope she is treating you well? I am Miranda’s father.’

‘Hello, sir.’ Ruby bobbed her knee blushing under his close scrutiny.

‘Miranda informs me that you are from Nuneaton?’

Ruby nodded. ‘Yes, sir.’

‘So, what brings you to Birmingham?’

‘Er . . . my mother died.’ Ruby didn’t wish to tell him more than that but he seemed to accept it.

‘I see, I’m very sorry to hear it.’

She squirmed as he continued to stare at her for a time before asking, ‘And how old are you, Ruby?’

‘I was fifteen in December, sir.’

He nodded. ‘Very well, do go on with what you were doing. Oh, and try not to mind Miranda’s bossy ways, my dear. I’m afraid her mother rather spoils her.’

Ruby didn’t quite know how to respond to this so she merely smiled and scuttled away up the stairs like a cat with its tail on fire. There was something about the way Mr Pembroke had looked at her that she found quite unnerving.

She didn’t have long to think about it, though, because as soon as she reached Miranda’s room the girl snapped at her, ‘Go and get your coat on. I want to go for a stroll around the park and get some fresh air but I’m not allowed to go alone so you’ll have to come with me.’

‘Yes, miss.’ Ruby’s heart sank as she thought of the old coat she had arrived in. She had left the one that Maddie had bought for her behind and she could just imagine how Miranda would mock her when she saw it. But it was the only one she owned so she went and put it on.

Just as she had thought Miranda’s eyebrows rose into her hairline when she arrived back at her room. ‘Is that the best coat you have?’ she sneered.

‘I’m afraid so, miss.’ Ruby stared back at her.