‘Ah well.’ Miranda sniggered as she tugged her warm kid gloves on. ‘At least everyone will know you’re my maid dressed like that. Just make sure you walk a few steps behind me.’ She herself was wearing a beautiful dark-green coat trimmed with black braid and a matching hat that Ruby guessed must have cost a small fortune.

They set off, although as yet Ruby had no idea where they were heading, and eventually turned into some gates that led into a large park with an enormous duck pond in the centre of it. Miranda headed for the water and Ruby was careful to walk well behind her but suddenly the girl stopped and snapped, ‘Can’t you keep up with me or something?’

‘But you told me to walk behind you!’

‘I’ve changed my mind. Come and walk beside me. And it’s “miss” remember!’

Ruby felt vaguely uncomfortable. She didn’t trust Miranda as far as she could throw her, although she didn’t yet know her very well, but she did as she was told and for some time they walked on in silence, admiring a family of ducks that were swimming serenely on the surface of the lake. Then suddenly Miranda stuck her foot out and before she could stop herself Ruby tripped over it and sprawled into the water. She clambered out, wet and bedraggled, as Miranda laughed helplessly.

‘You did that on purpose,’ Ruby muttered as tears of humiliation stung her eyes and she tried to wring the water from her sodden, muddy skirt.

‘Of course I didn’t, you’re just clumsy,’ Miranda responded and turning she set off for home with a spiteful smile on her face. For a moment Ruby stood there watching her go with her hands clenched. Miranda was a spoilt, selfish brat and for two pins she could have turned and walked in the opposite direction. But then the little voice of reason kicked in and asked, ‘But where would you go?’ And the answer came back, ‘You have nowhere!’ So, with a heavy sigh, she set off behind her new mistress, her boots squelching with every step she took.

When she entered the kitchen, dripping mud all over Cook’s clean floor, the woman stared at her in horror. ‘What the hell has happened to you?’ she gasped.

Shamefaced, Ruby stared at the floor as she muttered, ‘I, er . . . tripped by the side of the lake and fell in.’

‘Hm, and a purple pig just flew past the window,’ Cook retorted angrily. ‘It were that little madam that pushed you weren’t it?’

‘Well . . . she didn’t exactly push me,’ Ruby said in a small voice. ‘But she stuck her foot out and I tripped over it. I’m sorry about the mess.’