‘I’ll leave you two to have a bit of a chat,’ Cook said obligingly as she pottered off to start peeling the potatoes for the evening meal and Ruby took a seat.

‘Was Maddie very angry at you for slipping me away as you did?’ she asked worriedly.

Mrs Petty grinned. ‘Well, let’s just say she were none too pleased but she’ll get over it.’ She could hardly admit that Maddie had ranted and raved at her for a solid hour when she discovered that Ruby was gone, could she? Even so, she had no regrets. She adored Maddie as if she were her own daughter but she had recognised very quickly that Ruby was not the sort of girl for the life Maddie had in mind for her, and so to her way of thinking she had been left with no choice.

‘Does she know where I am?’ Ruby sounded fearful.

Mrs Petty was quick to reassure her. ‘She ain’t got a clue where you’ve gone, so stop worrying and tell me what you’ve been up to.’

‘Just running around after Miss Miranda mainly. But I do get a break when her tutor comes for three hours each morning. Then twice a week she has piano lessons in the afternoons – she’s quite good actually – and then she has a singing lesson on another afternoon.’ She gave Mrs Petty a cheeky grin. ‘She’s not so good at that, to be honest. In fact, she’s awful, although I wouldn’t dare to tell her that.’

Mrs Petty chuckled as she lifted her cup of tea again. The next half-hour passed quickly until Mrs Petty glanced at the clock and quickly stood up, saying, ‘Right, I must be off. I’ve a good walk ahead o’ me an’ the dinner to organise when I get back. Oh, an’ before I forget, Nell wants to know if she may come and see you, perhaps on Sunday afternoon when you’ve got free time?’

‘Oh, yes please.’ Ruby’s eyes shone at the thought of seeing her friend again. Minutes later, after giving Ruby a quick peck on the cheek, Mrs Petty was gone.