‘Hm, I notice the mistress were worried enough to call the doctor in to her but not worried enough to get off her fat arse an’ go an’ see her,’ Cook commented as she lifted a large leg of pork out of the oven. ‘She ain’t no better; she’s had poor Susie runnin’ up an’ down the stairs for her all day. I tell yer, there ain’t a lot wrong wi’ neither of ’em.’

Ruby grinned. Poor Mr Pembroke would be dining alone this evening but then she supposed he was used to it by now; in fact, he probably preferred it. At least he wouldn’t have to listen to his wife and daughter moaning about something or another, poor chap.

After the master had been served, the staff sat down to eat a rather delicious fish pie that Cook had made, but as soon as Ruby smelled it she clapped her hand across her mouth and rushed outside to the lavatory.

‘Looks like she’s comin’ down with the bug an’ all,’ Betty said innocently as she tucked into her meal – Cook made the best fish pie she had ever tasted.

‘Aye, you could be right,’ Cook answered but she was growing seriously concerned now. So much so that she decided she’d have a word on the quiet with Miss Wood when she got the chance.

It finally came much later that evening when the rest of the staff had retired to bed and Miss Wood came into the kitchen to fill her stone hot-water bottle. She was clad in her dressing robe with her hair in a long plait over one shoulder and she looked surprised to see Cook was still up.

‘Why, I thought you’d be all tucked into bed by now,’ she said pleasantly as she picked up the kettle, which was softly singing on the hob, to fill her bottle.

‘I would have been.’ Cook crossed the room to peer into the hallway to make sure they were alone and closed the door firmly before telling Miss Wood of her concerns. The woman’s eyes stretched wide and she lifted her hand to finger the lace about her throat.

‘Surely not, Cook!’ She looked horrified. ‘Why, Ruby is only a child herself and she certainly doesn’t seem to be the sort to be fast and loose with her favours. In fact, if asked I’d have said she probably doesn’t even know about . . . you know, the birds and the bees yet.’

‘I would have said the same,’ Cook agreed. ‘But I’ve seen the symptoms wi’ me own eyes. The question is, what do we do about it? I don’t want to lose her, she’s a good little worker an’ nice to have about the place.’