‘And very welcome it will be.’ He gave her a cheerful smile. ‘Just pop it down on that little table there, would you?’

‘Yes, sir.’ She quickly did as she was told but instead of immediately leaving, she crossed to the worktop and stared down at the jewellery in awe.

The master removed his eye glass and ordered, ‘Open your hand.’

Ruby did as she was told and he dropped a glittering stone into it.

‘That,’ he told her, ‘is one of the finest Brazilian emeralds I have ever seen. Just look at that colour. What does it remind you of?’

‘Grass, sir, when it’s been raining and it’s all shiny and clean.’

He laughed as he took it back and reverently placed it back on the worktop. ‘And very soon that will be set into a filigree gold mount. A very wealthy customer of mine has commissioned me to make her an emerald pendant and this stone was the finest I could find.’

‘It’s really beautiful,’ Ruby breathed, and she meant it. She leant over to study a deep-blue stone. ‘That is a sapphire, isn’t it?’

He nodded approvingly. ‘It certainly is. A Ceylon sapphire to be exact and very soon that will be set into a ring for another customer. Look, I have the mount almost ready for it.’

He lifted a fine gold band and Ruby smiled as she pictured the gem sparkling away in it. She had learnt a lot about jewels from the books she had read while staying with Maddie and she couldn’t help but imagine Maddie’s eyes greedily looking at the beautiful stones he was showing her.

He watched her face for a moment and then asked, ‘Do you find this interesting?’

‘Oh yes.’ Ruby’s face lit up. ‘When I were younger workin’ in me dad’s baker’s shop I never gave a thought to what I might want to do when I grew up but now I can’t think of anything nicer than to work with beautiful gems making beautiful things that will give people pleasure.’ She remembered who she was talking to then and blushing furiously she backed towards the door. ‘I, er . . . I’d better go now. Miss Miranda will be finished her lessons and she’ll wonder where I am.’

‘Very well.’ He gave her a smile and long after the door had shut behind her, he stood there with a thoughtful expression on his face.

*

Miranda had finished her lessons and unfortunately she was in a bad mood. She was in the drawing room with her mother and as Ruby passed the open door on the way back to the kitchen, she heard Miranda saying, ‘But why do I have to have my piano lesson on such a nice day? I’d much sooner go out!’