‘I know you would, darling, but you know what your father said. You’ve cancelled so many times lately and he is tired of having to pay for lessons you haven’t had. We don’t want to upset him again, do we?’

Miranda was so used to having her own way that she stamped her foot in temper before storming from the room and almost colliding with Ruby. ‘Earwigging, were you?’ she spat.

‘N-no, I was just on my way to the kitchen,’ Ruby mumbled.

‘I have some jobs for you to do so you can come with me!’ And with that Miranda flounced up the stairs.

Knowing that she had no choice, Ruby reluctantly followed her and found Miranda standing at her bedroom window staring down at the garden.

‘Tidy up, then!’ Miranda glared at her as Ruby stared around at the already tidy room.

‘But I already tidied it this morning.’

‘Really, then you didn’t do a very good job of it. Do it again!’ Miranda hurried to the drawer that contained all her pretty undergarments and before Ruby could say a word, she pulled it out and tossed the contents all over the floor, throwing the drawer after them.

Ruby stared at her for a moment, her hands clenched, but then without a word she replaced the drawer and began to lift the clothes and refold them as Miranda smirked. Inside, Ruby was crying. She had hoped that when Mrs Petty found her a position in this house, she would finally find peace but she didn’t know how much longer she could cope with her young mistress’s spiteful ways. She continued with what she was doing until Miranda’s next words made her head jerk up to stare at her in horror.

‘And would you have any idea where my amethyst ring has gone by any chance?’ Miranda had seen the gentle way her father addressed Ruby and that, added to the fact that Ruby was so little and dainty while she herself was plump and plain, made her hate the girl all the more.

‘No, I wouldn’t!’ Ruby stared at her, her face flushed with indignation. Miranda’s jewellery box stood on her dressing table but Ruby had never once even opened the lid.

‘Well, it’s strange that you are the only one who has access to my room, isn’t it?’ Miranda’s pale-blue eyes flashed with spite. ‘Who else could have taken it?’

‘Perhaps you’ve just mislaid it?’

‘Hm, then you won’t mind if I ask my father to let one of the maids search your room, will you? I’m sure he wouldn’t want a thief living under our roof.’