Oscar Pembroke was reading a newspaper and he scowled. ‘Ruby never stole the ring. It was in Miranda’s jewellery box all along if she’d only cared to look properly for it!’

Lydia sniffed as she plonked onto the chaise longue. This wasn’t the first time her husband had been short with her lately and it was all over that little chit of a girl again.

‘I don’t know why you have to be so protective of a common little maid,’ Lydia whined as she helped herself to a sweetmeat and popped it into her mouth. As she chewed her double chins wobbled and Oscar frowned.

‘Miranda really hasn’t taken to the girl. Perhaps we should think of dismissing her and getting her a new maid?’

‘Another one!’ He gave her a cold stare. ‘And how many will that be? She finds fault with every one that comes. No, this time she’ll have to get used to the girl. I’ve spoken to Miss Wood about the situation and from what she tells me Ruby has done nothing to warrant Miranda’s dislike. To be honest, I don’t think we will ever find anyone that suits her!’

‘Oh, Oscar . . . don’t be cross with me.’ Lydia’s eyes filled with tears as she pouted. ‘I can’t understand why you are so defensive of the girl. She’s only a maid after all.’

‘Even maids have feelings,’ he pointed out shortly. ‘And I’m growing tired of Miranda’s tantrums. I still think it would do her the world of good to attend a finishing school.’

Just as before, Lydia looked horrified at the mention of such a place, and yet he found it hard to understand why. It wasn’t as if she ever spent any time with the girl. In fairness to himself, he had tried to. He’d hoped that Miranda might develop the same fascination for precious stones as he had and that she would join him in the family business, but as he had soon discovered, Miranda wasn’t remotely interested in anything that involved work. Like her mother, she thought it was her right to be waited on hand and foot and to be spoilt rotten. He supposed he was partly to blame there. He should have put his foot down with Lydia years ago but she was too set in her ways to change now.

‘Well, I don’t like her!’ Lydia declared. ‘I think she has a sly look about her.’