Sarah had watched Tommy in his school play production of The Three Little Pigs. The short stage act had brought her so much enjoyment, and she’d swelled with pride at his performance as a talking tree. Now he was back in his classroom, but Sarah wasn’t ready to go to work yet. Lena had opened up the shop and stayed on for a few hours, so now it was time to put her plan into action. It had been put on hold when she’d had to move in with George and his mum, but now that she was home again, she was ready.

Sarah stood at the bottom of the stairs leading up to Mrs Alderton-Steele’s house, gazing with admiration at the three-storey building, with stairs leading down to a basement. The large front door was adorned with brass fixtures, and through the front sash windows she could see luxury drapes. Everything she’d heard about this side of the water was true. The people looked smart, and the houses were opulent.

It was a bold plan and Sarah had expected to feel nervous, but instead she was filled with determination to correct a wrong. She had no idea how Mrs Alderton-Steele would receive her, or if the woman would even allow her in the house, but walked up the wide stairs to ring the doorbell, her body stiff.

‘Yes, can I help you?’ an elderly gentleman asked when he opened the door. He was dressed in a black suit with a crisp grey shirt matching his grey hair, which was immaculately swept back. Sarah knew from what Jenny had told her that he must be Henry, the butler.

‘Good afternoon,’ Sarah said, trying to speak properly without her cockney twang, ‘Miss Jepson to see Mrs Alderton-Steele.’

‘She isn’t expecting you,’ Henry said, and eyed her suspiciously.

‘No, but she will want to see me.’

‘There are no service positions currently available,’ Henry said, and began to close the door.

‘Wait,’ Sarah said, ‘I’m not here for a job. I have some information that I believe she will want to hear.’

‘You will have to be more precise.’

Although the man initially came across as being snobbish, Jenny had said he was a nice bloke, and Sarah could see he had a kind face. ‘It’s about a watch, and some other things that I believe belong to her.’

Henry’s eyes widened. ‘You’d better come in,’ he said, and showed Sarah into a large hallway. ‘Wait here,’ he instructed before going through a door to the left of a large staircase.

Sarah gazed around her surroundings. The walls were panelled with rich dark wood, and statues stood on marble plinths. A sparkling chandelier hung from the ceiling, and scattered rainbow reflections of sunlight over the walls. Blimey, thought Sarah, the hallway was bigger than her entire house.

‘This way, Miss Jepson,’ Henry said from the doorway.