‘I just wondered. Everyone seems to be talking about Harriet with a wistful fondness and, as I’ve never met her, I am curious. And, if I’m truthful, a little worried, as everyone says she is an expert seamstress. Your wife won’t be replacing me with her, will she?’ Madge turned to face James and looked at him with a worried expression.

‘Madge, my dear, whatever gave you that idea? Isabelle would not replace you – I’d not let her.’ James walked over to her and ran his hand down her back and kissed her on the cheek. ‘My wife is just hoping that now her mother has died, Harriet will come back to the fold, as it were. She needs Harriet’s support when it comes to running the firm, until Jane shows more interest.’ James let go of Madge and looked out of the window. ‘There’s Harriet, over on the other side of the street, with baby Georgina in her arms and her daughter Rosie and son Ben. They are making their way here, so you’d better make yourself scarce.’ James held her at arm’s length and quickly glanced around the studio to make sure everything was in place for the photo he was about to take. ‘Go on, get back to your dressmaking before you are missed.’ He patted Madge fondly on her bottom.

‘It’s just that I know some of the workers in Atkinson’s don’t like me. I hear them whispering about me, and have done ever since I arrived here.’ Madge turned into James’s arms and looked up into his face.

‘You imagine it, my dear. Besides, they are always gossiping about somebody on the shop floor. It’s the nature of shop girls; too busy living somebody else’s lives, when they should be living their own.’ James pushed her away. ‘Go on, get gone.’

‘But—’ Madge stopped quickly as the door opened.

‘There you are! Mrs Middleton is waiting in the fitting room. Had you forgotten your eleven o’clock appointment? And what are you doing here?’ Isabelle looked angrily at Madge. She’d had to pacify Mrs Middleton with a free cup of tea, as she and Jane had scoured the building for Madge.

‘It’s my fault, dear. I asked Madge to give me hand putting up the backdrop for Harriet’s photograph. That will be all, Madge, you had better go quickly and see to Mrs Middleton.’ James dismissed her without blinking and smiled tenderly at his wife.

‘Yes, sir.’ Madge curtsied and quickly gave him a loving smile behind Isabelle’s back.

‘Really, James, you have Jane to help you with little jobs like that. Don’t drag Madge away from her duties again. She is already a bad timekeeper and doesn’t need any further encouragement to get behind with her work,’ Isabelle said haughtily, glancing around the studio.