Those days before the rehearsals started were very happy ones for both girls. Katie had never mixed much with other children and Margaret, though she had been to school, had always been hurried home by Hannah who had to get the old ladies’ tea, so she had never made a school friend. At the orphanage she had known other children but talking was discouraged. As a result, when Katie and Margaret were together, it was as if dams broke in each of them and conversation came pouring out.

‘If you two talk instead of eating,’ said Miss Grey, ‘I shall have to make a rule: no talking at meals.’

Of course Katie was thrilled to hear about Margaret’s life for she thought, compared to her own, it was breathtakingly exciting. She was particularly interested in the boys who had run away from the orphanage with Margaret.

‘You ought to meet Peter,’ said Margaret. ‘He was always reading, he never could get enough books, that’s how he came to borrow three, Bleak House, Ivanhoe and Kenilworth.’

Katie could imagine poor Peter starved of anything to read. ‘I’ve read those. I don’t wonder Peter borrowed them. They are all very good.’

‘He’s got all he wants to read now. I had a letter from Lavinia and she says Peter can have all the books he likes, there is a big library, but as well his grandfather orders books from Dublin.’

‘What else did she say?’

‘They have a governess and a tutor to teach them and they’ve all got ponies to ride.’

‘I wish they didn’t live so far away,’ said Katie. ‘I’d love to meet them. It would be like having a family.’

Margaret nodded. ‘Lord Delaware asked me to go to Ireland. He said he would bring me up as a daughter, but I don’t need anyone to bring me up, for I have a mother of my own.’

‘Have you told Lavinia you are going to act in a production at The Dolphin?’

Margaret looked a little ashamed. ‘I haven’t answered her yet. You see, I don’t write letters much, I’ve nobody to write to.’

Katie understood. ‘Miss Grey gives me lessons on letter-writing.’ She lowered her voice. ‘She doesn’t know much about writing them either, but Mama said I had to learn as it is part of a lady’s tasks. So she bought a book on etiquette and that is full of letters and the right way to address people. You know, when to say “Esteemed Sir” and when to say “Dear Sir”. Anyway you don’t want anything like that to write to Lavinia. Let’s send her a letter tomorrow.’

Helped by Katie, Margaret wrote a splendid letter to Lavinia, telling her all about Sarah and their lodgings and, of course,

Katie says you will see in the newspapers when The Little Queen begins. It would be wonderful if you could come to London to see me in it.

My love to you all,

Margaret

‘Do you think she really might come?’ Katie asked.