When the general present-giving began, Margaret received so many presents that Miss Grey had to show her how to put the names of the givers on each one so she would know whom to thank. The one she liked best came from Ireland. It was a beautiful dress-length, home spun in soft colours, and was sent by Lavinia, Peter and Horatio. There was a cold collation in the evening so the staff could enjoy their Christmas dinner. After the cold supper, everybody who could, performed. Katie played the piano beautifully, Lady Teaser sang a ballad, Sir John recited and some of the guests danced. The only people who could do nothing were Margaret and Miss Grey.

‘You’ll have to learn something by next year,’ said Sir John. ‘Can’t have backsliders.’

Margaret smiled happily. Next year! Did Sir John think she would still be here? It was a splendid thought.

When she kissed Katie good night she said: ‘You’ll never, never know how much I’ve enjoyed today. I felt as if I was family. And I’ve still got Lavinia, Peter and Horatio to look forward to.’

A week later, just as they had promised, Lavinia, Peter and Horatio and their grandfather knocked on Margaret’s dressing-room door. They had been to the one-thirty performance because Grandfather thought the evening show would be too late for Horatio.

‘Not that it made any difference,’ Peter said, ‘Horatio slept all the way through anyway.’

Horatio knew Margaret would understand. ‘I was sick as sick on the boat to England. That’s why I slept.’

Margaret could not get over how well they all looked. When she had last seen them, bad food at the orphanage and the hard life of leggers had made the boys pasty-faced and hollow-eyed, and Lavinia had been worn out with worry while the boys were missing. Now they so shone with good health it was a joy to look at them. All the same, although they looked so well, she had a feeling Lavinia was worrying about something.

Lady Teaser, still hoping that Katie would make friends with Margaret’s startlingly well-connected friends, had ordered a special tea to be served in the schoolroom. Mrs Melly had been given carte blanche to serve what she thought fit and she had let herself go. Lord Delaware laughed when he saw the table.

‘You have indeed done us proud, Lady Teaser. We are simple folk in Ireland and for tea we seldom have more than a plate of potato cakes and a soda loaf.’

While Margaret was washing before tea, Lavinia crept into the bathroom after her.

‘Could you ask Grandfather,’ she whispered, ‘if I could stay with you until the play starts? It’s something I found out. Peter thinks, and I think too, you ought to know.’

Margaret stared at Lavinia, while it felt as if ice was slipping down her back. ‘You’ve seen Mr Fortescue? He’s found out where I am?’

Lavinia shook her head.

‘Worse, far worse. Let’s plan so I can see you in your dressing room before you have to go on to the stage again.’