Eileen stared into the fire again and Briony had to stifle an urge to get out of her seat and shake her sister by the shoulders until her teeth rattled in her head. Eileen was helping all the family and shouldn’t make such a song and dance about it. That was Briony’s opinion. She could be doing a lot worse things for a lot worse money. She could be up in Aldgate, in Myrdle Street, working in a sweat shop fourteen hours a day. That would soon sort her out! Let her know what side her bread was buttered. Briony knew what she’d rather be doing.

Mr Dumas walked into the room. He smiled widely at the girls and, walking towards them, kissed them both on the hand. Briony sighed with contentment. As if she was a real lady, she thought. She looked at Mr Dumas’ striped tailored trousers and his single-breasted morning-coat and thought he looked like the King. She gave him her brightest smile and he smiled back. Briony slipped to the floor and sat by her sister’s chair. Mr Dumas sat in her empty seat and beamed at them.

‘I’ve ordered more tea, girls, and some more cake.’ He looked at Briony as he said this and she smiled at him. He always filled her up with cake. He knew she had a sweet tooth. Eileen looked at him and his face sobered. The child’s miserable face was getting him down.

‘Go and get my wallet for me, Eileen, there’s a good girl. Briony will be wanting your wages.’

Eileen stood up as if she had been catapulted from the chair, glad to get out of his presence. As she bolted from the room his voice stayed with her. ‘And while you’re there, ask Mrs Horlock what’s for dinner this evening.’

She nodded and went from the room, her head down. That should give him five minutes with the little red-headed minx. As the door shut Briony stood up and sat in her sister’s seat. She grinned at the man opposite.

‘I love coming here, Mr Dumas.’ It was said with every ounce of guile she had in her, and this was not wasted on the man.

‘Do you, Briony?’

‘Oh, yes. I wish I lived here, but I expect I’m not big enough yet, am I? I’m only ten.’

She fingered a tendril of red hair as she said this and sucked it into her mouth. Unbeknown to her she could not have done anything more erotic as far as Henry Dumas was concerned.

‘I’d do anything to live here. Anything at all.’

The man and the little girl looked full at one another then. An unspoken agreement passed between them and the man was surprised to find such knowingness in so young a child.

Paddy Cavanagh walked into the office with his cap in his hand. ‘You wanted to see me, sir?’

Mr Dumas smiled at him, a man to man smile.