No, he didn’t blame his Briony at all. She had seen all this. She had been allowed a small peep into the world of the monied classes and she wanted to be a part of it. Who in their right mind could blame her? Certainly not him. Even at ten years old Briony knew what she wanted. As Paddy sipped his drink he had a glimpse of the future.

With the brains she had been given, Briony would use this place as a stepping stone. He had a feeling on him that once she tasted the delights of this house she would only want better, she would only want more, and he, Paddy Cavanagh, downed his drink in a large gulp and gave her a silent toast. May you get everything you want, my Briony, but never what you deserve.

‘Oh, Eileen, fold the clothes up properly, they’ll be like rags by the time you get them home!’ Briony’s voice was annoyed. Eileen, in her haste to get out of the house, was just throwing clothes into the leather trunk that Mr Dumas had kindly given her.

‘Well, Briony, they’ll be like rags soon anyway, so it doesn’t really make any difference, does it? Now just help me pack and let me get out of here.’

Cissy shook her head as Briony opened her mouth to answer. ‘Go down to the kitchen, Eileen. Mrs Horlock has something for you.’

Eileen flounced from the room.

‘She bloody well annoys me, Cissy, ungrateful little bitch she is - all this lovely stuff!’

Cissy began packing the case properly and spoke to Briony in a low voice.

‘Listen, Bri, don’t be too hard on her. She hated it here. Some girls aren’t made like us. We get the most out of whatever situation we’re in, but other people are weak like. They don’t have any bottle, see? Now help me pack and we’ll get shot of her then we can get you bathed. Mrs Horlock has the water all ready.’

Briony kept her own counsel, but no matter what anyone said, she thought Eileen was a miserable wet patch. She looked around the bedroom with a feeling of glee inside her chest. It was lovely. The whole house was lovely. Soon she’d have a good scrub in the tin bath in the scullery and from tomorrow she would use the big bathroom on the landing. Oh, she thought she was going to faint with happiness. She stroked the richly embroidered bedspread gently and bit her lip. This was all hers, and unlike that scut of a sister, she was going to reign here for a long time.

No matter what she had to do.

‘All done, child.’