‘Ah, was that it? Yes, I remember the meeting. I made the mistake of getting poor Pearson to drive me in the Rolls, didn’t I. He did suffer at the hands of those children. I’ve promised him I’ll drive myself in one of the less ostentatious estate cars next time. I really thought the poor chairlady – Mrs Todd, isn’t it? – was going to have a fit of the vapours at his language.’ She cast a bright-eyed glance at Ruby as she added, ‘Being married to a brigadier I’ve heard it all and much worse, I’m afraid. I’ve even let the odd word slip myself, on occasion.’

Ruby felt herself relaxing. There was something about Clarissa Palmerston that was very engaging and despite her upper-class accent and top-drawer friends, she seemed, if not ordinary, then . . . Ruby couldn’t find a word that fitted and she gave up trying.

As they reached the Rolls-Royce where the said Pearson was waiting at attention with the door open for them, Clarissa asked, ‘Are you expected at home, Miss Morgan, or do you have time to come and have tea with me? The brigadier is away at the moment and I do so hate having tea by myself. Pearson will drop you home later.’

Ruby stared at the other woman, totally taken aback. She was well aware that ladies of Mrs Palmerston’s standing did not invite an assistant laundress from the workhouse home to tea. Mrs Palmerston was being kind because she had pushed her out of the way of the horse but it wouldn’t be fair to take advantage.

She stood by the magnificent car thinking how to word her refusal when Clarissa further disarmed her by saying, ‘Oh, please, do not say no, Ruby. May I call you Ruby? And you must call me Clarissa. Please come to tea. Look at it from my point of view. How many times in one’s lifetime does one have the opportunity to have tea with someone who’s just saved one’s life? It will just be us two and we can sit in the garden and talk properly. One cannot converse with all the activity going on here. I want to know all about you.’

‘There’s nothing to know.’