‘Exactly.’ Mabel pursed her lips and hitched up her ample bosom with her forearms. ‘In a car. A great big one an’ all. And him dressed like a gent. All that’ll add fuel to the fire. Flaunting it, that’s what they’ll say. Not content with being some rich man’s floozy, she’s shameless with it. He’ll be married with a couple of bairns by morning, you mark my words, for why else would a gent take up with a working-class lass if not to have a bit on the side?’

‘He’s not married.’

‘That won’t matter to them. The truth has little to do with it, believe me.’

‘Oh, Mabel.’

‘Now, now, don’t look like that. What’s done is done, and if owt’s said to me I’ll set ’em straight, believe me. Gossiping old biddies, the lot of ’em.’

Considering that Mabel enjoyed nothing more than a tasty bit of tittle-tattle this was a bit ripe, but Ruby was too downcast to see the funny side of it. Standing up, she said, ‘Thanks for the tea, Mabel.’

‘That’s all right, lass, and if this Clarissa person sends her car for you on Thursday I suggest you’re ready and waiting. What time did she say?’

‘Pearson’s collecting me at eleven o’clock.’

Mabel sighed. ‘I dare say the curtains’ll be twitching however nimble you are, and the bairns will report back to their mams anyway. The little beggars don’t miss a trick.’

Leaving the kitchen, Ruby climbed the stairs slowly, the beginnings of a headache causing her temples to throb. She was just about to go into her room when a ‘Psst’ behind her made her turn. Bridget beckoned to her with a finger to her lips, and as Ruby followed the other girl into her room, Bridget closed the door behind them carefully before she whispered, ‘I don’t want Mrs Duffy to hear.’

‘Hear what?’ Ruby had had enough for one day.

‘About Ellie.’

‘Ellie?’

‘Aye. Mrs Duffy’d never have her back if she knew, not that that’s likely to happen anyway, but just in case.’

‘Bridget, what’s happened to Ellie?’ Suddenly she was frightened; Bridget’s face was unusually solemn.

‘It’s him, that bit of scum she took up with. My friends had their suspicions about that fella Daniel shares a house with and his lass, but they weren’t sure, but now there’s no doubt. Daniel and his pal are running that house as a brothel and they’ve got the two lassies on the game, Ellie and Daisy. Flo, that’s one of my pals, said it’s common knowledge now.’

‘No.’ Ruby’s heart was banging so hard against her chest she put a hand on her breast. ‘No, I don’t believe it. Ellie wouldn’t.’