‘Don’t worry, Matt, we won’t tell him where she is if it means more trouble for her,’ Luke assured him. ‘But it must be important for him to dash over here so quickly.’

‘That’s what worries me.’ Matt stared grimly at his plate of succulent beef, his appetite gone. ‘From what we’ve heard, her father was destitute after the crash. We also know he had another family in New York, so perhaps they’re going to question her legitimacy.’

‘But what would be the point in that?’ Louise frowned.

Matt shrugged helplessly.

‘We could go on speculating all night,’ their father declared, ‘but we shall soon find out. Damned strange business, though.’

They all agreed with that statement.

The end of her first week at the market saw Jenny buoyant with hope. Bet’s husband wouldn’t be able to work before Christmas, so the job would give her enough to pay the rent for a few weeks if she was careful.

After lighting the fire and making herself toast and tea, Jenny tipped her money on to the table and counted it. She had earned a guinea, which was a fortune to her, and on top of that Bet had paid for her lunch each day. It had been such fun, and she had surprised herself at the way she shouted and joked with the customers. Bet said she was a natural, but it was a talent she hadn’t known she possessed.

She counted the money again, just to be sure, then surged to her feet to tell Ma how lucky she was, and what a special Christmas they would have this year. The pain hit her when she reached the front room and saw the empty chair. Was she ever going to get used to Ma no longer being here? ‘Oh, Ma, I miss you so much,’ she murmured. ‘I long to tell you how well things are going.’

She went back to the table, put nineteen shillings in the tin and two in her purse, and finished her tea as she gazed at the wedding photograph Edna had sent her. They were a happy pair, and it gave Jenny huge pleasure to look at it. It had pride of place on the mantelpiece.

‘Hello, Jen!’ Ivy called, poking her head round the kitchen door. ‘Dad tells me you’ve been selling kisses. It’s the talk of the market.’

Jenny roared – she could just imagine the gossip flying around The Cut. ‘Do you want some tea?’

Ivy took another cup off the shelf and sat down. ‘So tell me all about it.’

Jenny related the story of Matthew’s visit to the stall. They both ended up giggling.

‘Weren’t you embarrassed?’

‘No.’ Jenny shook her head. ‘Matthew started it, and the crowd enjoyed the fun. Anyway, joining in was my way of thanking him for what he did. He’d asked for a kiss, so I gave him one.’