Her mother stepped forward imploringly. ‘I didn’t know about the money until now. If I had known, I would never have allowed you to go to Albert. All I knew was that my allowance stopped immediately and that I was penniless. You can come home with me, Eugenie. My husband is old and sick, but I’ve got a lovely house –’

‘Dear Lord,’ Jenny gasped. ‘Your greed has clouded your sense of reality. No, more than that – it has completely destroyed your ability to tell right from wrong. You are beneath contempt. You may not have known about the money, but you must have known my father didn’t kill himself, and yet you let your sister lie to me.’

‘Well, Gertrude thought it would be for the best. And I needed her then.’

‘Best!’ Jenny exploded. ‘I never thought you were very bright, with your single-minded urge to climb the social ladder, but you really are stupid, aren’t you?’

‘Don’t talk to me like that!’

‘Shut up!’ Jenny swept a ferocious gaze over each one of them. ‘I don’t want to see or hear from any of you – ever again! I hope you rot in hell for the anguish you have put me through!’

With that parting shot she turned and walked out, head held high, as the two men opened the door for her. Matthew and Dwight fell in behind her as she left the house.

It was over! She was free of them, with lovely memories of her father filling her mind. The doubt was gone. He hadn’t killed himself. He had loved her. Now as far as she was concerned, Ma had been her mother, and Fred and Glad her uncle and aunt. She couldn’t wish for a lovelier family. She was going to give them the best damned Christmas they had ever had.

‘Take me home, Matthew, please,’ she said when they reached the car.

‘To Lambeth?’ He opened the door for her.

‘Of course. Where else would I go?’

He ignored her sharp tone. ‘You could come and stay with us until –’

Her emotions were still in turmoil and she gave him a withering look. ‘What, now I’ve got money?’

‘Don’t insult me, Jen. When have I ever cared if you were rich or poor?’

She was instantly contrite. That had been unkind and she’d hurt him. He’d only ever shown her kindness; he didn’t deserve to be spoken to like that. She touched his arm, her eyes full of remorse. ‘I’m so sorry. Please forgive me. I don’t know what I’m saying.’

He gathered her in his arms and held her gently for a moment, then kissed the top of her head. ‘I know, it’s all too much at the moment, isn’t it?’

She nodded and got in the car, not speaking all the way back to Lambeth as she struggled to come to terms with everything.