Jenny had never liked Gloria at school, as she had a sharp tongue and thought herself better than anyone else. Smiling sweetly, she said, ‘Somewhere I couldn’t be found.’

Gloria’s gaze swept over her in derision. ‘Your dress is … unusual.’

‘I think Jen looks beautiful,’ Matt said stoutly.

That produced a trill of amused laughter as Gloria touched his arm. ‘Oh, Matthew, you are funny. You said that as if you meant it. Still, I expect you find it such fun to bring a market girl to the party. Don’t you, darling?’

He shook her hand free and turned his back on the taunting girl. ‘Ignore her, Jen. Come and meet John’s girlfriend, Emma; you’ll like her.’

She did like Emma and was pleased to see John standing proudly beside her. He was the most serious of the brothers, but she had been privileged to see the softer side of him when he’d acted as Father Christmas. He was a man you could rely on, and the pretty blonde girl beside him seemed just the person to give him the loving support he needed.

When they went in to dinner, Green gave Jenny a sly wink, causing an amused rumble of laughter to come from Matt.

‘You must go down and see them later,’ Matt whispered in her ear when they were seated.

‘Oh, I shall. Do you think Gloria would like to wish the servants a happy New Year?’ she asked, and they both dissolved into laughter at the thought of the snooty girl talking to the hired help.

The meal was wonderful and she enjoyed each dish, admiring the smooth way the meal was presented, knowing the frantic activity there would be downstairs. The conversation was lively and she joined in quite naturally, easily slipping back to the social training she had received at the Templeton School. Gloria Tremain kept giving her withering looks from the other end of the table, but Jenny was enjoying herself far too much to let that bother her.

After dinner they gathered in the large drawing room to welcome in the New Year. On the stroke of twelve Jenny received a kiss from each of the Stannards, even Matt’s father. It was done with such genuine warmth that she knew they liked and accepted her. Once she had said to Edna that there was no way back to the life she had known, but thanks to her father’s love and concern for her future, the last two years had been only a slight pause. It had been a finishing school of life, and the best education she could have received.

At just past twelve she and Matt went downstairs, and they spent a lively half hour with the staff before he took her home.