‘From her position in the line I would say she’s the under housemaid.’

‘Hmm. She’d be quite pretty with a touch of rouge and better clothes.’

Matt was about to tell his brother to keep his eyes off her, but didn’t have a chance, because the servants were walking along the line and bowing to each of them before leaving the room. He was well aware of Luke’s tendency to chase any pretty girl he saw. He would have to keep an eye on him, because this girl was too young and shy. She hadn’t looked up once. She curtsied gracefully in front of his parents and accepted her gift with a hesitant smile. Still she kept her eyes lowered. Why? They weren’t that frightening as a family, surely? For some strange reason he didn’t think it was because she was shy. There was something else. It was almost as if she didn’t want to be seen.

She reached Luke and he said, ‘I haven’t seen you before.’

‘No, sir, I only started two months ago.’

‘I hope you are happy here?’ Luke persisted in trying to gain her attention, without success. She still had her gaze lowered.

‘Yes, thank you, sir.’

She moved along to Matt and the words he spoke surprised him as much as her. ‘I wish you a happy and safe New Year.’

Her head came up and what he saw made him draw in a deep breath of appreciation. What beautiful eyes; she was going to be a real beauty in a couple of years.

‘What have you got, Jen?’ Edna asked.

She unwrapped her parcel, trying to stop her hands from shaking. That had been an ordeal. She felt safe down here with the servants, but was terrified she would meet someone upstairs who might guess who she really was. The deception was a constant worry in case she slipped and said something revealing. In a way the hard schedule of work she had to do every day was helping to push the fear to the back of her mind, but at times like this it came rushing back.

‘Oh, that’s lovely,’ the cook said as Jenny held out a bright red scarf and matching gloves.

They all showed their gifts, smiling with pleasure as they inspected each one. All were things servants would not have been able to buy for themselves. Jenny couldn’t help wondering if her mother had been this kind …

‘Back to work,’ the housekeeper ordered. But there was a smile on her face for once. ‘Edna, Jenny, cook will need your help today.’