‘Whoops!’ Edna caught her, laughing. ‘Let’s get some fish and chips. I’m starving. We can have another paddle before we have to go back to London.’

The rest of the day was fun. After lunch they walked along the pier, hanging over the rails at the very end to gaze out to sea. Just before they had to catch their train they paddled again. Their feet were still wet when they put their stockings and shoes back on, but they didn’t care. They’d had a really lovely day.

They arrived back at six o’clock, flushed with a day in the open air and very happy. However, as soon as they walked in the kitchen Jenny knew by the grim expressions that something had happened.

‘What’s wrong?’ Edna asked.

Cook checked on her roast in the oven, then said, ‘We’ve had a dreadful day. Madam found that two of her snuffboxes were missing from the collection. All our rooms were searched and they were found under the new housemaid’s mattress. She’s been dismissed.’

Jenny’s heart hammered.

‘We was all searched.’ Mrs Peters looked very put out. ‘In all my years of service I’ve never been so humiliated.’

‘Jenny!’ The housekeeper appeared in the doorway. ‘You are to go up to see Mr and Mrs Stannard immediately.’

‘Why, what have I done?’ She gripped the edge of the table to steady herself. If they’d searched her case …

‘The master will tell you. Quickly, take off your hat and coat.’

Jenny thrust them at Edna and then ran to catch up with Mrs Douglas, who was making for the library.

As soon as she stepped through the door Jenny knew that her security had vanished. Spread across a small table were the beautiful lace and beaded dress and the diamond and emerald pendant that her father had given to her. Not the kind of things a maid would own. She had been foolish to bring the dress, and she should have kept the pendant round her neck, but she’d been afraid of losing it by the seaside.

‘You have heard about the thefts?’ Mr Stannard didn’t waste any time.

‘Yes, sir.’ She clasped her hands tightly to stop them shaking.

‘A thorough search was made for the missing items and these were found in your suitcase. We want to know how you came by such expensive items.’

‘They are mine. I didn’t steal them.’ She knew that was not an acceptable answer, but she couldn’t explain. Her eyes filled with tears as she reached out to touch the beautiful dress. It held such lovely memories. ‘I didn’t steal them, sir,’ she whispered. ‘They do belong to me.’

‘I think that most unlikely!’

‘My dear.’ His wife stood up and walked towards her husband. ‘Perhaps someone gave them to Jenny as a gift.’