‘I know that,’ he said sharply. ‘She doesn’t sound like a servant now.’

‘Jenny.’ Madam glanced at the dress again. ‘You appear to be a well-educated young lady. Will you explain why you are masquerading as a servant?’

‘I can’t tell you. All I can say is that these are my things and you have no right to take them from me.’ Jenny knew that if the Stannards found out who she really was, Aunt Gertrude would take over her life again.

Mr Stannard had obviously lost patience. ‘As you refuse to say how you came by these things, then you must leave. I will not have someone under my roof of doubtful reputation.’

Jenny heard his wife whisper, ‘Do not be so hasty.’

‘My mind is made up. This girl is lying.’

Jenny knew that this was the end of her time here. Still holding tightly on to her things, she ran past Mrs Douglas and up to her room, where she shoved everything into her case. The uniform was left on top of the bed. It didn’t take her more than a minute. Edna had left her hat and coat over a chair, so she put them on, grabbed her case and ran down the servants’ stairs, reaching the door just as Mrs Douglas came rushing after her.

‘Jenny, madam is asking for you.’

She sidestepped the housekeeper and tore through the door towards the street.

‘Jenny! Wait.’

She kept running.

There was a bus at the stop and Jenny jumped on, standing by the door for a moment as it pulled away, watching Mrs Douglas waving frantically at her until she was out of sight. Finding a seat near the door, she sat down and bowed her head, too frightened even to cry. Over the months she had begun to feel safe, but in one day her world had collapsed again. It had been a day of complete contrasts: happiness at the seaside, and dismay on her return. Now she was completely homeless.

‘Are you all right, miss?’

‘Erm …’ The conductor was standing in front of her. ‘Where is this bus going?’

‘Marble Arch, miss.’

It took a great deal of control to stop herself from laughing hysterically. What did it matter? She didn’t have anywhere to go!

Fishing in her purse, she found a penny and gave it to the conductor.

‘Where are you going?’ he wanted to know.