‘Why do you want to see them?’ Luke asked.

‘The housemaid was friendly with the girl, and she might have information that wouldn’t reach us. And we should tell the staff what’s going on, just in case those people start questioning them.’

‘I wouldn’t put that past them,’ Matt said.

When they had gathered together Green, Mrs Douglas and Edna, Gilbert explained that Jenny was really Eugenie Winford, and that her aunt and Albert Greaves were doing all they could to find her.

‘You would like us to deny that she ever worked here?’ Green asked.

‘We don’t like asking you to lie,’ John told them, ‘but it might be best until we can find out more.’

‘Our lips are sealed.’ Mrs Douglas looked scandalized. ‘That poor dear girl.’

Edna had been standing, head bowed, ever since she’d entered the room.

‘If you know anything, Edna, you will tell us, won’t you?’ Matt spoke gently, for the girl was obviously distressed. ‘We will not give her away. She needs help and we would like to see what we can do for her.’

Edna looked up then, tears in her eyes. ‘I guessed she was posh, but she didn’t mind getting her hands dirty. Never complained neither.’

‘She has much courage.’ Louise gave the housemaid an encouraging smile. ‘You were her friend, so have you any idea where she might be?’

‘I don’t know where she is, but I did get a letter from her yesterday. She said I wasn’t to worry about her ’cos she’s all right. Someone’s taken her in.’

‘Have you still got the letter?’ John asked.

Edna pulled it out of her pocket and handed it to him. ‘She don’t say much. It’s no more than a note, really.’

‘I don’t want to read your personal mail, Edna. We are looking for any clue as to where she has gone.’ He studied the envelope carefully. ‘This was posted in Kensington. Does she know anyone there?’ he asked, handing it back to her.

‘I don’t think so, sir. The only place she ever mentioned to me was Lambeth.’

‘I expect that was just something she conjured up to throw people off the scent. And she’d be very careful not to post it in the borough she was living in now.’ Luke gave Matt an inquiring glance. ‘We could go to have a drive around Lambeth, I suppose.’

‘We’ll do that,’ Matt agreed. At least he would feel as if he were doing something. ‘But it will be a hopeless task trying to find her. That’s if she’s even there.’

‘You’d have to look in the poor places, ’cos she ain’t got no money,’ Edna told them helpfully.

‘You mean in the slums?’ Luke asked.

Edna nodded her head miserably. ‘Places like that.’