‘And are you coming forward?’ Harry asked Ailsa, who had told him the whole story.

‘No, sir. Better just to leave it as it is.’

‘Quite right. Berrow and Banks probably hired someone to get you drunk. You say you were drinking water in a gin glass and he didn’t even notice?’

‘No, sir. He did not. I think he had a very weak head.’ Ailsa had no intention of betraying her capacity for gin to anyone.

Berrow and Cyril stared at each other in horror in The Club over their copies of the Evening News.

‘You know what?’ said Cyril.

‘What?’

‘That Cathcart fellow’s going to kill both of us. He’s engaged to Lady Rose again. I’m telling you, he’s vicious.’

Berrow folded his newspaper. ‘Tell you what, I’m going north to my place in Yorkshire for Christmas. Come along. We’ll leave as soon as possible. If that maniac turns up anywhere near us, I’ll get the keepers to shoot him!’

Rose, once again serving in the soup kitchen, found the cheerful religious man she had met before standing in front of her.

‘The Lord be with you,’ he said, holding out his bowl.

‘And with you, sir,’ said Rose.

‘The Lord is good,’ he said, looking at her with shining eyes. ‘His angel come to me in prison.’

‘And you will sin no more?’ asked Rose.

‘Bet your life I won’t, missus,’ he said cheerfully. ‘Can I have an extra helping?’

When she and Miss Friendly had finished, they returned to the town house where the maids were beginning to pack their trunks preparatory to the move to Stacey Court.

Before she went upstairs, Miss Friendly said, ‘Please tell Miss Levine I have her frock ready.’

‘I hope everyone is not taking advantage of you.’

‘No, not at all. I enjoy the work.’

Daisy looked in awe at the dark blue taffeta gown Miss Friendly had designed and made for her. It was cut low on the bodice and trimmed with little pearls at the edge of the neckline.

‘Did you do this without a pattern, Florence?’ asked Daisy, who was the only one to call Miss Friendly by her first name.

‘I studied such a gown when we were visiting Madame Laurent’s salon and suddenly realized I could create something like it.’

‘You should speak to Lady Rose about opening your own salon.’

‘That would take a great deal of money and my lady has been generous enough.’

Daisy thanked her and went off lost in thought. What if she, Becket and Miss Friendly got together to open a salon? She and Becket could handle the business side. Rose could be persuaded to wear Miss Friendly’s creations as a form of advertisement. She and Becket could then marry.

Daisy wore the new gown that evening. Lady Polly kept flashing angry little glances at her. Harry had joined them for dinner.

Rose was feeling depressed. Harry was certainly playing his part of being the faithful fiancé, but there was something aloof and guarded about him when he spoke to her.