Minnie looked up, frowning. ‘Did she send your gentleman friend away?’

‘Yes, but I called him back and apologised.’

‘She won’t like that,’ Ivy said nervously. ‘She’ll take it out on the rest of us if you make her mad, Daisy. She likes Jonah, but only because he flatters her and goes out of his way to be charming.’

The red-haired young woman rose to her feet, holding out her hand. ‘They’ve forgotten their manners. I’m Flora Mackenzie and I’ve heard all about you from our dear Gladys, the sneak from hell.’

‘How do you do?’ Daisy shook her hand. ‘Is Gladys really that bad?’

‘I expect the girls have told you that Gladys will go through your things when you are out. She’ll report any slight misdemeanour to her mother, and she’ll tell whoppers just to make trouble.’ Flora sank back on the sofa and produced a tobacco pouch from her skirt pocket. She proceeded to roll a cigarette. ‘Don’t look at me like that, Ivy. I know it’s not a ladylike thing to do, but I never was a lady, despite what my poor papa thinks.’

Ivy leaned towards Daisy. ‘Flora’s father is a vicar,’ she said in a low voice. ‘He’s very strict.’

Daisy watched in awe as Flora struck a match and lit the cigarette, exhaling plumes of blue smoke into the air. ‘That’s why I came to live here. It’s handy for work and Papa doesn’t have a say in what I do.’

‘Mrs Wood will be furious if she smells tobacco smoke.’ Ivy glanced nervously at the door, as if expecting Mrs Wood to burst in at any moment.

‘She won’t come in while I’m here,’ Flora said confidently. ‘She knows that I’ll give as good as I get, and one day I’m going to throttle that spawn of the devil, Gladys. You’d best be careful, Daisy. Don’t leave any of your valuables about or she’ll steal them and blame the cat.’

‘I’ve never heard of a cat stealing anything other than food.’ Daisy looked from one to the other, suspecting that this was a joke, but they were all nodding in agreement.

‘Rex is capable of anything,’ Ivy said in a low voice. ‘I think Gladys trained him to fetch things for her, like a dog, and she listens at keyholes.’

‘That’s true.’ Minnie nodded emphatically. ‘The cat stole one of my hankies. I caught him taking it downstairs, and he didn’t want to give it back.’

‘Perhaps he has a cold,’ Flora said, laughing. ‘Does anyone else want a smoke?’ She offered her pouch to each in turn but they all shook their heads. ‘Suit yourselves. You don’t know what you’re missing.’

Daisy looked round at their faces, rosy in the firelight, and she stifled a yawn. ‘I’m afraid I’ll have to go to bed. It’s been a long day and I’m exhausted.’

‘I’ll come with you.’ Minnie scrambled to her feet. ‘We’re only allowed one candle for each room and I don’t fancy groping my way upstairs in the dark, especially when Rex sleeps on the stairs. He lies in wait and leaps out to scratch anyone who happens to be passing, except Mrs Wood and Gladys, of course.’