Minnie led the way, pointing out the rooms that were occupied by the other lady lodgers, and ending in the front parlour. With its horsehair sofa and uncomfortable-looking chairs adorned with spotless white antimacassars, it was not the sort of place in which to relax, and the looming presence of a large aspidistra standing like a sentinel in the window made Daisy feel distinctly ill at ease. Added to all this was a collection of Toby jugs, grinning at them from shelves in the alcove on one side of the chimney breast, and vacant-looking pot dogs gazing blindly at each other from either end of the mantelshelf. Cheap china fairings in the shape of shepherds and shepherdesses, chubby children with rosy cheeks and fat little cherubs were arranged on small tables dotted around like an obstacle course. Even with all the bric-a-brac the room felt cold and unwelcoming, and a shiver ran down Daisy’s spine – this place was so different from her aunt’s cosy parlour in Creek Cottage.

‘I’d be afraid to move in case I knocked one of those ugly china ornaments over,’ she said in a stage whisper.

Minnie giggled. ‘I’m sure that Mrs Wood has a spyhole concealed behind one of those hideous paintings, and I suspect she has an ear trumpet glued to the wall when any of the girls entertain their gentlemen friends. I know for a fact that Ivy Price passes her sweetheart off as her brother, and heaven help her if Mrs Wood finds out. But,’ she concluded in a fair imitation of Mrs Wood’s voice, ‘it’s all for your own good, ladies. This is your home from home and you may consider me to be your surrogate mama.’

‘I suppose she means well,’ Daisy said in a low voice. Not that she believed that Mrs Wood would be eavesdropping on their conversation, but she thought it best to be careful.

‘One would hope so.’ Minnie pulled a face. ‘Anyway, I’m starving. I must eat soon or I’ll faint from lack of nourishment.’

‘How do you manage for food?’

‘I’ve only been in London for a week. Sometimes I go out with Ivy, who shares a room with Flora Mackenzie on the second floor. They work in an office in the City, and we go to the pie and eel shop round the corner, or we buy ham rolls and coffee from a stall in Whitechapel Road. I haven’t met the two older ladies who have a room next to them – they keep to themselves mostly – and there’s a couple of theatrical girls who share an attic room on the top floor. They’re appearing at the Pavilion Theatre, but they sleep most of the day and they return in the small hours. I think Mrs Wood only allows that because they give her free tickets for the shows.’

‘It sounds as if it’s never dull here,’ Daisy said, chuckling.

‘It’s been quite lively so far.’ Minnie’s smile faded. ‘But you need to be careful when you speak to Gladys, Mrs Wood’s daughter. She’s only fifteen, but she’s a little sneak and she likes to cause trouble. I think she goes through my things, although I can’t prove it.’