Sukey gazed up at her with red-rimmed eyes. ‘You won’t tell Cook, will you, miss?’

‘It’s “madam” or “Mrs Marshall”, Sukey. I won’t say a word.’

‘Ta, ever so, miss. I mean, madam.’ Sukey scuttled off towards the back stairs and Minnie closed the door before placing the tray on a table in the window. ‘If only you’d arrived two weeks ago I could have taken you on with pleasure, but I haven’t the heart to send young Sukey back to the orphanage.’

‘No, of course not,’ Judy said earnestly. ‘I wouldn’t want that either.’

Minnie poured the tea and handed a cup to Judy. ‘Would you like a slice of cake?’

‘Thank you, Mrs Marshall.’

‘What will you do now? I’m afraid I don’t know of anyone looking for servants at the present.’

‘Daisy – I mean, Mrs Walters – gave me the address of the boarding house where you both lived when you were younger. I thought I might try there.’

‘Did she also tell you that Mrs Wood is a tyrant and that her daughter, Gladys, is a spiteful cat? Although I believe she is married now and lives above the saddler’s shop in Whitechapel, which oddly enough was where my husband and Daisy grew up. Gladys married the man who took over from Mr Marshall senior.’

‘Would that be Jonah Sawkins?’ Judy accepted a large slice of chocolate cake, and bit into it hungrily.

‘Yes. How did you know that?’

‘Daisy used to tell us stories about her time in London when Molly and I were much younger.’

‘Well, yes. Jonah was always hanging around Daisy, no matter how many times she snubbed him. Our friend Ivy, who later married Clem Guppy, went out with Jonah until she realised what sort of man he was, but Gladys didn’t seem to see his faults. They say that love is blind.’ Minnie helped herself to cake and returned to her seat. ‘On a more practical level, Judy, have you got enough money to support yourself until you find a suitable position?’

Judy nodded, chewed and swallowed, licking the delicious crumbs from her lips. ‘Yes, I have. Mrs Tattersall was very generous. She gave me enough money to pay rent for a week or two, if I choose somewhere cheap. I think she was glad to see the back of me.’

‘I’m sure that’s not true, but I expect she was concerned. She might have been afraid that Jack would take after Jay, who, like his namesake, flew away, or should I say he sailed away to the Antipodes? Anyway, I’m sure that Jack isn’t like his brother in that respect.’

‘No, he isn’t,’ Judy said firmly. ‘Jack is an excellent person and I …’ she hesitated, ‘I am truly fond of him, but he needs to marry a well-bred lady with a sizeable dowry.’

‘I don’t think those are your words, Judy. It sounds more like Mary Tattersall speaking.’ Minnie leaned forward, lowering her voice. ‘Let me tell you that what Jack wants, and what his mother wants for him are almost certainly two different things. Do you understand me?’