‘Perfectly.’ Judy made for the door. ‘I’ve seen enough, thank you.’ She turned to Aggie as she was about to leave the room. ‘There’s no key.’

‘We don’t lock doors in this establishment. Mrs Wood is the only one who has a key, but take a tip from me and don’t leave anything valuable lying around. Things have a habit of disappearing.’ Aggie brushed past her and headed for the stairs. ‘You’ll soon learn,’ she added darkly.

Judy followed her downstairs. It was impossible not to feel downhearted and depressed by her new surroundings, but at least she had a roof over her head for the foreseeable future, and it was up to her to make the best of things. She was, after all, a born Londoner, and she would have to call upon the lessons she had learned when very young to cope with life in the metropolis. Even so, Judy had a sudden longing for the sweet scent of fresh air, and the tang of the saltwater from the marshes, untainted by city smells. Even in Sidney Square, with the neat garden at its heart, she had missed the sound of birdsong. The pigeons cooed and the sparrows hopped around chirruping incessantly, but there were no song thrushes or skylarks to fill the sooty air with their musical warbling.

‘Don’t tell me.’ Minnie looked up as Judy descended the last flight of stairs. ‘I’ve only been up there once, but I doubt if it’s changed.’

‘It will be fine,’ Judy said bravely. ‘I’ve seen worse, and it’s temporary. I’m sure I’ll find something soon.’

‘I do hope so, for your sake. Come with me now and Toby will see you back here after dinner tonight. By the way,’ Minnie added when they stepped outside onto the pavement, ‘if you want your bedding changed or if you need clean towels, you’ll get what you need much faster if you tip Aggie. It’s always been that way, I’m afraid.’

‘What happens if I do it myself? I’m used to managing the linen cupboard as well as making beds.’

‘I wouldn’t advise it, my dear. Servants can make your life a misery if they choose to do so, and you won’t get any support from Mrs Wood. She doesn’t care what goes on as long as she gets her money each week. Anyway, don’t dwell on that. I’m sure you’ll find a suitable position soon. Maybe my husband knows of someone looking for a trustworthy servant.’ Minnie linked arms with Judy as they set off in the direction of Sidney Square. ‘Might you even consider returning to Creek Manor, Judy? Perhaps your absence will shake Jack out of his complacent attitude.’

‘If he really cared he would have followed me,’ Judy said sadly. ‘He thinks I’ll weaken and go home, but that’s not going to happen. I am stronger than he imagines and I won’t give up so easily.’

That night in her chilly attic room, Judy tossed and turned on the lumpy mattress. It was obvious that Aggie had not changed the bedding, as the last occupant’s odour was imprinted on the cotton sheets and pillowcases. The rustlings beneath the eaves might have been nesting sparrows, but more likely they were rats and mice, and Cook’s snoring echoed down the narrowing landing. The sounds from the street filtered up to the top of the house. The rumble of wooden wheels on cobblestones, the clip-clop of horses’ hoofs, and the loud voices of drunks weaving their way back to their homes seemed to go on for hours. Judy longed for the comfort of her bed in the cottage, and the silence of the country, interrupted only by a distant bark of a dog fox or the hoot of a barn owl. Her pillow was wet with tears as she drifted off to sleep eventually, worn out by the events of the day and crippling homesickness.