‘Oh, that is beautiful.’ She smiles and gives a little sigh. ‘What it would be, to be young and in love again.’

Harriet dips her head. ‘I should be on my way, Mrs MacKenzie. I’m dining with Ralph later and ought to go home and change. I can hardly visit the Savoy dressed like this.’

She gestures to her coat, as if there might be something wrong with it. Ruby frowns. Not at the coat, which is, to her mind, the epitome of elegance, but at the name: MacKenzie. It reminds her of that bastard copper.

‘I’m sorry, I shouldn’t keep you,’ Mrs MacKenzie says. ‘Do give my regards to your parents – and to dear Ralph, of course.’

Harriet gives another polite nod of farewell to the older woman and makes her escape, walking swiftly to the stairs as though she is gliding on water.

Ruby, still clutching the stockings, leans back against the pillar again and continues watching her.

‘Are you intending to pay for those items, miss?’ Another woman’s voice interrupts her thoughts.

Ruby Mills snaps herself to attention.

She takes a deep breath and turns slowly; no need to appear troubled or panicky. All she has are two pairs of stockings, and they are only in her hands. There is nothing, unusually, in her pockets.

A woman sporting the store’s black uniform is standing behind her with her arms folded.

‘These?’ Ruby holds the stockings away from her coat and lifts her shoulders, straightening her back. ‘I was trying to decide which to buy.’ She speaks in the same voice as Harriet Littlemore – rounded vowels and clipped consonants. She might look a little shabby, but she is a lady, not a thief, and will be easily affronted if the assistant is suggesting anything otherwise. ‘I think I’ll take this pair.’ She can afford them easily enough with Peter Lazenby’s money in her handbag, even though, looking at them now, she doesn’t want either of them. She hands the stockings to the woman, as if she expects her to carry them to the counter for her. That is what Harriet Littlemore would do, or Mrs MacKenzie.

‘Yes, of course. I’m so sorry.’ The woman is flustered. ‘We’ve had a series of shoplifting incidents recently – not that I was suggesting –’ She breaks off when Ruby glares at her.

‘How dare you make such an insinuation!’ Ruby flares with righteous indignation. ‘You may keep your stockings. I shall take my custom and my money elsewhere – somewhere I am not accused of thieving.’

The woman begins to make further apologies, but Ruby sails away towards the stairs, copying Harriet’s stately glide.

She might pay a visit to Selfridges. It’s not far, and she hasn’t been for a while – and never with so much money in her handbag.