‘The bastard.’ Ruby purses her lips. ‘And there we all were, thinking Daisy had found the only good man in Southwark. He was shit like the rest of them.’

‘He was. He is.’ Florrie agrees, biting a fingernail.

‘The Forties are family, though. Nothing to do with the men. Why isn’t Annie helping her out?’

It is not unusual for women to make ends meet by seeing men now and again, for a few shillings, but this is desperate. Daisy is young and still besotted with Harry. The men at the docks are hard, filthy, usually from foreign shores. They won’t pay enough to clear a debt – not if it’s as large as Florrie is making out. They will only keep calling.

Florrie shrugs.

‘Annie says her hands are tied. Harry was leeching from the Elephants, and they have their own rules just like we do.’

‘But that doesn’t mean she can’t help Daisy.’ If she were still in the Forties, Ruby would make sure of it.

‘Annie won’t cross her brothers or tread on the boys’ toes. You know how it is.’

It’s not her brothers Annie is worried about, Ruby knows. Annie dominates that family. It is Freddy Moss she can’t afford to oppose. They have a powerful and complicated relationship – complicated further by their own volatility. Annie runs the Forties, but now that she is looking to expand her business arrangements, she needs the goodwill – if not the support – of the men. Giving too much aid to Harry Gould’s wife would be viewed as treachery. Annie will not risk the Forties’ wider operations just for the sake of Daisy.

Ruby grinds her teeth. Loyalty to the Forties is supposed to mean looking out for each other. It ends up meaning doing what you’re told. Daisy deserves better.

‘What did Edith say? Did Edith help her out? You said she found her with her face bashed in.’

Ruby has scant regard for Edith, but surely even she wouldn’t abandon Daisy.

Florrie shifts and drops her eyes. Ruby sees this and makes a swift grab for her shoulders.

‘What? What, Florrie?’

Florrie wriggles free. ‘Nothing, Ruby. I don’t know about Edith, that’s all.’

‘That’s a lie.’ Ruby takes hold of her again, the Poiret slithering to the pavement as she digs her fingers into Florrie’s arms. ‘What’s going on with Edith? Is she in trouble, too?’

There’s dismay in the girl’s face as she fights a howl of pain. ‘She’s seeing Billy Walsh again.’

Ruby drops Florrie’s arm and takes a step back.

‘I didn’t want to tell you. I’m sorry, Ruby. But you weren’t around, were you? You disappeared, and you know what he’s like.’