‘Maggs.’ The last time they saw each other was when Annie was blacking Ruby’s eye.

‘Annie wants you on a job.’

And that’s it. With one breath, she is back in the Forties. There is no question in Maggs’s mind that this will be a welcome invitation.

Ruby shrugs and sits at the kitchen table, reaching for the tea that Solly has poured for her. ‘I don’t work for the Forties, remember? And I don’t need a job, Maggs. I don’t want one.’

‘You’ll want this one. Annie asked for you specially.’

The floor is cold against her stockinged toes.

Maggs carries on, ignoring Ruby’s sullenness, leaning against the sink, cup in hand.

‘It’s another jeweller. A small place off Bond Street. Very smart. Annie’s had an eye on it for a while and she’d like you to see what you can find.’

Ruby shifts on the stool. Her fingertips begin to tingle, as though her old life is stroking magic into her hands.

‘How do you mean, see what I can find?’

‘It’s a two-stage operation,’ Maggs says, sensing interest. ‘You pay a visit and view the pretties. You try on a few things. You identify the better goods.’

‘Just trying on? What’s the point of that?’

‘Let me finish. You come back, and you tell Solly what you’ve seen. He finds imitations here, paste and glass, or he makes them, and then comes stage two. You return to the store when there’s a different assistant. You ask to see the same pieces as before and you swap them over.’ She drinks a large mouthful of tea and sloshes it around her gums. She has bad teeth and always drinks her tea scalding hot.

‘You slide my knock-offs into the boxes and walk out with the real diamonds,’ Solly finishes.

‘Why not just run off with the stuff in the first place?’ Ruby frowns. ‘It sounds like a lot of bother. I could just put a few rings in my pocket. Or I could go with Billy Walsh and distract the assistant, like we did in the other place.’

Maggs shakes her head. ‘There’s a guard on the door. He provides the brawn. I told you it was high class. If the assistant suspects you’ve pocketed anything, the man on the door will have you, and you’re straight to Holloway.’

‘But if I’ve replaced the goods with Solly’s stuff, the assistant won’t notice – at least not until I’ve gone. Clever.’ She picks up her teacup. It is clever.

‘Annie’s idea.’

Annie Richmond wants her back. Just like Florrie said. They can’t manage without her.

‘Why does she want me to do it? And why not just take some of Solly’s jewellery on the first visit?’