The woman turns frightened eyes to Ruby. She’s anxious about something – probably the expense of the ring. Too many people are worried about money, even as others are flashing it about.

Ruby looks at the meagre fare they are contemplating. Tiny diamonds are not worth the effort as far as she is concerned, but then she’s never had a poor soldier ask her to marry him. She frowns as she thinks of Billy. She needs this couple to hurry up and leave.

‘That one.’ She points to a ring at the edge of the cushion. ‘Try that one.’

The woman gives a nervous laugh. ‘It looks too expensive.’

Ruby shakes her head. ‘Nah. It’s the way it’s cut. Makes it look bigger, more impressive. And the shape of the shoulders on the mount make it stand out. But the stone isn’t as big as that one, in reality.’ She gestures to the one Ray is holding. ‘So, it’ll be cheaper.’

Ray scowls at Ruby but pulls out the ring for the woman to try. It fits her finger, and she extends her arm to inspect it. Ruby catches the look in her eye – the smallest gleam of joy and relief.

‘Is this one really less expensive?’ The panic returns swiftly. ‘When it’s so much prettier?’

Ray beams at her. He may be gritting his teeth at losing a few pounds, but at least he is nearer to a sale than he was a moment ago. He offers the price to the young man, who glances warily at his girl to make sure that she doesn’t mind wearing a lesser jewel. He is shaking. When he turns around, Ruby sees that his jacket dangles limply from the shoulder. He’s lost an arm.

It takes only a moment for Ray to nestle the ring in a box and relieve the young man of his money.

This is what love is then, Ruby thinks. Or this is what it comes down to. Being willing to settle for second best rather than holding out for something more. Or perhaps that’s just marriage.

‘You should come and work for me, not Solly Palmer,’ Ray says to Ruby, once the couple is through the door. ‘I thought I was never going to make a sale there. Hardly got tuppence between them, the poor bastards.’

She shrugs. ‘Close the shop, Ray. I’ve brought you something.’

‘What?’

‘Well, I’m not going to show you unless you lock the door.’ She swings her handbag back and forth, knowing that he won’t be able to resist.

He draws the bolt, turns the sign to ‘closed’ and lowers the blinds.

‘There’s not enough light in here,’ he says. ‘We’ll go out the back.’