‘Ah, so you’re back then. I couldn’t rest until I knew you were in safe.’ The woman looked rather comical. She was covered from head to foot in a long nightgown covered by a thick robe, and her grey hair was twisted into a plait that hung across her shoulder like a snake.

‘I’m not all that late,’ Kitty protested. Surely if anyone should be checking her time in, it should be her mother – who was no doubt still out and about with Mr Smethwick somewhere – and not her mother’s maid?

‘It’s late enough for an innocent young lady like you.’ Miss Fox’s disapproval was etched across her face. ‘London is no place to be out and about at this time of night.’

‘But I wasn’t on my own,’ Kitty pointed out.

‘Precisely. Anyway, I suggest you get yourself off to bed now. I asked Mabel to wait up for you, to help you undress.’

Kitty obediently headed for the stairs after wishing Miss Fox goodnight. She couldn’t see what all the fuss and palaver was about, but she didn’t want the wonderful evening to end with a row, so she took herself off without another word. She’d be having plenty of words with her mother in the morning though, she decided.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Miss Fox seemed to have mellowed the following morning and over breakfast she asked, ‘So what time is this friend of yours coming for her interview?’

‘At three o’ clock, after I’ve had my rehearsal with the band at the Gaiety Theatre.’ She and the musicians had been working hard under the keen eye of their conductor, Boris. Kitty loved the band, and they loved her.

‘Well, I just hope she’s punctual and a respectable young lady. We don’t want some flibbertigibbet leading you astray.’

‘Maggie is very respectable,’ Kitty replied. ‘In fact, she had a very strict upbringing indeed.’

‘Hmm, that’s all right then – though I like to form my own opinions. I shall be sitting with your mother when she arrives.’

Kitty’s heart sank. Miss Fox was so protective of her that she feared she might not give Maggie a fair chance, but the matter was out of her hands now and she would just have to wait and see how it went.

As soon as breakfast was over she escaped to the garden to find Arthur. He was pruning the rose bushes and gave her a dazzling smile.

‘Mornin’, Miss Kitty. An’ what a grand mornin’ it is, eh?’

‘It is indeed, Arthur.’ She returned his smile. ‘And how is Maggie today? Is she all ready for her interview?’

‘She is, although I reckon me mum will fair miss her if she gets the post. She’s been a good help with the little ’uns and not a spot of bother. She’s using the rest of the money you gave her to get an omnibus here so she don’t get lost.’

Kitty nodded her approval as Arthur cut a beautiful red and gold wallflower and shyly handed it to her.