‘Why, thank you. It’s lovely.’ Kitty sniffed the wonderful rich scent, then with a last smile she turned and hastened back to the house leaving Arthur to stare dreamily after her.

The rest of the morning was spent preparing for the show, and Kitty had no appetite at lunchtime. Just before three o’clock she positioned herself in the hallway and promptly on time there came a knock at the door.

‘I’ll get it,’ Kitty told Mabel and hurried to answer it to find Maggie standing on the doorstep looking very nervous indeed. She had clearly made a great effort to tidy herself up as best she could. No mean feat at Mrs Partridge’s, Kitty imagined. She had sponged the worst of the stains from her dress and pressed it with Mrs Partridge’s flat-iron, and her face and hands were clean and her hair was neat and tidy. More than that she had been unable to do, seeing as she had fled from her home with nothing.

‘You look very nice,’ Kitty told her, hoping to build her confidence a little. ‘They’re all ready to see you, so come along and I’ll take you in to them.’ Then in a whisper, ‘Don’t look so worried. Just be yourself and everything will be fine.’

Maggie nodded and straightened her back as Kitty led her into the drawing room.

Ruby was reclining on the chaise longue as usual with the box of chocolates Hector had given her on a small table at the side of her, and Miss Fox had her nose buried in the newspaper. She liked to keep up with world events and read The Times from cover to cover every day. However, when Kitty and Maggie entered she folded it and laid it aside.

‘Ah, Kitty, darling, here you are.’ Ruby beamed. ‘And this must be Maggie.’

Maggie gravely inclined her head. ‘How do you do.’

Ruby frowned for an instant. The girl wasn’t at all what she had expected. In fact, she was rather plain and solidly built. Kitty looked positively fragile beside her.

‘Come and sit down, dear,’ she invited and Maggie perched nervously on the edge of the seat Ruby pointed to and folded her hands primly in her lap.

‘So, I believe you have never had any experience of being a lady’s maid before?’

‘No, ma’am. But I learn very quickly,’ Maggie answered.

Ruby then went on to tell her of some of the things that being a lady’s maid entailed and was gratified to see that Maggie was listening closely. Perhaps her being a rather dull girl wouldn’t be such a bad thing, after all? At least Kitty would shine beside her.

Kitty stood back and said nothing, grateful to see that Miss Fox did the same, and eventually Ruby reached over and rang the bell. When Mabel appeared she ordered a tray of tea and cake for all of them and then when the maid had gone again she asked Maggie, ‘So do you think the role would suit you? As I explained, it would involve a number of very late nights when Kitty has a performance.’