‘Oh, I wouldn’t mind that at all,’ Maggie assured her. ‘And I think the role of lady’s maid to Kitty would suit me very well.’

‘In that case why don’t we give it a trial? Shall we say for one month?’

‘I’d be very grateful of that,’ Maggie said fervently and Ruby nodded before going on to tell her what time off she could expect and what wages she would earn.

‘So when would you like to start then?’ Ruby asked finally as Mabel struggled in with their afternoon tea on a huge tray.

‘Today?’

Ruby looked a little surprised but nodded. ‘Very well. I think Miss Fox here already has a room in mind for you up in the servants’ quarters, don’t you, Foxy dear?’

The woman watched as the maid handed Maggie a cup of tea. She noted the way the girl held it and sipped at it, and saw at a glance that she had remarkably good manners. That was something at least.

‘I do,’ she agreed. ‘So if you’d like to go and fetch your things I’m sure the housekeeper can have it ready for you in no time.’

‘I err … don’t have anything to fetch,’ Maggie admitted, lowering her eyes and Kitty saw Ruby and Miss Fox exchange a glance. But neither enquired further. Both knew that life could throw up some surprises.

‘I see. Then we must get you kitted out with some suitable clothes immediately. You could perhaps take her shopping for them, Kitty?’ Usually Ruby loved shopping but not for the sort of clothes that Maggie would need.

The girl nodded eagerly, delighted with the outcome of the interview. ‘I certainly can, and meantime Maggie can come up to my room while the housekeeper gets her room ready.’

And so it was decided. Maggie thanked Ruby profusely, feeling very relieved to think that she wouldn’t have to spend any more nights in shop doorways. She wondered what might have happened to her if she hadn’t had the good luck to run into Kitty as she had.

‘Let’s go and tell Arthur the good news. He’ll be in the garden and can let his mother know that you won’t need to stay at their place any more,’ Kitty said, and taking Maggie’s hand she tugged her through the house.

Arthur was genuinely pleased when he heard the good news.

‘Please do thank your mother for me,’ Maggie told him. ‘Clemency has been so kind to me.’ The Partridge family had very little in the way of material things, Maggie thought, but they all seemed content and happy, whereas she herself had never known a happy moment since the day she had left Treetops as a child. Oh, she was aware that to the outside world she must have appeared privileged, but no one knew what went on behind closed doors and she hoped that she would never have to set eyes on her adoptive parents again for as long as she lived. The girl still had no idea that her chief tormentor, Victor Dawes, was now lying in St Peter’s churchyard, in Witherley, no longer able to make her life a misery.