‘I know – let’s go on a river cruise. We’ve got a few hours. I can point out some places of interest to you from the boat.’

Maggie seemed quite taken with that idea and shortly after, the two girls set out for Wandsworth Bridge, with Maggie looking very prim and proper in her new grey dress and Kitty in a much more stylish plum-coloured two-piece outfit. They joined the queue for a tour boat and were soon installed in seats on the deck of the Chelsea Belle. The hours slipped away and for the first time since they had been reunited, Kitty was pleased to see that Maggie seemed to be a little more light-hearted. As they cruised along the Thames, the guide pointed out the Tower of London and the girls discussed how terrifying it must have been for all the poor prisoners who had been incarcerated there in days gone by.

Once the cruise was over they took the Underground back to Chelsea. It was the first time either of them had dared to try it out, and each was so glad at the reassuring company of the other. However, it was mid-afternoon now, and Maggie pointed out that Kitty should have a nice hot bath and rest before her performance that evening.

They were still chatting animatedly about their outing and the places they had seen when they arrived back at Brunswick Villa, but their happy mood was interrupted when Ruby stormed out of the drawing room and said in a voice shaking with rage: ‘Just where the hell have you been all day? I was beginning to think you’d forgotten all about your performance this evening!’

Kitty had never seen her angry before and her smile vanished. ‘We – I wanted to show Maggie around. And of course I haven’t forgotten about this evening. We’re back in good time, aren’t we?’

Ruby swallowed and visibly brought herself under control. Fixing a smile on her face, she was suddenly all sweetness and light again. ‘Of course you haven’t. Forgive me, darling. It’s just that I get worried when I don’t know where you are.’

The sudden change of mood completely bewildered Kitty but she smiled back nervously then ran upstairs with Maggie close on her heels.

‘Have a nice rest, sweetheart,’ Ruby’s sugary voice floated up behind them and Maggie shivered.

‘Crikey, I thought we were in for it then,’ she whispered once they’d gained the safety of Kitty’s room.

‘So did I,’ Kitty whispered back. ‘That’s the first time I’ve ever seen her so irate.’ Even so, she was determined that she wouldn’t let it spoil her day. The best bit was still to come and she intended to enjoy every single second of it. Maggie ran her a nice hot bath and after washing her hair until it was squeaky clean Kitty lay back in the sweet-smelling bubbles for a nice soak.

It wasn’t until shortly before Max was due to collect them that Kitty’s nerves kicked in and suddenly she was a wreck.