‘It’s like a florist’s shop,’ Kitty giggled as Max jubilantly popped the cork on the champagne.

‘To our little nightingale,’ he toasted when all their glasses were full and Kitty sipped at hers and basked in the glory.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

‘Still in bed, is she?’ Miss Fox asked the next morning as Maggie descended the stairs with the dress Kitty had worn the night before folded over her arm. Miss Fox had taken a real shine to Maggie; she was a down-to-earth kind of girl who would help to keep Kitty’s feet firmly planted on the ground.

‘Yes, Miss Fox, I was just taking this to sponge it and press it before hanging it away.’

‘Hmm, that’s her and Ruby lying in bed till all hours now,’ Miss Fox grumbled, but she had no time to say more before a knock sounded on the door. It was Max and he was waving a newspaper at them with a grin all over his face.

‘She’s done it again,’ he told anyone who cared to listen. ‘There’s a whole half page on how our Kitty stole the show.’

‘That’s all well and good, but she’s still very young and we don’t want it going to her head, do we?’ Miss Fox retorted.

‘Nonsense. Kitty is a sensible girl and she has me and Ruby to look out for her. Is Ruby up yet?’

Miss Fox tutted. ‘Silly question. When is she ever out of bed before lunchtime?’

‘Then kindly send someone to go and tell her that I need to see her,’ Max said firmly.

Miss Fox hesitated for a second, but then with a shrug she asked Mabel to go and do as she was asked and the maid scuttled away. Before too long, Ruby appeared at the top of the stairs, her eyes bleary and her hair all over the place.

‘What is it that’s so important, Max, that you should wake me at this ungodly hour,’ she yawned as she came down the stairs.

He chuckled. ‘Ungodly hour? Why, it’s past eleven o’ clock! Half the day is almost gone already. But come and read this. It’s worth losing a bit of beauty sleep for.’ He secretly thought Ruby could do with all the beauty sleep she could get, seeing her without her paint and powder, but he wisely didn’t comment.

Once they were in the drawing room he handed her the paper and she scanned the piece about Kitty.

‘I’ve already taken four more bookings for her this morning,’ he crowed. ‘And the fees they’re offering are substantial.’

‘Yes, well, there’s no need to discuss that side of it with Kitty,’ Ruby told him just as Kitty herself appeared at the door.

‘No need to discuss what with me?’ She rubbed at her forehead to try and ease the pain that was throbbing behind her eyes. ‘I think I might have had a bit too much champagne last night.’

‘Never mind about that, darling, you were entitled to celebrate your success. Come and read this, it’s a wonderful piece, and Max and I were just saying that although you will be in great demand now, we don’t want you to overdo it and tire yourself out.’