‘I still think he’s too old for you.’

‘Oh, Maggie,’ Kitty giggled. ‘You sound just like Miss Fox. Surely I’m allowed to enjoy myself? We both are, and it would do you the world of good to get out and about too.’ She glanced at her friend then went on more soberly, ‘I know you’ve been through a lot, but in a funny sort of way both you and I had rather sheltered upbringings back at home. Sunday was like a mother hen, never allowing me out on my own and Mrs Dawes was very strict with you too. We deserve a little freedom now – we’re both young women with minds of our own, after all. And anyway, for all Sunday’s concern about my welfare, she soon forgot about me when I moved here, didn’t she?’ Kitty couldn’t keep the note of bitterness from her voice and Maggie patted her arm.

‘I’m sure she’ll get in touch eventually. She always adored you, everyone knew that. She’s probably just been very busy or perhaps she wants to give you time to settle in here without being seen to be interfering?’

‘Well, she can please herself,’ Kitty answered, disgruntled. The happy mood seemed to have flown now and suddenly she was dog-tired. ‘I think I’ll have a little nap. Do you mind, Maggie?’

‘Not at all.’ The other girl headed for the door. ‘I’ll go and see if there’s anything I can help Cook with in the kitchen.’

Once she was alone Kitty’s fingers rose to stroke her lips as she remembered how ardently Richard had kissed her. They felt almost bruised, not that she minded, and suddenly she could hardly wait to see him again. Crossing to the bed, she lay down and got comfortable, and soon she was fast asleep dreaming of Richard with a smile on her face.

Ruby was already in the dining room with Miss Fox when Kitty went down to dinner that evening and she was surprised to see that the table was set for four.

‘Max is joining us,’ Ruby told her. ‘He has some rather exciting news for you, my dear.’

‘Really?’ The words had barely left Kitty’s lips when they heard the sound of the front door bell.

Ruby smiled. ‘That will be him now. I shall let him tell you himself.’

Max entered the room and promptly handed Kitty yet another newspaper, the Westminster Gazette. ‘You’ve hit the headlines yet again,’ he informed her.

‘I dare say it’s better than keep reading about all the unrest abroad and Emmeline Pankhurst and those silly suffragettes getting arrested,’ Miss Fox snorted. ‘Did you know they arrived at Buckingham Palace with a petition, and it ended up with them fighting with the police? Where’s their dignity? I mean, I’m all for women having the right to vote, but the way they go about things is utterly shameless, if you ask me.’ Then wagging a finger in Kitty’s direction, she warned, ‘I hope you have no silly thoughts about joining that unruly lot, young lady!’