Maggie stared at her enviously. Kitty had always been pretty as a child but now she was stunning. Her dark hair shone and her figure, as far as Maggie was concerned, was perfect, unlike her own big-boned frame. She only had to look at food to gain a pound in weight whereas Kitty could eat like a horse when she had a mind to and she never put on a single ounce. Kitty’s waist was tiny and although she was only petite her legs were long and slender. She had developed pert breasts and her hands were tiny and delicate. But it was her face that stole everyone’s heart. When she smiled, two charming little dimples appeared in her cheeks making her look incredibly young and vulnerable, which in Maggie’s opinion she was. Her skin was flawless and her eyes, depending on her mood, could change from the colour of warm toffee to almost black. The problem was, since making her debut performance onstage, Kitty had become even more aware of the effect that she had on the male sex and she was enjoying being the centre of attention, which Maggie considered to be extremely dangerous. There were so many unscrupulous men who might turn her head and take advantage of her, although thankfully at present she seemed to have eyes only for Richard and did nothing more than a little harmless flirting with the others.

Strangely enough, although Maggie was envious of Kitty she was also fiercely protective of her now, no doubt because Kitty had saved her from the streets. There was nothing that Maggie wouldn’t do for her and she had come to love Kittie like a sister – which was why she was so worried about Kitty’s obsession with Richard Fitzherbert. Not that there was anything she could do about it, she told herself now, apart from be there for Kitty if – or rather, when – he broke her heart. Kitty might think she was very grown up now in her fancy gowns, but in reality she was still very naïve.

‘In that case I think I might go to see Clemency for an hour or two,’ Maggie said resignedly. She often went over to see Mrs Partridge when she had a little spare time and the two had become friends. Maggie usually arrived with a few groceries for her and treats for the children, although the kindly woman always strongly objected. Maggie didn’t mind spending a little of her wages on them at all. After all, she had everything she needed and she felt sorry for the family. Until she had met them she hadn’t even been aware that such poverty existed. Even so, she envied the children for having such a warm-hearted woman for a mother. Mrs Dawes had always been cold and distant to her while her so-called father … She stopped her thoughts from going any further. She still had recurring nightmares about what Victor Dawes had done to her, and doubted that she would ever fall in love and get married now, in case the man she chose turned out to be like him!