It was after an early dinner that evening as Kitty was about to leave the table to start getting ready for the music hall that Ruby said, ‘I’ve been meaning to have a little talk to you, darling.’

Miss Fox had just left the room and, curious, Kitty asked, ‘What about?’

Reaching into the pocket of her gown Ruby withdrew some tiny sponges and a small bottle of dark brown liquid. ‘Has anyone ever talked to you about err … the birds and the bees?’

Kitty looked confused – then as she realised what Ruby meant, she said haltingly, ‘Yes, Sunday took all the older girls aside and explained to us about the monthly visitor and babies and um … how they were made.’

Ruby looked relieved. ‘Good, then you’ll know that should you be tempted to lie with a man, you could be left carrying his child?’

Wishing that the ground could just open up and swallow her, Kitty nodded numbly.

Ruby placed the bottle and the sponges on the table between them and said, ‘My dear, you are grown up now. If you should ever feel the urge to make love with a man, these will prevent you from conceiving a child.’ She then went on to explain how they should be used and by the time she was done Kitty was so hot and bothered that she couldn’t even look her in the eye.

‘I’m not saying that you will use them,’ Ruby rushed on, seeing the girl’s discomfort, ‘but just in case you should need them, keep them close at hand. Your life is just beginning and we wouldn’t want an unwanted baby to ruin things for you, would we?’

Like I did, Kitty thought bitterly. But her mother was still talking. ‘An illegitimate child could mean the end of your career. You stand to lose everything, do you understand? So, better safe than sorry, eh? I know how fond you are of Richard and you are only flesh and blood like the rest of us at the end of the day.’ She put the items into Kitty’s hand and closed her fingers around them. ‘Don’t forget, it’s only vinegar in the bottle so it won’t harm you. But there, lecture over. Why don’t you go and get ready now? Max will be here to pick us up in less than an hour and we wouldn’t want to keep your audience waiting, would we?’

‘No.’ Kitty shook her head as she stumbled from the room and quickly closed the door behind her. She could hardly believe what Ruby had just said to her. It was almost as if she was openly encouraging her to lose her virginity, whereas Sunday had always told the girls it was something precious that should only be shared with their husbands on their wedding night. What a complete contrast the two women were.

For the first time in some while, Kitty longed to feel Sunday’s comforting arms about her. Ruby had never so much as hugged her in all the time she had been here, but then Kitty had come to realise that Ruby loved herself too much to have any love left over for anyone else, even her own daughter. On legs that felt as heavy as lead, Kitty went upstairs to help Maggie pack her bag ready for her performance.