‘Eeh, if only things were that simple.’ She shook her head. ‘Back then we knew better than to try an’ cross Augustus Crackett. The man were pure evil through an’ through, an’ those that did try to change things lived to regret it, believe you me. Bad things happened to them an’ their families, an’ I were a widow wi’ a young family to support. My man were killed in a pit fall an’ my kids relied on me then to put food on the table an’ keep a roof over their heads, so I just did the best I could fer the babbies that were placed in my care till they were moved on, an’ I’m ashamed to say I kept me mouth shut about what went on.’ She wiped a tear from her eye.

‘Well, we have the information that we came for and we are more than grateful for it, so I think we should be on our way now, Cissie,’ Lavinia said firmly then to break the fraught atmosphere.

‘Yes, yes of course.’ Cissie felt guilty for confronting the woman now. After all, it wasn’t Ada’s fault that she had worked under such a corrupt taskmaster. It sounded like the poor soul had had little choice. She realised then how lucky she had been to have a loving husband who had been there to see their family grow up.

Reaching out, she took Mrs Wilkins’s gnarled hand in hers and gently kissed it. ‘Thank you,’ she told her sincerely.

The woman waved her thanks aside. ‘I’m only glad I could help.’

She hobbled to the door with them and watched while they set off, and once the carriage was trundling along, Lavinia asked, ‘So what are you going to do now?’

Cissie thought for a moment before answering, ‘I suppose the first thing will be to go to Bedworth and see if the shop is still there. The Tates may not still own it but whoever does may know where they went. They must be getting on in years too. I shall talk to George about it when we get home and see if he agrees.’

Lavinia thought that was wise. They had achieved a great deal in a short time, and both women were emotionally drained. The rest of the journey back to Treetops Manor was made in silence as Cissie clung to Lavinia’s hand, feeling as wrung out as a wet dishcloth.

The following afternoon, shortly after lunch, Ruby joined Kitty in the drawing room to inform her, ‘Max has sent word that he has a booking for you this evening at the Canterbury Music Hall in Lambeth. The singer they’d engaged has lost her voice.’

For the first time, Kitty looked slightly dismayed at the news. ‘But I was onstage last night – for the fourth show this week. I’m worn out and was hoping to rest this evening.’

Ruby lit one of the small cigars she was partial to and after blowing a plume of blue smoke into the air she gave her daughter a short lecture. ‘What you need to understand is that in this business you have to take advantage of your popularity while you can. People are fickle, believe me, and they can soon shift their adoration to someone else if you don’t keep yourself in the public eye.’ Her voice hardened. ‘You said this was what you wanted, and Max and I have worked tirelessly to make it happen for you. Surely you are not losing interest already?’