Now, as she mounted the stairs with a loaded breakfast tray, Maggie hoped that Kitty would have a quiet day at home and be able to rest. However, the second she set foot in Kitty’s bedroom, she found the girl rummaging feverishly through her armoire and throwing clothes into a heap onto the floor.

‘Why didn’t you wake me?’ she nearly screamed. ‘I have to be out in half an hour!’

‘I’m not a mindreader,’ Maggie answered stoically as she placed the laden tray down. ‘How was I to know you needed a call if you didn’t tell me? And if you’ll just say what you’re looking for, I’ll find it for you.’ She sighed as she glanced at the mess. No doubt the items would all need pressing again now.

‘I’m trying to find the new blue skirt and the white frilled blouse that I bought last week!’

Maggie gently nudged her aside and within seconds produced the clothes Kitty had been looking for. ‘Skirts to the left, blouses in the middle and dresses to the right.’

‘Well, it’s not my job to know that, is it?’ Kitty answered churlishly as she stamped over to the bathroom.

‘So where are you off to in such a hurry?’ Maggie shouted after her just as the bathroom door slammed.

‘Richard’s!’

Maggie said a rude word as she started to lift the clothes and place them over a chair. She might have known. And now another lonely day stretched ahead of her.

‘Ah, here you are – and only just in time,’ Richard scolded when she arrived at his house sometime later. Then his expression softened as he saw the dismay on her face and he stroked the tender skin on her cheek, making her legs go all tingly. ‘Now just remember, all you have to do is model the clothes that the gentlemen have brought. I’ll do the rest.’

Kitty’s mouth went dry. ‘How many of them did you say there were going to be?’

‘Just the three – and don’t forget they are all very important names in the fashion industry. If they like the way you model their lingerie they could well give you official modelling contracts – and then you will be in clover.’

In fact, Kitty was secretly rueing the day she had ever agreed to do this, but now it had gone too far to call a halt – and the last thing she wanted to do was let Richard down. As he was keen on telling her, there were many other models who would willingly take her place, Melissa Hawkins being first on the list.

She nodded meekly and trotted after him like an obedient puppy as he headed for his studio. The men were all there waiting for her and she noticed that the dreaded Mr Johnston was amongst them. Although it was only early in the day they all had drinks in their hands and the tallest of the men encouraged her to have one too.