Maggie shrugged, at a loss as to what to say. It truly felt that she and Kitty had only each other left from their former life now, but that suited her just fine. It was such a wonderful relief, not having to lie awake fretting about whether Victor, her adopted father, would sneak into her room during the night to do unspeakable things to her. Sweat broke out on her brow just thinking about it and she hastily said, ‘Why don’t we go for a nice stroll? We could take Tallulah, she’d like that. Then we can come back and you can catch up on some of the sleep you’ve missed.’

It sounded very appealing so Kitty nodded and began to get ready. Sometime later with Tallulah on her lead they set off, strolling arm in arm. It was a beautiful evening with a light breeze, and Kitty felt herself relaxing as they meandered along the streets of Chelsea. Kitty bent at one point to untangle Tallulah’s lead from around her leg and as she did so, Maggie saw Richard’s car cruising towards them. She frowned. He said that he had been called out of town – so what was he still doing here in the area? More to the point, where was he going?

He passed by without noticing them and Maggie was relieved. This was a case of least said soonest mended as far as she was concerned. She was enjoying having Kitty to herself for a time and didn’t want anything to spoil it. Even so, once again she had to question Richard Fitzherbert’s commitment to Kitty.

‘There, that’s better, isn’t it?’ Kitty straightened and smiled at Tallulah. ‘I shall be so pleased when you get used to walking on a lead.’

The dog merely wagged her tail and tugged ahead again. Everything and everywhere was so new and exciting, and she wanted to go everywhere and see and smell everything all at once. In fact, people seeing her and Kitty might wonder who was taking whom for a walk.

Maggie linked arms with Kitty and they went on their way with Kitty blissfully unaware that Richard had been caught out in yet another lie. The evening was drawing in a little when they returned to Brunswick Villa to find Ruby entertaining her latest gentleman friend in the drawing room.

‘Ah, Kitty darling,’ Ruby cooed as the two girls walked past the open door. ‘Do come and meet Mr Wallace.’

Kitty reluctantly passed Tallulah’s lead to Maggie and entered the room.

‘Teddy, dear, this is my niece, Kitty Nightingale. You must have heard of her. She’s making quite a name for herself around the music halls. Voice like an angel, darling – nearly as good as mine.’

The smarmy little man bent and kissed the back of Kitty’s hand. She suppressed a shudder. His hair was plastered to his head with Macassar oil and he reminded her a little too closely for comfort of some of the ‘friends’ that Richard insisted she should entertain.