And seeing her friend so happy, Maggie couldn’t help but smile too. Everything would work out, she decided. It usually did.

Kitty had planned to tell Ruby her news that evening after dinner but her plans went awry when Miss Fox informed her that Ruby was ill in bed with a tummy upset.

‘Then perhaps I should tell you,’ Kitty said solemnly. ‘The thing is, Richard and I are going to be married – in a month’s time.’

Foxy’s mouth dropped open and she reminded Kitty of a goldfish she had seen at the fair she’d gone to with Sunday and Tom once, back in Nuneaton.

‘That’s a bit sudden, isn’t it?’ the woman managed to say eventually.

Kitty didn’t want her to know about the baby yet, not until after the wedding. ‘Not at all,’ she said. ‘I’ve known him since shortly after I came to live here, and we can’t see any reason to wait any longer.’

‘I see.’ But Miss Fox didn’t see. In fact, she was knocked for six. Richard Fitzherbert was a renowned lady’s man, and many young women had tried to snare him before Kitty and failed miserably. Deep down, she was actually quite relieved, especially if this was what Kitty wanted, which judging by her animated face it certainly was. She hadn’t approved at all of the way Ruby had treated her daughter and could only hope now that her husband-to-be would make up for it. ‘Then I wish you both all the very best,’ she said sincerely and once again Kitty glimpsed the soft heart behind the no-nonsense exterior.

‘There’s just one thing,’ Kitty said, serious again. ‘Will you and my moth … Ruby be all right for money when I’m gone?’

Miss Fox nodded. ‘Of course, why wouldn’t we be? I’ve already put plans into motion for us to move to a smaller house. Lord knows, this place is far too big for us now and it will be even more so once you and Maggie have gone. I take it Maggie is coming with you?’

When Kitty nodded, Miss Fox smiled. ‘Right, so where is the wedding to be then?’

‘I don’t know yet, probably at his local register office. Richard said it wouldn’t seem right having a big do, what with the war and everything.’

‘Then I shall do you a wedding breakfast back here,’ Miss Fox told her.

‘Oh, but you don’t have to—’

‘I insist.’ Miss Fox suddenly did something that she had never done before and, leaning forward, she gave Kitty a tender hug. Inside, her heart was breaking. This lovely girl deserved to have someone to love her, and if that someone turned out to be Richard Fitzherbert, then she would force herself to try and like him for Kitty’s sake. Perhaps things would start to improve for the girl now?

‘Right!’ She turned towards the door. ‘I shall have a word to Cook about getting some extras in for the big day.’