‘But why can’t Ruby go out to work instead? She’s younger than you,’ Maggie objected.

Miss Fox raised her eyebrow. ‘Can you really see that happening? I’m afraid Ruby is used to being waited on.’

‘So why don’t you take the house for yourself then and leave her to get on with things?’ Maggie had been longing to say that for some time, but now the words had slipped out before she could stop them. ‘I – I think Ruby takes advantage of your good nature,’ she blustered on as colour flooded into her cheeks. ‘And I really don’t know why you stay with her, the way she treats you!’

She expected Miss Fox to shout at her but instead the older woman smiled sadly as she rested her knuckles on the table. ‘I don’t know why I stay either if I’m honest,’ she confessed. ‘I suppose it’s because we’ve been together for a long time and I know she needs looking after.’

A silence settled between them then until the kettle began to sing on the hob and Maggie bustled away to make the tea. Once it was all ready and the tray was laid, she carried it off without another word. The way she saw it, she had said far too much already.

Saturday morning dawned bright and clear, and as Kitty stared excitedly from the bedroom window she saw that it looked set to be a beautiful day.

‘Just think, in a few hours’ time I shall be Mrs Fitzherbert,’ she giggled as Maggie pressed her onto a chair and placed a tray of tea and toast across her lap. And then suddenly she was up and running towards the bathroom with her hand clamped to her mouth. It was the same every morning and Maggie wondered how much longer this sickness was going to last. She also worried about how Kitty would fare at the birth. She was so tiny, but all she could do was hope that when the time came, all would go well.

Eventually, Kitty did manage to nibble at the toast and take a few sips of tea, and then it was time to start getting ready. Maggie slipped away to get into her own new finery then came back to help Kitty with her toilette and her hair. She was almost ready when a tap came at the door and Miss Fox appeared.

‘The florist just delivered these,’ she told them and they smiled as they saw the beautiful teardrop bouquet for Kitty and the smaller posy for Maggie. There were also four very pretty corsages fashioned in the same flowers as the bouquets. One for Kitty, one for Maggie, one for Miss Fox and one for Ruby.

Maggie fastened hers to her new dress immediately and as Miss Fox fixed Kitty’s to her dress for her, she told her tentatively, ‘I’m afraid that Ruby isn’t well enough to attend the service, my dear. But never fear, she’ll be here when we get back for the wedding breakfast.’