Some of the others sighed enviously. It really did sound like Maggie was going to live the life of Riley! Kitty herself wasn’t the least bit jealous. She was quite happy where she was and wouldn’t have given a thank you to be taken away from her beloved Sunday and Tom. As far as she was concerned they were her family and she wouldn’t have swapped them for all the tea in China.

‘So when are you goin’?’ piped up seven-year-old Edwina and Maggie stuck her chest out.

‘This weekend. Sunday has already asked Cissie to start packin’ me clothes.’

But then suddenly the gong sounded for dinner and there was no more time for boasting as the children all surged towards the dining room.

On Saturday morning, Cissie carried Maggie’s little case down to the hallway and sniffed tears away as she placed it at the side of the door. The night before, they had had a little leaving party for Maggie, and Cissie was sad at the thought of her going.

‘But she’ll only be a couple of miles away,’ Tom had reminded her and Sunday earlier that day. ‘It’s not as if she’s going to the other side of the world.’

‘I know that,’ Sunday had huffed. ‘But she won’t be our responsibility any more, will she?’

At this, Tom had shaken his head and gone to lose himself in the stable block. Women could be funny creatures, that was for sure – not that he’d change his Sunday for the world!

As the time for the Daweses to arrive approached, the children and the staff began to assemble in the hallway to say their goodbyes. Even Lavinia, who had barely left her room since Zillah’s passing, made an appearance.

‘Be sure to come and see us sometimes,’ she said as she bent to plant a kiss on Maggie’s plump little cheek. Mrs Rose was the next to say goodbye, followed by Em’ly, Jessie, the housekeeper Mrs Brewer, Bessie and even Laura the laundry maid. It was the turn of the children then but Maggie showed no emotion about leaving them. She was just really excited about going to her new family now and glad that Kitty was there to see it. George and Cissie’s children arrived then to add their good wishes to the others, and they had barely done so when the clatter of the door knocker echoed around the hall.

‘That’ll be Mr and Mrs Dawes!’ Em’ly said all of a flap as she hurried away to answer it. Sunday meanwhile hurriedly placed Maggie’s best bonnet on her head and tied the ribbons beneath her chin.

‘You be happy now,’ she whispered in a choky voice as she fought back tears, but then Stella and Victor were inside and she extended her hand to each of them in turn. ‘Maggie’s all ready to go and her case with her clothes in is just there,’ she told them in an overly bright voice. She felt as if her heart was breaking, but knew that she must give Maggie this chance of having a family she could call her very own. The trouble was, letting go was always so very hard.