She found her way down to the dining room with no trouble, amused to note that any of the staff she met bobbed their knee to her as she passed. It was almost like being royalty and Kitty quite enjoyed it.

Miss Fox was already in the dining room when she entered and on her second cup of tea, and she greeted Kitty with a warm smile. ‘Ah, here you are, pet. Did you sleep all right with that racket going on outside? Must be a far cry from what you’re used to.’

‘I did eventually,’ Kitty told her. ‘Once I’d got used to the noise of the traffic. You’re right – it was so quiet at Treetops. I’m going to have to get used to being in London.’

Miss Fox nodded in understanding. ‘Help yourself to a cup of tea and anything you fancy,’ she instructed. ‘The breakfast is laid out on the sideboard.’

Kitty was dazed by the amount of food that had been set out just for the two of them. She was sure there was almost enough there to feed everyone back at home. There was crispy bacon and juicy sausages, fried whole tomatoes, mushrooms, devilled kidneys, a platter of freshly fried eggs, slices of toast and dishes of various jams and marmalade as well as orange juice, a jug of coffee and a pot of tea.

‘Phew!’ Kitty was over-faced with so much food. ‘I only usually have some toast at breakfast-time.’

Miss Fox grinned. ‘You have whatever you want. The staff will polish that lot off no doubt when it goes back to the kitchen. I’ve told Ruby time and time again to cut down – but will she listen? All this waste wasn’t a problem when she had a string of admirers to pay the bills, but now …’ Realising she had said too much she promptly changed the subject as Kitty helped herself to some toast and a cup of tea. In truth, she still felt full up from the night before and could never imagine being hungry again.

‘So you’re off out shopping today, are you, young lady?’

Kitty nodded enthusiastically. ‘I believe so. What time do you think my moth … I mean my aunt will be ready?’

‘Huh!’ Miss Fox snorted. ‘I doubt you’ll set off till after lunch at the earliest. She was entertaining till all hours so she’s having a lie-in this morning. Mind you, she has a lie-in most days. Then when she does get up there’s her beauty regime to be gone through. She won’t set foot outside the door till she’s looking her best. And then she may be rehearsing her songs.’

Kitty nibbled at her toast. ‘I see, and does she go out often?’

‘As often as someone will take her, but the gentlemen callers are getting a bit thinner on the ground now. As I said, I keep telling her we need to start cutting back a bit. Making some economies. I mean, look at this place.’ She spread her hands and tutted loudly. ‘What do the two of us – well, the three of us now – want all this space for? And so many staff! We don’t need half of them to my way of thinking – but will she have it? No, she won’t. “We need to keep up our standards” is all I get when I suggest it so I’ve learned to keep my mouth shut now. Mind you, she does have a lot of good points,’ she added hastily. ‘She’s generous to a fault, is Ruby, I can’t deny that. But anyway, that’s not for you to concern yourself over. Now I’m off upstairs to see if she needs a hand with dressing. Enjoy your breakfast, dear, and there’s some magazines over there.’