Kitty smiled at her reassuringly. ‘I’m sure he’ll enjoy it.’ Then to Arthur, ‘Off you go while it’s nice and hot. I’m sure we’ll see each other again.’

‘I hope so,’ he said quickly and with a wide grin he scooted off after the cook, his mouth already watering at the thought of the forthcoming meal.

At lunchtime Kitty sat down to dine with Miss Fox and Ruby, who had finally put in an appearance.

Kitty made a valiant attempt to start a conversation beginning, ‘I’ve been out in the garden today and I met Arthur. He’s a lovely lad, isn’t he?’

‘Yes, I suppose he is,’ Ruby answered absently as she began her meal.

‘He comes from quite a large family, apparently,’ Kitty went on but her mother was keen to get off to the shops now and barely responded so they ate lightly and soon after they were ready to go.

‘Now you watch what you’re spending, Ruby,’ Miss Fox warned after stepping into the road to hail them a cab. ‘You know there’s bills waiting to be paid.’

‘Oh, don’t be such a grump, Foxy,’ Ruby replied airily, seemingly with not a care in the world. ‘There are no pockets in shrouds, you know. And life is for living and enjoying.’

A cab drew into the side of the road then, and after helping Ruby to climb into it, Miss Fox stood and waved them off.

‘She means well but she can be such a worrier,’ Ruby told her daughter, taking a long hard look at her, then suddenly she said, ‘Foxy tells me you like to sing. Are you any good?’

‘My teacher Miss Lark seemed to think I was,’ Kitty answered as the horse gathered speed and they began to clip-clop along at a good old rate.

‘Hmm.’ Ruby continued to scrutinise her closely. ‘Have you ever sung on a stage?’

‘Oh no – I mean, I’ve always just sung because I enjoy it,’ Kitty replied red-faced.

‘Perhaps you should try it,’ Ruby suggested. ‘There’s a lot of money to be made in the music halls. If your voice matches your looks you could go far. And I have all the right contacts. How about when we get home, you can sing for me while I accompany you, and I’ll give you my honest opinion.’

Kitty’s heart raced with excitement but for now they had to concentrate on their shopping trip so she merely nodded and said politely, ‘That would be lovely. Thank you, Aunt.’

‘And you must tell me about Treetops and the people who brought you up,’ Ruby went on, showing an interest in her daughter’s past for the first time. ‘Then tomorrow we could go sightseeing. There is so much to do in London. I’m sure you’ll love it when you get used to living here, and when you’ve made a few friends. I don’t doubt the young men will be queuing up to meet you, but first we really must get you some decent clothes. We can’t have you walking about like a country bumpkin!’