‘D’you know what? I think I might just come with you,’ Miss Fox suddenly declared. She didn’t like the thought of Kitty going out alone at all, not until she knew her way about a little at least. She was also annoyed with Ruby, who didn’t seem to be making any effort whatsoever to spend time with her daughter. Phyllis Fox sometimes wondered why she had even bothered sending for the poor girl, but at least she could make what was left of the day enjoyable for her.

‘Go and get yourself ready,’ she told Kitty kindly and when the girl had skipped away she rounded on Ruby. ‘Would it hurt you to pay a little more attention to the girl?’ she demanded.

Ruby instantly went into a sulk and blinked rapidly. ‘Oh, please don’t be horrible to me, Foxy,’ she said in a small voice. ‘You know how upset it makes me when you get cross with me. I’m sure Kitty is more than capable of taking care of herself. And you know how I need to rest before a performance. It takes so much out of me.’

‘No wonder. You’re no spring chicken any more, are you?’ Miss Fox retorted bluntly, and now real tears appeared in Ruby’s eyes.

‘How could you be so cruel?’ she whimpered.

Miss Fox sniffed as she made for the door. ‘I’m not being cruel, I’m just stating a fact.’ And with that she left the room, slamming the door resoundingly behind her, leaving Ruby to jump up and closely examine her face in the mirror above the fireplace.

As it turned out, Kitty enjoyed herself enormously that afternoon. Miss Fox proved to be surprisingly good company. She took her to see Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey, followed by Nelson’s Column and the Tower of London and finally, late in the afternoon, they stopped for refreshments in a very pretty tea room near Tower Bridge.

‘Thank you for coming with me,’ Kitty told her as she sipped at her delicious cup of hot chocolate. ‘I wouldn’t have got to see nearly as much if I’d come on my own.’ Then becoming serious, she asked quietly, ‘Do you think I’m a disappointment to my mother, Miss Fox? She doesn’t seem overly fond of spending any time with me.’

The older woman’s heart went out to the girl. How disappointing it must be for her to finally have her birth mother claim her, only to then be told she must address her as Aunt and be left to her own devices. She still worried deep down that Ruby might have something in mind for the girl – although as yet she hadn’t worked out what it might be.

She chose her words carefully as she answered, ‘What you have to understand is that your mother is used to being the centre of attention. She’s never had to put anyone else before herself, and much as I care about her and hate to say it, I have to confess she can be very selfish. But I’m sure things will come right in the end. You just have to give her time because, my dear, I fail to see how you could be a disappointment to anyone.’