Soon they were back in the automobile and heading for Mayfair. Ruby insisted on sitting in the front while Kitty sat in the back, and on the way she was ominously quiet although when they eventually arrived she plastered a smile on her face and told Kitty, ‘There’s no need to look so nervous, dear. Just relax and do what the photographer tells you.’

Kitty glanced around at the houses. It looked to be a very nice neighbourhood, but she could see no sign of a studio. She was somewhat surprised when Max led them to the door of a tall terraced house surrounded by low white wrought-iron railings.

‘Richard has his studio at the back of the house,’ he explained. ‘He’s such a good photographer he doesn’t need to advertise. Richard has photographed royalty, so you needn’t be worried.’

Kitty nodded as she clutched the large flat boxes containing her new outfit and accessories. Max had told her she would need to wear them and she hoped there would be somewhere private where she could put them on.

A young maid opened the door and ushered them inside.

‘Could you tell Mr Fitzherbert that Max Thomas is here?’ Max said pleasantly and bobbing her knee the young maid hurried away to do as she was told.

She returned almost immediately to inform him, ‘Mr Fitzherbert is expecting you, sir, and said for you to come straight through.’

They began to follow her along a hallway and as they went Kitty stared admiringly at the opulent surroundings. It was more than obvious that this Richard Fitzherbert wasn’t short of a bob or two if his home was anything to go by. The wallpaper alone looked as if it had cost a king’s ransom and Kitty wondered if it was silk. It certainly looked as if it was. Photography must be a lucrative business, she thought.

They passed a number of closed doors before the maid stopped in front of one right at the back of the house and threw it open. She ushered them inside – and instantly the most handsome man Kitty had ever seen came towards them with his hand outstretched, and Kitty’s heart began to thump wildly. He had thick blond hair and eyes the colour of bluebells, and he was so tall that she found herself having to look up at him. His white shirtsleeves were rolled up to just above the elbows and she found herself unable to look away from his bare muscled arms. She knew that she should say something in reply even if it was only ‘hello’, but to her dismay she found that she was speechless, and so he turned his attention back to Max with a broad grin on his face, making her blush an even darker shade of red. She silently cursed herself. What a naïve little country bumpkin he must think she was!

‘Why, Max, old chap, how lovely to see you.’ He shook Max’s hand warmly. ‘And our Ruby too, looking as lovely as ever.’ He raised Ruby’s hand and kissed it gently as she giggled girlishly, then he turned his attention to Kitty and suddenly her legs went all wobbly and for the first time in her young life she was well and truly smitten. She thought he must be about thirty years old and as he then kissed her hand she started to tremble. ‘And this must be Ruby’s niece, Kitty, the new star in the making.’ His look was openly admiring. ‘It seems that good looks and talent run in the family.’ As Ruby preened herself at the compliment, he went on: ‘Why, it’s going to be an absolute pleasure to photograph you, my dear.’