‘No, indeed I am not,’ Kate said earnestly. ‘I was wondering if I could do anything to help.’

‘We don’t need your charity, miss.’

‘Ivy, that’s unnecessary. Kate is sincere in what she says.’

‘If Ted receives a harsh sentence there’ll be no alternative for us other than the workhouse.’

‘There must be someone who could help,’ Kate said anxiously. ‘My mother is on all sorts of committees at the local church. Maybe there is something like that around here?’

‘No, miss. You just don’t understand.’ Ivy shifted the baby to her other breast. ‘There’s nothing to be done for the likes of us. Nothing at all.’

‘I’m so sorry,’ Kate said with a break in her voice.

‘Don’t waste your sympathy on me, miss. People will say we got what we deserved.’

‘That’s defeatist talk, Ivy,’ Perry said firmly. ‘I understand how you feel, but you mustn’t give in. You have the children to consider.’

Ivy leaned back in the chair and closed her eyes. ‘Do you think I don’t know that? I wake up every morning wondering how I’m going to put food in their mouths.’

‘You have enough money in that pouch to stop you worrying for the time being at least. I’ll be there to do what I can for Ted, and whatever the magistrate decides, I’ll come straight to you afterwards and we’ll talk more then.’

‘Ta, Perry. You’re a good man.’

‘Goodbye, Mrs Harris,’ Kate said softly. ‘I hope all goes well tomorrow.’ She relented and picked up Charlie. Despite the unpleasant odour, she kissed him on the cheek before setting him back on the floor.

It was a relief to be outside in the street. The air was cooler although the stench was equally bad, but at least she was away from the sheer misery and despair that seemed to engulf the Harris family.

‘Are you all right, Kate?’ Perry tucked her hand in the crook of his arm as they walked briskly towards the main road. ‘You look a bit pale.’

‘I’m all right, but there must be something to be done to help the poor woman.’

‘I’m doing everything I can.’

‘I could see that, but she has all those children to care for on her own. Has she any sisters or a mother who could help her?’

‘Ivy came from the Foundling Home, so she has no one except Ted. His parents died years ago and I’m his only relative in London. Ivy is very much on her own, which is why I took you there. You were looking for something to occupy you, so maybe you can think of something that would help her but without appearing to be charity. Poor Ivy only has her pride left to cling to, and that must be in shreds now.’

‘I’ll think hard, Perry. I really will.’