Perry patted her on the shoulder. ‘If you can think of something I, for one, will be eternally grateful, but Ted’s family’s situation isn’t unusual. I dare say it’s replicated all over the country.’

‘I can’t do anything for the whole of England, but if I can find a way to help Ivy and her children I will,’ Kate said firmly. ‘The poor woman will be devastated when she learns that her husband is being sent down for nine months.’

‘I’m going to visit her this morning, but first I must see you safely home, Kate.’

‘Thank you, but Jenny and I will be fine on our own, and you have something more important to do.’

‘If you’re certain …’ Perry said doubtfully. ‘But I’ll see you again soon.’

‘Yes, indeed, and please remember that I’ll do anything I can to help Ivy. Come, Jenny, I feel like walking home. Why waste money on a cab fare when it can be put to better use purchasing food for the Harris children?’

‘Kate, stop.’ Perry hurried after them. ‘Ivy won’t accept charity, you know that.’

‘We’ll see,’ Kate said cheerfully. ‘Goodbye, Perry. I’ll see you soon.’

Chapter Three

Kate had no experience of charity work and she decided to put Ivy’s case to her mother. They had just finished luncheon and were seated at the table, waiting for the maid to bring them coffee.

‘I don’t know why a young woman like you would want to bother with the lower classes, Kate,’ Arabella said impatiently. ‘You ought to be thinking about getting married. In a couple of years you’ll be on the shelf, and who will look after you when your father and I are no longer around?’

‘This isn’t about me, Mama,’ Kate protested.

‘You could join me and the other ladies in the committee to raise money for the church roof.’

‘I’m hardly likely to meet my future husband at a committee meeting, Mama.’

‘Don’t try to be clever, Kate.’ Arabella gazed at her daughter with a frown puckering her brow. ‘It’s a shame that your father doesn’t like entertaining, which I must admit makes it difficult for you to meet eligible bachelors, but some of my ladies have sons who must be looking for wives.’

‘Thank you, Mama, but I really don’t want to sit around waiting for the right man to come along. I’d like to do something useful. I need to keep busy.’

‘I know you were fond of that native chap in Delhi, my dear.’ Arabella’s frown melted into a sympathetic smile, and she reached out to lay her hand on Kate’s. ‘But it could never have amounted to anything. You do realise that, don’t you? Your father would never have agreed to such a match.’