Kate alighted on her own and knocked on the door of the Harrises’ cottage. After a minute or two it was opened by Ivy herself with a baby in her arms and the twins, Polly and Emma, clinging to her skirts. Her eyes widened when she saw Kate.

‘Miss Martin. What brings you here again?’

‘I know you’re very busy with your family, Mrs Harris, but I really need your help.’

‘Me?’ Ivy glanced over Kate’s shoulder. ‘Is this one of my cousin’s jokes? If it is, it ain’t funny.’

‘No, of course not, Ivy. I may call you Ivy, mayn’t I?’ Kate did not wait for an answer. She bent down to retrieve Charlie, who had made a break for the freedom of the street, and she hauled him back into the house. ‘I’m starting a soup kitchen in Cable Street. It’s not too far from here, but I realise now that I don’t know how to make soup. I have all the ingredients, but neither Jenny nor I have ever cooked anything in our lives.’

A glimmer of amusement lit Ivy’s pale grey eyes, but was replaced instantly by a look of defeat. ‘I would help you, miss, but I can’t leave my babies on their own.’

‘Of course not,’ Kate said hastily. ‘You must bring them, too. There’s plenty of room and they can play while we work. You will all be fed and I will pay you a small amount each day for your labours.’

‘Did Perry put you up to this, miss?’

‘He knows nothing about it, Ivy. I promise you, it was all my idea.’

‘It’s too far for the little ones to walk. I’m sorry, miss. I’d love to help – and the money would be more than welcome – but you can see my problem.’

‘I have a hackney carriage waiting for us. There’s room for you and the babies if you can be ready quickly.’

A rare smile lit Ivy’s pinched features. ‘If you’ll hold on to Charlie, I’ll bring baby John, Nellie and the twins.’

Spears opened the door and his jaw dropped when Kate and Jenny entered the premises, followed by Ivy and her children. He muttered something unintelligible and backed away to an open door that concealed a narrow staircase. He closed it after him with a thud that reverberated around the empty room as he retreated to his room upstairs.