I think I can’t believe my luck. It’s just what I wished for but didn’t really expect. That was powerful magic indeed. I’ve got rid of Mrs Thwaite, even if only for a while, and now I’m taking on her role! That’ll show her, the spiteful old crone.

‘Thank you, Mrs Stellion. It’s kind of you to give me the chance, me being a beginner and all, and I know I’ve got a lot to learn.’

‘You’re a good girl, Gina. Maybe you’d like a little longer just to think it through, though?’

‘Well … mebbe just while I take Coco for his walk? It’s such a big thing I can hardly get my head round it.’

Mrs Stellion laughed and agreed. ‘Off you and Coco go, then. The rain seems to be easing off a little and I think Coco needs a good walk this afternoon.’

‘Yes, Mrs Stellion. Thank you. Come on, Coco.’

Gina got up and the little dog followed her out of the room. Once in the hall she picked him up and hugged him.

‘Soon I shall be living here, Coco,’ she whispered into his silky ear, ‘and there’ll be no more shabby cottage and Dad snarling and hitting out at us, spreading gloom and smelling of sheep all the time. And I shall have a room of my very own and get to meet all kinds of folk when they come here. And if Dad is so keen on the work at Fellside Farm, he can go and pick taters there himself.’

Laughing, she went to fetch Coco’s lead from the boot room and then went down the back stairs to put on her coat and boots. If Mrs S wanted Coco to have a good long walk, then that is what he would have. Gina was careful to make their route go past the sitting-room window a couple of times.

‘So what did you say?’ asked Ellen, handing her mother and sister mugs of tea, barely able to believe her ears.

‘I said I’d do it, of course. I’d be daft not to.’

‘But you know nowt about housekeeping. You can barely lay the table.’

‘Mrs S knows I know nowt but she’s asked me to do it anyway.’

‘You’ve done well, Gina, but I still can’t think why she asked you,’ said Dora. ‘You did tell her the truth, didn’t you?’ she ventured anxiously.

‘I told her no lies, Mum. She said she knew and trusted me, and she’d rather have me than someone from an agency while Mrs Thwaite’s broken arm mends.’

‘Ha! Knows and trusts you, my eye,’ said Ellen. ‘You’ve pulled the wool, haven’t you?’

‘I have not! She decided herself and then asked me. Just ’cos you’re jealous, digging out in the wet garden while I’m the new housekeeper.’