As the men continued tucking into their porridge, Roz gathered her coat and shoes. ‘Mabel doesn’t know what happened last night, so I thought I’d go and see her, and I can explain as we walk to work.’ She grinned as she tied the laces of her plimsolls. How wonderful was it that for the first time since arriving in Liverpool she was going to be working in a laundry – a nice, warm, clean environment – rather than scrambling over the top of the coal, and using her bare hands to pack the various containers she was handed? Her grin broadened as she imagined the arguments that would be raging in the Haggarty household at present, and she had to wonder just who would be cooking breakfast now that she was gone.

Resting his spoon in his bowl, Felix got to his feet as she made her way to the front door. ‘Aren’t you having anything to eat?’

Roz smiled. ‘I had some toast whilst I was waiting for the porridge to cook.’ She looked over Felix’s shoulder to Alan and Bill. ‘There’s some toast keeping warm in the oven. If you leave the pots to soak in the sink, I’ll do them when I get home.’

‘Right you are!’ called Bill, only to be reprimanded by his son.

‘I needn’t remind you that Roz is our guest, and it’s your job to do the cooking and the dishes in this house, whilst me and Felix do the paid work.’

‘I don’t believe in a free ride,’ said Roz. ‘Think of it as a holiday, Bill.’

Bill grinned at his son, who shook his head and laughed. ‘You’re spoiling him, queen.’ He waved his spoon at his father. ‘Don’t get used to it. Roz’ll be moving out in a few days and it’ll be back to normal.’

Felix stepped through the door behind Roz and pulled it to behind them. ‘I’ll call for you after work – I believe Mabel usually finishes around four?’

Roz nodded. ‘She does, or rather, we do!’

Fighting the urge to kiss her goodbye, Felix shoved his hands into his pockets. ‘I’ll see you later.’

Waving goodbye, she headed along the Scottie, the smile of freedom etched across her face.

When she had woken that morning, she’d been confused because instead of lying on rough straw-filled sacks with dirty ones as bedding, she was lying on a cushy sofa with a feather eiderdown keeping her cosy and warm. As the memory from the evening before swept over her, she couldn’t help but sigh happily. She was finally free from her terrible life with the Haggartys and her future was looking up at last.