Roz took in the buildings that surrounded her. They were old, dirty, and clearly used for industrial purposes; they weren’t what Roz would call homes. With no alternative, she reluctantly climbed the steps and followed the Haggartys into the building, hoping against hope that it would look different once she got inside. But her hopes were in vain; if anything the inside was worse. The room was large enough, but the floor itself was both unswept and uncarpeted. There was no kitchen, nor sink, just a single paraffin stove which she supposed was used for cooking as well as heating. On the floor at the far side of the room lay three grubby-looking mattresses. Roz could put up with a lot but there was no way she would sleep side by side with this family who had lied and deceived both Mr Jones and herself in order to bring her back to this place. Shaking her head, she backed towards the door.

‘You lied!’ she said, pointing an accusing finger at Lilith, then the beds. ‘You made out like you had your own business, but it’s not yours. I read the sign; it said “Colin Partington – coal merchant” and that’s not you! And you said you lived on Ranelagh Street, yet this is Crooked Lane … is this some sort of joke?’

Callum threw his coat down onto one of the mattresses and scowled at his mother. ‘I said this would happen, that you were making a big a mistake, but oh no, you had to get one who could speak English.’

‘How was I to know she could ruddy well read it?’ snapped Lilith. ‘Besides, how were you intending on getting her to do your bidding if she couldn’t ruddy well understand a word what come out of your mouth?’

‘Take her back,’ Suzie said eagerly, a suggestion which was echoed by Roz, but to both girls’ dismay Lilith shook her head.

‘She can still work, and that’s why she’s here, or had you forgotten?’

Callum shook his head. ‘We don’t need anyone else …’

‘It’s alright for you!’ said Lilith scornfully. ‘What about me? I can’t keep lugging sacks of coal around, not at my age, and as for my bunions …’

Roz stared at them incredulously. ‘I am here, you know, I can actually understand what you’re saying!’ adding more’s the pity in the privacy of her own mind.

Lilith shrugged. ‘And?’

‘And you’re talking about me as though I’m to be used as some kind of slave …’

Lilith’s brow shot towards her hairline. ‘Surely you’re not suggesting we give you a wage as well as room and board?’ she scoffed. ‘I think you need to get down off that high horse of yours and take a look around you.’

Roz cast an eye around the room. ‘You’re telling me that it’d take all my wages to pay for this – this hovel?’