The day after her return home, Rosalind sent two of the cleaning women to the old schoolroom to give it a good airing. They were instructed to take the carpets outside into the stable yard and beat them until every trace of dust had blown away. The floors were scrubbed and the windows cleaned, the furniture was polished with beeswax and it was only then that Rosalind deemed the room fit for use. Every morning, after breakfast, Nancy Sunday and Tommy Trimble began an hour of lessons in reading, writing and basic arithmetic. Rosalind taught them herself, but as the weeks went and spring warmed into summer, she found that her other duties became more pressing, and she enlisted the help of Louise Shaw.

Louise looked round the schoolroom with a nod of approval. ‘This is wonderful. You are giving those poor children a start in life that they could only imagine.’

‘I would take others in, but children of their age are invariably sent out to work in order to support their families. I hope the day will come when schools are provided for all youngsters over the age of five, but I’m afraid that is some way off.’

Louise nodded. ‘I agree entirely. I’m only too happy to take over from you. I’ve been longing to find something worthwhile to do, apart from the charitable work that Mama undertakes. It’s very worthy, of course, but we see the same people week after week and I sometimes wonder if we’re doing any good at all.’

‘I’m sure you do, but this is even more worthwhile. Perhaps Tilly and Molly could join in the reading classes? I’m sure we can spare them for an hour a day and it would improve their chances later in life if they had at least some education.’

‘Yes, indeed. I think it’s a very exciting idea.’ Louise picked up a reading primer and leafed through the pages. ‘I always wanted to be a teacher, but my parents wouldn’t hear of it. They wanted me to stay at home until I married.’

‘I’m sure you’ve been a great help to both of them,’ Rosalind said hastily.

Louise sighed and shook her head. ‘I’m twenty-seven, Rosalind. I would love to be pretty like you and Patsy, but I know that will never be the case, and soon I’ll be officially on the shelf. I think Mama is ashamed of me, although she won’t admit it.’

‘Surely not.’ Rosalind could not bring herself to agree with Louise, even though she thought it highly likely.

‘Well, I would like to be married, but only if I truly love that person.’

‘I agree entirely.’

‘I was so sorry for Patricia when her wedding was cancelled at the last moment. I hope she’s recovered from the disappointment.’