The dressmaking department at Freeman’s had just acquired some of the new sewing machines and she persuaded one of the girls to show her how to use one and spent the evenings for the rest of the week cutting and stitching. She chose the new Princess style, which she had seen in Nan’s latest fashion magazines, where the material was cut in panels from neck to hem and moulded to fit the body, with most of the fullness at the back of the skirt. It needed a framework to support the heavy fabric, so she made a hooped petticoat to go underneath. She also, mindful of Gus’s comment about her figure, bought a corset, which could be laced tightly to give her a fashionably tiny waist.

When it was finished she tried it on to show Nan and Gus. Gus looked her up and down and made an elaborate mock bow.

‘Blimey, if it ain’t the Queen of Sheba come to visit. What is your pleasure, Your Majesty?’

‘I think we should like a cup of tea,’ she responded with suitable hauteur.

‘What’s this in aid of anyway?’ he asked. ‘Is it for this Armando fellow?’

‘No, as it happens it isn’t. James Breckenridge has asked me to go to a concert with him.’

‘Breckenridge? The lawyer? What does he want with you?’

May put her chin in the air. ‘Perhaps he just wants the pleasure of my company.’

Gus replied with his characteristic ‘Huh!’ and turned away. It was left for Nan, next time they were alone, to sit May down and say, ‘We need to have a serious talk.’

‘What about?’ May feigned innocence.

‘You know what. What is going on between you and James Breckenridge?’

‘Nothing. He has asked me to go to a concert, that’s all.’

‘That may be all at the moment, but where is all this leading? You do realise it can never come to anything? Why would a man in his station in life be walking out with a girl in yours?’

May dropped her eyes. ‘I know nothing can come of it, Nan. I think he is only being kind, because he knows I’ve never had a chance to go to places like that. And he does seem to enjoy being with me.’

‘That’s all very well,’ Nan said, ‘but we’ve all heard stories about young men with a bit of money taking up girls and ruining them.’ She leaned forward and fixed May with a stern gaze. ‘You haven’t been to bed with him, have you?’

‘Of course not!’ May was scandalised. ‘I wouldn’t dream of it, and he wouldn’t ask me. He’s never so much as touched me, except to shake hands.’

‘Well, you make sure it stays like that.’