‘You mean the grand ladies and gentlemen? They don’t know I exist. If I happen to meet any of them I have to turn my face to the wall, so they can pretend they don’t see me. It’s the others are worse. They treat me like dirt. The other girls, who’ve been there longer, look down on me and give me all the worst jobs, and the footmen play tricks on me.’

‘What about that boy who picked you up in the trap? Was it him who delivered your letter? I never got to see who it was.’

‘He’s the worst of the lot, always trying to put his arms round me and touch me. I had to let him kiss me to get him to bring the letter, and now he says I owe him something more.’

May sighed. ‘Oh, Patty, I’m so sorry! I thought you were the lucky one. Mrs Kelly warned me what it might be like, but I didn’t really believe her. I wish I could do something to help.’

‘Don’t suppose there’s a job for me where you work, is there?’

‘I’m afraid not. Mrs Freeman’s very keen on saving money. She doesn’t like having to pay my wages, so there’s no chance she’d take on someone else – least ways, not as things are now.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well, I did hear Mr Freeman telling Madam that the business was doing well and they might want to take on extra staff, but I think he meant in the shop.’

Patty’s eyes took on a dreamy expression. ‘Wouldn’t it be wonderful to work in a shop? Regular hours to start, and finish, and in the warm all the time.’

May thought of her visits to Freeman’s Ladies Fashions. ‘Yes, it would be nice.’

‘If you ever hear of your Mr Freeman looking for someone, you’ll mention my name, won’t you?’

‘Yes, of course,’ May agreed, but inwardly she could not help thinking that Patty was not the sort of girl he would want in his shop. Her hair was lank and dirty, her hands were red and she constantly wiped her nose on her sleeve. The thought made her feel disloyal and she wanted to do something to help. She felt in the little purse she kept in the pocket of her skirt. There was just enough.

‘Come on. Fancy a cup of hot chocolate?’

‘What? Where?’

‘I know a little caff that does smashing hot chocolate. Come on.’

May had spent her afternoons off exploring the city and she had discovered the place down near the docks. It was not as posh as the one Mrs Kelly had taken her to, but that was good. It meant she did not feel intimidated about going in there. She led Patty down Parliament Street and through some narrow alleys until they came to it.