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America eighteen months before Georgiana had decided also to travel abroad. He had left his new wife a letter saying that he was leaving to begin another life and begging her forgiveness. What he didn’t say in the letter and what they had subsequently discovered was that he had booked three tickets for the voyage, one for himself, one for his valet, and one for his mistress, a young mill girl, whom he had been seeing since before his marriage.
    May Newmarch had dashed down to the dock with her brother-in-law, Martin, in time to see her husband board the ship. But his mistress had stayed behind, choosing, so it seemed, not to go with him.
    They had heard nothing more from him, no communication at all. May’s father had tried in vain to put a stop to Edward drawing funds from the bank where May’s dowry was deposited, even though the money and various shares deposited there after Edward Newmarch’s marriage to May were legally his.
    ‘It can’t be him,’ Georgiana murmured as Kitty pulled off her boots. He’d never get his hands dirty in such a thing as mining, she mused.
    ‘What, miss?’ Kitty said.
    ‘Oh, nothing much,’ she said. ‘Kitty, let’s get packed. We’re moving tomorrow.’
    As they settled into the Marius the next day, Kitty said, ‘I like it better here, Miss Gregory. It’s not so snooty as ’Portland, and them desk clerks were always telling me that I should leave you and get a proper job. I telled them,’ she said vehemently, ‘this is a proper job, looking after you, and they just laughed at me and said I was like them black slaves in the South.’
    Georgiana was shocked. ‘But you don’t feel like that, do you, Kitty? I’d be devastated if you left.’
    ‘Oh no, miss, I don’t. I know how you depend on me, and besides I depend on you. What would I do on my own?’
    Georgiana took a deep breath. ‘We need each other, Kitty, and that’s a fact. We’re two women alone in a foreign land.’ She considered for a moment. ‘How would it be,’ she said, ‘seeing as people here have problems with the idea of servants – how would you like to call yourself my companion, whenever anyone asks what you do?’
    Kitty beamed and her face went pink. ‘It would seem as if I’d gone up in ’world, miss.’ She pondered. ‘Sounds very nice. Better than a lady’s maid. Would you prefer that, Miss Gregory?’
    ‘I think that perhaps I would,’ she said. ‘And it would mean that we could dine together.’ She saw the hesitant expression on Kitty’s face. ‘I don’t always like to dine alone and I would show you which cutlery to use if you were not sure.’
    ‘I do know already, miss, cos didn’t I sometimes set ’table at your aunt’s house?’
    ‘Of course you did, Kitty. I’d forgotten.’ Her aunt had a housekeeper, cook and kitchen maid. Kitty, who had started out as a parlour maid, had been elevated to look after her and Georgiana’s needs. ‘Yes,’ she said thoughtfully. ‘I think that is what we shall do.’
    ‘Goodness, miss,’ Kitty exclaimed. ‘It’s as if I’m gaining that equality like you’re allus talking about.’
    ‘Well, thank goodness someone is,’ Georgiana said ruefully. ‘Come along, then, let’s get ready to go down to supper. You could wear your grey dress tonight and tomorrow we’ll buy you something else to wear.’
    Kitty followed her, just one step behind as they went down the stairs. In the foyer, waiting near the door, was Wilhelm Dreumel. He turned and saw them. ‘Miss Gregory,’ he called. ‘Newmarch is just collecting his bags from the coach. I remember where he’s from now. He’s from a place near the port of Hull on the east coast of England. I’m sure you’ll know him!’
    Behind her, Georgiana heard Kitty draw in a breath and she turned and put her finger to her lips.
    The doors swung open and a man came in carrying a bag and shook hands with Dreumel. Dreumel said something to him and they both looked up. A dismayed