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bastard.’
    Cook uttered a screech and hurried down the area steps. ‘Bring the girls inside, Dorcas. Don’t just stand there staring at the sugar baker.’
    Dorcas sidled up to Franz, smiling. ‘You was wonderful. I don’t think my Wally could have done better.’
    He nodded. ‘Thank you, but it was nothing.’
    â€˜It was a timely intervention, Franz.’ Mr Arbuthnot shook his hand. ‘Is there a problem in the refinery, or were you just taking the air?’
    â€˜I was coming to find you, mein Herr. You are needed in the sugar house.’
    â€˜I’ll be there as soon as this man goes on his way.’ Mr Arbuthnot took a menacing step towards Trigg, who was dusting himself down.
    â€˜All right, I’m going, but you haven’t heard the last of this.’ With a malicious glance in Sarah’s direction, Trigg lowered his voice. ‘You’d better watch out. I’ll have you, girl.’
    Franz uttered a guttural growl and chased him down the street.
    Nettie burst out laughing. ‘That’ll teach him.’
    Mrs Arbuthnot kissed her husband on the cheek. ‘You were so brave, James. I thought I was going to faint when I saw that brute attacking you, but you were magnificent.’
    He puffed out his chest. ‘Thank you, my dear, but it really was all in a day’s work. I’m used to dealing with scoundrels like Trigg. However, I think we’d better be on our guard for the next week or so. I wouldn’t put it past him to try to snatch the child.’ His smile faded. ‘Dorcas, I want you to keep an eye on both Sarah and Nettie. Don’t let them go out alone.’
    â€˜No, sir.’ Dorcas curtseyed. ‘I’ll take care of them.’
    Mrs Arbuthnot held out her hands. ‘Come indoors, girls. I’ve just seen Miss Gant, my dressmaker, coming down the road.’ She ushered them into the house, hesitating on the step to give her husband a worried glance. ‘You will be careful too, won’t you, James? I don’t trust that man. He might make trouble for you.’
    His reply was lost on Sarah as she entered the hallway. She staggered and leaned against the wall as a feeling of faintness made the world spin dizzily around her.
    â€˜It’s all right,’ Nettie said, putting her arms around her and giving her a hug. ‘I won’t let the old bugger get you.’
    â€˜Ta, Nettie. I’m better now.’
    â€˜That’s the ticket.’ Nettie moved away to primp in one of the gilt-framed mirrors. ‘I don’t half fancy that big German bloke. I wouldn’t mind working there if they’re all like that.’ She rolled her eyes and wiggled her hips.
    â€˜You’re just saying that to make me laugh,’ Sarah said, giggling.
    â€˜Well it worked, didn’t it?’ Nettie jumped to attention as Mrs Arbuthnot approached them, followed closely by Miss Gant.
    â€˜Go into the parlour, girls. Miss Gant will take your measurements and then Dorcas will show you where you are to sleep.’
    The attic rooms were on the fourth floor at the very top of the house. Mrs Burgess occupied one of them, Dorcas another. A small space was used for storage, and the room allotted to Sarah and Nettie was at the back of the house overlooking a surprisingly large garden. Sarah went straight to the dormer window set beneath the eaves and peered out at what in her eyes appeared to be a small park. Despite the fact that it was late autumn, there were still a few sooty roses clinging to a pergola halfway down the garden, and a clump of bronze chrysanthemums created a pool of deep colour. The clouds had dispersed after a brief shower and the last rays of a pale golden sun played with the few remaining leaves on the trees, turning them into copper pennies dancing in the breeze. Having lived all of her life in the shadow of crowded tenements and dark alleyways where sunlight struggled to reach the