An Orphan’s Courage. Cathy Sharp

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      ‘Well, yes, I had wondered if you would allow me to bring my girls here for tea sometimes. I think it might be a little treat for them – and really help to encourage good behaviour …’

      ‘An excellent idea, Miss Saunders. Helping vulnerable children may perhaps make them realise that their lot is not so very terrible.’ Sister Beatrice was actually smiling. Ruby swallowed her annoyance, because she felt peeved even though she was getting what she wanted. She thanked the nun, made her excuses and left, her pulses racing as she struggled to control her aggrieved feelings. She almost wished she hadn’t bothered to approach the nun, but her conscience told her she owed it to the girls. Emmeline, because she’d have a chance of a good life in Halfpenny House, and Doris, because she needn’t go to a remand home – and somehow Ruby was wary of sending any of her girls on there.

      If Miss Sampson got her way it was the direction the home was going in the future. Ruby had wondered if Sister Beatrice knew anything about what was going on behind her back, but she’d given no sign of it. For some reason that made Ruby feel a bit guilty; although she’d rubbed up against Sister Beatrice a few times, she was beginning to see that she was actually a caring woman.

      In a spirit of defiance, she sent a memo to Ruth Sampson to the effect that she’d arranged for Emmeline to be transferred to the Essex home and didn’t bother with asking permission. If Ruth Sampson was going to ignore her, two could play at the same game!

      So, maybe that was the reason she’d stopped off to buy the wine to eat with the pie and mash she’d bought from the corner chippie. Ruby rarely bothered to cook for herself, because there was always some kind of hot food she could take home from one of London’s many shops selling everything from fish and chips to eel pie and curry hot enough to burn your tongue off.

      Ruby had been smarting from the humiliation of the day, miserable because a woman she admired – and let’s face it, loved in a way that wasn’t returned – had snubbed her. Sister Beatrice’s kindness had made her squirm inside, because she felt guilty over being part of a plot to oust her from a job she loved and did so well.

      Ruby had thought about going upstairs to Carla’s flat and inviting herself for that cup of coffee the girl had offered when she moved in, but something – an inner unease – held her back. Supposing she’d misread the look in Carla’s eyes … and even if she hadn’t, the world frowned on the kind of relationship that Carla seemed to invite. Ruby knew that if she began such an affair its discovery could quite easily lead to the loss of her job. She would probably be considered unfit to have charge of the girls in her care, just because she wanted to be held and kissed by a woman rather than a man. The thought made her frustrated and angry, because for Ruby the love of another woman was as natural as breathing … In fact, Ruby felt at odds with the world and fed up with her life – and so she’d drunk the whole bottle of wine. And this morning she felt like death warmed up!

      Never again, she groaned as she swallowed two Aspro and drank a glass of water. She was never going to touch wine again as long as she lived …

      ‘Well, that is rather splendid of you, to come up and take her down yourself,’ Beatrice said to Angela on the telephone. ‘And thank you for responding so quickly to my request.’

      ‘You know we all trust your judgement,’ Angela said. ‘Besides, I think we’ve had similar cases in the past. It sounds to me as if Emmeline needs some loving care, which is what we always try to give our children – and Mark agrees with me.’

      ‘Yes, well, we all have him to thank for a great deal,’ Beatrice said. ‘It was his drive and concern for the children that got St Saviour’s up and running.’

      ‘So are you getting on better with Miss Saunders?’

      ‘Well, I wouldn’t quite say that,’ Beatrice replied. ‘At least it shows she has a heart … I’m afraid I offended her by saying that to her face, but it surprised me and the words were out without my realising …’

      ‘That isn’t like you.’

      ‘No, but I had been used to thinking her rather a monster, and I suppose it shocked me that she came to me for help. I thought she was just one of those smart modern young women who care for nothing but getting on, but now … I think she is very unhappy. She normally doesn’t let anyone see it, but it surfaced as she spoke of Emmeline. Her guard went up immediately, of course – but I think perhaps we can begin to understand one another better, and work together for the good of the children. I know her children are difficult … but we’ve had some difficult ones ourselves and with love and trust …’ Beatrice sighed. ‘I can only hope …’

      ‘Yes, well, I’ll see you next week then. I do need to talk to you face to face because we have important decisions to make,’ Angela said. ‘Give Miss Saunders the good news and I’ll look forward to seeing you and bringing Emmeline back with me.’

      Beatrice smiled as she replaced the receiver carefully. It was good that she had some happy news to pass on, she thought as she went down the stairs and out into the street. Children were just starting to come home for their tea, and she saw that some of the girls from the probationary centre were talking to her children. Some of them had actually entered the hall of St Saviour’s and she could hear the sound of laughter, though one or two looked at her apprehensively, as if they feared she would be angry because they’d dared to step inside her domain. She nodded as she passed them and entered what had once been her new wing, feeling a pang at its loss – but perhaps it was being put to good use. If her influence could help Miss Saunders to make the right decisions for these girls, perhaps a lot of unhappiness could be saved in the future, especially if Angela’s fears came to pass – and that was surely worth the loss of a few beds for her …