She had arranged to have a reserved carriage and the guard had locked her in when at the last moment the door was unlocked to allow a very elegant lady, draped in the most expensive sables, to go into the carriage with her.
Lydia could see a lady’s maid on the platform carrying a jewel case bearing a coronet on it before she climbed into another carriage.
The door was re-locked and the train set off.
Lydia looked at the newcomer with interest.
She was certainly very lovely and seemed to be of great importance, which made it strange that she should not have a carriage to herself.
Then, as the train gathered speed, the lady said,
“I wonder if you would mind changing places with me? I feel ill if I sit with my back to the engine and, as the sun is on the other side of the compartment, I
