Page 51 of Diana Adores the Puzzled Duke

“Be here at five o’clock sharp and we will see how well youdo.”

Meanwhile, Doris was walking the crowded streets going from one Christmas tree purveyor to another looking for a small tree. She had never told Tommy, but she had collected three shillings and sixpence from selling flowers she had found discarded each morning at the Covent Garden flower market. They were slightly damaged, but she wound them with ribbons from an old bonnet she found in the trash and sold them to ladies on thestreet.

“Excuse me, mister,” Doris said, tugging at a tree seller’s sleeve. “I have three shillings and sixpence and I would like to buy a Christmas tree,” she said withfinality.

The tree seller laughed. “Three shillings and sixpence? That would barely buy you a branch—let alone a tree. Away withyou.”

Doris teared up and walked away. She tried three or four different sellers and they all laughed at her and told her toskedaddle.

Finally, she ran home, threw herself on the bed she shared with Tommy and cried, still clutching her three shillings andsixpence.

Diana heard her mother calling from downstairs, “Diana, it is time to start supper. Can you please, lend me ahand?”