Her statement was met with a disapproving frown from Violet, while Polly giggled behind her hand.

Elizabeth stared at Sadie, whose face was flushed with indignation. “I beg your pardon?”

“Sorry, mum. I meant the ladies’ drawers. They’re all gorn!”

Violet tutted. “Don’t be ridiculous, Sadie. Undergarments simply don’t just disappear. You probably didn’t peg them firmly enough and the wind took them off the line.”

Sadie scowled at her. “Then where are they, I’d like to know? They’d be all over the back garden if they blew off, wouldn’t they?”

“Oh, dear.” Elizabeth stared at the basket. “Are you sure, Sadie? How many pairs are missing?”

“Well, I had three pairs out there, and Violet’s long drawers were out there and your knickers were out there, too, m’m-”

She broke off as Violet gasped and rose to her feet. “Sadie Buttons, how dare you discuss Madam’s unmentionables!”

“Well, she asked me,” Sadie wailed.

“Violet, do sit down.” Elizabeth smiled at Sadie. “It’s all right, Sadie. Sit down and get your breath. You sound as if you’ve been running all the way up the hill.”

“It’s the shock, m’m.” Sadie sank onto her chair. “I can’t think why someone would want to steal all the knick-er, unmentionables.”

“Probably that Clyde Morgan,” Violet muttered. “I knew there was something fishy about him.”

Elizabeth stared at her. “Clyde who?”

“Morgan. The rag and bone man.” Violet shook her head. “I left him in here while I went to get the curtains. I bet he stole the… undergarments while I was upstairs.”

Sadie made a sound of disgust. “Now who the heck would buy someone else’s knickers?”